“As you know, your grandfather stipulated that you would not come into your inheritance until your twenty-first birthday.”
“Today’s your birthday?” Thane mutters under his breath.
I grin. “It is, moy droog.”
He shakes his head, surprised by the revelation.
It is true I have kept much from him.
I’m not a trusting man by nature. However, Thane is now my blood brother, and I know I must change.
Yurlov continues. “Starting today, you will no longer be living off a portion of that inheritance but will take charge of it all—including the stipends to each of your brothers.”
I sit up in my chair, a slow smile curling my lips. Now, that is a responsibility I may actually enjoy.
I give Thane a sideways glance. “I wish I could see the looks on their faces when they hear that portion of the will.” My chuckle has a hint of malice in it—the wounds still run too deep. “I bet they’ll regret the way they’ve treated me.”
Thane puts his hand on my shoulder and says in a somber tone, “Anton, with great power, comes great responsibility.”
I growl, not appreciating his sage-like advice. I have no interest in entertaining the idea of compassion where my brothers are concerned.
Yurlov clears his throat.
I glance at him.
The instant our eyes meet, he licks his lips nervously and stammers, “Although you have the official document in your hands, your grandfather insisted I read through the entire will in your presence, gospodin.”
I shake my head, feeling annoyed. “Why? I am capable of reading it myself.”
Yurlov flips to the second page of his copy and reads directly from it. “It is imperative that you, Anton Durov, understand and appreciate the numerous assets you are now responsible for as the beneficiary of the Durov estate. Only then can you manage the inheritance with which you have been entrusted.”
I snort in amusement, not surprised that my grandfather spelled out every detail. It highlights his high intellect—and his level of distrust.
I assume his distrust stems from his son, Vladimir. What other reason would he have to entrust me with the Durov legacy at such a young age?
I sigh with growing disinterest as Yurlov rattles through the many assets already known to me, but my jaw drops when he begins naming ones I am completely unfamiliar with.
“Wait,” I order.
Yurlov looks up at me. “Yes, gospodin?”
I gesture to the multiple stacks of files. “Do each of these files contain a separate asset?”
“They do, gospodin.”
“Oh, hell,” I complain. “This will take forever…”
I glance at Thane. “I am sorry, comrade. This is not how I envisioned today playing out. We were supposed to have fun on my birthday. Don’t feel you must stay.”
He shrugs. “I have no issues with staying.”
I let out a long, frustrated sigh.
Looking at Yurlov, I snarl, “Continue, then.”
As Yurlov walks me through each asset tied to the estate, Thane’s words keep ringing in my ears, but I hear it in my grandfather’s voice.
“With great power, comes great responsibility…”
I suddenly recall Grandfather saying those exact same words the night he gave me the ring on my pinky. I look down at the ring, suddenly full of misgiving.
Hours later, Yurlov reads off the total value of the family estate, which I now own outright.
I stare at him in utter shock when I hear it. “How is that even possible?”
Yurlov meets my gaze, licking his lips nervously. “You come from a long line of successful men, gospodin. Each one was devoted to not only managing the wealth of the Durov estate but also building upon it.”
“Did I hear you correctly?” Thane asks him. “You said 411 billion rubles?”
When Yurlov nods, Thane quickly does the conversion in his head and looks at me in wonder. “That’s almost six billion U.S.”
I nod slowly, equally stunned.
I am certain my brothers have no idea about the extent of our wealth or they would have found a way to kill me already.
But now, I’m left wondering…
Did my father know?
I can appreciate why my grandfather bypassed not only my father but every one of my brothers when choosing his successor.
In the wrong hands, this kind of money could destroy countries.
Instead of the sense of excitement for my newfound wealth I expected, I’m suddenly feeling oppressed by it.
Yurlov states, “I must stress, gospodin, that every heir before you has made it his sole mission to increase the value of the family inheritance.”
“To what end?” I challenge him. “What is the point of owning such riches if no one benefits from it?”
Yurlov looks at me anxiously and begins wiping his brow again. “That is the way it has always been, and it was the expectation of your grandfather when he entrusted it to you.”
I growl, resenting the heavy responsibility of this inheritance. I look at Thane, drowning in my misery.
He surprises me by smiling.
“Do you enjoy my pain, comrade?” I demand.
“Anton, you have been given an unprecedented opportunity to influence the world. I can’t think of a better man for the position. In one lifetime, you will change the entire direction of the Durov legacy.”
Thane’s assertion sets a fire in my belly. In the very depths of my soul, I know that he is right. However, Yurlov seems exceedingly distressed by Thane’s suggestion.
“Your duty is to grow the estate. You cannot go against the generations before you.”
I narrow my eyes. “I disagree. My grandfather chose me for a reason.” I lean forward, gazing deep into Yurlov’s eyes. “And I plan to make certain the Durov name is no longer associated with my father.”
My voice becomes dark with rage when I add, “Every trace of that maggot will be erased from history.”
I notice Yurlov swallow hard.
Although I do not know the extent of Yurlov’s dealings with my father, I wonder if he is privy to some of the unspeakable things my father is responsible for, so I warn him, “I am not a man who suffers fools or the morally bankrupt.”
A droplet of sweat rolls down Yurlov’s forehead and falls into his eye, but he doesn’t dare break my gaze.
“You and I will speak later…in private.”
The man reeks of fear.
Yurlov bows his head low before he turns to leave. Before he makes it to the door, I tell him in a sarcastic tone, “Be sure to send my brothers my regards.”
After he shuts the door, I turn to Thane and chuckle harshly. “I almost wish I could be the one to deliver the news to my brothers.”
“You have that right.”
A cruel smile spreads across my lips. “It is far better if Yurlov is the one to suffer my brothers’ outrage.”
“Do you think you will keep him on as your legal representative?”
My eyes narrow. “Yurlov’s future will depend on the outcome of our ‘talk’. I need to know the extent of his involvement with my father before I decide.”
Thane looks at the mountain of paperwork representing the Durov fortune. “Damn…you realize it’s going to take days to go through all of this.”