chapter 5 welcome home party

Sandra Miller was surfing the net when the news popped up and she checked it out. She squealed and called her mom to check out the news too.

Gosh! This is a high-profile attitude.

Violet woke up early and couldn't be bothered about whether the maids helped or not. Whatever suits them! She went about her duties calmly and left no room for mistakes. She would not be able to cope with the monstrous mother-daughter duo. Violet left for work as soon as she had set the table, her manager had promised to deduct her salary whenever she is late for work again.

She changed into her work uniform and began to serve coffee to the customers.

"Miss Brandon, see me in my office right away," the new manager told her.

He couldn't afford to offend her as she is the person his boss chose. He had to be careful about what he will say.

The other workers could not guess why she was being invited to the manager's office, maybe she would be fired.

Violet knocked on the door and the booming voice granted her access.

"Good morning sir", she looked flustered.

If she knew how many people are clamouring to be seen together with Lucas Arnold then she would know how lucky she is.

" The management has seen how hard working you are and they have decided to raise your salary and position" He handed over a sealed envelope to her.

Violet was shocked and found it absurd. Raise her from a cleaner to what? She only sometimes took up the waiter job, a high school leaver? She was still in a dilemma when she was given a set of keys to a private villa in the most secured and well-developed area of Los Angeles.

She lost her rationality as she ran out of the office. No! this much is too much for her.

The manager sighed, he had told his boss that the surprise would be too much.

She ran into the changing room and changed out of her clothes and then went home.

She wasn't a fool, to begin with. Although the Clayton group of companies had purchased the restaurant, they cannot throw money around. She knew about the unspoken rule in big restaurants like these where one had to receive favour from bosses and customers only by sleeping with them.

The other staff began to talk among themselves, she had indeed been sacked.

Arnold and Stephanie drove to the airport and awaited the arrival of their son. Kevin stepped out of the arrival lounge, he looked a bit tanned and slim. He was already a high school leaver now vying for a position in the top university in the country. His appearance made girls turn their heads.

"Oh my son", Stephanie broke free and pulled him into a bear hug.

" Mom, it's been such a long time".

"Have missed you", she rubbed her face.

" Missed you too mom".

They helped him to put his luggage in the car and then the car drove away. That night was his welcome party, he had to rest first and then show up later because he is the celebrant.

While the preparations were going on, Lucas was nowhere to be found.

Kevin descended the staircase and met the mother in the living room giving instructions to the maids. He sat down and crossed his legs.

"Mom, I'm yet to see Lucas".

Stephanie clicked her tongue.

"That useless brother of yours has not come home for some time now. it's a blessing in disguise."

"I do not understand you mom"

"if he steals your limelight, what will you do about it by that time".

"He has to convince his useless self that he is capable".

The welcome party began at 8 pm, important media houses were invited and a hotel was booked because their house was not spacious enough to accommodate all these people.

The guests came in one after the other.

👤"The decorations are so beautiful".

👤 "Ordinary people cannot book this hotel. It takes a long time before one could do so".

👤 "Really, oh my! Look at those fresh flowers".

👤 "I heard it's very expensive and it's difficult to book for one".

👤 "For this son of theirs, they have put in so much effort".

👤"I heard the other son is so useless and is quite troublesome".

Lucas received a call from his father and was told to make a trip down there. How could these people who bad-mouthed him know that he would choose that moment to show you?

The smiles on their faces became stiff and awkward.

👤"So what? He is just a useless son of the family, what can he do about it? The main character is tonight's celebrant".

👤 "Why are you afraid of him?"

They continued to defend themselves while Lucas gave them a cool glance and took the elevator to the 70th floor where his room was. All his hotels had always reserved a whole floor level and a presidential suite for him.

There was a commotion at the hall's entrance and Sandra miller and her mother came into view each looking effortlessly stunning.

👤" Wow, they even invited this wealthy tycoon".

👤"I have a feeling that this party will be great".

Sandra and her mom held their heads high. Sandra lifted the hem of her long gown and blended into the crowd. The reporters had a big scoop that night as they clicked away on Sandra's beautiful postures. Every wave of her hand and smile was so beautiful and she was so dazzling as a star.

Stephanie had been informed that the Miller family had come to the party. She hurried down and happen to meet Lucas. She had come to check out what the last level looked like. After trying all she could to book the suites on the last floor because it gives a better view of the entire city and it overlooked the man-made lake in the hotel, it did not work out.

Seeing Lucas on this hotel level made her speechless.

"What do you think you are doing here? Do you think this is a place for your type? Let me tell you this, even I couldn't book any suite on this level".

