Today was one of the happiest days for the Randells. Elizabeth was finally going to be discharged today, after going through all the medical evaluations and therapies. Though she will still receive home therapy but she was finally free to go home.
Silvia was with them, she was going to take them to the new apartment which Elizabeth was unaware of. They rode in the SUV, Davian sat at the front close to the driver while Silvia and Elizabeth sat close to each other at the back seat.
Elizabeth wondered why Silvia was accompanying them? Why they were riding in her car?. But she just kept her questions to herself.
Soon, they arrived at a tall building. They all alighted from the car when it came to a halt at the parking lot. Davian held his mother's hand to give her support as they walked into the building with Silvia.
They walked passed the receptionist towards the elevator and they entered the elevator. They got to the highest floor and got out of the elevator. The trio continued to a double sided door as Silvia led the way. It was a penthouse.
Davian could tell how many questions were bubbling up in his mother's mind. He was also unaware of this, he has been too busy lately for him to have given this idea a second thought.
When Silvia said she wanted to get a new apartment for his mother, he never expected it to be a penthouse. She opened the door with the access card and handed it to Davian when they walked in.
Gorgeous or stunning or impossibly mind-blowing was too much of an understatement to describe this luxury. Two maids walked in to welcome them.
Elizabeth turned to Silvia and Davian, a puzzled look on her face;
"What are we doing here?"
"This is where you'll live for the next one year, Ms. Randell. This is Mia..." Silvia introduced the younger maid first.
"She'll be your personal maid and help and this is Rose, the housekeeper," she added.
Elizabeth turned to Davian, he sighed and held her hand which he had let go off earlier when they'd entered the apartment. He brought her to a corner as he explained the situation.
"And that's why she wants you to live here till the duration of the contract which is a year elapses." he concluded.
Elizabeth didn't know what to say, she just nodded agreeing reluctantly. She just wished she had been informed earlier so it wouldn't have taken her by surprise like it did.
Seeing his mother concur, Davian walked to Silvia. "I'll stay here for some while, you may go home," he said.
"Okay. For a moment there I thought you were going to argue on why I got a penthouse," she stated.
"What's the use?" he asked and she nodded.
"Uhm, Silvia...Ms. Reyes, can I have a moment with you before you leave? In private?" Elizabeth requested.
"Sure," Silvia replied and they moved aside to talk.
"I really don't know where to start at all," Elizabeth started.
"I have so many things to tell you but three things should be made clear. I'm really not comfortable with all these and if I had a choice, I would have stopped it but I don't.
"Two, I want you to give my son the respect he deserves as he man. Maybe not as a person of your caliber but respect him as a human being," Elizabeth elaborated.
"Okay," Silvia replied.
"I don't need your okay, I need you to do it," Elizabeth continued, she didn't know how she is being able to stand up so confidently to this rich girl not considering the consequences her actions and words might cause her. Maybe it was because she was old enough to be this girl's mother.
"Thirdly, I want you to guarantee my son's safety, I don't care if I'm safe or not but protect him. You and I clearly know how many enemies you rich people may have, I don't want my son to get caught up in it all because of a one year contract marriage," she added and Silvia just nodded.
'She isn't so fond of me, I see,' Silvia thought.
"If that's all, I'll be taking my leave now," Silvia responded. Elizabeth nodded.
Silvia turned to leave, she glanced at Davian before leaving.
***
The next few days were hectic as they planned and prepared for both the wedding and the engagement party that will be taking place soon.
Silvia and Davian had just finished their appointment with the priest of the church. They'd talked with him and the wedding was set.
They both have been so busy with the wedding plans. Today, they were also going to do the tasting of the food and drinks that will used for the wedding and engagement party. They were already on their way to the place in Davian's car, Davian was driving.
They got out of the car once they got there and parked. They walked inside the building and were welcomed by Renor Braun, the event planner.
"Welcome Ms. Reyes, Mr. Randell...this establishment belongs to Garvey Preston. You must know him," Renor guessed and the duo nodded. He was a popular chef.
"Here he is," Renor added as Garvey Preston walked in. He was a tall middle aged blonde haired man.
"You're highly welcomed Ms. Reyes, it's truly a honor," Garvey said.
Silvia nodded at him. With the pleasantries aside, they commenced immediately.
Davian and Silvia were offered seats, a table in front of them as the dishes were served one at a time starting with the appetizers. They tasted it one after another, it was about ten meals.
"So what do you think?" Renor asked the duo. Garvey also waited anxiously for their response.
"They are all okay for me," Davian responded sincerely.
"Okay. Ms. Reyes?" Renor directed to Silvia.
"Delicious, all of it," Silvia responded.
"I never had a doubt about Garvey Preston," she added.
The Renor, Garvey and his crew of chefs gave a round of applaud, cheering themselves as well. The dessert followed, then the wine and then the champagne.
"This is nice. What brand if I may ask?" Davian asked as he sipped from the glass of champagne given to him.
"Golden cousins, sir," Garvey responded.
Expensive-Davian thought.
He nodded in approval, Silvia also liked it.
"Okay..." Renor voiced conclusively.
"Let's move on to the cake," she added.
"How'd you like the design of your cake, Ms. Reyes?" Garvey asked this time.
"Uhm, nothing much. Just a ten step luxury cake," Silvia replied. Davian glanced at her, that was nothing much.
"Okay. Would you like anything on the top?" Garvey inquired.
"Yes, an ice sculpture of a newlywed couple and the cake should be white with a mixture of gold," Silvia smiled.
"Any opinions on this, Mr. Randell?" Renor asked.
"Nah, I'm good," Davian replied.
"Okay,"
Davian and Silvia walked out of the building as they took their leaves. They got into the car and drove off.
"It's barely fourteen days before the wedding, we'll be going for the photoshoot soon, too." she informed.
"A photoshoot?" he reacted.
"Yes. For publicity purposes," she replied.
"Why the extravagance? It's not as if it's a real wedding of love," Davian blurted.
"I don't see the difference. Only a few people knows it's a contract marriage. The rest of the world are expecting an extravagant wedding from Silvia Reyes," she replied.
"I'd have preferred a small and quiet wedding. The marriage is just for the duration of one year, why waste money?" he explained.
She turned towards the window of the shotgun, glancing at it and not responding to his remarks.
She...doesn't know why it was upsetting her, it was true after all.