THE BILLIONAIRE FATHER'S WISH

CHAPTER ONE

"Am I speaking with Miss Anna ?" a voice across my phone asked.

"Yes. Who am I speaking with, please?

"I am Attorney Luis Davis from A and A Law Consult ." My heart skipped a beat since I had no association with a law firm so I am wondering why the call.

"Hello?"

"Erm, yeah I am. What's the issue, please? Have I done anything wrong? I am quite confused that's all."

"Miss.Anna you have nothing to worry about. I am calling to have a very important conversation with you," he said, his tone professional.

"Alright, what's it about?"I asked, sounding a bit curious now.

"Well, Mr Williams Donovan requested that I have a meeting with you to discuss something very important with you. He mentioned that you should visit my office with your father who was his driver for this meeting."

"Okay but can I know what exactly this meeting is about?", I asked.

" I am sorry Miss Anna this is very confidential information which can not be discussed over the phone and without the presence of your father."Mr Luis replied warmly.

"Alright, sir. I will inform my father about this meeting then. When is the meeting?"

"Tomorrow at 10:00 AM at my office," he says

"Okay Sir"

"That's perfect. I will send you my office address and please the time is 10:00 am do not forget."Mr.Luis replied

Okay sure I won't.

"That's great then. See you and your father tomorrow at my office. Goodbye Miss Anna"

"Bye, Mr. Luis".

I ended the call feeling a sense of nervousness for tomorrow's meeting. I am confused right now because what in the name of hell was that all about? I honestly do not know what is so confidential that it can't be discussed over the phone and needs the presence of my father.

I set the table for dinner and waited for my father to discuss this so-called meeting with him. I look around the house feeling very sad because I miss my mother so much. It has been a year already since we lost her to leukemia so now it is just Dad and I doing this thing called life together. I miss her meals and our endless conversations about my boring relationship life. My mom was my best friend we did everything together even during her last days on earth we were inseparable. Tears run down my cheeks as I remember her and miss her much more this evening.

"Mom wherever you're I miss you so much today I do not know why but I just want to hug you tightly. Continue watching over us Mom. I will always love you". I silently murmur to myself.

I hear the front door of our little apartment open and there he is the most important man in my life my father Mr Oswald Smith appears.

I hug him tightly as I always do. Yeah, that's our little tradition.

"Welcome home Dad. How was your day?" I ask as I begin to set the table for dinner.

"Thank you, my Princess. Today was quite stressful since I had to drive my new boss around town most of the day," he says as he sits for dinner.

"Your new boss?"

"Yes, my princess . Mr.Williams Donovan's son Damien is now my new boss".

"Ow okay but I thought Damien could drive himself ."

"Yes he can but he has instructed me to be driving him around from now onwards. Come to think of it Anna if he decides to drive by himself, I will be out of a job. So I am grateful to drive him around."Dad says with a sense of gratitude in his tone.

"Well, you're right Dad. I hope that my job application as a Marketer at the new insurance company that's about to be opened will be accepted so I can help with the expenses and if possible retire you."

"I hope you get employed too, my princess. Enough of this talk what did you make for dinner?"My dad asks as he takes a plate across the dining table ready to serve himself.

"Well, I made your favourite rice and chicken stir fry with vegetables."

"Great I am starving. This looks very delicious. I am very sure it will taste good as always." he says with a smile on his face.

"Dad, there is something I want to tell you,'' I say glancing up to see his reaction.

My dad gives me a worried look and takes his seat to listen to whatever I have to say.

"I am all ears, my princess. What's the matter?" his voice filled with concern.

"Okay Dad, so I received a call from one Attorney Luis Davis from A and A Law Consult, he wants to meet us and discuss something very confidential with us. He said that he called because Mr.Williams Donovan before he passed on requested that we have a meeting with him to discuss this confidential information." I spill out everything with a hint of confusion and anxiety in my voice.

"Hmm okay, but did he give you any idea what this meeting might be about?"Dad asks, looking at me for clarity.

" No Dad he didn't."

"When is this meeting you're talking about?" Dad asks.

"Well he said tomorrow at 10:00 am and he has already sent me the location of his office. I guess we have to meet him tomorrow so we know what it is about."

"Hmm alright, my princess. I wonder what is so important that Mr. Williams wants you and me to meet his Attorney. Anyway, we will get to find out tomorrow . There's no need to worry as Mr.Williams Donovan was of great help to our family when he was alive."Dad reassures me and goes back to eat his meal.

My father is right, there is no need to worry because Mr.Williams helped to finance my college education and helped with my mother's treatment until her last breath.

