"I came to tell you not to show your face at my father's will reading,” Richard said in a calm tone that pissed Grace off.

Savannah GA | The Conrad Home 

"Oh Lord Jesus! The prodigal son has finally returned home to Georgia," Jerrica Conrad exclaimed, hugging her eldest son with tears in her eyes.  "I am so happy to see you baby." 

Victor Conrad smiled at his mother, hugging her back tightly.  "Hey Mama." 

"Well come in this house boy," Jerrica said, grabbing Victor's hand. She brought him inside and lead him through the hallway and into the living room.  "How have you been son? You could use a meal. You must be trying to be to look all sexy like those actors on the television."

Victor laughed and said, "sounds like you are doing good." 

"Boy, you know your mother can still drop it like is hot,” Jerrica said, chuckling.  "So what brings you to Savannah?"

"I wanted to check on you,” Victor said.   "I was on this side of the country and I couldn't come this close without saying hello." 

"You did right." Jerrica giggled, sitting down in her favorite recliner.  "Want me to cook you some food?" 

"That would be great. My favorite meal please." 

"A good ol' meat loaf, macaroni and greens.”  Jerrica stood up.  "That means I need to go to the store. Want to come with me?" 

Victor shook his head.  "No I'll stay here. I want to be here when my nephews get from school." 

"They'll be so shocked." Jerrica smiled,  grabbing her keys before leaving.  "Ok good. I'll be back shortly."

Victor followed his mother to the door then locked it after she left. He sighed, then opened the door to the stairway that lead to the attic.  Without hesitation he went up the stairs in search of anything that would help him prove that he was a Blake.

__________________________

Madison's Lounge  

Barren Munroe shook his head, turning down the waiter's offer for more appetizers. He barely touched the few pieces of grilled shrimp that were on his plate. His wife, Christina Munroe grew a bit concerned.  "You must be thinking about your father." 

Barren sighed confirming with a nod.  "He's here for a reason. I'm just not sure what it is." 

"Don't expect the worst of your father," Christina said, reaching over to hold Barren's hand.  "He might actually be legit this time."  

Barren looked at his wife as she laughed.  "Thanks for that." He looked up, seeing his father and little brother, Malik coming in.  "It's show time."  They rose to their feet and placed the best grins on their faces. 

"That smile is so fake," Malik teased.  He playfully punched his brother in the stomach. Barren managed to put his little brother in a headlock.  "What's up little punk!" 

"Get off me, loser," Malik yelled through his laughter. He finally got away and the two embraced. Steven cleared his throat to being the attention on him.  "Hello Barren." 

Barren looked at his father, unsure what to say to him. The last time he saw his father he was being released from prison for taking money from the Knight times to pay off his gambling debts...after he helped the police catch him. 

"Hello father. How are you?" Barren said, extending his hand to his father. Steven slapped it away and pulled his son into his arms. They hugged each other. "Whatever issues we had in the past, let's agree to leave it in the past." 

"Agreed." 

"Alright mushy shit is over," Malik said, chuckling, "Can we grub now? I'm fucking famished." 

"You guys go ahead and order. I need to make a quick home call and I'll be back," Steven said. He took out his phone, pacing toward the door.  He stepped outside, dialing a familiar number.  "Grace Locke? Count me in."

__________________________

 Ambition Newsroom Magazine 

"I have confidence that you'll do an awesome job leading Ambition. Welcome to the team," Grace said with a smile.   "I'll have your contract ready for you in about a week." 

Grace hung up the phone. She squealed in excitement, ruffling her hair, then winked at Richard who was wearing one of his angry faces and his arms folded. She stood up prancing over to her mini bar.  "Would you like a drink? I just hired a new editor. This calls for a celebration." 

"By the way I just sent out my invitations for the launch party of Ambition Magazine. I hope you are there."

"You heard me Gracelynn Locke," Richard hissed.  "You are dismissing my request. Do not come to the reading of my father's last will and testament." 

Grace sat her glass of wine down on the mini bar and placed a hand on her hip.  "You do not get to call me that anymore." 

"You divorced me and went to that crab slinging wife of yours," Grace smirked devilishly.   "Speaking of crabs, has she passed that STD on to you yet?" 

"Don't insult my wife,” Richard barked. 

Grace downed her glass of wine. "How you protect Dominique bothers me." 

"I never understood how you could just leave me one day and elope with her the next after everything she's done to you," Grace hissed.  "She left you when you were at your lowest and I was there for you and those bratty children! I damn near raised them!" 

"You walk around here all high and mighty. Throwing out these demands like you are god!" 

"Newsflash, Richard Blake, you are Satan." 

Richard tapped his finger on Grace's desk.  "Then that make you a Jezebel!" 

"Let's not forget the true paternity of the child you were passing off as mine. You're only mad because Dominique was the one who exposed you,” Richard whispered, placing his hands on Grace's shoulder.  "Where is that child now? Didn't you give it away?" 

"Your hurtful ways caused you to lose your spot in my family and my heart. Do not show your face at my father's will reading." 

Grace hands trembled as the memories of the past she tried to forget were being brought up. "You can't stop me from being at Bill Faye's will reading. I don't care what you say." 

Grace pushed Richard away from her.  “I'll be there and I'm going to bring you down off of that high horse you sit on." 

"Grace, do not start a war with me! I promise you will not win!" 

"It's on,” Grace whispered. "Do me a favor and clean out your office because Blake Media will be mine."

__________________________

 Savannah, GA | The Conrad Home

Victor could hear his mother calling for him from downstairs.  He remained quiet.  Maybe she'd figure the boys came home and he took them out for ice cream. He continued to search through trunks.   H sat down, growing discouraged.  "Damnit, I'm not finding anything." 

"The box from of our old stuff from Knightdale is under the box of Christmas things," Jerrica said, coming up the steps. She frowned, sliding it out.  "You must think your mother was born yesterday." 

"How'd you figure it out?"  

Jerrica chuckled, sitting down beside her son.  "I read about your little outburst at William Faye's funeral." 

Victor laughed.   "Momma, I had to tell them somehow," he admitted. 

"I didn't raise you to be disrespectful." 

Jerrica crossed her arms.  "I'm sorry but that's not acceptable my son," she said, reaching in the box. She pulled out a bundle of letters she kept and handed them to her son.  "This should clear a lot of questions you may have." 

"Victor, can you tell me why you're doing this?" 

"Mama, I think it's time that I get what I deserve. My siblings refuse to accept me as a Blake and they don't want me anywhere near my father's inheritance," Victor snarled.  "With the money that I get from my inheritance I can stop shooting these low-budget flicks and finally start my production company." 

Jerrica laid her head on her son's shoulder.  "Fight for what you deserve but be careful. Those Blake's are mean and ruthless like their mother."

Victor smiled.   "I can handle them.”

 

*****

 

Next time on Euphoria

 

Things get hot and violent as the citizens of Knightdale celebrate Valentine's Day

 

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