Beryllium (1)

Beryllium is a relatively rare element in the universe, usually occurring as a product of the spallation of larger atomic nuclei that have collided with cosmic rays.

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Reinne sat quietly in her father's study watching her boss sit in front of her and her ex-boss, who is sitting in her Father's swivel chair. The silence in the room is suffocating her. She was about to speak up when there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Who is it?" She answers.

"Its Mae, Miss Ivy." The person on the other side said.

"Come in."

She watch Mae stroll inside with a tray and place it on the coffee table on the other side of the room. She stood up and grab her cup. She can't breath with the tension in the room.

"Miss Ivy?"

She turn to see Mae looking at her. She thought she had left already. "What is it, Mae?"

"There's a call for you. From Mr. Keith Gallo."

Hayden saw her body stiffen when the name Keith saw uttered. He watch her slowly place her cup on the table before facing the woman by the door. Her face is pale and her lips are turning blue. He can see her breathing fast.

"Miss Ivy?"

"Thank you, Mae," she quietly say while calming herself. Breath in, she thought to herself. Breath out. She turn to face her father's bookshelf to calm down. Once her breathing returned to normal, she face Mr. Kurt, her old boss.

"Mr. Kurt," she approach slowly. "Why are you here?"

Hayden watch the old man chuckle. "Always direct to the point, Reinne."

Hayden quietly watch the two interact as if they are old friends. Reinne watch her boss looking at them with a stoic face. "Mr. Kurt, fifteen minutes ago, I received a call from my secretary telling me that you are looking for me. Why is that?"

Kurt Sarmento face the window. "Hayden, give her the papers."

Hayden slid a thick manila envelope towards her. She sat on the chair she evacuated and open the envelope. She grab the paper on the top and the words written in bold letters made her look back to her bosses.

"What does this mean?' She ask in a quiet whisper, removing all the papers inside the envelope.

Kurt Sarmento sat the swivel chair in front of him and stare at Reinne, who was staring at his Father's last will and testament. "Those are my Father's last will and testament," Kurt said.

Reinne snap her attention to Kurt. "Then why am I reading it?"

"Last week, my attorney called me while I was on a vacation with my wife," Kurt said on a business tone. "Regarding on my Father's last will and testament. Confused as to why our attorney called me for that, it turns out he missed something out."

"How is that possible?" She turn at the papers in her hand before glancing on the person sitting on her father's chair.

"There was one part in the will which states that Herminigeldo Tongchua Sr.," Reinne stiffen when she heard her late grandfather's name being called out. "A friend of Julian Sarmento is the sole owner of Energy Plant."

What? She just stare at them before laughing.

"What's funny?" Hayden spoke up for the first time they entered the room.

Reinne calmed herself down. "Wait. You're saying that my grandpa is the owner of the laboratory I work for?"

Hayden nods in approval. Reinne scoff when it all sink in to her. "Holy shit. No way."

"Yes way," Kurt gestured to the papers in her hands. "Those are documents of legal transfer of property."

"Why?"

"I also asked the same question to the attorney but he told me that my father owned him a lot of debt."

"Why now?" She wanted to cry. "My grandpa's gone for almost 12 years. Why now?"

"My grandfather died three years ago," She turn her attention to Hayden. "His will was altered before he and your grandfather died."

"So, your telling me that my grandpa knew this, and didn't tell anyone?"

"Apparently, he left a will."

Reinne wants to curse out when Hayden said those words. "A will? There was no will!"

"There is," Hayden slip another envelope towards her. Reinne drop the papers on the table before opening the thin envelope.

She nearly cry out when she saw her grandpa's name on the paper. "I assumed you read the will also."

Both her bosses nods. "Why wasn't our family informed of his will?"

"Let's say, we did a thorough background check on your family first," Kurt lace his fingers on top of the table.

"Then why are you talking to me?" She asked confused of the sudden turn of events.

Hayden decided to enlighten her. "My grandfather, Julian is your grandpa's best friend. Somewhere along their story, my grandfather owned your grandpa a a huge debt."

"I understand that part," Reinne interrupted him. "What I don't understand is; why are you talking to me? Shouldn't you be talking to my mama?"

"Well," Her ex boss stood up and roam around the room. "I did a background check on all of your grandpa's children and your mother was the person I pick to pass the company, in respect to the wills."

"Hold your horses," she drop the papers on the table. "Shouldn't it be the first born child, who is to inherit?"

Kurt nod. "That was the plan, but then I found out your uncle's health is unstable and running a large company would worsen his health."

Reinne nods in understanding considering her uncle Jerry suffered heat stroke when she was sixteen.

"How about my mother's other brothers?" She wanted to spit out when she asked about them.

"The second son has a gambling debt, the third son has no idea in running a business and the fourth one has too many mistress than the number of his grandchildren."

Reinne let out a sigh. Her mom handling the company and not her uncles is a good thing considering their past with one another. "Then why am I here?"

"Your mother refused to handle the company," She turn to Hayden who was sitting patiently. "A company can't run without a head."

"Since your mother refused, her next in line would be to inherit, which is you." Kurt can see the same shocked expression Grace gave him earlier.