Kelvin
After the chat with Mr. Hanson, we departed and I went to my room. The sudden emergence of Delilah's birthday was kind of mounting pressure on me. Mainly because, Mr. Hanson has much expectations on me and also, I'm terrified to meet Delilah's family. I was overthinking on the issue till I fell asleep out of exhaustion. When I woke up, I had a text message from Mr. Hanson.
He sent the entire list of guests he had invited and they were exactly 124 people. Considering how big the house is, I think a hundred people won't make the entire place jammed. Also, some guests can bring along their friends and relatives. So I estimated that about 150 people would show up at the party on Tuesday.
I can't make the budget for the entire party yet. I have to wait for the next day. When all the house workers show up, we will discuss about whatever else is needed and I can finally make the total budget for the party. So, I waited for the next day. As planned, I assembled the chefs and house workers in the ground parlour the next day.
"Mr. Hanson has given me the authority to organise an important party," I announced. "And I've been given the number of guests attending. They are a hundred and twenty-four people exactly."
I heard sighs of relief and I was lost. George spoke up. "Just a hundred and twenty-four ? Thank goodness."
"Wait what do you mean ?" I asked, puzzled. "Isn't that many people ? The estimated people who could attend is about 150."
"Nah," Mimi chuckled. "We've been through more than that."
"Yeah," George laughed. "Last time, we needed all the help we could get. Even a driver had to help us."
Mike wasn't joking when he said a lot of people could visit Mr. Hanson in one event. "Anyways," I continued. "I've divided us into separate groups. Before I start, George, do you need anyone to help you guys cook for the meantime ?"
"Hmmm," he mused. "Yeah. I'll pick Favour. She's been helpful to us more. And also, Francis, stop looking at me. I'm not even thinking of picking you at all. You know why."
Francis gave George the serious eye. "Alright. It's settled then. Favour joins the chefs." I declared. "Now, the groups. It's just three basic groups. The first group members are Lilian, Francis and Irene. You'll be preparing the guestrooms for tomorrow."
She has been looking at me the whole time but I didn't give her any eye contact as usual. "The second group members are George, Favour, Mimi and Tina. And I think you know what you are doing already."
They nodded slightly. "And the last group is Mike and I. We will deal with the refreshments, decorations and entertainment. Is there any questions ?"
There was a brief moment of silence. Then George raised his hand up. "Go ahead, George." I encouraged.
"This is not actually a question," he pointed out. "But I hope you know that we need a lot of foodstuffs immediately if we are going to get the food ready ?"
"Of course, I know. Mike and I would go buy foodstuffs for you right away whiles you cook." I explained. "And this reminds me of something important. Mr. Hanson would be dinning with his family tomorrow and he wants a special dish just for the dinning. So, I advise you prepare the party's food first and you could prepare tomorrow's dinning food last. If you want, you can prepare it tomorrow, so it can be fresh and inviting you know."
"Alright. Got it." George replied.
"Good. So is there any other questions ?" I asked. No one responded after a while. "Alright. We are dismissed. Let's get to work."
Everyone immediately got up from their seats and began their tasks. Mike approached me and I told him to wait for a while. I went to the kitchen to see what they needed. I wrote the requested food items down and made a budget for it. I got back to Mike and we walked through the hallways, heading towards the exit of the house.
"Uhm, Kelvin," Irene called from behind. Mike and I turned back to face her. "I want to speak to you about something."
Really ? At this time ?
"Irene, this is not the time. Maybe later." Mike and I continued walking towards the exit, leaving Irene behind. Mike was holding back his laughter and I confronted him. "What is it now ?"
"You should have seen her face when you refused," he laughed. "It was hilarious. And I see that you are no more tense around her. Since you are now with Mr. Hanson's daughter."
"What ? That's ridiculous. How did you even know and why did you say that ?" I asked hastily. "On second thoughts, don't answer those questions. Let's just get to work."
