The air felt lukewarm in the car.

Nathan described the car model to me. It was similar to the Mercedes Benz S Class. I had no idea what that meant. But after sitting in the car for a while, I could feel like I understood why cars had fancy names like this. It felt luxurious.

I clasped my hands together and looked out of the window. Nathan's eyes were glued to his phone. He was sending and replying to messages at the speed of light. The driver was relatively quiet.

When time continued to press on, I had worse case scenarios forming in the back of my mind. Perhaps they were driving me out into the middle of nowhere to dismember me. Or maybe I would be buried alive... I shook my head several times, trying to be present in the moment. Nathan looked over at my concerned face, but I persisted nevertheless.

When we arrived at this residence, I was amazed by how huge it was. It was a grandiose mansion. There were walls around the outer property and even a security guard at the front entrance before we were allowed to pass through the large black gates. It suddenly felt like I was entering into a millionaire's territory... just who was this old man?

The driver drove another minute up the long pathway. There were statues and gorgeous gardens along the way. When we reached what seemed to be the front entrance, there was a large, white fountain. When we stopped, Nathan got out of the car. I also did. When I got out, Nathan was standing next to me.

"There are a few things I must tell you before we enter Miss. Rose," I looked up at him more gravely. "This place... can come across as unwelcoming at first, so please don't be offended..." I looked up at him in disbelief. He began walking in front of me. I was a little startled.

"Miss. Rose..." I jolted in place and then walked forward. When he reached the door, he opened it. Inside, there was a large foyer. 2 staircases on opposite sides of each other, leading up to the second floor. There was a large chandelier underneath me as I walked further into the mansion. It sparkled.

"This way Miss. Rose..."

"You know you can call me Hazel," he nodded and I followed after him. We walked side by side for some time before Nathan's phone rang. He told me to wait here and excused himself momentarily. I stood there, looking at some of the large paintings framed on the wall.

I looked over at one I instantly admired and recognized it immediately. Upon closer inspection, I realized it wasn't an imitation. It was a true Rembrandt. The shock made me step back a little. When I did, I bumped into someone.

I moved forward quickly and turned around. I looked up to see a young man looking down at me. His expression seemed severe... almost cold. He was wearing all-black as well. It was definitely a custom-made suit. I was unaware of just how much money this family had. But I knew given my surroundings there was something quite at stake here. Before I said anything, he said:

"Who are you and what are you doing on this private premise?" I looked up at him shocked by his accusatory tone. "I'll have to ask who escorted you here or I will have to ask you to leave."

"I'm Miss. Rose," I cringed as the words left my mouth. His eyebrow shot up. I pressed my lips together. I wanted to crawl into a hole. Curse that secretary. "I mean, I'm-"

"Hazel," Nathan said comfortably while walking towards me. He stood firmly by my side.

"This is Mr. Henry Ravenwolf's important friend" I looked up at Nathan suddenly, who was locking his eyes into this young man's. It seemed like he was able to hold his ground equally with this intimidating figure and exchange a powerful gaze.

"Important friend?" he scoffed, and I could now tell he was inspecting me. He seemed to have noticed my bracelet and grabbed my wrist forcefully. "Why does she have my late Gran's bracket?" he asked angrily and I winced in pain.

"Why? Why do you have it?" Nathan grabbed onto his arm.

"Release her, Kai..." he slowly let go of me. I stepped back instinctively. I held onto my wrist.

Nathan put his hand on my shoulder as though he was comforting me. It felt like my body was shaking out of fear. I looked up at this man, although seemingly quite handsome at a glance, but also so terrifyingly cold.

"We shall see you in Mr. Ravenwolf's quarters in the next five minutes, on schedule" Nathan then whisked me away. I looked over my shoulder briefly, watching the young man standing in place, balling his fist. When I caught my sanity, I exhaled.

"Who was that?" I tried shaking off that intense aura back there

"The acting president of Ravenwolf."

"Come again?"

"This way, Hazel..." Nathan led me into a room, where several other people had gathered. There was a middle-aged woman balling her eyes out, while dabbing her eye creases with a piece of tissue in her hands. She had an exuberant amount of diamonds over her body. Earrings, necklaces, a few rings and bracelets.

There was a man sitting next to her, which I presumed was her husband. He was patting her back lightly.

