Chapter 2: A: The Assistant Stands His Ground

👉 Previous Decision: You chose Option 1A – Refuse to sign the waiver and demand a full probate court hearing.

Arthur’s gaze fixed on Marcus Kincaid, then shifted to the three red folders resting on the table. The silence in Samuel Ellis’s office stretched, thick and heavy. A slight tremor ran through Arthur’s hands, but he kept them clasped in his lap.

“I won’t sign it,” Arthur said, his voice quiet but steady.

Marcus’s jaw tightened. He leaned forward, his expensive suit jacket pulling taut across his shoulders.

“Are you quite sure, Arthur?” Marcus asked, his tone dropping to a low growl. “You don’t understand the forces you’re up against.”

“Beatrice left everything to me in her will,” Arthur replied, his eyes not wavering from Marcus. “I believe in following proper legal procedure.”

Marcus’s face, usually composed, flushed a deep red. He gripped the edge of the polished table, his knuckles white.

“You’ll regret this,” Marcus snapped. “You think you can play in the big leagues? I’ll bury you.”

He shoved the three red folders back into his briefcase with unnecessary force, the leather bag snapping shut with a sharp crack.

“Good luck explaining this to the tabloids, Arthur,” Marcus spat, then spun on his heel.

The glass door of Samuel Ellis’s office slammed shut behind him, rattling its frame.

Samuel Ellis cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up his nose. He picked up the copy of Beatrice’s will from the table, his movements slow and deliberate.

“A forceful exit, indeed,” Samuel observed. He looked at Arthur, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. “That was a brave move, Arthur.”

Arthur simply nodded, a tension he hadn’t realized he was holding slowly releasing from his shoulders. His palms felt damp.

“What happens now?” Arthur asked, his voice still a little hoarse.

“Now, we begin the formal probate process,” Samuel explained, opening the will. “I will file the petition with the LA Superior Court Probate Division tomorrow morning.”

Samuel opened a fresh legal pad.

“It’s a straightforward process, typically,” he continued, making a note. “But given Mr. Kincaid’s… enthusiasm, we should anticipate some resistance.”

Arthur imagined Marcus already working the phones, gathering his considerable resources. The battle had just begun.

Samuel looked up. “I’ll need you to start compiling a list of Beatrice’s personal effects, anything valuable or sentimental in the Bel-Air home.”

“I can do that,” Arthur confirmed. “I know that house better than anyone.”

Samuel nodded. “Good. We’ll proceed systematically. You’ve made your decision, and now we move forward with the law.”

➡️ Read CHAPTER 3A to continue the story