CHAPTER 2: THIS ONE
"Ask me about Scarlet Hotel, I'll reply, but not about the Jones company. The manager isn't in yet?" Lian asked.
"She was here in the morning but left." Eva said. "I'll be downstairs."
After her days work, Lian went home and headed straight to bed. She was too exhausted to talk to her fellow family members. Senior Jones called her daughter, telling her they had a family meeting and had to discuss about the welfare of the Jones Company but Lian locked herself in her room and didn't open.
"Dad, I think issues to do with The Jones Company is something I shouldn't talk about. You guys only look for me when there is trouble."
The next day, she was stopped from going to work and told there were important visitors paying them a visit. The house was decorated and all her sisters were smartly dressed.
Kate was in a shirt tight dress which showed her thighs and her collarbone. Julia wore a short pink skirt and a t- shirt that shown her breast. They both wore heavy make-up. As they were doing their preparations, Lian sat in the living room looking impatient. She was already dressed for work in a simple black skirt with a belt and a white shirt and simple heels. She wore light make up.
"When are those so called visitors coming? Am getting late for work." Lian stood up and paced the room.
"Will you sit down and show some respect when talking about other people?" Senior Jones commanded.
"Dad, how is all this things connected to me? Should I be here? If you want people to welcome the visitors, my sisters are here. At least we all know the Jones Company has nothing to do with me." Lian complained.
Before senior Jones could talk, a convoy of cars entered the Jones compound. Lian looked at for a while, then simply snorted as she leaned forward on the wall. Kate and Julia all came out of their bedrooms and stood sexily waiting. Lian looked at her sisters who were displaying their bodies and almost laughed. She walked to her previous seat and sat down. Mr. Nolan and his son Fidel Nolan entered as a group of bodyguards lined up from the cars. Everyone was standing respectfully except for Lian who remained seated.
"Will you stand up and welcome the visitors?" Quinn told her daughter. Lian pretended she didn't hear her mother talk.
"Sir... Umm... We're sorry about our daughter. We didn't teach her correct manners." Senior Jones said, glaring daggers at Lian. He quickly took a handkerchief and personally wiped two chairs for Mr. Nolan and his son. After the two sat down, Kate and Julia wanted to serve them but Mr. Nolan turned them down. How could a great man and his son eat foods that weren't medically tasted?
"You know why we are here. My son Fidel is here to choose a wife for himself." Mr. Nolan said.
It's not like Fidel was too ugly that ladies didn't come to him, he just wasn't interested in anyone and his father had to take the initiative to force him take a wife. After all the Nolans would need an heir. He was naturally very handsome and every ladies dream man.
Fidel swept his wide black eyes around the room and looked keenly at the three girls. The two girls who stood sexily before him didn't impress him, but one girl who looked simple and impatient caught his attention. She was looking at her father with venomous eyes.
"This one." Fidel pointed at Lian.
"Dad what's the meaning of all this? If the company is bankrupt, then what you need is a sponsor not forcing your daughters in marriage. Did you think I will accept this? Is this why you didn't tell me anything?" Lian suddenly stood up and looked her father directly in the face. Everyone was surprised by the sudden outburst except Fidel whose eyes were fixed on the lady.
"I swear dad, over my dead body." Lian said angrily as she picked up her handbag and started to walk out.
"Where do you think you are going?" Senior Jones pulled his daughter roughly back to the seat. "Sir... We are sorry. Why don't you choose between this other two?"
He generally didn't expect Fidel to choose Lian over the two. He personally wished either Kate or Julia would get the chance to move into such a rich family. Kate and Julia, who were surprised by Fidel's choice looked at Lian with hatred. Of all the family members, no one expected the defiant Lian would be chosen.
"But I like her." Fidel said, fixing his eyes on Lian. She had wide shiny black eyes, her long hair was shiny black, her lips were rosy and she had a sharp cute nose. Her face was small and pretty.
"What did you say? You better change your mind before it's too late. I will personally disgrace you." Lian said in a rather low voice but she meant every word.
Everyone was silent as they were afraid the visitors would be angry by Lian's behavior. Instead, Fidel smiled. Lian angrily picked her handbag and walked out. This time, no one stopped her. Fidel stood up and gave the guards outside a sign.
"Madam you can't leave." One guard stopped her.
"What do you mean I can't leave? So I can't freely walk out of my father's compound?" Lian pushed the guard aside but the guard stood firm like a pillar of cement, unwavering.
"Let me go." Lian said. She was now very angry.
Fidel came out of the house as Mr. Nolan remained to discuss business with Senior Jones.