Sitting next to that man was a young girl, perhaps a little over ten years old? Reading a book. She didn't divert her attention from it even when I walked in. There was a disinterested teen who was staring out of the window, another young man staring at a laptop absorbed by something interesting I presumed, and another young man glued to his phone. I looked up at Nathan, and he gestured for me to sit down.

"Who is she?" the middle-aged woman asked, sniffling her nose in-between. I couldn't overhear them only the slightest, but her gaze didn't leave my sight. When I sat down, the man referred to as Kai walked in. He glared at me slightly and then proceeded to sit next to the guy glued to his laptop.

"This seems like a bit of an unorthodox funeral setting?" I whispered to Nathan. He was quiet for a moment and then said, "I have a confession to make."

"What is it now?"

"Forgive me for lying to you, Miss. Rose"

"What are you talking about?"

"This... may change your life forever..."

Suddenly, another older gentleman walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

Everyone was alerted to his presence. The middle-aged woman perked up. She wasn't crying anymore. Kai made sure that the rest of the young men were paying attention. Some of them finally noticed me.

"Oh, who's that?" one of them asked, leaning forward. Nathan stepped forward and greeted the man. He walked over to the desk and brought out a few documents. Nathan returned to my side. I suddenly felt like I was truly a stranger here. I could understand the curiosity among this family.

For someone they don't know... attending an intimate gathering of their loved one. I tried getting up from my spot to leave, but Nathan held my arm. I looked at him, surprised and he shook his head. I sat back down while gritting my teeth. It would be over soon, and then I could leave...

"As you all know this will not take long. But we are here today in honour of a dear friend and colleague of mine, Mr. Henry Ravenwolf. To understand his last wishes and resolve of inheritance..." he licked his finger and flipped through some more documents. "I will be brief, as Henry instructed me to be... today marks the third day of Mr. Ravenwolf's passing. We are now reading the contents of his will, which have been notarized and signed by the party involved..."

I stared forward nervously. What was going on? How was I a relevant person here? I wasn't his family. I wasn't a friend or a co-worker... this must be a lawyer? A family lawyer? And to be here...

"I give my first grandchild, Mr. Kai Ravenwolf, the position of president of Ravenwolf. To succeed and oversee the business, as par my duties as the previous president..." I looked over around the room. I could see no expression on Kai's face change, but the husband of that woman... seemed not too happy about the arrangement.

"For my son, Mr. Gerald Ravenwolf, he will continue on as his position as Vice President of Ravenwolf. For my grandsons, Mr. James and Jackson Ravenwolf, I each leave several shares of the business in their name for their use. To Charlie Ravenwolf, I leave this mansion, a few shares and some stocks I have invested in. To my youngest grandchild, Mackenzie Ravenwolf, I leave a few stocks, and bonds that will be released to her on her eighteenth birthday." I exhaled, thinking that it would be all over.

"Lastly, and most importantly, to my friend, Miss. Hazel Rose..." I looked up. Everyone in the room seemed to be staring at me now. I couldn't take my gaze away from this lawyer, giving out information as though it were law.

"I give complete rights of inheritance to Ravenwolf Co. For exactly one year, as of this date, she will have the governing authority equivalent to the president of the company," there was a screech coming from the middle-aged woman in the room.

"She will also receive half a billion dollars if she lives at Ravenwolf Residence for a period of no more than a year, as of this exact date. If Miss Hazel Rose is unable to participate in these conditions, the half a billion dollars will be given to charity, and the inheritance will fall to Mr. Kai Ravenwolf after a year's time. That is all."

I could feel my body go numb. It suddenly felt like I was dreaming. This couldn't be real. I could feel Nathan leave my side. I was too stunned to move from my place. Suddenly, I felt Nathan's hand on my shoulder.

I looked at him, and he said, "there is a video that you must see," I shook my head, and pushed his hand away. I stood up, dizzy, nearly falling over. He held me up. I felt the middle-aged woman race over to me.

"This is preposterous!! Heir to Ravenwolf?! Half a billion dollars?!"

"Cassie," her husband pleaded, holding after her.

"This is going to be good..." one of the young men said.

"Who is she?! Some gold digger that dug her claws into my father in law's delicate heart! Who--"

"Enough, Cassandra!" the husband said. "Calm down..." her tight face looked like it was exploding.

"This is the last will and testament of Henry Ravenwolf," Nathan said, before escorting me out of the room. I could feel daggers being thrown at me behind my back. I couldn't begin to comprehend what was happening.