The contract - I

The next few days went by Evelyn trying to console her family members as if they truly loved her father. 

"It is so funny to watch," she sighed as she sat at the grave, "they all cry as if they loved you from the bottom of their hearts. As if they never called you just for money. They care about me now when they never asked for me."

The next words slipped out of her mouth, " is that what family is papa?" She whispered to the grave portraying her father sitting there watching her, "what am I to do with so many people who do not care for me yet do not leave either?" 

She sighed and shook her head to herself. Vultures they all were and her father was the shield protecting her from them. Now that the shield was gone forever they were all trying to descend down on her. She knew why her male cousins were trying so hard to take her out on things that she loved to do and why the female cousins were trying to flatter her. They all wanted to be close, they all wanted her to be married into their parts of the family. 

They all just wanted them. 

She moved back out of the graveyard and the driver opened her door. Buckling the seatbelt in, the driver drove back to her house where the vultures had currently taken residence. 

"Evelyn!" Her aunt gasped and came running to her as soon as she saw her standing at the door. "Where were you so early in the morning?" She gently patted Evelyn's back. 

"Graveyard." Evelyn answered immediately. "Excuse me, I would like to have breakfast now." 

She did not wait for anyone to comment, rather moved forward to the dining table. She sat on the head chair. It was difficult to do at first but now she realised that none of her uncles would think twice to take her father's seat so she had to do this. 

"I'll serve her." Don't give a smile as she took the bowl of fruit from the made. She placed one scoop on Evelyn's plate making her almost slap the woman. 

Was she only supposed to eat two pieces of watermelon and one papaya?

"Give it back to her aunt. Maria knows what she's doing." 

The women reluctantly handed over and walked out of the dining room, visibly embarrassed. 

"Maria," Evelyn addressed, "when is Antonio coming?"

 "In an hour ma'am." Maria answered immediately. 

"Tell him to prepare to receive Mr Alessandra today. I am calling him over after breakfast." 

"Now?" Maria whispered. Maria had been there for Evelyn for almost all of her life and seeing the girl deal with one of the most dangerous men to walk on the planet was scary. "Wha—"

"Leave it," Evelyn held up her glass as Maria poured in the hot beverage, "these vultures do not know that yet which is why they are her. I would rather have to leave the house immediately which is why I think I should start preparing." 

"But I know that your father never called anyone for a meeting directly. He used to make appointments from his assistant to the person's assistant he wanted to meet." Maria added softly. She knew somewhat about this world. 

And that's when it clicked. 

She chuckled as she stared at the chair in front of her. He knew! He knew all this time! 

Maria frowned, "What's wrong?" She asked. She had to ask because she had not corrected any joke and she was curious to know why the little girl was behaving like that. 

Evelyn looked at Maria and smiled in wonder. "He knew. He knew all the time that I would never be able to make it in this world. That's why you did this." 

Her father was aware of everything. Perhaps he even knew what happened with Rome which is why he had not even given her a chance to deal with the organisation because she simply could not have. 

She was not raised that way. He had given up on that for her. 

"I'll be in the office." She informed Maria, the only woman in the house, who was aware of her whereabouts without having to keep track of it herself. "Mr. Alessandro will arrive but I think Antonio will arrive first. Take care of the other things. I do not want any one of them to stop him on his way." 

She did not wait to hear about what Maria replied to her with. She wanted it to be done. It was about time that she let the vultures go and lived her own life.