The Following Week
Mira Love Garden had always been in the spotlight, but since the event teaser projected her as the only flower store to partner with, her fame grew to an unexpected height. Nevertheless, the Prince would not hesitate to stop by as he promised. To ensure that his wife did not tear the family apart, he took his fourteen years first daughter, Princess Aurora, to see her.
“We are paying your aunt a visit,” the Prince informed her when he parked in the car park.
“Who is my aunt, dad?”
“Princess Mirabel, of course,” he declared with euphoria. Instantly, Princess Aurora frowned, and declared, “My mom said she is not a Princess or my aunt”
“Your mom is not aware of the truth. I am your father, and I know the truth. Right?”
“I see. What is the truth, then?”
“She is my little sister, and your aunt.”
“I see. How do we make mom to know the truth?”
“She will know with time, but keep her out of this. Did you get it?”
Aurora looked at her father in the eyes, and asked, “What if she returns, and finds out that I visited her?”
“Let me worry about that. Just be a good girl. Okay?”
“I got it, dad.”
“Good. Let's go.”
It was difficult to get into the shop due to the massive influx of shoppers, who were there just because of the lucky dip. Nevertheless, the Prince's knight was able to liaise with Mirabel's knight, and made a way for him and his daughter. Although they got into the shop, but getting Mirabel's attention was another task.
“Good day, Princess Mirabel,” Aurora greeted when she wangled her way towards her. Although, she was overwhelmed with work, she could identify the innocent voice of her niece, who hated her so much. She looked up in bewilderment, and saw her. She also looked around, and saw his father standing in the middle of the shop, and monitoring the workers.
“Come to me, my dear,” she requested. Aurora walked up to her, and she bent to her size and gave her a peck.
“I am delighted to have you,” she expressed.
“So am I. My dad said you need more hands, what can I do to assist?”
Nevertheless, Mirabel was astounded, and she asked, “What about your mother?”
“She had been away for some days.”
“I see. Thank you for your intention to assist. Come with me.”
“All right, my Princess.”
She walked her to the lucky dip stand which was beside the door, and instructed, “Ensure that a shopper showed you his or her payment receipt before they pick a paper. No one should pick more than one paper. Did you get me?”
“Yes Princess.”
“That is good. Above all, shuffle the papers at intervals.”
“I got it, Princess.”
To her delight, the responsibility made her self-reliant at once. To impress her dad and aunt, she gave it full attention. Often, she would smile at the shoppers, who queued up for the lucky dip, and encouraged, “Kindly be patient.”
Afterward, the Prince sat with Mirabel while she battled to meet with demands.
“Your idea of the lucky dip was superb. It saved you a lot of explanation,” the Prince remarked.
“You are right. The shoppers are happy with it.”
When the Prince presumed that, Aurora must be exhausted, he walked up to her, and announced, “Time up. It's time to take a break.”
To the Prince's dismay, she was unyielding. “I will let you know when I am tired out.”
“It's okay. I will give you twenty minutes more.”
“Oh! Dad, kindly make it thirty. My aunt needs my assistance.”
“You won. Thirty minutes.”
“Thank you, dad.”
Meanwhile, Abel, her father's knight, was thrilled. He was aware of the feud in the family, and had discovered that Irene had been the bad egg.
“Thank you, Aurora, for this. You don't know what this means to me,” Mirabel appreciated when she walked the Prince to the door, and he picked his daughter.
“I am pleased to be of help, Princess. Did I do well?”
“You did exceptionally well. I was monitoring from my office. Thank you, once again.”
Now, her father was fulfilled. The big gap between them had just been sealed.
“You deserve a hug, Princess Aurora,” she called out, and spread her hands. She hurriedly walked into her hands, and she hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, my Princess. Don't hesitate to send for me when you need my help.”
“Thank you. I will.”
Afterward, the Prince and his daughter left with his team. He was pleased to see his daughter very jubilant. Then, he asked, “Aurora, you are so happy. What's the secret?”
“Aunty Mirabel believed in me, and entrusted me with her clients.”