Mike and I left the house and got in a car I called for, heading towards the supermarket. I made the total budget and calculated everything. When I was done, I sent it to Mr. Hanson and he sent me the money before we got down at the supermarket. Mike and I bought some food items the chefs needed and we packed them into the car. They were a lot, so we drove back to the house to deliver them to the chefs.
We went back to the supermarket and bought the remaining foodstuffs. It occupied all the space in the car and we went back to the house to deliver them. They were busily cooking and were relieved to see that we had brought all the foodstuffs. We drove back to Mr. Hanson's mall and searched for the decorations we would use in the party.
The main house is already elegant and beautiful as it is. We just needed some few decorations to make the house look birthday themed. So, Mike and I got lots of balloons of course, streamers, fresh flowers and some elegant centerpieces. We sent them to the house and started to put up the decorations around the house. It took some hours but we pulled it off. We stood back to look at our work and it was fantastic.
For the beverages, Mr. Hanson owns one. So I ordered a bulk purchase and it got delivered to the house. I wanted variety, so I also ordered for various other drinks and beer. For entertainment, Mike and I set up the sound system in the big master living room. We also set speakers on various places on the ground floor. I remembered something important and immediately booked a DJ.
Mike and I went over our task and saw that we had completed it. With my part of the work done, I went to the guesthouses to inspect the rooms. Everything was in order. I moved to the kitchen and I met the chefs cooking. I met Francis and Lilian there also helping out. And of course, George wasn't happy with Francis being in the kitchen cause all he was doing was talking with Mimi whiles they cooked.
I laughed hysterically as I left the kitchen. Immediately, something came to mind. The birthday cake. I completely forgot about it. I had to ask Mr. Hanson about it and he sent money for it. I rushed to the mall to buy the most elegant one I saw. It was tall and thick. I had trouble sending it to the kitchen. But at last, I was able to put it in the refrigerator with the help of the others.
With nothing left to do, I joined the chefs and helped them cook, even though they refused cause I'm the house manager. I still went on in the end. My mind went to Irene. I haven't seen her since she tried to talk to me in the hallway. I couldn't care less about her anymore. I had bigger worries and they were fast approaching the next day.
.
Writer
The Tuesday morning beamed with sunlight that lit up the area. The Hanson household started to awaken one after the other and the birthday girl is no different. Here in her room, Delilah wakes up and sits on her bed tiredly. She instinctively takes her laptop and goes online.
A video call comes in from Sena and Delilah picks up immediately.
"Happy birthday Delilah." Sena congratulated.
Delilah rubs her eyes till she feels comfortable. "Good morning Sena. Thanks very much."
"Don't mention it." Sena replied. "So will you be going out to celebrate or you'll be in your room as usual ?"
Delilah shook her head. "There's a party coming on at my house this afternoon I guess. You can come."
"Really ?" Sena asked with disbelief. "I can come ? I'll finally get to meet your dad and the house manager ?"
"Yes, yes." Delilah said slowly. "That's what I said. I'm inviting you..."
"Thanks very much," Sena muttered. "You don't know how much it means....."
A text message notification sounded from Delilah's phone and it interrupted their conversation. Delilah checked her phone and it was a message from her father.
"Dress up nicely and meet me at the parlor on the right by 9am."
Delilah checked the time. It was thirty-two minutes past 8am. "Sena, I have to go now. I'll meet you later this afternoon."
"Alright. Byeee."
They hang up and Delilah gets up from bed reluctantly. She takes her shower and freshens up, before going to her wardrobe to look for something formal to wear. Delilah takes a polka dot blouse and black trousers with black sandals to match everything up. She dons them and check herself in her mirror before leaving her quarters. Delilah heads to the parlor and when she got there, she meets Sonya sitting there as well.
It turns out that Mr. Hanson had also ordered Sonya to meet him there. Delilah takes a seat on a sofa which was distant from Sonya and no one says anything. They wait awkwardly for their dad and minutes later, he shows up.
"Good morning," he greeted as he took his seat.
"Good morning." they chorused.
