“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.
“Umm… I think I like the left better”
“Really?”, Her mother said, looking down at the open box in her hand. “I mean these are real diamonds. They are very expensive”
“The left fits your dress more”, Elara said, getting back to her make-up. The blush brush had pink powder on the top of it and Elara applied it effortlessly on her cheek bones.
“Purr…fect”, she said in a raspy kind of voice.
Just then, one of the maids entered into the living room with a fancy bag in her hands.
“Madam Elara, your dress has arrived”
“Oh great! Bring it over”, Elara said, looking at herself in the make-up mirror she held. The maid placed the dress beside her and waited long for Elara to dismiss which, by the way was a pretty long time.
Elara picked up the brick red coloured matte lipstick, running it over her lower lip.
“Time for the gloss”
That was when she noticed the maid.
“Yes?”, the disgusted look in her eyes.
“Ma'am the … I…”
“Yeah I see the dress. You can go. I don't need to tell you”
“Sorry ma'am”, the maid said, making her way out quietly.
“Hey you! Come here”, her mother suddenly called out to the maid.
“Are you dumb? Can't you see me with these?!”
“Oh I'm…”
“Oh shut up! Take these from my hand now!”
The maid obeyed, taking the jewelries shoved roughly into her hand.
“Take them to my walk in closet and leave them on the dresser table.”
“Yes ma'am”
The maid was about preceding to go when she called her right back. She drew the already frightful girl back, her well manicured fingers pulling at the the thin and light staff uniform.
“And nothing better go missing”
“Yes.. yes ma'am”
“Now get out”
The maid scurried out as quickly as she could and Mrs. Wilde watched her with a scorn on her face.
“Little pompous peasants”
“Mum!”, Elara exclaimed.
“What!”, she retorted sharply, making Elara swallow back her words.
“Let me see your dress”
Kate took out the neatly folded glittery red dress from the bag.
“You like, don't you?”, Ekara said, closing her makeup palette. She sprayed her face, mindful of her lash extensions so she wouldn't get them wet with the setting spray.
“It's an evening event Elara. There's too much glitter on it”
“That's the reason I have a second choice”, she said, getting to her feet.
“But that's for me to decide anyway, Mum. Lest I remember, we won't even be going anywhere if not for me”
“What are you doing with a suit?”
Even without the words, her mother's confused expression said it all.
“Oh that's for Alistair. That got that for him. He's supposed to have been back from work. I'll have that maid send it to him”
Kate just rolled her eyes. “It's a pity you have to be married to that dumb sock”
“Well, that's a mistake you both made”, she said, getting away from the mirror in her mind.
“Not mine”
She took the bag and gathered her make up stuff.
“Get dressed Mum. We are late”
******************
And they were.
The driver had to park at the ‘extra space’ garage and there wasn't any space within the buildings premises. Kate Wilde and her daughter dropped off in front of the hotel.
“Oh you'll wait in the car”, Elara quickly said to Alistair.
“Just so you know where the driver's parked”
She faked a smile, walking away with her mother as they entered into the hotel building.
“Welcome to Dala Alvon Hotel and Suites.”, The receptionist welcomed with a kind smile.
“Reservations or fresh bookings?”
“We are here for the Voxx All Partners Meeting.”
“Right. Apologies if I came on as too strong. It's holding on the last floor of the building but the elevator only takes you to the penultimate floor. From there, you take the stairs”
“That’s alright. Where's the elevator?”, Kate asked, patting her hair.
“Right here to your left”
“Thank you”
Both women approached the elevator and stepped in as soon as the doors slid open. The elevator dropped them on the fourth floor and they came out just in front of the bottom of the short stairs.
Soon, they got to where the bouncers stood in front of the door.
“Your name and invite please”
“Mrs. Kate Wilde here and my daughter, Elara Wilde”
Elara showed them her invite.
“That's a couple's invite”
“Yeah, Alistair Bane is with me”
“And you ma'am.”
“My husband of course. Mr. Wilde”
The bouncer looked at the one with the list. “Valid. They are on the list”
“Great”
Elara stepped forward to enter but they stopped her.
“We are going to have to wait for your plus one”
“Oh… right”, she said, her excitement suddenly deeming into an annoyed expression. She took her phone out of her purse. Embarrassment washed over her as other guests approached, seamlessly entering into the event while they looked on gatecrashers.
“Where's this boy?”, Her mother said in a low toned whisper to Elara.
“I'm trying … to call the I…”
Alistair just then, appeared at the stairs.
“About time Alistair”, she said, taking his hands forcefully as she encircled her arm around his. The bouncers stepped aside, and the doors slid open for them to enter. Flashes of photographers greeted them as they entered and Elara immediately disentangled her hands from Alistair.
“Oh ****, paparazzi”, she said to herself as she walked ahead of him. She tried to slow down so the cameras would get a good view of her slick, black, studded, body hug, knee length dress as she walked away from them. The small side gave her an almost perfect look as her stiletto heels matched perfectly, silver jewelry complimenting her outfit. Her mother too, stunning in a blue bou-bou, richly designed with blue pearls, walked slowly, swinging her ostrich feather hand scarf as she greeted some of her husband's partners.
Meanwhile, Alistair tried to get ahead of the people on the carpet. The flashing lights only added to his heightening anxiety and he feared that if he moved too fast, they'd be provoked to take more pictures of him. He finally got away from paparazzi but he regretted it too soon.
“Isn't that Alistair Bane?”
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
“He's here sir”“You ******* dumbass, what do you mean he's here?”“De Capuedo”Charlie groaned inwardly. How the **** did the idiot get through security. And what the *** is he doing here?!“No, no, no. The ****!”The door swung open suddenly and all the guards were alert, gun raised up and bullet bulked, with their fingers to the trigger. For a moment there was suspense and Capuedo's men gave way for him to emerge.“Signore Charlie … He he he…”, Capuedo's croaky, Italian coated words waved through the tense room, his usual intimidating, Italian laughter following. Laughter that was never intended to induce happiness.“Now, this isn't so much of a warm welcome, is it? Ei? Come on now. Sorely, you can do better than this, Charlie”He moved to the couch at the center of the room, taking his seat as he occupied almost half of the curved sofa.Charlie snapped his fingers as a signal to his men to put their guns down as Capuedo simultaneously did the same with a wave of his own hand.“Wha