The Rise Of The True Heir

chapter 7

"Silence! This is what y'all are good at. Making a lot of noise, but none of you can stand up to his or her feet and defend this family" Ma Carolyn was livid with anger.

"Ma, it's best if we didn't go for this competition, the best candidates shall be applying from around the world, great academia's and people that have achieved great fits in science are not left out as well! How do you think we can cope with that?" Ashley, Ma Carolyn's last child reminded everyone in the room.

"Do you remember Michael Watson, the 15 years old boy that just developed the smartest chat GBT? He'll be applying as well" Melissa chipped in too.

"Shut up and don't be a coward, I don't give birth to quitters" Ma Carolyn yelled at her.

"Even if we lose it will be that we tried at least '' Desmond cautioned. But Desmond's comment provoked Grandma the most.

"We are not going to fail! Never!" She yelled.

"Who will represent this family at the quiz?" Ma Carolyn asked again, to no one in particular. But the room fell silent. Everyone was looking at each other, urging themselves to speak up.

"Melissa, you'll be representing Santiago's family" Ma Carolyn finally mandated. The room fell silent as everyone looked forward to Melissa's angry outburst.

But instead Melissa started laughing out her lungs and everybody knows why.

"Grandma, I barely passed my Maths quiz with a grade D, and you want me to represent the whole Santiago's family in such a global quiz?" She asked.

"Melissa, don't belittle yourself that way, you can do it " Desmond cheered on.

"Please Grandma, I'm sorry but I won't be representing myself not to talk of Santiago's family in any quiz" Melissa said with a note of finality.

"I'll go, I'll represent the Santiagos family"

Everyone turned to see who had the effrontery to volunteer.

Since the information was released in the morning, Greg had been convincing Jose to join the quiz as it was his only way of going back to college. He reminded him of all the science competitions that he had won and how he has a good chance of winning this one.

When everyone saw that it was Jose, they let out a huge resounding laughter that shook the building.

Jose started doubting himself once more, maybe it was really a bad idea to have accepted to compete, what was he thinking.

"Why are you guys laughing? Is he not better than Melissa here? Or is it because he was sent home from medical college?" Greg asked, he had noticed the switch in Jose mood.

"Greg, so you think we are joking here right? What made you think, that this competition will be as easy as the medical exam of a public college?" Ma Carolyn was already pissed off.

"Well at least, he's better than someone who has a D in Maths" Greg defended again.

"Don't ever compare this looser to my daughter again, do you know how much I spend on Melissa's School fees, you couldn't even afford a descent school for your brother" Desmond mocked.

"But at least, he's still better than your daughter even with her expensive school"

Everyone in the room was surprised at Jose volunteering to join, but do you know what is even more surprising? Greg's guts and confidence in talking back to everyone in the family.

"I see, the fact that your mother's hospital bills have been settled in gradually getting into head. If you interrupt this meeting again with your useless suggestion, you'll mop this whole mansion for five good days non stop" Grandma threatened Greg and she wasn't joking.

"How about we do it this way, since you don't want my brother to apply with Pa's Sarge, he'll go ahead and apply anyway with a Sarge and if he wins over your prescious daughter, she'll be the one to mop the whole floor non stop for five days" Greg said smiling mischievously and crossing his hands above his chest.

Something about his confidence was even more encouraging to Jose than the idea itself.

"Is that how you want it? Then so be it" Desmond already had his plans ahead of time.

The next morning, Greg went to his office to see how things worked there and to get used to some of his duties in the office.

"Sir, we have prepared another personalised black card for you, so even if the other one was returned it would be useless" Leo, Greg's personal assistant told him as soon as they walked out of Greg's office in the Albertos empire.

It was a large office house that controlled every other businesses, Estates and properties owned by the Albertos. Grandpa Alberto made Greg the general overseer as soon as he came back home, but Greg had delegated most of the managerial duties to Leo, considering his plans to resume work after the homecoming party. He casually gives instructions every now and then while Leo carries out the instructions with diligence and also makes some crucial decisions with Greg's approval.

"Don't disclose this to anyone, once the old black card is returned, I want you to make an announcement that Albertos grandson is pleased with the Santiagos family for finding his black card and so he would be pleased to marry from such a noble family" Greg instructed.

"But Sir, Santiago's family is so lowly for you to marry from. With your position right now, even the president of South City will be willing to offer you her daughter for marriage" Leo reminded Greg. He couldn't seem to fathom why Greg would want to still marry from a family that has humiliated him so much from childhood, when he has options of marrying from different noble homes around the world.

"Are you trying to say that Sir Greg Alberto, the grandson of Great Grandpa Alberto has a poor taste?" Greg asked

"No Sir, I'm sorry if my words imply that Sir" Leo apologised immediately.

"Then do as I say Leo" Greg instructed. He was beginning to understand the amount of power only his name, Gregory Alberto possessed.

He was about getting into the car when he saw Desmond coming down from his own car. It was too late Desmond already saw him. So Greg pretended to be dusting off dirt from the Mercedes Benz Maybach Sedan parked in the company's building.

"Has there been any time when you don't run around prominent people begging for one thing or the other, the Albertos grandson had already paid for your mother's hospital bills now what else do you want from him? To offer you a job? Pay for your brother's school fees or even strangle himself for you" Desmond mocked Greg.