“Wow! Do you like her?”
“Yes Dad. She is a pleasant person.”
“That's good. I will bring you around some day. Okay?”
“Okay dad.”
At Carson's Office
To Mirabel, the upcoming event was a boost to her business, and she sees as a business event. To Alfred and Carson, it was a three in one event. It comprised of Alfred's emotions, Carson's skills and above all, it was the making of the perfumery debut. For that, they were busy, but it did not stop Alfred from wishing to see Mirabel.
“We are counting down. You will see her very soon,” Carson urged.
“I can't wait. I propose that we pay her a visit,” Alfred declared.
“Our presence would only scare her.”
“You are right. Besides, she may be too busy.”
“Very busy. I learned that she organized a lucky dip for the three tables.”
“Wow! She must be an astute businesswoman. Her background must have led her into it.”
“Background? What do you know about her background?” Carson asked anxiously.
“I thought you know.”
“Not at all. I only heard stories about her strictness from my friends, and associates who had interest in her.”
“It is good that she turned them. She was waiting for the right man, and that is me.”
Grrr.
Carson's phone buzzed, and he squeezed his face in annoyance when he saw the unknown caller.
“Who could be this?” He murmured aloud. Meanwhile, Alfred looked on, and waited for him to pick.
“Hello,” he greeted curtly. He had carefully made his secretary's and personal assistant's contact available in the publicity to avoid being disturbed.
“Hello. Good day. Am I on to the organizers of the upcoming entertainment event?” The caller inquired. He looked at Alfred, before he responded, “Yes. How may I help you?”
“Good. I'm Diane, and calling from Heavenly Flowers.”
“That's good, Diane. I'm pleased to hear from you. How may I help you?”
“I wondered why you chose only Mira Love Garden as your partner. Our company is bigger in the flower industry. I wish to let you know that we are interested in partnering with you.”
Without hesitation, Carson tactically dismissed her, “I have noted your request, Diane. I will let my boss know about it. He will contact you if he needs your partnership.”
“Your boss? Are you not the boss?”
“Not at all.”
Cut
Cut
They shook their heads in dismay, and Carson asked, “How did she get my contact? I will delete it at once, before Pearl suspects me of unfaithfulness.”
“You are right.”
Subsequently, Carson got more calls, and mostly from florists, and for the same purpose. They were distraught when Mira Love Garden saturated the media. Above all, her lucky dip was making waves in the city.
“Hello. How may I help you,” he inquired.
“Good day. I will go straight to the point if you permit me to confide in you.”
“You are permitted. Go on.”
“Thank you. I want to believe that you are new in the city.”
“ Why do you think so?”
“Yes. Otherwise, you would know that Mira Love Garden is the classless flower company, and associating with her would discredit your event. How can you allow her to sell your tickets for an event of this magnitude? How much did she pay for that. I will triple that, and you can refund her commitment.”
Now, Alfred wished to lay hands on the blackmailer, and crush her to death. Instantly, he snatched the phone from Carson, and spoke, “Mira Love Garden owns the event. We are just her staff members. Have a lovely day.”
Cut
Carson let out raucous laughter, and Alfred hissed, “Do they know the genesis of this event?”
“Or the mental stress that she had gone through because a lover boy must get her by all means.”
They laughed the more and Alfred, pointed out, “Poor girl. She must have suffered in the hands of the wicked and unscrupulous competitors.”
“I agree with you,” Carson remarked.
Meanwhile, the last caller was startled to death, when she heard the voice of a foreigner. After Alfred rudely cut the call, she mumbled, “Mira Love Garden owns the event, and had a foreigner as a staff.”
Carson borrowed a leaf from Alfred, and referred other malicious callers to Mirabel, and they went to sleep. Nevertheless, Alfred was at peace because he was closer to achieving his dream of getting a girl, who would love him without linking him to the throne. Meanwhile, he has not heard any knees about his disappearance from any quarter. Although, he carefully left his switched off right from the day he left Hazel at the hotel.
However, he was happy that apart from Carson, he would be the first person to establish a perfume company in the city.