This can't be, my own sister? Could it still be the visions? Lily's heart raced, as she fixated her stare on Floria, hot tears gathered in her eyes, she stood up, freed her wrist from Nicholas's grip and mounted the stage, a cold silence ensued the hall, she knew that floria had no bad intentions, but auctioning her wedding ring? at a gathering this big?, no, it was a big no, she had to salvage the situation.
Lily stared into Floria's face for good 10 seconds, and then a resounding slap ensued, Floria froze, was she pained? no, but astonished? yes she was, Lily? , she dreaded to embrace the reality.
Lily turned to the audience as she was about to speak, a young man screamed from behind, "A million dollars" Lily's jaw dropped, no this cant be happening, Mr franklivania won't take this show down lightly, what happens to lustre now? the crowd started bickering as though a flock of pigeons were let loose, Lily, was confused, her younger sister, Floria, stood behind her, sobbing in between breaths as hot beads of sweats dripped down her face.
Mr Franklivania mounted, locked in his gaze to Lily's and then moved from her to Floria, as he turned to face the crowd another elderly voice echoed, "The ring is diamond, and Lily is a beauty, a million dollars won't do, but 15million dollars sure will", Mr franklivania searched the audience to find the loose man who made such a nasty comment, but there were too many people there.
Mr franklivania then spoke up "my beloved Ladies and gents, there's been a misconception, please take not to heart what happened here.
Let us make merry and delight ourselves in the frivolities of this night, my son and daughter in-law is indeed an epitome of compatibility, though they might have there differences, but believe you me when I say they are indeed love birds", Mr Franklivania concluded whilst casting an intimidating stare on Nicholas.
the audience seemed a bit reluctant at first, but before Mr franklivania could take a step out of the spot light, there was an outbreak of a deafening applaud, an evil smirk crossed his face and then he went of the stage.
Lily dragged Floria off the stage, her grip firm and tight. Nicholas followed suit while the audience continued to merry and dine.
"Floria",..."Sis am sorry" Floria cut in, "go home and wait for me" Lily completed her statement and dashed off, just before she could walk back into the hall Nicholas came, father wants us back in his study right away. Lily wasn't moved, she had it coming, "okay" Lily replied rather readily.
"After you then" Nicholas chipped in as Lily walked off into the hall.
"What have you been feeding her?what have you been telling your sister!" Mr franklivania thundered, "The guts, the temerity...how dare she, how dare you!" came Mr Franklivania the second time, Lily stood mute, and motionlessly, battling with the tears in her eyes.
Nicholas could feel his palm getting moist, his shirt felt tighter, "Father.." "shut, shut, shut your mouth Nicholas, shut it" Mr Franklivania cut in.
Lily felt her stomach rumble, "Sir, she started it, I apologize for my sisters misprisions and actions, I take full responsibility for it, however I..." Lily couldn't finish up her statement when Mr Franklivania cut in, "An apology won't do, his eyes burned with fury, you have dragged my family through the mud! your wedding ring? being auctioned? this sin can't be forgiven, at least not without a price, if you still have the progress and warefare of Lustre company at heart, send that girl away. Mr franklivania concluded, Lily felt cold chill rundown her spines, her feet grew heavier and her throat sour.
"Sen....sen..send her away"? she stuttered, "but she's my sister sir,"
"you have to do it, there are no other options left for you" Mr Franklivania's voice came cold and unconcerned.
Lily wiped her eyes and readjusted her gown as if there was a renewed energy that surged through her, "sir I will send Floria away to prove that i really care about Lustre.
"Good, now I have to go announce the complete fusion of the two companies as I have planned earlier." Mr franklivania said dissimissingly and walked off.
"Nicholas, I have to go, please, let's talk later" without waiting for his reply, Lily left.
While on the way home, Lily's heart pondered, what do I tell Floria, did I over react by slapping her?, where do I send her to? a thousand and more questions flooded her mind to which she could only answer one, yes, she was going to send Lily off to school, she could study economics, or any other course.
During the drive lily would smile at intervals and frown at intervals. The fact that Floria exhibited such level of bravery and proved that she really got her back made her smile whereas the thought of the slap and the idea that Floria, although had good intentions, neglected the outcome of her actions made her frown, the driver couldn't help but ask Lily what the matter was.
"Floria, Floria, where could she be?
oh my poor sister, where has she ran off to?
Floria." Lily called out.
Finally she saw Floria sleeping on the terrace. She had cried herself to sleep.
"Floria, Floria, Lily shook her sister to wake her up," Floria twitched her eyes. "hmmm, Li..Lily? back already?" Floria whispered, "Please Floria shall we talk, I need to speak with you please" Floria sat up relaxing on the barricade at the extreme of the terrace, "Lily you haven't even gotten out of your gala dress, is it that pressing?" "Floria," Lily started, "First of all, I'm sorry for slapping you, I nev...." "Lily, Lily you don't have to apologize to me, I totally understand," came floria's voice in a tone of assurance , "Floria you really don't understand, trust me when I say so, so allow me to talk please, like i was saying floria am really sorry i slapped you, it wasn't my intentions to hurt you, circum..." Lily started sobbing, she has already had a soft and tender heart, Floria wiped her tears and hugged her tightly.
"Floria," Lily started again but with a more clear and reconciling voice. Mr Franklivania called Nicholas and I for a meeting when you left, as usual, he scolded and shouted, Lily rolled her eyes and the sisters laughed out loudly.
"Yes, he had called for a meeting and he shouted and scolded, though....."What did Nicholas say?," Floria interrupted rather rudely, "What would you have him do Floria? well i wasn't expecting him to defend me, he stood put with hands akimbo, so after said and done Mr Franklivania decided to let go of the whole happenings
Lily ended her speech but not without a lie.
how could she have told her own sister that she was ordered to send her away? No, even if she was going to do it, there should have been another way around it.
Floria gazed into Lily's eyes, her stare steady and fixed almost like the penance stare from the movie Ghost Rider.
"What could she be hiding?" Floria asked her self. Lily's eyes said so many other things even when her mouth had stopped talking.
"Was that all? all he said?" Floria asked, wanting to get the whole story out of her sister.
"Ehhmmm, eh? was that all?, of course Floria, of course that was it, Lily stammered she knew it wasn't convincing enough, but she had to ignore her sister's curiosity.
"Okay, Lily that's good, meanwhile I'm also sorry for what i did, I didn't think it through although I only wanted to ease your pain, i really wanted to, all I wanted to do was just ease your pain" Floria concluded amidst tears and sobs.
Lily drew her little sister to herself and hugged her tightly "Yes Floria I know u got my back and I really appreciate. Okay have you had dinner yet?"
"Sis...yes I eat quite a good quantity of food, but am not a foodie," Floria asserted.
"okay, you eat quite a good quantity of food what does that make you?" Lily jested as she conjoured a wild smile, "You? you dare? Lily you dare me? I will deal with you....a foodie? Floria could barely finish her statement when Lily ran off laughing out loudly. Floria followed suit laughing even louder than her sister while aiming her slipons directly at Lily's back.