"Good to see you are all fine," he smiled. "Happy birthday Delilah. May God add more years to your age and may you live long to see your grandchildren."
"Amen." Delilah responded boldly.
"Good. I didn't bring you two here to shower any of you with blessings," Mr. Hanson pointed out. "I brought you two here because I want you two to assure me that there are not going to be any fights today. Okay ?"
Delilah and Sonya looked at each other with straight faces before responding together. "Okay. No fights."
"I've heard you," Mr. Hanson nodded. "Also, your mom and Gabriel would be coming soon. We are having a family dinner before the party starts. So get prepared."
Delilah beamed with smiles after she heard the news. "That's all I have to say. You can go." Mr. Hanson dismissed.
The two left him in the parlour and went to their various quarters. Delilah started preparing herself to meet her mom whiles Sonya was busy looking for a different dress to wear for the party. Well, it didn't take long for the first relative to arrive. A black SUV similar to the ones in the car park, drove into the house and got parked in front of the main house. Sonya was the first to notice the car and she hurried downstairs to meet who it was.
Sonya finally got downstairs and stood a few distance from the car. Out from the car, emerged a light brown skinned man who went over to the other side of the car to open it for someone else.
"Gabriel ?!" Sonya exclaimed.
Delilah came downstairs seconds later and stood at the same distance with Sonya, probably because she was shocked to see who was before her.
The fine gentleman opened the door and a white lady came out of the car majestically, clad in fancy European wear and wearing a wide hat on her head. The driver got out from the SUV and started picking out the luggages in the boot and carried them in the house. Gabriel and the white lady walked hand in hand towards Sonya and Delilah, before finally standing in front of them.
"Ciao sorelle," he smiled. "Come state ragazze ?"
A puzzled look became evident on Sonya and Delilah's face and this made Gabriel and the lady laugh for a short period.
"My apologies," he implored. "Giovanna suggested that I try speaking Italian with you to see your reaction and it was priceless."
Sonya and Delilah still had the puzzled look on their face, since they were trying to process everything going on.
"Why are you still looking like that ?" Gabriel quizzed. "Is something wrong ?"
"I think they are speechless since they haven't met you in over two years." Giovanna said with her heavy Italian accent.
"Sì, naturalmente." he said to her. He faced his sisters. "Uhm, Sonya.....Delilah...meet my fiancée, Giovanna Caruso. Giovanna, queste sono le mie sorelle, Delilah e Sonya."
Sonya found her voice. "Fiancée ? When did you get engaged and how didn't we know about it ? Also, you have changed completely. You are no more dark like before and now you are speaking Italian ? What happened ?"
"Yeah, what happened Gabriel ?" Delilah chipped in. "I can barely recognise you."
"Go easy on me with the questions," Gabriel raised his hands in innocence. "Let's go inside and we can talk. The sun is getting hotter and hotter."
"Nice to meet you guys," Giovanna said as she shook hands with Delilah and Sonya. "Gabriel has told me so much about you two. Especially, Delilah. It seems you are his favourite."
"Awwwwwn," Delilah smiled as Sonya gave Gabriel a playful frown.
"Ti avevo detto di non dirlo," Gabriel faced Giovanna.
"Please the Italian is enough," Sonya pleaded. "Let's get inside the house then."
"Happy birthday by the way, Delilah." Giovanna said to her.
Gabriel quickly joined in. "Yeah happy birthday. I certainly didn't forget about it."
"Thanks very much Giovanna," Delilah smiled at her and ignored Gabriel. "My so-called favourite sibling even forgot."
"I said I didn't forget." Gabriel protested.
"Let's just get inside," Sonya spoke up again.
Everyone listened this time and they started walking towards the house. Delilah moved closer to Gabriel.
"Where's mom ?" she queried.
"She's still at the airport," he laughed. "She said we should take the lead and that she would be on her way."
"You guys came together ?" Delilah went on.
"Yes. But that's not important," Gabriel managed to change the topic. "Mom will be here soon and she said she has something special for you...."