Sonya
Could this day get any worse ? I regret attending the party and I wished I was at work instead. At least at work, I think matters through before acting. What happened at the dining table is unexplainable. I let my rage get control over me and now I have to pay the price for it. After I left the dining room, I went back to my room and I laid on my bed just overthinking on what was going to happen to me after the party. I was very anxious about it.
I don't know how long I spent in my quarters but after some time, I started hearing music from downstairs. It seemed like the party had started and I didn't feel like going downstairs either. Olivia informed me earlier that she wouldn't be coming early to the party because of work and that pretty much made me decide to stay in my room till she comes to the party. I don't want to face my family alone.
When Olivia said she would come late, I didn't take it seriously cause she normally shows up early at events. However, she proved me wrong today. I was asleep on my bed when a phone call woke me up. I picked it up.
"Olivia, what's up ?"
"I'm at the party." she informed.
"Really ? Then I'm coming downstairs."
I checked the time and it was twelve minutes past 5 o'clock. I got up, stretched myself and tidied up before leaving my quarters. Someone was already using the elevator, so I took the stairs and I made my way through the far right side of the house. I received a text message and I was about to take my phone to check the message until I bumped into him.....
The source of all my troubles.
He apologized and there were hundreds of words in my mind, forcing to get out through my mouth. I held the urge and just walked past him. Meeting Kelvin got me into a bad mood and I wished I could forget about it. I forgot but it wasn't about meeting Kelvin. I forgot to check the text message I received due to my bad mood and overthinking.
I met Olivia in the hallway talking to some people and she wasn't alone. When she noticed me, she ended the conversation with them and approached me. By her side was Dennis and he had this flirty look on his face.
"My apologies for coming late," Olivia implored. "I would have arrived earlier if not for someone."
"Excuse me, please....." Dennis elongated. "A sophisticated man like me needs to take time to look good for other sophisticated women like Sonya. Isn't that right, Sonya ?"
I frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be at Kumasi ? Why are you still here ?"
"Is that how to welcome me ?" Dennis feigned sadness. "That's not nice of you."
"Don't mind him," Olivia chuckled. "He was in Kumasi when he heard of the party. So he left and tagged along with me."
"I don't even know what to say, Dennis." I sighed.
"I wanted to see you cause your beauty can make a starving man full."
Olivia and I gave Dennis a weird look.
"Speaking of starving, I'm hungry for real. Do you know where I can get something to eat ?" he inquired.
"True. I haven't eaten since noon." Olivia added. "Having a bite would be very satisfying right now."
"I guess they'll be serving food by now," I replied. "Let's check the dining room then."
We walked to the dining room and like I said, they were serving food there. The workers had arranged the place well and some people sat around tables to eat. We three got inside, selected the food we wanted and got served. We moved to a table and sat around to eat.
I wasn't really hungry but if Olivia is going to eat, I have to join her so I can avoid being alone in the house. We had a conversation as we ate and we ignored Dennis for most of the time we were talking. Olivia and I talked cryptically about the catering services and Dennis didn't figure anything out. I told Olivia about how buoyant the business and I thanked her for everything she had done for me.
Talking about the catering business brought my mind back to the dining and I decided not to say a word about it to Olivia. I just ate with her and we discussed about future plans for the business. When we were done, Olivia and I left Dennis back at the table and went for some refreshments. I had eaten more than I anticipated and I felt kind of heavy.
To make sure that my food digests faster, I suggested to Olivia that we go around talking to guests we know of already. Olivia didn't have a problem with the suggestion, so that's what we did. We went around various rooms, talking to guests and I met some distant relatives I haven't seen in a long time. I even barely recognised them from anywhere.
Olivia and I were enjoying ourselves with the others. I had such a good time that I forgot all about what happened today. It didn't matter to me at that moment. Well, the good time I was having got interrupted when I heard another notification and that's when I remembered I had a notification before. I checked my phone and saw two messages from dad.
"Come into the living room. I want you to meet some old friends."
