Sophia walked gradually as she carried the heavy tray. She was halfway to the drawing room. The visitors on the sofa shifted their gaze to her, making her look down. She was quite anxious. But she couldn't back off lest it should create a bad impression. It would punish her later on.
" Oh, God. Do I have to? What if I annoy them or do not meet their standards?" She began agitating her mind. She overthought twice before stepping into the drawing room until her aunt noticed her standing.
" Why are you standing there? serve the guests. Chop!Chop!" her aunt yelled at her. Sophia shifted her nervous face to her aunt's scowled face. Her dull figure walked slowly towards the guests and served them cake and juice. One of them exchanged a warm smile with her. Sophia blushed harder.
Sophia's aunt's eye gestures made her turn up to her. Her aunt's terrible expressions made Sophia jerk. " I am sorry if my maid had been careless with her work. I will surely reprimand her later on." stressing the words 'careless' and 'reprimand', her aunt spoke.
" No, on the contrary, her manners were extraordinary. The way she treated me and my business accountant, literally won my heart." the most charming fellow confirmed." I want to know more about her. Sophia, who are you."
" I...." Sophia stuttered.
" Don't be nervous. No one is going to judge you." His sweet voice soothed her. She was about to speak when her aunt interfered in between the conversation.
" She is just an ordinary maid. She has no family of her own. So I decided to adopt her. Isn't that good on my part?" Her aunt bluffed confidently.
" Yes, it's good." The visitor answered plainly.
" Then you shall meet my daughters too. They are very hardworking and mature. They even do a decent job. Will you insist on meeting them?" Her aunt's excitement was visible in her chat.
"Okay, I would like to." the visitor spoke.
" Diana and Stella, come over here. I have to introduce you both to this noble gentleman." Her aunt shouted in an energetic and enthusiastic tone.
The guests were unaware that both Diana and Stella were eying on them from the back door since their entrance. They were standing there before these guests' arrival. The main motive was to win the businessman's heart. So, to make a good first impression, they combed their hair, applied heavy makeup, and even attired themselves with costly jewels and clothes.
" I will go first?" Stella asserted.
" No, I will." Diana disputed with her.
While the argument continued, the guests' continued to shift their gazes to every member of the room. One of them glanced at his ticking watch. Their manners told their moods. Both the sisters were taking too long to appear.
Then suddenly the front door opened ajar. Both the girls appeared. When they came in full view, the guests were shocked. Both of them looked awkward. Their dressing taste made guests look at them from tip to toe.
" So, how do we look, sir." Stella tried to flirt with the businessman.
" Good, more than good." the businessman grunted as he moved his eyes to his companion at the last words. His expression hinted to his accountant that it was a fake appreciation.
" So.." Stella grabbed the businessman's hand softly. But in reluctance, the businessman drew it back making it hit the sofa's side marble edge. His face became furious. His knuckles turned red. His stare spoke his rage as he looked at the afraid Stella.
Sophia got disturbed, while her aunt continued to study the investor's expression. " Why are you standing there, Sophia? Look at his wound and bring the medicine." Her aunt's shout made Sophia nod her head in return.
Sophia walked patiently towards the businessman. She checked his hand and was about to leave when the businessman grabbed her hand. Sophia got paused." Dear, I do not need any drugs. I just need your warm kiss on my knuckles. Please kiss them." Sophia couldn't believe the words she heard, and neither could anyone in the room. His warm voice was seducing her.
Sophia was hesitant to kiss it. " Should I? but I am nervous." She thought. Then, Sophia bent low to kiss his knuckles. There was silence for a while till she continued with her kissing. After she was done kissing them, the businessman pinched her cheek.
Sophia's heart thumped for a minute. It was throbbing with the sensation of his touch on her skin. Though she had a slim body, she inherited her cheeks from her mother. They were soft and chubby like her mother.
" I am leaving now." Hardly had the businessman spoken those words, when he paced abruptly towards the exit. His accountant followed him. " Please, Mr. Joe, wait a bit and we shall talk about the deal." Her aunt spoke with concern.
But they had already left the lawn when her aunt walked out. " She just spoiled everything," Stella complained while pointing her finger at Sophia. " Stay there! Don't move." her aunt came striding from the door.
" Do you think you can attract a millionaire like Joe with your innocence? Who you think you are. Just look at your standard and theirs. How dare you kiss him. Your bonding can never be possible. You could have my daughter had a chance." Sophia looked down while listening to her aunt's curses. Her aunt was jealous of her eying a millionaire.
" Maybe, we should make arrangements to marry her off," Stella uttered.
" We should start looking for some cheaper families or say some robbers or bankrupt. She is by no means less than them." Diana mocked Sophia.
" The process needs to be speeded up. But we can spare her for some time provided she gets a promotion in her job." Her aunt laid a condition.
It was not late when she grabbed Sophia's hand and dropped her in her small room. " It's evening. You should better sleep now to avoid controversies. You won't get dinner." Saying so, her aunt slammed the door shut.
"Oh God, what's the new trouble? Now my aunt would be more alert," said Sophia. She continued to gaze at the hidden carvings on the ceiling. Then, she laid herself on the bed to get a good sleep.