The red bubbly liquid filled the tall tulip glass in his hand.
“Honey, have you seen this?!”, she said, walking into the living room rather more hastily than
usual.
“The Voxx Group is having their first annual gathering in twenty years.”, Mr. Wilde said,
sipping his chilled rose wine. “I'm aware”
“And? Aren't we attending?”
“Of course we are attending. But I have a business meeting today. It depends on when I finish”
“And you didn't think to tell me Gerald? You had invitations from over a week ago! And I'm just
finding out today about this event?”
“I've been occupied, Kate.”, He said in a cool tone, putting down his glass. “I'm busy”
“Plus, you sit all day with your phone. How come you weren't aware?”
“So? What has that got to do with this?”
Gerald Wilde placed the glass out again for the wine chef to fill. He sipped slowly like he hadn't heard a word she had just said. He waved a hand, dismissing the young chef.
“What do you want Kate?”, he asked, dropping the glass on the glass centre table.
“My stylist is going to be here in minutes with new dresses, shoes and a make up artist . Make sure you get the bill cleared”
She turned sharply, headed for the door.
“I told you I have a meeting. Whenever I'm done with the meeting, I decide we go. Besides, it's a couple event, so you dare not go alone”
With that, he got up from the sofa and went into the bathroom. In minutes, he was out and dressed, ready for his business meeting. The doorman got the car and Kate Wilde viewed from the living room window with anger.
Just then, Elara ran into the living room, calling her.
“Mum! Mum! Look at this!”, she said, running with her device to where her mother stood.
“What is it dear?”
“Glocker Eran Michelle is going to be at the first Voxx meeting today! Isn’t that totally
unbelievable?”
“Who the hell is Glockeran Michelle, Elara?”
“What?! Please tell me you are joking. How do you not know who Glockeran Michelle is?!”
“I don’t have an idea of who you are talking about Elara. But maybe if you can pull a few strings on your father to let out the invites, you can meet whoever it is”
“Oh I’m going alright”, Elara said, busy on her phone.
“Don’t chide yourself darling. It’s a couples invite.”
“So?”, Elara asked, raising her head, one eyebrow up. “I said I’m going”
“With who? Sterling?”, her mother asked, sarcasm unmissed in her tone.
“Yes...?”, Elara said, returning the energy.
“Elara, you signed a betrothal contract. We signed you up to marry Alistair, thinking we will automatically get to the top of the Voxx Group. But the idiot disappointed us and didn’t become president. That withstanding, it still doesn’t give you the freedom to frolic around carelessly with whoever you chose, not to mention Voxx affiliates and partners. Reputation, my dear daughter, is costly, especially when you have all the money in the world but not so much power.”
“And your point?”, Elara asked in a bored, indifferent tone.
“You won’t go with Ethan Sterling if you are wise.”
Elara rolled her eyes, but Kate already had her daughter where she wanted her. Call her manipulative or a blackmailing expert, it was simply what she did to have her way.
“So what are you saying exactly?”
“Get your father out of that horrid meeting so we can go. You with Alistair and I, of course, with your father. Nobody is asking you to act like partners. He’s simply your ticket to the gala”, Kate said, rising from the sofa.
“Urgh! I wouldn’t be in this stupid marriage if you guys didn’t betroth me”, Elara said angrily, storming up the stairs with her phone.
“My stylist will be here any minute. Make it quick darling”.
*******************************
Alistair looked at himself in the fancy royal blue suit. The coat of the suit gave a furry and expensive feel, probably the most expensive thing he’d wear in his life. Not even his graduation suit had been this expensive.
‘A Jordan White piece’, he read aloud from the branded pack it had come in. The shoes seemed to be from the same brand too and they matched perfectly with the colour of what he had on. He had to agree he looked sharp even if he didn't want to go for the event. And yes, it had everything to do with anxiety.
Since his parents died, he hadn't been as much as within a four mile radius from the company. Of course the whole world knew who his parents were. But did they know him? Was he going to be welcomed at his father's own empire or would they pin the cause of his parents death on him?
It was what he'd been told too. That he had been the cause. It was probably the reason he didn't live with the confidence of inheriting his parent's company because the guilt of the story still hung heavy on him. As he walked closer to the long mirror, he could feel the memories and emotions rushing him all at once. He wasn't even there yet and he was already getting feelings of childhood nostalgia.
He adjusted the wrist of his hand and just then, a knock came on the door.
“Sir, the car is ready sir”
“Dadd!!”, Elara whined on the phone. “You are not going to be done till another hour and the event is just fifteen minutes away from starting!”“Elara, I have said…”“And it just can't happen! Urghh”, she groaned loudly into the mouthpiece.“I have to go back to my meeting Elara”“Ok, ok, fine, wait. Release our own invites and you can cut down on my allowance by 5%”Her father was quiet for some time.“It's a one time offer Daddy. And don't you think I won't get it back”Gerald laughed. “I'll have my secretary mail the digital invites to you right away”“Perfect. Have fun with your boring meeting”, she said and hung up.Just then her mum walked into the living room.“Darling, this or this?” she asked, holding up the pieces of jewelry. In her right hand was a simple pendant necklace with a heart shaped diamond designed with shiny little threads of silver criss- crossing the face. Her left hand had a fine gold torque necklace in its open box with matching earrings, bracelets and rings.