That was the first message from him. This was the second message.
"Sonya, come to the living room now. We are about to cut your sister's birthday cake. Don't be late."
I groaned in frustration and showed Olivia the message. "I have to go to the living room now. Will you be coming or you're still chatting with Sandra ?"
"I'm coming with you. Let's go." Olivia said.
We waved the others goodbye and left the art room. Olivia and I quickened our steps to the living room and we got there in a minute time. Right in the living room was a medium sized table that had replaced the smaller one. There were like two dozen guests who were present in the living room and most of them were my parents' close friends.
As I scanned the room, I saw Gabriel conversing with Giovanna. I also saw dad and mom talking to Delilah. Standing some feet away from Delilah was Kelvin and I remembered all what happened today. Dad turned and found me at the entrance of the room and he gestured for me to come over. Olivia and I went over to where they stood.
"Where have you been ? And how didn't you see my messages early ?" he questioned.
"I was with Olivia and I was distracted that's why." I explained.
He sighed. "In any moment from now, your sister's cake would be brought here. We will pray for her, sing her the happy birthday song and you know, cutting the cake. You know the tradition already."
"Okay dad."
"Don't go anywhere when we are done cutting the cake." he ordered.
"Okay," I said confusingly.
Why should I remain when we are done with the cake ? The question rang in my head several times. Just as he said, two workers brought the tall cake into the room and everyone turned their attention to it. The cake was beautiful and it looked very inviting. Dad ordered the DJ to turn the music down and he was given a microphone after he asked for it.
"Standing before us is my beautiful daughter, Delilah. The birthday girl and the reason we are all gathered here." my dad began. "Before we move on to the cake, I would like everyone to close their eyes and stretch forth their hands as we pray for her."
Everyone complied and stretched forth their and closed their eyes. I heard other people trooping into the living room. My mom took the mic and began to pray for Delilah. It was a minute long prayer but it was a commanding and potent prayer. When she finished, everyone ended the prayer with a loud "Amen."
My dad got the mic back from mom. "That was a very powerful prayer from my one and only. Now let's all sing the birthday song as the birthday girl cuts the cake."
We all began to sing as Delilah was handed a knife and she began to cut the cake. When she cut it to the bottom, we all yelled "Hurray" for her like every other birthday. There was a photographer who took photos of her when she cutting. When she was done, my dad gestured us to come around and hold the knife together.
So the entire family; Gabriel, Delilah, mom, dad and I huddled together and managed to hold the knife whiles the photographer took photos of us. Everyone clapped and cheered on till we were done. When the photographer was done with the photos, we dispersed and the DJ started playing jam songs to lighten up the place. The workers took the cake away to the kitchen to cut it down for everyone.
I was about to leave with Olivia when I remembered what dad said. Dad ordered the DJ to turn the music down again and he made an announcement....
"It's such a pleasure to see this happening before me," he started. "Seeing my daughters grow is a blessing and calls for a celebration. Speaking of celebration, I want to announce that I'm handing over my businesses to my first daughter, Sonya, next week Wednesday."
There was a loud round of applause and shouting for some reason and everyone was looking at me. I felt very annoyed.
When the applause died down, my dad continued. "So after the handing over the businesses next week at my textile company, we will have another round of celebration there and in the house cause my second daughter is graduating from university as well."
There was a louder applause than before and everyone was cheering on for us, even Olivia joined in. I was very pissed off and I wanted to use the last resort I had to avoid this whole handing over of the businesses.
When the noise died down, I spoke up before my dad went on. "I am not taking over any business." I exclaimed.
Everyone kept quiet and just focused on me. The entire living room was quiet. My dad raised his voice. "Young woman, don't let us go through that rollercoaster ride again."
"Why are you forcing it down on me..." I asked.
"Sonya."
"Tell me. Why don't you want me to have what I want ?" I went on.
"Sonya.."
"Please tell me why me ?" I exclaimed once again.
"Sonya..."
"Why ?" I elongated desperately.
"BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT AND THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANT TO SEE BEFORE I DIE!" dad shouted on top of his voice.
The silence that came after that revelation in the room was much louder than before. Now, everyone faced dad. When he realized what he had revealed, he walked out of the room.
"Follow me, Mr. Walter." he called out as he left.
Kelvin followed him immediately and they both left all of us in the room, silent and still trying to process what we just heard.
.
Writer
Mr. Hanson, Kelvin and his two bodyguards left the main house immediately and they got into a car and left the house. Kelvin was as shocked as anyone else. He was even more puzzled as to why Mr. Hanson had asked him to tag along. Nevertheless, he kept his thoughts to himself. Back in the main house, Sonya got out of her shocked state and hurried towards the exit to look for her father.
She saw that he had left and she rushed to the car park to find her car. Behind her was Olivia and Gabriel and they tried to catch up with Sonya but she beat them to it and drove off from the car park. Sonya drove quickly and left the house hoping to spot her father's car on the road. After following the trail she predicted, she saw the car some distance ahead of her. She drove steadily and followed the car.
Unknown to the rest, the kidnappers had already infiltrated the house and they saw everything that happened. When they saw Sonya leaving the house, they followed after her in their car.
Mr. Hanson ordered the driver to take them to his real estate agency office and the driver obliged. Minutes later, they arrived at the big office which was much further from town. Mr. Hanson got down together with Kelvin and the two bodyguards and they walked into the building. As Mr. Hanson and the men were walking through the hallway, he broke his silence.
"Kelvin," he uttered. "I don't know what to say or how to say it but please, when I'm gone, take care of..."
"Mr. Hanson," Kelvin interrupted. "Don't say that. Nothing is going to happen to you."
"You don't know what is going on, do you ?" Mr. Hanson chuckled.
"No please." Kelvin replied. "I have no idea."
"Just listen to me right now," he pleaded. Kelvin nodded, so Mr. Hanson continued. "It's been barely two weeks since I met you and you have impressed me a lot. Your honesty, concern for others, hard work, politeness and courtesy are the best I've seen from all my other workers. Just look at what you did at the party. Fantastic job you did there."
"That's why I....." Mr. Hanson paused for a while. "That's why I want to tell you that—"
"Dad!" a call came from behind them.
Everyone turned behind and met Sonya panting wildly as she tried to catch her breath. She run towards them and passionately hugged her surprised father tightly. When they broke up, Mr. Hanson and Sonya had a few moment of silence.
"Dad," Sonya broke the silence. "Please tell me it's not true. Please tell me it's all a lie."
Mr. Hanson ordered his bodyguards to give them some space, so the two men went further from the trio and stood from a distance.
"Please tell me it's not true...." Sonya repeated with a worried sad face. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
Mr. Hanson didn't know how to break the news again to his daughter. "Sonya, I'm sorry about all this... believe me—"
Sonya hugged her father once again. "This has to be a joke. I hope it's a joke. Tell me it's a joke cause if you want me to take over your business now, I will do it willingly. I promise. Just tell me it's not true."
A tear dropped from Mr. Hanson's eye and fell on his face. He became speechless and emotional. A lot was running through his mind.
Suddenly, three men barged into the hallway and stood before the startled bodyguards. Immediately, two men shot at the bodyguards before they could react and the bodyguards dropped down immediately.
The sudden commotion also startled Sonya and her father and they broke away from the hug. The three all watched the armed men before them and before the armed men could react.....
"Get somewhere to hide." Kelvin shouted.
Immediately, Kelvin led the way with Sonya in the middle and Mr. Hanson at the back. One of the men tried to shoot at them but the other held him back.
"What are you doing, Blacksmith ?" he rebuked. "Are you an idiot ? Don't kill her father. You can kill the other guy but we need the girl and her father alive."
"Fine, Tupac." Blacksmith agreed. "Let's get this job done now. I've been waiting for this day ever since that afternoon. It's time to get revenge....."