Moments earlier, in a vacant receiving room occupying one of the top floors of the spanish-inspired villa housing the old residence.
"Eh! I've heard we're meeting someone important tonight." A flirty male voice scoffed as he strike up a conversation following a light chuckle. Stating quite the obvious, James Ledesma appear extremely delighted by the sudden news. He kept glancing outside the window and could not stay put even for a minute. How can he not be this excited? He was finally going to meet the rumored child of his Aunt out of wedlock and it was well in fact a woman at that. Well, the rumor has only been circulating amongst the family and it was actually no rumor at all. His Aunt Camilla has been opened about it since late last year and revealed that that particular person has already arrived in the country and tonight is going to be their first meeting ever. His smile was expectant. James had a speculation, that woman must be quite a beauty herself judging from the genes she must have inherited.
Another male voice erupted as he spoke in a rather indifferent tone, "What are you so excited about?" That was Daniel. Their youngest sibling in the family with James being the second son. He sat quite comfortably in the couch nearby with a glass of wine in one hand.
Daniel heard his brother clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. You know nothing, Dan." They rarely call his brother Daniel for the sole reason that his name doesn't quite suit his personality well. He was no way near righteous. James mocked while he grimaced at the liquor in his brother's hand. The sun is still shining brightly from the outside and all the man did since they arrived was drink nonstop. 'Does he never get drunk?'
Dan really loves some booze whenever and wherever he goes. His alcohol tolerance was simply beyond comprehension.
"As if you do." Daniel replied nonchalantly before sipping his white wine. He savoured it's decadent flavour in his tongue as it slowly descends in his throat, feeling completely satisfied. The only consolation for his presence today was the fact that the wine cellar in the old residence has a remarkable collection of vintage wine, some were even gifted by friends overseas and they were decades old. It was too tempting not to attend today's banquet.
"Huh!" James snickered. He'd rather play dead that bicker with this younger brother of his. He ignored the man and continued blabbering as he fix his gaze down below the roundabout driveway near the entrance of the villa all across the gates, awaiting someone's arrival.
...
Moments quickly passed and everyone inside the room continued doing their own thing, when a certain man realizes something. Squinting his eyes towards the sight of the figure beside him, he finally broke his silence.
"Dan, that's enough." A solid and deep low voice warned as he spoke. If this man's alcohol breath leaves any lingering smell, he would be the one in trouble. Tonight's gathering was unlike any of their past family dinner meetings, so they better behave accordingly so as to not provoke the elders any further.
" ... Fine."
With a helpless sigh, Daniel relented after a long pause as he passed his wineglass over to his cousin brother. If there's any man he fear in this lifetime, it would be no other than Eduard, elder son of his only Uncle. Yes, he was neither afraid of his own father, nor his own brothers, not even the old madam residing in this villa. Only Eduard Bunker Ledesma can bend his knees in submission. No matter how trivial, he's at his mercy, always.
"Pfft." A teasing laughter followed suit.
"Oh, can't wait to meet Laurice." James whispered silently as he chanted merrily in high spirits.
His musing was interrupted by a familiar deep, low voice.
"James." Darting his attention towards the other man, Eduard called out as he shot him a look that seems to say - he was annoying and it was ticking him off.
James choke back laughing and froze. Eduard's voice was intimidating enough and with his dignified presence filling the air like a warning, his pulse begun raising. James turned to his back and found not only one but three pairs of eyes staring blatantly at him with a disgruntled expression.
"Quit mumbling nonsense." Eduard added. He apparently could hear everything while his cousin was talking to himself.
"... but." James muttered under his breath wondering what he has done wrong.
"But what?" Dan proded instead smirking inwardly. 'Dare to mock me in front of cousin brother?'
"... I ... was just curious." James said a matter-of-factly, stumping on his words.
Everyone fell strangely silent for a good few moments afterwards. 'Weren't they curious themselves? Ofcourse they all were.' It's a family matter that concerns all five heirs. Well, six in total including the woman coming tonight. The entire family rarely gather together with a complete attendance, but even both their busy parents who were currently on a business trip were summoned back and they flew straight here immediately as per the old madam's orders.
Matthew, the eldest amongst the three brothers were the first one to recover from the sudden realization.
"Take my advice, James. Stop being curious." His sharp voice being so prominent was enough to render his second brother speechless. Matthew seldom speaks his mind but whenever he does, he always seems to have put in so much thought about it that it completely makes total sense.
James on the other hand cleared his throat in discomfort and retreated back as he finally moved away from the window and sat obediently across his cousin and brothers.
Each of them was still lost in their train of thoughts when they heard a soft knock at the door.
"Come in." That was Eduard. There was no guessing that the person knocking this time was probably his own sister.
The door opened and a sophisticated woman in pleated skirt and v-neck bodysuit emerged from outside. Her lithe movements were simply breathtaking. If not for that permanent straight face that she was oddly known for, she would have been an ideal and perfect woman.
Julia noticed the odd silence around and uttered oh so non-chalantly, "Why the serious expression?" She was curious and then she wasn't. Julia received no answer in return but she knew better. Her flawless face cracked no change in her expression and ignored whatever everyone's troubling with at the moment.
"Come down soon. Grandmother has done preparing." She then left immediately right after delivering the message.
And by soon, Julia ment now.
Each of the men composed themselves as well and scurried down the stairs to pay respects to the old madam.