He moved into where the main party was holding, where the elegant tables and chairs were arranged. Middle aged people talked in groups, very elegantly dressed so you could guess at once that they were rich. Most of the young people were in groups of two and three and their groups seemed clustered together to one side of the space from the supposed entrance.“Oh, there's Mr. Wilde”, he spotted as his eyes moved slowly across the open space. He could see him with some elderly men of his age discussing in low volumes near the stage.Alistair couldn't believe that he was in this very Voxx meeting - the first after twenty years of his parents’ death. What shocked him the most was his sharp memory of the faces - he could still tell and recognise the owners of some of the enterprises under the Voxx Group and some of his father's closest partners. As his eyes darted around, in search of a free seat, he hoped earnestly that no one would draw attention to him.But how wrong he was.“Isn't that
Alistair looked at the document shoved into his hands. He was confused.“What… I.. I don't understand”“Sign the freaking papers, Alistair!”, Elara shouted, glaring angrily at him.“I don't understand, Elara. What.. are … are these divorce papers?”Smack! That was the third time he had been slapped in a row.“Have you suddenly lost your ability to read? Or is it your ability to comprehend that's the problem?” , Elara insulted, casting her wicked glares on him.But Alistair's mental faculties didn't want to comprehend at that moment. They were blank, they remained blank and that was how he wanted them to remain.“I have had a whole year. A whole year Alistair! A whole year of putting up with your… your stupidity! And… and … with the …. disgrace… and with the … the… Urghh!”, She shouted in frustration, tugging furiously at her hair.“You see what you are doing?! Do you see what this bastard has caused for this family, Gerald? And I warned you, didn't I? And you didn’t fulfil all the pla
“Alistair”, Nathan said, getting to his feet as soon as he saw him. He walked over more briskly than Alistair entered the room, engulfing him in a hug. Surprised but not shook, he slowly hugged back, memories flooding him all at once.“Nathan”, he said slowly, in a raspy, loud whisper.“It's been… so long”“Yeah like fifteen years”, Alistair said, disentangling from the hug.“Still can't believe it's you”“I….me neither”“Ahemm”, the lawyer's deep cough brought both young men to reality.“Oh… ummm.. sorry. Back to business please”, Nathan said as he unnecessarily adjusted his suit, leading Alistair to where the fairly long conference table was.“Take a seat please”, Nathan instructed as Regan walked up to pull out the chair.“Thanks”, Alistair said to Regan, taking his seat slowly.An awkward silence filled the room as Nathan signaled all the men in the room to leave, except Regan of course. Nathan cleared his throat, obviously a little nervous to start.“Umm… Mr. Alistair, this is y
“What’s the meaning of this Nathan? Huh? Why didn't you inform me that this was what this meeting was about?”“I’m sorry sir. I was only acting on Mr. Voxx final instructions.”“Mr Voxx is dead! And I adopted his son. I am closer than a next of kin. I should have been told about this!”The elevator doors swung open. Mr. Wilde stepped out angrily, headed for the building's exit door. The automatic doors slid open and Mr. Wilde came to out where his car was parked.“I want a copy of that contract document, Nathan”“I'm sorry Mr. Wilde but you don't get a copy. But you will get to sign in consent as a voluntary adoptive parent to Mr. Alistair's inheritance.”“I'm not asking you Nathan. That's an order. And if I don't get a copy, forget my signature being in that consent.”“Oh you will sign it Mr. Wilde”, Nathan said, his tone suddenly raspy and dangerous.“You have too much to risk. After all, isn't he still the bastard son in law of yours?”“What … what are you talking about?”Nathan sm
Alistair woke up rather too suddenly, his seemingly pleasant yet nightmare of a dream stirring his consciousness. For a moment, he was bewildered, stirring at the suite he was in, confused. The chandelier lights, though dimmed, seemed to bright for his eyes. He squinted, his realization first of his non-aching body.Moving around, his soon found the bathroom and washed his face. Then realization dawned him. The events of last night.Anyone who'd known him and witnessed the previous night could have given him an award for composure. Apparent composure though. No one knew or rather, he should say no one knew yet the things he already had set in motion in his imagination.But his sudden wealth had shook him. Even Nathan knew that at some point, he'd drop the nonchalant, indifferent attitude he was wearing. He was beyond awed. And the irony of events as well? Hadn't it been few moments away from his utter embarrassment and divorcement? A smug smile appeared on his face as he wondered the
“Good morning, Mr. Nathan”, his secretary greeted as he passed by her office.“Morning Kathy”She got up quickly, gathering her files as she attempted to catch up to him.“Sir…the…”, she stopped a little to adjust the files in her hand.“All our shareholders and partners, are they seated?”“Yes sir but …”“The directors of the Voxx groups?”“Ye..yes”, she said, distracted by the task of keeping the tipsy files in place.“But sir…”“And the Heads of departments?”“Yes sir. They are…”“Great”, Nathan said, as he took a turn to the left. He was about push the conference room door open when Kathy finally caught up to him to stop him“But sir…”, she said in a rather exhausted tone. A file slipped off the pile on her hand.“Yes Kathy?”“Mr. Charlie…”“What about him?”“He's arrived.”“Is he in?”“Yes”“Perfect”Kathy handed her boss his work phone.“Escort him to the conference room. Meeting starts in fifteen minutes”“Yes Boss”, Regan's deep-voiced reply came through the speaker. The call t
Alistair walked over to the large window in his office, watching the reflection of those behind instead of the breath taking view of the city below. The lower office staff were arranging the office, a silent yet stuffing activity for him. He wanted them to distract his thoughts, but they pretended not to notice him, a character they played out too well and so unknowingly, it seemed so normal.Back to the thoughts. He looked down, finally acknowledging the beautiful view of the city from his window. A speed boat breezed through and it seemed funny to Alistair how the big companies always had their headquarters situated on the island part of the city. Alistair blinked, and suddenly he could see the younger version of himself in the reflections instead of the cleaners. He could see himself walking, the awkward and unusual memories he had of his first day at his father's office.“Alistair”Till that day, he wondered if he was actually meant to have been there. His mother never took him any