With a sense of curiosity and nostalgia tugging at his heart, Elvis approached Nora's residence. He couldn't help but recall the memories of his and Nora's shared past.
Nora was making her way towards her sleek car parked near her residence. As she neared the vehicle, her elegant steps faltered, and her eyes widened with surprise and delight when she saw Elvis approaching.
A radiant smile illuminated Nora's face, and she couldn't contain her joy at the unexpected sight. She closed the distance between herself and Elvis as she reached out to greet him.
"Elvis!" Nora exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine happiness. "I can't believe it's you. What a wonderful surprise!"
Elvis returned her smile, his gaze fixed on her with a mixture of fondness and delight. "Nora, it's incredible to see you again. I never expected to run into you here."
"I've asked around for your contact for so long," Nora confessed, a hint of frustration in her voice.
"I wanted to reconnect... I'm so glad to see you again. So tell me, what brings you to this estate? I must admit, I'm quite surprised to see you here."
Elvis turned to face his luxurious mansion, his eyes filled with a sense of pride and ownership. "Nora," he replied, a hint of satisfaction in his voice, "I am the owner of The Elites' Estate."
Nora blinked in disbelief, her sapphire eyes widening as she processed his words. She remembered their college days and the struggles Elvis had faced to see himself through school until he eventually dropped out.
The memory of the hardships he had faced seemed at odds with the grandeur of the estate and the confident man who stood before her.
"You're the owner?" Nora asked, her voice tinged with astonishment. "Elvis, how...how did all of this happen? I remember how hard things were for you back in college."
Elvis smiled, a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in his gaze. "Yes, Nora, it's been quite a journey. Life took some unexpected turns, and I found myself in a position to acquire this estate. It's a far cry from our college days, isn't it?"
Nora nodded slowly, her mind racing with questions and curiosity. She couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions—surprise, admiration, and a touch of envy.
"I'm truly impressed, Elvis," Nora admitted, her voice filled with sincerity. "You've come a long way from our college days. I always knew you had potential, but I never imagined you'd achieve something like this."
Elvis's smile was filled with gratitude, "Thank you, Nora." He replied as his eyes shifted to look at Nora's left hand. Elvis had noticed that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring, but he knew that appearances could be deceiving.
With a touch of curiosity and a hint of trepidation, he finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in the back of his mind.
"Nora," Elvis began, his voice soft and tentative, "are you...are you married?"
***********
Marion and Brenda lounged on the comfortable sofa in the spacious living room of the Dwayne family house, watching the evening news on TV.
Marion had come over to visit Brenda, and they relished the rare opportunity to have the house to themselves. The TV was broadcasting a mix of local and international news.
"In a surprising turn of events," the news anchor declared, "The Grand Empire has announced a groundbreaking skill exhibition program for extraordinary talents in Rockview City."
Brenda leaned forward, her interest piqued, while Marion's eyes widened in surprise. This was unexpected news.
The news anchor continued, "The competition will encompass various fields, including information technology, engineering, the arts, and more.
The winners of this competition will not only receive a substantial cash prize of $50,000,000 but also a multi-million-dollar property from the prestigious Kleins."
Marion and Brenda exchanged incredulous glances. The Kleins were renowned for their vast real estate empire, and owning one of their properties was a dream many could only aspire to.
"Can you believe this, Brenda?" Marion exclaimed, a mixture of excitement and disbelief in his voice. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Brenda nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with the possibilities. "It's incredible, Marion! Imagine what we could do with that kind of money and owning a Klein property."
Their minds raced with thoughts of what they could achieve if they were to participate and win in the skill exhibition program
"We should enter this competition," Brenda declared, her voice filled with determination.
Marion nodded in agreement. "Absolutely! We have the skills, Brenda, and this could be our chance to shine."
Let me go and inform my parents about this," Brenda told Marion as she motioned upstairs to call Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne.
"Mom, Dad, you won't believe what just happened!" Brenda called out, her voice brimming with excitement.
Mr. Dwayne emerged from his study, a quizzical look on his face, while Mrs. Dwayne stepped out of her art studio, where she spent most of her time working on her artistic creations.
"What's going on, Brenda?" Mr. Dwayne asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Brenda motioned for her parents to join her and Marion in the living room, where the TV was still displaying news about the skill exhibition program. Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne listened attentively to the news and smiled at each other.
"I can't believe this, Brenda, Marion," Mrs. Dwayne exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "This is the opportunity we've been waiting for!"
Brenda looked at her mother, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, Mom?"
"This is an opportunity for the Dwayne family to gain more recognition in this city, and also before the famous and influential Klein family." Mrs. Dwayne smiled in satisfaction.
Aside from the fact that the Kleins were famous in Rockview City, they were also amongst the top three wealthiest families in the city.
"Every member of this family must take part in this. At least one of us would win. $500,000 is a huge sum of money! Aside from that, imagine our family connecting with the Klein family.
Brenda, make sure you contact your siblings and cousins and inform them about this. Leslie and her fiance must also participate in this.
Anyone who emerges a winner in this family, including any prospective son-in-law will be granted whatever he requests of the Dwayne family!"