CHAPTER 7
Fiona Langston opened the letter and was shocked by its content. She couldn't contain her excitement and shrieked loudly. The letter contained an invitation to dinner at T&T Restaurant with the most influential family in A City, the Grahams. Fiona immediately summoned Giovanna Langston.
Dante Graham usually loved to do things traditionally so he preferred writing a letter to sending a servant to make a phone call.
"Get ready! We're having dinner with the Grahams tonight!!" Fiona yelled as soon as she saw her daughter.
Alika who was just turning in for the day heard her screaming and rushed down thinking something terrible had happened but saw that they were all smiles when she got there. Turns out there was no reason to worry at all so she decided to head back.
"Alika, you're coming along." Maurice's voice caught her off guard and she halted in her tracks. "Get yourself ready." He knew she was going to decline but didn't give her that satisfaction. Alika suddenly had no say in his decision. During this time, Fiona was about to explode in anger but could only obey Maurice's words because if the dinner was about business, only he and Alika could handle it. She instantly regretted raising Giovanna in her care and not Maurice's.
In the interval, Leonardo declined the dinner invite for he was going to attend an online meeting with the overseas partners and investors of the Graham Empire. This resulted in his mother, Bianca Graham, a very sophisticated woman who rarely made any noise and his grandfather going in his place. Naturally, they both were very good judges of character. Leonardo believed they would make the right choice.
***
At seven o'clock in the evening, in a fancy restaurant which exuded the world of wealth- it's chandeliers being made of precious gemstones and floors made of Bubinga which was known for its stunning grain patterns and strength. If a restaurant could have all of these, what would the owner's house look like?
Only a handful of wealthy people could afford places like this in A City owned by the Grahams. They were unarguably the most influential family with their businesses diversifying worldwide. Although they never updated their net worth, the Graham Empire's income should be averaging over forty to sixty billion each year. And this only increases by the year depending on what they invested in. No one dared go against any member of their family as with only a flick of their wrist could destroy a company worth billions.
Bianca Graham sat on one side of the large table with her father-in-law, Maurice and his family except Alika sat on the other side.
"And your eldest daughter?" Bianca questioned politely but deep down, she felt kind of wronged- she was here earlier and the elders arrived before the young woman in question. How rude?!
Bianca Graham was always keen on being punctual- if a meeting is to hold in two hours, she would arrive two hours earlier. Not like she wasn't busy but she always made sure to finish on time by starting early before time which in turn, creates more time to prepare for future work. So, Alika not being there on time started to make her rethink her decision to have her as her daughter-in-law.
Her interest in Alika grew the moment she heard she was a very mysterious person. Such a woman would possess outstanding abilities.
Maurice began speaking about the achievements of his daughters one by one. Indeed, he was such a proud father.
"Alika is a graduate in art from the Prestigious University. She has so many works and is very talented but refuses to follow her passion." He stated knowing well enough that the Graham family were lovers of art and craft. Every generation of theirs basically learned a skill that requires art.
Maurice observed the glint of pleasure in their eyes after hearing that and felt even prouder than he previously was. He was glad that at least Alika got something positive from her mother.
"Alika. My dear, where have you been?" He said as soon as he noticed her presence and stood up to welcome her.
Her silhouette in the blue straight ankle-length evening gown was accentuated flawlessly. Her height inevitably increased with the heels she wore beneath her feet. She was already tall but the heels made her even taller; looking like a Greek goddess but just better. Hence, increasing her already domineering aura.
Bianca Graham stared in awe at the young woman who looked at least twenty-two years old. She was really a rare sight and the smile she wore on her face could melt even the heart of a blind man. Her presence alone made Giovanna invisible as all the attention was instantly given to her.
"You have a treasure in your possession which you've kept hidden all these time." Dante Graham spoke in appraisal of Alika who was already seated with a beautiful smile plastered on her face.
Alika couldn't believe that Noor had Keeya come all the way from her house to get her ready to meet the Grahams. But it was worth it.
"How would you like to be a part of our family, Alika?" This question did not come from Bianca but from the head of the Graham family, Dante Graham and it left everyone sitting at the table astonished.
'Did he just give the marriage proposal to Alika?' Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Giovanna thought to herself in anger. How?! And why?! She felt like grabbing Alika and dipping her face into the large bowl of dessert on the table.
Before this, Giovanna had always felt overshadowed by Alika's beauty but still pretended to be confident in her looks. She looked a bit like Maurice but looked more like her mother. She wondered what kind of beauty Alika's mother possessed such that she had passed it completely to her daughter. The only resemblance Maurice had with her was the big brown eyes which could sometimes make others feel like they were staring into their soul.
"I'm sorry. But I do not want to be a Missus for now." Alika dropped the words with caution but still, they felt like a blow to the rest of them.
Bianca Graham could only stare at the young woman who seemed so confident and stood her ground- completely disregarding that they were the elders of the Graham family. She wasn't angry but admired Alika's demeanor which was extremely calm and reserved. She wondered why she declined if they didn't even mention which of the grandsons she was going to marry.