**Chapter 10: Father's Will**
Laila sat at the vanity table, bending down to put on her boots, it was Wednesday and she prepared to go to the office. She was wearing a black chiffon net singlet, tucked into a long dark blue jean skirt that reached her ankles, the skirt had a long slit on the left leg that stopped at her knee with buttons at the front, a long sleeved jean jacket of the same color, left open to show her black singlet. She paired them with knee length black boots and carried a black purse that hung from her shoulder. Her short black hair had been combed to fall back, stopping above her shoulders.
As she got ready, her phone rang, picking it up from the table, she looked at the caller before answering.
"Hello uncle," her voice was light.
"Hello dear, how are you doing?" It was her lawyer, Mr. Davis.
"I'm doing fine uncle, what about you?"
"I'm doing good, I called to confirm the reading of your father's will today."
"Yes uncle I remember, we can have it at the company." She replied
"Ok dear, see you soon."
"See you soon uncle." The call went off. Laila continued to get ready, she was putting on her makeup now.
Today was the day they would read her father's will. After her parents death, Laila had been heartbroken and had postponed everything concerning her parents as she was still mourning them. Their death had shattered her, which had led her to appointing Peter as the acting CEO of the company, she didn't want the company to suffer because she was facing a difficult time and Peter had seemed like the only person she could trust then.
But now she knew she was wrong, wrong to trust him, wrong to rely on him, wrong to love him, and most of all, she had been wrong to put him in charge of her father's company. She should have listened to her parents when they tried to convince her that Peter wasn't the one for her, that he wasn't worthy of her, that he wasn't trustworthy. But she had tried to convince her parents to accept him, because she loved him and they loved her. And after a lot of persistent persuasion they had finally come around and agreed to her marriage, because that was what she wanted and they wanted her to be happy.
She should have listened when they said her choice was wrong. But now was too late for regrets, because she was going to change that. She was going to fix her wrongs.
But Laila knew it wasn't going to be that easy, first, she had to remove Peter from being the acting CEO without him suspecting that she knew something, she still needed time to gather more evidence.
Peter walked into the room, dressed, he wore a dark blue suit. "You ready babe?" He asked, his voice sickly sweet that made Laila internally cringe.
"Yeah." She replied.
"Let's leave together then" he suggested, Laila frowned before covering it up.
"No need ok, I'll drive. I have to stop for something on the way." She refused. She didn't feel like sitting in the same car as him.
"Oh." He said, the word coming out a little disappointed.
Laila stared at him before informing, "today is the reading of my father's will." She turned back to pick up her phone.
"Oh today? Why didn't you tell me?" Peter's voice almost sounded angry but Laila didn't seem to notice. Or more rightly, didn't seem to care.
"I didn't tell you? I thought I did. It must have skipped my mind then, you know how busy I've been." She placed a light peck on his cheeks before leaving the room and the house, going down to hop into her Ferrari before driving off.
Sometime later, at the Moreno Company Head Quarters and in the conference room, several men sat at the long rectangular table, all chattering and wondering why they were told to gather. These men were shareholders, executives and managers of the Moreno Company Head Quarters and they all sat according to their position in the company, from the highest to the lowest. Amongst them were three police officers.
While their chattering continued, Laila and Mr. Davis walked into the conference room and it immediately became silent.
Mr. Davis was a middle-aged man, with his head a mixture of black and grey hair, he wore a suit and had a young man following behind him that looked like an assistant, carrying his bag and some files in hand.
Laila sat at the right hand side of the chair meant for the CEO and Mr. Davis sat beside her. Few minutes later, Peter walked into the conference room, he looked surprised at the number of people in the room, even more surprised to see police officers.
"I thought we had a reading today." He asked to no one in particular.
"Yes we do. If you could sit down Mr. Morse." Mr. Davis was the one to reply to Peter's question. Peter sat down at the head chair and Mr. Davis stood up to say.
"Welcome everyone. As you all know, the previous CEO, Mr. Moreno has passed on, and today is the reading of his will." The young man who had come with Mr. Davis passed him a big yellow envelope, which he opened and began to read.
"## LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF HENRY MORENO
I, Henry Moreno, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.
I desire that this my Last Will and Testament be read aloud in the presence of my daughter, Laila Moreno, my lawyer and executor Christopher Davis, all shareholders, executives and managers of my company, Moreno Head Quarters and three officers of the Law.
I appoint my trusted friend, business associate, and lawyer, Christopher Davis, as the Executor of my estate.
I give, devise, and bequeath all my property, real and personal, as follows:
\- My entire shareholding and interest in Moreno Group of Companies to my beloved daughter, Laila Moreno
\- All my cars, estates, and houses, wherever situated, to my daughter, Laila Moreno
\- All other assets, properties, and effects, movable and immovable, tangible and intangible, to my daughter, Laila Moreno, absolutely and forever.
\- My entire shareholding and interest in Moreno Group of Companies to my beloved daughter, Laila Moreno, provided she remains the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. If she ceases to be CEO, my shares shall be transferred to a trust to be managed by Christopher Davis, for the benefit of Laila Moreno and the company's employees.
\- All my cars, estates, and houses, wherever situated, to my daughter, Laila Moreno, absolutely and forever, provided she remains CEO of Moreno Group of Companies.
I intentionally make no provision for my wife, as I have made separate arrangements for her.
I nominate my friend, Christopher Davis, as the Guardian of my minor daughter, Laila Moreno, in the event that I predecease her mother or if she is otherwise needed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of April, 2022.
Signed, published, and declared by Henry Moreno as his Last Will and Testament, in the presence of two witnesses, who attested and signed in his presence."