Chapter Seven

"NICHOLAS ROSS, PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS A LIE!"

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning, but the shrieking voice of his mother had disrupted the peace in a massive mansion in Castle Pines, Colorado.

His mother's hyper shouting was due to the message and invitation he received from the mayor and his wife, or it could be the invite from the Presley Family. Whichever the case, she was angry about something.

He had made sure the mayor's invite was not last minute like yesterday, but to be held in a total of a week and five days. That would give his mother ample time to find the perfect dress.

He had also returned home a little past midnight with a scampering headache that aspirin had instantly fixed yesterday. It was 8:30 in the morning and sitting down with hundreds of papers on the surface of the coffee table in front of him, Nicholas had decided to take a day off from the office and work from home.

But the stomping feet of his mother walking towards him had caused him to regret his decision. She was an odd woman. Hyper one moment and angry the next. She was a handful but only for his father.

He felt sorry for the old chap on many occasions.

He gently placed the design he was drawing back on top of the large pile. It was the main item to be featured at the upcoming event in two months, and it needed to be perfect.

Removing his reading glasses from his face, he leaned back into the chair.

"What is it now, mama?"

"This is what is wrong, Nick! How daft do those people think we are?"

Stretching the tablet that held the information towards him, Evelyn Ross was livid as she heavily sat in the empty seat next to him.

He took the tablet from her hands, and placing the reading glasses back onto his face; skimmed his eyes over the information.

He sighed with relief, for she was angry about Presley's invitation.

"It is only an invitation, mama. I see nothing wrong in attending the coming-of-age party of Princess Presley."

Scoffing, Evelyn shook her head.

"No, it is not only an invitation. Read the fine print, Nick."

Sliding up the page and pointing onto a line, she was adamant in bringing her point across.

"They are shamelessly speaking about joining their and our Families through marriage. How rude."

Reading the line his mother was pointing on, Nicholas shook his head with a small smile on his lips. She was making a misunderstanding into a big problem.

"No, they are not, mama. It is a simple invitation that will be held four months from now."

Folding her arms on top of her chest, Evelyn muttered.

"This is a coy and professional way to introduce their only daughter to you just like a few months ago. They are trying to set you two up. I am sure of this."

Frowning at his mother's words, Nicholas slowly understood her point of view, but he refrained from agreeing. That is because the look he saw on Princess Presley's face a few months ago was of annoyance and dismissal. She was nowhere near interested in him. She made that clear in her tone of voice and determination of never marrying. However, her father thought otherwise.

"This is a misunderstanding, mama. Princess Presley and I are not interested in each other."

Placing the tablet on the table, Nicholas sighed.

Huffing, Evelyn snatched it, and elegantly, she stood from her seat.

"If this is their way of partnership, I am afraid I will not settle for this. The girl that should marry you should be respectful of both herself and adults--elders even. She should be loving, kind, and understanding. I want no scampering fool or spoiled rich princess for my son."

Sighing once more, as he watched his mother walking away after her dramatic entrance and show, Nicholas shook his head.

Suddenly, his phone lying below some papers started ringing. Shifting the pages aside, he retrieved the phone and raised an eyebrow at the caller ID.

It was Doccharles.

Answering the third ring, he was polite and assertive.

"Hello, Mr. Doccharles, how can I help you?"

Doccharles response and the explanation for his sudden call was quick. By the time he had reached the main point, Nicholas was astonished.

"You want me to be the first male to receive treatment? I understand about the free treatments, Mr. Doccharles, but I had my medicals recently done. I am healthy."

After his refusal, Doccharles used a more appropriate approach to persuade Nicholas; and it was marvelously convincing. After careful consideration, he answered in agreement.

"What time should I be here?"

Glancing at the watch on his wrist, Nicholas attentively listened to Doccharles.

The time was five minutes a quarter to 9, and Doccharles needed his presence for 10:30. He had an hour and thirty minutes to arrive at the hospital.

"Please elaborate further when I arrive at the hospital. Okay. Goodbye."

Standing up, Nicholas quickly dialed his male secretary's number.

"Hello."

His response to his call was instant. It was punctuality that Nicholas always admired in him.

"Mr. Thomas, please come to my house to retrieve the finished products, and deliver them to the third department. My vise president will know what to do."

"Yes, sir. Is there anything else?"

Contemplating the matter, Nicholas sighed.

"Please inform her that the upcoming event will be in three months and not two. By the 25th of August, we should have everything ready."

"I will do that, sir."

Ending the call, Nicholas walked towards the front door. Sighting a small maid making her way towards the foyer, where his family and guests were most likely occupying, he conveyed the message he wanted them to know.

"Please tell everyone that I have stepped out."

Curtseying, the maid rushed towards the foyer. Nodding with a smile in the butler's direction, Nicholas left the house and walked towards the garage. Not one to rely on a private driver to bring him to and from home, Nicholas chose a BMW amongst other vehicles in a gigantic garage and drove out of the mansion. Upon arriving at the hospital, he was greeted by Doccharles and a few professional and recently hired nurses and doctors. Their faces were splitting with smiles. He found it fake and unprofessional, but he did not comment upon it.

"Thank you for accepting this offer, Mr. Ross."

Nodding with a small smile, Nicholas wanted to finish the procedure and return home to complete other necessary documents.

Sensing his absent-mindedness, Doccharles nodded in the doctor's and nurses' direction to escort him towards the elevator.

"Will you dispose of it after this procedure?"

Questioning, before he entered the elevator leading to the second floor, Nicholas gazed into the friendly eyes of Doccharles.

"Of course, Mr. Ross. The procedure is to test if the doctors and nurses are capable and can properly work in the hospital."

Curtly nodding, he allowed the elevator doors to close between him and Doccharles.

A few moments later, and the doctors and nurses escorted him to the very first hospital room on the floor.

"Please enter, sir."

Sighing, Nicholas entered the room, and they closed the door behind him.

A few minutes later, he was back on the first floor, where Doccharles, his wife, and daughter were patiently waiting. Sherlene's stare was piercing. The girl had taken a liking to him, but he was not interested in dating or marriage. God, his achievement yet to accomplish was in three months. He needed his senses to be alert and his mind free. Smiling, when he approached the trio, his voice was light.

"It is nice to see you again, Mrs. Doccharles."

"Oh, no need to be so formal, Mr. Ross. Please call me Flora."

Nodding with understanding, he was not bothered.

"I surely will. In return, please call me Nick."

Flora smiled.

"Certainly."

"Did the procedure go smoothly?"

Turning his attention onto Doccharles, Nicholas' smile remained the same, but he was slightly uncomfortable speaking about this in front of Flora and Sherlene.

"Yes."

Glancing down at his watch, he quickly changed the topic.

"I am needed elsewhere. Have a good day Flora, Mr. Doccharles."

Moving his eyes to look at Sherlene, who had an expectant look in her eyes, Nicholas muttered.

"It is good to see you again, Miss. Sherlene."

'It is a pain to be born with a handsome face.'

He distressingly thought.

With a full-blown smile, Sherlene was happy with his sudden attention.

"Likewise, Mr. Ross."

Sensing this allocation, Nicholas inwardly sighed.

'This girl has fallen head over heels for my features and fame, and not my actual personality.'

Nodding, he sidestepped and quickly left the place. Climbing into his BMW, he raced from the parking lot towards his home. All thoughts of Sherlene's crush on him vanishing into thin air in his brain. He was looking forward to great things three months from now.