Lucas stared at her with amusement in his eyes.

Stephanie was so angry that her face was distorted. She turned to look at Lucas' assistant, who is this? He had never heard of him having a friend before?

" Oh, you even brought your friend here to mess around? It's important to let you know that if anything gets missing on this floor level, you will be held responsible for it. You think your father and I can spend an extra dime?"

His assistant felt like fainting? This woman's imagination is too wild. Steal something in his hotel? It's just that his boss wanted to keep a low profile here hence she would have been thrown out a very long time ago.

"Let me call the manager to come, in case anything happens", she whipped out her phone and called the manager who rushed to the last floor.

Who was so audacious to steal something on the last floor? That person did not wish to live any longer.

On arriving at the last floor, he caught sight of Lucas and his assistant. His knees went weak, who is the thief? What?....

He sputtered. This conglomerate boss is a thief? Some people don't just love their miserable lives.

Lucas gave him a warning look and he was practically crying.

Boss, why don't you just reveal your identity and save this miserable subordinate of yours the stress?

" Mrs Arnold can I escort you back to your occasion downstairs? Of course you are the mother of the celebrant. We will settle this issue right away".

"You had better settle immediately, some people are not to be trusted". She gave Lucas a condescending look, lifted her gown and walked away gracefully.

The manager went down on his knees.

" I am the sorry boss. I did not know you would be here this evening, I would have sealed this area".

Lucas smiled until his eyes crinkled at the corners.

He waved the manager away and went into his suite. These people have been so gutsy recently that marvelled.

Downstairs the party was going on perfectly, Stephanie was so delighted to see Sandra. She had not given out the invitation to them because she did not know if they will come.

Sandra had always been a family friend but sometime later on they no longer maintained contact hence they became estranged.

Sandra had already known that Lucas is likely to be an outcast one day. She predicted that with the power in Stephanie's hands, Lucas may not get anything tangible from the father's will.

"Good to see you madam", Sandra smiled like a good-natured miss of an elite family.

" Oh my world, Sandra has grown into a beautiful lady. My Kevin will be so glad to see you".

"Of course" Mrs Miller feigned happiness.

The people around them stayed afar off for fear of offending them.

"So what are you doing now?"

"I am in my freshman year, actually I also want to try out this Dax Media Audition. I may be lucky to get signed on"

The good impression Sandra presented deepened when she mentioned the media industry. Stephanie wanted her to be her daughter-in-law right away. She is a good, well-groomed and level-headed young lady. They may even be lucky to get linked up with Clayton's group of industries. The thought alone sent her into an impulsive mood.

She was so emotional that she subconsciously grabbed Sandra's hands but the latter was embarrassed and slowly tugged her hands off. Stephanie realized what she did and was mortified for a brief moment.

Sandra broke the silence with an awkward chuckle, she arranged her hair elegantly and then asked about the celebrant.

👤"Miss miller and the celebrant are suitable together".

👤"They are a match made in heaven".

👤"Miss Miller is amazing, she wants to try out the popular Dax Media audition".

👤"It takes people with great talent and outstanding looks to enter the entertainment industry".

👤 "She has it all".

Sandra curled her lips in satisfaction and felt light-headed with the praises.

She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and she panicked visibly. She staggered and collided with a waiter who had a tray filled with glasses of wine.

Her turquoise blue shimmering gown got wet and clung to her body. Stephanie apologised on behalf of the waiter who also went on her knees in apology. Sandra gritted her teeth and said that it was a mistake and that they should not pursue the matter further. Stephanie was now more than convinced that she is a suitable daughter-in-law.

She guided her to the room she booked, she was confused and angry at the stupid waiter.

How will she compensate her with a gown of similar value and price? As if knowing what she was thinking.

" Don't worry I have called someone to bring about three sets of gowns to me here. It should be arriving soon"

The former heaved a sigh of relief as if a burden has been lifted off her shoulder.

Violet had arrived at the gate and Sandra had forgotten to tell the security men to grant her access. She was delayed at the entrance and the fuzz she made reached the hotel's manager. Naturally, anything that happens around Lucas doesn't escape his eyes. Immediately he heard that she was in a fixed position, he dispatched his men to sort out the issue.

She was treated as an important guest and the security personnel saw her in a new light. Anyone their boss fancies must be respected.

Confusion danced in Violet's large sparkling eyes when she saw how the subordinates held the car door for her, she timidly stepped into it.

They took a private passageway hidden from ordinary people. The subordinates observed her, as expected of someone chosen by the boss, she was so calm despite being in a strange place.

Sandra change her clothes and went back to join the party.