"Alice let's get contacted again."Valentino didn't know where and how to start up with the apology so he only said what he felt was right which was getting straight to the point."My parents are here asking after you, Mr. Daniel my father says he has some kind of announcement to make and that you should be here as soon as you can and I just can't tell them what happened between us last night so I decided to call and apologize for being inconsiderate" he paused and then continued "Though I knew I was right about everything I said," he murmured the last part on a low voice which Alice herself did not also hear what he had murmured to himself.
"What was the last statement you made.?"Alice kind of heard a bit of what he said but was not so sure so she just couldn't conclude.
"You know what.? Just come over and we will discuss more on the contract later on" He had to make Alice come over even if it takes him to go over and pick her up." Do you need a ride.? I can send you one.?"
"No it's fine am coming right away" Alice hesitated before ending the call and then headed straight into her mom's ward.
"Mom, I need to attend to work. I will be back, and don't forget to wait for me before you get discharged from the hospital" Alice had instructed, took her purse, and rushed out of the hospital. She headed straight home, took another hot shower, and dressed up in an off-shoulder sea green gown, and out she went all the way to Valentino's house.
Alice drove quietly all through the way; she was not nervous about knowing the outcome of Mr.& Mrs. Frost's visit because she was ready for anything and everything which was partly her job as well. She drove her car into the compound and walked to the house after handing over her car to one of the servants to help her park well in the parking lots for her.
"Good morning Mrs. Annabelle" Alice reached out to give Valentino's mom a hug Mrs. Annabelle warm-heartedly returned the hug with so much joy in her.
"Am so happy to see you dear, How are you doing?" Mrs. Annabelle dragged her to a seat where they sat down and continued with the questions.
"Am fine Ma, what about you? Oh…!! Good morning Mr. Daniel"Alice greeted as she recognized Mr. Daniel was there in the living room staring at her.
"Good morning Alice how are you doing.?" Mr. Daniel looked at Alice like he was in search of something, he scanned her through from head to her shoulders, from shoulder to her waist, from waist to her knees and from her knees to her toe then looked back up to her face slowly, taking his time. This made Alice a bit uncomfortable. She didn't know why he was looking at her that way but she only knew one thing for sure: "She's been observed".
"Am perfectly fine sir." Her smiles were tightly formed, she didn't know what it was all about but she knew something was up.
"Alice dear you look so good, am sure Valentino...." Mr. Daniel had cut his wife short of what she was saying, he was so determined and enthusiastic to have this engagement party running. So he went straight to the point.
"We'll be hosting a dinner engagement party." Mr. Daniel announced. Valentino's jaws dropped dead at the hearing of what his father just said. Then came a pregnant silence immediately after the announcement but after a few minutes had passed, the silence was broken by Valentino's eruption.
"Dad, what's going on.? Why would you fix such a thing without letting me know or without discussing it with me? Why the sudden spurts.?" The more Valentino took in the announcement, the more angered he became.
"We said it would be a stupefaction from us to the both of you and trust me son you will love it. I supervised the ornaments and preparation for the party to your technique and am sure you will love it as well Alice dear." Mrs. Annabelle tried to explain how furious his son had become just as the hearing of the engagement party was without his permission.
"Mom, I don't need an engagement party. No I mean, WE DON'T NEED any sort of party. We are already engaged so what's the need for a party.?" He didn't want to know whatever they were talking about. All he knew was that he didn't want a party.
"But we are only doing this for the both of you to be happy and besides it's a huge thing that you are getting married so it should be announced to both your business partners, the company board, and your Dad's business associates as well" Mrs. Annabella needed his sons to see reasons why the engagement party should hold.
"Am not having any party and that's you can go ahead with your party if you want to but so you know I won't be in attendance" Valentino's statement stood firm in the ears of his parents. Though during the argument Mr. Daniel was yet to say a word just after his announcement that brought about the situation. He didn't feel the need to say anything; he only knew that if Valentino ended up canceling the party then something was fishy about them.
"Valentino, you know that this would be an opportunity to seal deals with those company that trusts their money only on responsible men, and by responsible men they mean married men, men with responsibilities of a wife or children" Mrs. Annabelle was trying her best to make Valentino see reasons with her but all to no avail. Valentino had already made his opinion clear, he didn't have anything else to say.
Alice sat still without uttering an utterance, she kept calm while she only listened to Valentino struggle with his words to talk his parents out of the surprise party. She didn't want to interfere but with the rate the argument was going she needed to butt in so to end the prolong in the dialogue.
" Let's get the engagement party started…!"