Franklin rose from his seat and went to welcome the new arrivals.
The old man with his short wife and son had lit their faces with happiness on seeing Franklin. The old man was nearly same the age of Franklin. He was probably five feet in height and he looked slim. His wife was short and had white hair.
"Welcome to the party my dear friends" Franklin said as if he had seen God arriving to his party.
The old man said, "Sorry Franklin. We have come too late to your party"
Franklin smiled and said, "That's not a problem Michael. Come take your seats"
Michael nodded and signaled his wife and son to take their respective seats near to Franklin's family. Milan who had not spoken yet, asked the waiter to provide food to Michael and his family.
"You just wait for a moment. I'll be back with my daughter and son" Franklin said and headed to call Paigne and Jake.
On his way he noticed a young man sitting on a chair with a cigarette in his hands. Franklin gave a smile at him and the man too smiled. He was wearing loose fitting clothes and a jeans pant. He had a mole in his right cheek. A week before he got the ownership of one of Franklin's industries. Franklin passed him and found his daughter and son with a guy sitting together and chatting.
Paigne rose from her seat on seeing her dad. Jake followed her. Fatan sat there awkwardly doesn't know what to do.
"Come there" Franklin said and smiled.
"Who is that dad?" Paigne asked.
"You will be knowing that soon my dear" Franklin replied and turned.
"Let's go" Jake said and followed his dad to visit the new arrivals. Paigne decided to move and gave a sad look at Fatan Khan and said, "Wait here Fatan. We will be back in a short span of time"
Fatan nodded.
*********
The whole family as well as the new guests sat in a separate dining table. Paigne took her seat next to Jake. She examined the arrival of three new guests. She had not seen them before. She found a young and handsome man sitting near to his father and was drinking a lime juice. Paigne couldn't understand what's happening around her. Franklin broke the silence and said" Again I welcome to my party"
"Thank you Franklin" Michael replied. He has finished his butter brickle.
"Ok", Franklin raised his hand" it's not a time for surprises and suspense. Let's reveal it Michael, shall we?"
"Yeah sure"
"Carina, Paigne and Jake listen up. Michael and I were school friends since childhood"
"Oh! Really? That's cool" Jake smirked.
Franklin nodded and said, "Now we became the leading businessmen in the city. Michael now you introduce yourself"
Michael nodded and said, "First things first, warm greetings to you all. I'm Michael and she is my wife, Bella"
Bella who kept her glass of pineapple juice down and said, "Warm meetings to you all. I'm so glad to meet you"
"And" Michael pointed his forefinger towards his son and said, "this is my son William Dravid"
William Dravid gave a smile. He looked young and fit. He had curly brown hair and wore spectacles. He was wearing a brown suit which suited him well.
"He's a manager in my industry. In fact Franklin and I have decided to work together to gain more profit" Michael said
"Really? So-"
Jake was stopped by his father who said, "Yes you are right Jake. We gonna become partners"
Paigne was hardly hearing all these pep talks right from the beginning. She felt uncomfortable sitting there. Suddenly she woke up from her seat and said, "Sorry for the interruption. I thought you all gonna have a lot of fun. At least some fun. But you're talking about your business matters. I'm not interested in business talks. So I'm leaving"
"Wait Paigne" Franklin insisted.
"What for?" Paigne barked.
"Don't you remember what I said?" Franklin said
"I do. But I didn't expect this type of surprise" Paigne said in annoyance.
"Ok" Michael started, "The surprise that you are waiting for is that my son William Dravid has a will to marry you" he finished.
Paigne was completely taken up on hearing this. She couldn't believe it at all. She struggled to find the apt words to speak. Finally she said, "What are you saying? I couldn't—"she stopped.
"Yes Paigne" William Dravid spoke for the first time to Paigne, "I wish to marry you. You will be my best life partner". he finished.
All the family members stared at Paigne to hear her reply. Jake smiled awkwardly at Paigne.
Michael said "William will be your best life partner".
Paigne refused to give looks at them. Though she had attended the age of getting married, something made her mind lose the ability to make decisions about it.
Franklin rose from his seat and went closer to Paigne. "Believe me Paigne. William will be your best life partner and I am not going to arrange anything before your acceptance'
Paigne got disturbed on hearing the words "BEST LIFE PARTNER"
Finally Paigne got the apt words to speak, "Ok then, I just want to have a date with William Dravid."
She rose from her seat and moved away from that place.
"Ok let's meet tomorrow at 10:00am in Café's House, Paigne I'm waiting." William Dravid said with a cheer.
*********
The guests after filling their stomachs and after completing their celebrations started to depart. They presented their gifts to Franklin. A man who was wearing a loose fitting clothes and jeans pant and with a mole in his right cheek, presented a Sonata wrist watch to Franklin.
Finally the rich man's party came to an end.