"Eat up my princess we will deal with this tomorrow. Do not worry everything will be fine. The food tastes amazing as always. Thanks for dinner, my princess."My Dad says and leaves for his room.

At exactly 10:00 AM, my father and I are seated in the office of Attorney Luis Davis.

"Good morning Miss Anna and Mr.Smith.Glad to have you two here and thank you for honouring Mr William

Donovan's invitation" Mr.Luis said.

"You're welcome, Mr. Luis. May we get to the reason why for this meeting?"My father asks.

"Alright let's start then. Mr.Williams Donovan instructed me before his death to meet up with you and your daughter before going ahead to read out his last will."

My father looks as confused as I am but nods to whatever the attorney says. He pulls out a brown envelope and begins to read out what would be the greatest shock of my life.

"I, Mr.Williams Donovan, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby humbly request Miss Anna Smith, the daughter of my beloved driver Mr Smith, to do me the honour of marrying Damien Donovanmy son and heir to the Donovan Legacy. This is to have my son stop his promiscuous lifestyle and be a family man. I believe you are the only young lady who can help me achieve this wish. As I have instructed my attorney, you will have a share in my properties and your father will retire. Everything will be well stipulated in the final will that will be read later by my attorney Luis. Thank you, Anna, I believe you will help me change the way my son views the world. Regards William Donovan"

"This is what Mr Donovan asks of you, Miss Anna.": Mr Luis says briefly after reading out the greatest shock of my life to me.

I look at my father he looks as shocked and confused as I am. I try to speak but I can not seem to find the right words. One minute I am struggling to secure a decent job and the next minute I am being asked to marry Damien Donovan the famous playboy of Seattle.

I look at my father but he gives me a reassuring smile before he proceeds to speak, "Mr.Luis, does Mr.Damien Donovan know about this?"

"He doesn't know. Mr.Williams clearly instructed me to let you two know about this before he does."

"Alright, but my daughter has to decide if this is what she wants because we both know how Damien Donovan is very well. He does not look like someone willing to get married anytime soon."My father says in a low tone.

Mr Luis gives my father and me a little smile and says, "We all know how stubborn Damien Donovan is but his father is much more stubborn. Mr.Williams Donovan has ensured that he put in measures that will not leave Damien any choice but to get married to Anna. The only thing needed is Anna's approval to get married to him."

Mr.Luis looks at me and asks, "Anna can you do this?"

I turn to look at my father and then back at Mr.Luis and still can't express how I am feeling.

The office falls into deep silence for a while as everyone waits for me to speak up.

"Please can I have some time to think this through? This is a lot to take in, marriage is a huge decision and I do not want to just jump into it."I finally say.

"That's fine but I will advise you to agree to marry Damien Donovan, to Mr William Donovan to fulfil his last wish ."Mr.Luis says.

With that being said my father and I say our goodbyes to Attorney.

The ride back home is filled with a lot of silence. I look at my father and I know what's on his mind.

"Dad, I know you have a lot to say, go ahead and say it.

"Alright, I know this is a lot to take in but the little I want to say is that kindly consider this and help Mr. Williams's wish to come true."

"Dad but ...."

"But what Anna? This is the best we can do for Mr.Donovan. You know how he has been of great help to us. He helped with your studies and assisted us when your mom was in dying need of chemotherapy. This is very difficult to come to terms with but I am pleading with you."

"Hmmm.. Dad, we are talking about marriage and you think I should accept it because of Mr. Donovan's generosity to us? I know that Mr.Williams was very good to us and he's even willing to give me a part of his shares and retire you if I agree to marry Damien. But Dad, I do not know if I will be able to marry someone I know nothing about. What if he never accepts me?What if I end up being his wife on paper but not the woman he loves and cherishes?"

" You're right on all you're saying but I want you to do this to honour Mr.Williams. I am pleading with you to please accept this for the seek of Mr.Williams."

"Dad, I am not sure I will be able to do this. I can't marry Damien Donovan he's way out of my league. I want to build a career for myself and have a life of my own...."

"Anna I know that very well but that is the last wish of Mr. Williams Donovan who has been of great help to us. The least you can do is to make his wish of marrying his son come true." my father said.

"But why me?"I silently question myself.

I wonder how Damien will take in all this after losing his father and being obliged to marry a girl he knows nothing about.

I called Mr.Luis later that evening to let him know about my final decision.

"Good even Attorney Luis, this is Anna. I am calling to give you feedback ."

"Alright Anna," he says

"I have agreed to marry Damien Donovan. What's next now?"

"That's good to know. All you have to do now is to visit my office next week on Wednesday for an official meeting with Damien for further decisions about the wedding," he replies.

"Are you still there?"Mr.Luis asks.

