On the Stairs,
The Nest,
Sea City.
Tuesday February, 15
6:41 PM
Angeline
I felt self-concious as Mr. Cheng kept glancing at me while we descended the stairs.
"Do I look that bad!"
I was wearing a navy blue flowing cotton kimono, bound at the waist with a thick white belt and white woolen shoes to match. My hair had been bound in a tight bun on top of my head, held with a white scrunchy but I could feel trendils fanning both sides of my face.
Soon, we truly reached the board room, at the softly knowed its door, before popping his head in.
"I've brought Miss Richmen-Ozigi, sir."
"Let her in!" came the soft reply.
"Thank you!" "I said to him politely, as he held the door for me.
"Thank you." I replied with a curtsey as Blaise entered my body, as I entered the Board Room.
I let out a silent wow as I entered the chilly well furnished room.
"Hello, child. I formally welcome you to my house!"
I turned to the owner of the voice and smiled on seeing Mr. Long seated at the head of a long mahogany table flanked by some men and women that slightly resembled him.
"Good evening, everyone!" I greeted with another curtsey, and they mummured thier reply.
"How do you find my home? Have you seen your room?"
"Yes sir, your house is very lovely!" I said, with genuine enthusiasm. "My room is too marvellous for words. It has the most heavenly view of the sea."
"I knew you'd love it! I saw the way you kept smiling whenever you'd looked the window on the plane!" he said, quite pleased with himself.
"I was just telling my son the same thing. You know back in 1952..."
"Father I believe you have a reason for summoning her." the man on his right interrupted.
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry I got carried away again, child." he said, heavily standing from his chair before taking measured steps towards me.
"I called you here because I personally wanted to introduce my children to you."
"Ok?" I said uneasily as he led me forward with his hand on the small of my back.
"This is my first son, Dexter." he began, introducing the man on his right that had interrupted him earlier. "He is the current executive of my company and a very busy man so don't bother him with frivolous things if you don't want to get a scolding."
I replied with a nod, Mr. Dexter really loved like a serious business men with his graying hair. His dark eyes looked oddly familiar...
"Meet his younger brother, Jet." Mr. Long continued, interrupting my thoughts.
"He's a Motorsport driver and jockey. Though recently I just found out that he's an underground MMA wrestler." Mr. Long added with a disapproving glare at his rebellious trill seeking son, who was unperturbed by his father's disappointment.
"Then there's John, he's a scientist. Well, a chemist to be exact as he's in charge of all the pharmaceutical subsidiary companies.
Unfortunately, Blaise stirred within me at that moment and the ticklish sensation made me to burst out in laughter.
"What's funny?" Dr. John asked, quite puzzled about the reason for my chuckles.
"I'm sorry sir. Please forgive my outburst. It's just that he looks more like an action movie actor, with all that spiky red hair. If they'd put his picture on a drug, I won't buy it..." I said, laughing again.
To my relief, the rest were infected with my humour and began to laugh along with me.
"Told you so!" jibbed, a young women with a sexy dark bobs. over weer
"Shut up, Belinda!" John hissed, slightly nettled. "That's not why my drugs don't sell ..."
"Well, now I guess you'll finally take our advice and go back to being a doctor." Lady Long said, unperturbedly as the filled her nails.
"That's enoughs, Bethany!" Mr. Long ordered before turning to face me. "That's Bethany. I guess you two have already met."
"Yes, sir."
"She's a Lawyer, by the way."
"That explains a lot!" I blurted before I could stop myself.
"I guess you still haven't tamed that tongue of yours!" she scowled.
"I can see you two have already met!" Mr Long chuckled, over the jeers and taunts of his other children.
Mrs. Bethany to my suprise, said nothing but angrily frayed her hair with a huff.
"This is Ruth." he continued, pointing to a pretty woman with red curls. "She is the Headmistress of my Middle and High school."
"That's Sam." he said, pointing to am owlish man with glasses. "He's the head historic professor in my college."
"This is my darling Vera." he said, praising a delicate lady with short hair. "She's a Chef and owner of Mama Vee's Delights."
"Then, there's Keven." he continued, wearily waving his hand at a pompous looking man. "He's politican. And a notorious gambler. So, unless you don't want to lose your salary to a swindler I suggest you avoid him." Mr. Long added, with a whisper.
"And there's, Duncan..." "Don't forget me again, Great Fayher!" a young handsome man with a well trimmed mustache cried.
"Oh, sorry son. Child, that's Martin... he also assists me in the company. Then that's Duncan and Ian..."
"No, Great Father! I'm Ian; he's Duncan."
"Does it really matter?" teased Mr. Long.
"It does!" the two identical twins exclaimed in indignation.
"They've been on this since they were young... anyway, Ian's an Author and Publisher, while Duncan's a good cook."
"No, Dad, it's the other way round!" a pretty young lady protested.
"Thank you, Bedinda! And finally, this is Belinda, my youngest child. She's a model and part-time yoga instructor."
"Feel free to pop in my studio any time, love." she said, with a wink.
"Thanks, I'm honoured to meet all of you."
They mummured thier goodwills and welcoming messages as I shyly shook hands with each of them.
"Mr. Cheng, please escort Angeline back to the Dining room."
"Sir, won't you eat with us?"
"Not today, child. My children and I have some unfinished business to attend to... oh and Angeline!"
"Yes, sir?" I said, halting in my tracks as I whirled round to face him.
"Welcome to the family!"