"Your parents must be proud of you given how much you have achieved at such a young age..." Madame Genevieve said from no where, a statement that took kathryn by suprise...
She hadn't thought of her dead parents for awhile and hearing Madame Genevieve ask I such a motherly voice, made her all emotional.
She swallowed a lump of Silva that hung on her throat before taking in a much needed oxygen into her lungs...
"My parents are late..." she said taking in a labored breath...
"They died when I was fifteen" she said solemnly, looking up into the dark sky in order to stop the tear that was threatening to flow down her cheeks..
"Oh dear..." Madame Genevieve said bringing her into a sudden embrace..
Kathry was startled for a second before relaxing in her arms..
"Poor child, It must have been hard for you all these years ..." she said patting her back gently.
"But am sure your parents must be proud of you wherever they are.." she said softly while kathryn nodded in agreement...
Remembering how her parents were brutally murdered, she steeled her heart once again before gently removing herself from the hug..
Looking straight at Madame Genevieve she couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful she looked even at her early fifties....now she understood where the children got their good genes from,not saying that Mr Alexander wasn't good looking because he is a very elegant man but the children took more of their mother's beautiful features....
"Can I ask for a favor Ma'am" kathryn asked after calming her heart..
"Well go on" Madame Genevieve said..
"Can I apply for your mentorship programmer...I am aware you no longer accept mentes but I was hoping you can grant me the favor" she asked...
Madame Genevieve eyed her for a minute, she wasn't expecting that type of favor..
It was no news that she had mentored hundreds of CEO's , Company presidents, business analyst and strategist over the years but she had closed that chapter two years ago...
"You are doing pretty well in this few years you've started more than some I mentored, why then do you need mentorship" Madame Genevieve asked..
Kathryn scratched her eyebrow a little deliberating if she should tell her, her small secret or just give a passive answer...
'She would definately know if I give her a half baked answer and that would be embarrassing' she thought before deciding to go with her truth..
"The truth is....you were my idol when I started my company at seventeen, I was in my final year at business college back then...." she finally said after moments of hesitation..
"Oh Really?" Madame Genevieve asked suprised..
"Yes, I remember saving up for a whole semester just to buy one of your famous financial books titled 'The one rule every startup should apply' ..." she said smiling as she reminisced her university life back then..
Madame Genevieve looked at her and smiled...'what a smart child' she thought..
"The foundation of my company was based off of every single thing you said in that book and some of your other books I read over the years,....oh and I remember praying to meet you one day, never knew it was ever gonna happen to be honest" Kathryn said smiling brightly as the tip of her ear turned bright red..
Staring at the cherry faced kathryn Madame Genevieve couldn't help but smile with her...she had already accepted to mentor her even before hearing her story but regardless it was heartwarming and it further more cemented the idea that she, Madame Genevieve doesn't make mistakes..
"I will accept your proposal under three conditions" she stated..
Kathryn furrowed her brows and thought for a few seconds before giving her a go ahead..
"One of my conditions is that, you and your friends should sleepover" she said looking diligently at her face in other not to miss any reaction...
"What?" Kathryn asked bewildered as that was the least thing she expected to be asked..I mean it was the easiest condition she had ever heard....
"Sleepover tonight" Madame Genevieve repeated herself looking rather serious.
"Just tonight, sure that's not an issues...." kathryn said..
"Hmm"
"What about the remaining two conditions" she asked, remembering that the conditions are meant to be three..
"Those will be for another day" Madame Genevieve said..
"Now since we have gotten that out of the way, lets get back to the party if there is still one" Madame Genevieve said getting up from where they had sat for almost one hour..
On getting into the ball room they could see that majority of the guest had gone home while the one's remaining were already bidding their goodbyes...
"Mum where have you been...." kim said as she approached her mum..
"Where you with her?" Kim asked Kathryn who just nodded in affirmation..
"Am sorry that she delayed you...." she said holding kathryn in both hands as she expressed her apology.....kathryn couldn't help but smile at her action, Kimberley was certainly a friend she never thought she needed...
"No need" her mum said as she signaled the Butler to come over..
"Take them to the east wing" she said before walking towards her husband, who was talking with kelvin and Arthur..
"You are sleeping over?" both kim and Rebecca asked simultaneously....
"Yes" she said chuckling as she looked at their shocked expression..
"Wait....what....I mean why?" They both took turns in asking while making their way to the east wing of the big castle like mansion.
The east wing of the house was built and designed for only the banks while the south, west and north was for relatives and guest...so the Butler was surprised when he was ordered by the matriarch to take the guest to the east wing..
'She must view them as much more than guest' he thought and made a mental note to remind the servants to address the guest with outmost respect and sincerity all through their stay in the mansion..
The three ladies together with the Butler walked through different hallways before getting to the main house.
Taking in the architectural design of the main house, kathryn wondered who the architecture was and made a mental note to book an appointment with him or her when she finds out..
"I will take it from here James" kim said as she led the ladies into the elevator..
"How exactly did my mum convince you to sleepover" kim couldn't help but ask..
"Its a secret am not privileged to tell" Kathryn said smiling..
"Oh my God are you serious...just a minute with my mum and you are already keeping secrets" kim complained pouting..
Rebecca couldn't help but laugh out loud..
"She is messing with you" rebecca said chuckling...
"It was a condition that she gave me for the favor I asked" Kathryn said truthfully..
"What type of favor?" Rebecca asked....
"I asked her to be my mentor" she answered..
"But my mum had stopped taking in people since three years now....oh my God did she accept you?" Kim asked excitedly..
"Yes she did, hence the condition" kathryn replied..
"Wow, my mum must really like you" kim said really happy for her friend kathryn.
Just then the elevator bell dinged to indicate that they have reached the floor they were going to.
"This one on the left is your rooms while mine is just opposite yours....if you need anything let me know" kim said before leaving for her room.