"Oh! Sorry yes, I am still with you."I quickly reply.

" As I was saying will have a meeting with Damien next week on Wednesday to know the way forward concerning your wedding preparation."

"Wedding preparation?"I ask.

"Yes, Mr.William wants the wedding to be well publicized so that everyone would know that Damien is officially married."

I feel like vanishing from the surface of the earth right now. I thought we were just going to sign the marriage documents and that's all. However, from what Mr Luis is saying, it seems like there is going to be a whole big wedding.

"Anna are you still there?."Mr. Luis asks again.

"Yes, I am just overwhelmed and quite unsure if I am ready for this."

"I understand you. I advise you to take it easy and one step at a time. As for Damien do not worry, he has no choice but to make you his wife in the next two weeks."

"Two weeks?"I ask with all the air in my lungs leaving my body.

CHAPTER 3

DAMIEN

Three Months Ago

Losing my father 3 months ago to a cardiac arrest was something I did not see coming. I clearly remember when I had the call from Miss Rosie our cook about my father's attack while away on a business trip in New York, I stopped everything and headed back to Seattle within a matter of hours. Fortunately, he was still alive although on oxygen at the St.Louis Hospital I had the chance to have a conversation with him not knowing that was the last time.

I arrived at the hospital in a rush immediately I landed in Seattle. I went straight to my father's private hospital room only to find my father hooked on lots of medical equipment. My father looked very pale and weary.

"Father", I said the moment I sat next to him.

He gave me a tired smile and said "My boy you came. I thought you wouldn't be able to come see me because of your business trip."

"Dad you know you're the most important person and the only surviving family I have. So what makes you think I won't come see you after I got informed"I said to him in a low tone.

"Son I appreciate you for this because I feel deep within me that I won't be able to make it time around. I feel very weak and tired my son", my father said to me.

"No Dad please do not talk like this. You are Williams Donovan a very strong man you'll be able to come out of this as you always do."I said holding onto his hands very tightly.

Deep down I had the same thoughts as he did but I did not want to come to the terms of losing my father.

"Damien, my boy I want to tell you something" My father said.

"Alright, Dad please go ahead I am all ears."

"Son I want you to promise me that you'll take good care of the company and let the legacy of the family continue. Also, I want you to promise me to do whatever I have asked you to as stated in my last will when it is been read after my burial."

I interrupted him and said "Dad I beg you to stop talking about you dying because you are not going to die. You'll be fine the doctors are going to make sure of that."

"Son, please just promise me you will do whatever I am asking of you."He said with a very weak yet reassuring smile.

I took in a deep breath and said "Alright Dad I promise to take good care of the company and also I promise to do whatever you have instructed me to do in your last will".

"Thank you very much, my boy. Always remember that I love you and I am proud of how you have been handling the affairs of the family business."My father said with a tired look and smile on his face.

"I love you too Dad and I am also so proud to be your son. Thank you for all your guidance too father."I replied still with his hands tightly held in mine.

"You are always welcome, my son."My father said before finally closing his ears. The beeping sound from the electrocardiac monitor suddenly stops.

"Dad, Dad, Dad!!!!" I screamed my lungs out. I pressed the hospital bell and doctors rushed in immediately.

"Mr.Donovan you need to exit the room", a nurse said.

"I am not going anywhere. Just do your fucking job my dad needs to make it alive."I angrily said to her.

The doctors tried their very best to resuscitate my father for the next ten minutes but it all proved futile.

"Time of Death 11:50 PM". one doctor said and gave me a remorseful look. "We are sorry Mr.Donovan, your father could not make it."

I quietly moved to my father's lifeless body and gave him a tight hug with tears running down my cheeks.

"I love you Dad and I promise to do whatever you asked me to. Thank you for making me who I am today and I promise to uphold the legacy of the family." I muttered to my father.

I slowly left the hospital room with my heart shattered into pieces as I am now all alone in this cold world. The last time I felt this kind of pain was when I lost my mom at the age of sixteen and fourteen years later I encountered this same pain and void which I know will forever be stuck with me.

I got home and I went straight to my father's room. I looked around and it hit me that I won't see him ever again in this room.

I look around and I see the beautiful portrait of my parents all I ever want in this moment is for them to be here with me again but I know that's impossible. Death is something that has turned me into a very coldhearted person because I have lost the people I loved the most to death.

My father's burial was a grand one as people from far and near came to bid him farewell. It was a very gloomy day for me as I laid my only surviving family to rest. The funeral service was a peaceful one as I strictly ensured that there was no media present at his burial. I wanted to bid my father farewell in a very private memorial service and that's exactly how it went.