Luzon Mendoza, the current acting CEO of AML Dynamics, hurried into the family mansion, the soles of his shoes striking the floor with a rhythmic urgency.
There was a spark in his eyes and a grin already tugging at his lips as he replied to the servant's polite greeting.
"Welcome home, sir." The uniformed butler bowed in respect, collecting his briefcase.
"Where is my..."
"Sweetheart..." The sharp and slightly harsh voice of a woman interrupted Luzon before he could complete his question.
A mature woman clad in a lavishly embellished chiffon dress that shimmered with every step she took, came into view.
Her face, though painstakingly composed with heavy makeup, bore the quiet aftermath of a battle lost from a botched anti-ageing treatment.
"Why are you home so early? Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Rosella asked her husband, signalling the butler to leave.
"Honey..." Luzon's smile came too quickly and lingered too long. "... I have good news." The corners of his mouth lifted, yet his eyes remained dull and detached, like a man gazing at a painting he no longer admired.
"Really!" Rosella's eyes widened with excitement.
"Yes, dear."
"Wait... don't tell me. Let me take a wild guess." Rosella gave an over-exaggerated smile. "You finally got the Starry Night diamond for my sixtieth birthday party."
"What!" Luzon stared blankly for a second, then grimaced, as if his wife's reply physically offended him.
"Oh...my bad. You finally got a good price for the Sam Filio yacht you have been meaning to buy for our thirtieth wedding anniversary." Rosella said beaming with pride.
Luzon's jaws clenched, but he managed to hold back his disgust as he said. "We do not have enough money for such lavish spending, dear. Need I remind you that we now live on a budget?"
"Then what is good about the news?" Rosella furrowed her brow in annoyance.
Luzon let out a forced breath as he said. "Everything, my dear. In the meantime, I want you to quickly assemble everyone in the drawing room. I have a huge announcement to make."
"Fine. But it better be worth it." Rosella rolled her eyes, hissing as she left her husband's side.
An hour later, the majority of the immediate Mendoza family, were all seated in the drawing room awaiting this big news that had disrupted their various individual activities.
"So what is the news about, Dad.." Julio asked nonchalantly, his breath reeking of cheap alcohol. "I have urgent business to attend to."
"You call gambling your life away and chasing everything in a skirt business?" Alfonso gave his wayward grandson a death stare. He was completely disappointed in all his children and grandchildren, who have all done nothing but destroy his legacy while he is still alive.
"But grandpa..."
"Shut up, Julio. This meeting is not about you. If you want to kill yourself like your elder brother, then be my guest." Luzon's voice snapped like a whip, sharp and unforgiving.
"Honey, take it easy. I'm sure your son means no harm. Moreover, it was that cursed witch who killed my first son." Rosella said scowling at her husband.
Alfonso lowered his head, regret gnawing at his bones for destroying the only good thing that came into his family.
"Dad, mum, please let's not quarrel. All of that is in the past. Just tell us the good news. I'm dying to hear it." Tala feigned excitement that didn't reach her eyes.
"Okay." Luzon took in a deep breath, his gaze locking on his eldest daughter.
"Mr Nathaniel Jomari, the acting CEO of Griff Bardin Holdings and the representative of our Messiah chairman, Ray Bardin, will be arriving in town over the weekend. And that is not all." Luzon paused for dramatic effect before continuing.
"He will be attending the Annual RAD Gala and Awards night, to receive the best performance award on behalf of AML Dynamics. Afterwards, he will be holding his first ever board of directors and shareholders meeting with everyone of us in the company on Monday morning."
At first, there was silence, a stunned, breathless pause as if the family were processing the news.
Then came the explosive jubilation, with laughter erupting in every corner of the room like fireworks.
Smiles stretched wide across every face, except the old patriarch of the family.
"Oh my gosh! My long-time crush is coming to town." Tala stood up, fanning herself with her hand, her cheeks flushed with happiness.
"This is the best news ever, honey." Rosella pulled her husband closer, giving him a deep kiss on the cheek.
"I told you." Luzon laughed heartily, grinning from cheek to cheek.
"Tala honey, this is your time to make a good impression." Rosella stood up, already planning a celebrity wedding in her head. "If you can win Mr Nathaniel's heart and get him to be your husband, then we can get our company back and the luxury life we all deserve."
"I am already ahead of you, Mom." Tala grinned widely, blushing from cheek to cheek. "Mr Nathaniel won't be able to take his eyes off me, on that award night."
"Dad, do you want me to go to the airport and pick him up when he arrives?" Julio offered, already making plans of his own.
"There'll be no need for that. Mr Nathaniel likes his privacy." Luzon replied, laying emphasis on the last word. "We will all meet him at the award night venue. But in the meantime, I want everyone here to be on their best behaviour. We all have to make a remarkable first impression. We cannot afford to displease him. Remember, he is the mouthpiece of our saviour, Mr Ray Bardin."
Everyone in the room gave a unanimous reply except the old patriarch who simply stood up and left the drawing room, knowing his family were far from ready to receive their new boss.
---
"I know the perfect dress to wear for the Gala night." Tala chimed happily as she made her way to her bedroom with her younger sister tagging behind her. "Mr Nathaniel won't be able to take his eyes off me."
"What happened to your fiancé? Don't tell me you're about to dump him for a big shot." Belinda nudged her sister on the arm, playfully.
"How can you ask me to choose a broke loser over a gold mine? Are you feeling well at all?" Tala placed the back of her right hand on her younger sister's forehead.
"I feel so sorry for Stefano right now." Belinda mimicked a sad face. "He will be so heartbroken and devastated."
"If you feel so sorry for him, why don't you go ahead and marry him?" Tala hissed.
"I don't do cheap, dear sister. I have my eyes set on the chairman, himself. Just imagine if he decides to show up at the Gala night tomorrow?" Belinda said dreamily, holding her sister's right arm.
"I always knew you were greedy." Tala pushed her away, laughing.
"Don't blame me. Blame this beautiful body of mine." Belinda said gesturing at her curvy body. "I'm done crushing on Kendrick Silva. He can go to hell for all I care. I have eyes for only Mr Ray now and I will do everything within my power to be Mrs Belinda Ray Bardin."
"Keep dreaming."