“You should just let it go. You can't fight Sullivan's family all by yourself.” Dolly had been cautioning Henrietta, she knew her mind was made up however she wouldn't give up on her. They had been friends since highschool, if there was anyone that knew Henrietta better than anyone it was her.
“I'm not doing it alone. I'm doing it for our son. Richard can throw away our family like that, I want my family back.” Henrietta seethed threateningly.
“You should have given it a second thought when you signed the divorce contract with him. He was ready to give you twice the money the company offered but you chose the contract over your family.” She remembered knowingly.
Henrietta glared at her, she winked at her surly and took her hand from the maid that was polishing her nails. “Leave!” She commanded imperatively. After the maid had left the living room, she gazed at her and frowned. “Are you here to remind me of my mistake? Don't you know the contract also has to do with our reputation, my reputation. You're my assistant, how come you didn't see things the way I see it?” Henrietta was disappointed, she gnawed on her lower lips while looking at Dolly as if she would murder her.
“I wasn't blinded like you. Tell me you ain't going to attend the wedding ceremony. Can't you see I'm trying to look out for you?”
“You're not my mother, Dolly. Richard dropped an invitation card for me, a pass for me which means I must attend the wedding. I think Richard also wants me to stop the wedding. We divorced, it hasn't been two years, Richard loves me so much.” Henrietta said strongly. She leaped to her feet and glanced around as if she was searching for something. “Miguel needs no mother but me. I am his mother, I'm the only one for him.”
Dolly scoffed softly, she stood up and adjusted her eyeglasses. “The last time I checked, you don't even care about the child you're suddenly calling your son. You always called him a mistake, a child you shouldn't have given birth to, a child that made Richard stop loving you, a child that always made him complain about your moves…he's now your son?”
“Dolly!” She yelled ferociously.
“Don't call my name. I've had enough of your madness, you love your family yet you choose a contract over your family. If you want to fight knowing that you're fighting alone, you have no family to fight for you. I'm the only one you have and I'm not going to do what isn't right. You're not going to attend the wedding and that's final, you should focus on winning the contract before you. Your rival is enough for you to think about, she's a threat.” She said sagely, she crouched down a little and carried the files on the table.
“Maggie is no more a threat. I'm the boss, she'll soon bow to my feet and beg in tears.”
“Gosh! You never improve. You're to meet the CEO of Skyline at a five stars pub tomorrow morning.” She scanned through the files in her hands while explaining.
“Did you tamper with my schedule for the week? Tomorrow is a free day for me. Why a date with the CEO of Skyline?” Henrietta knew what Dolly was planning for her, she would do anything to stop her from attending the wedding ceremony.
“Do you have a problem with that? He's only available tomorrow. You should choose wisely, a contract or a wedding invitation card?” Dolly drew her eyeglasses down a little and winked at her mockingly. “I made a new arrangement with the greedy closet, I'm changing your whole closet this week. I believe that's your last request. I should be on my way, have a pleasant day.”
“Wait, I'm not going on a date with the CEO.”
“You don't have a choice.”
“I said I'm not going. You arrange a stupid date with him but I'm not going. You know what to do right? I value my reputation more than anything.”
“And because of that you must go on a date with him, sweetheart.” Dolly grinned mischievously while leaving the mansion.
Henrietta stood on the spot, she didn't budge an inch for a few seconds while scanning the whole living room vaguely. Suddenly she grabbed her phone and smashed it on the floor which shattered immediately, she picked the remote control and threw it. “Ah!” She yelled frustratingly. She despised it when everyone chose not to support her decision. She always believed she was right and there was no wrong in everything she did. She glanced at her phone on the floor, she huffed and walked toward the staircase. She gripped the stairs railings and ascended the stairs to her room. She stepped inside and sauntered causally to the nightstand, she drew it back and brought the pink invitation card out. She read the names written boldly in it then put it down on the bed. “This is more beautiful than mine.” She lifted the table lamp, there was a purple invitation card under it. She compared the two invitation cards, she stifled the desire to tire the card into pieces, she got jealous over the card as hers wasn't beautiful compared to the new card.
She strolled into her closet to pick a dress for the wedding, she picked a strapless red gown on the railings. “This should be enough. I'll do anything to stop you, Richard.” She gritted her teeth furiously.
CHARLENE SAT DOWN quietly in her room, Flavia came to her room to persuade her to come downstairs for dinner but she refused. She never budged an inch from where she was. The door creaked, she looked up forwardly at the door, Kathleen walked inside confidentially, she shutted back the door slowly to avoid loud sound. She turned around then stalked toward the bed.
She sat beside her on the bed and put a hand on her head. Charlene was staring at her with her chin resting on her knees.
“Happy?” Kathleen took a hand.
“Sad.” She murmured.
“Excited?”
“Nervous.”
“Want to stop the wedding from holding?” Charlene shook her head vigorously. “You want to wear your beautiful white gown tomorrow.” She nodded.
“But I'm scared, mom. His ex wife is back.”
“You shouldn't be.” She moved a hand to her cheek and made her look into her eyes. “Embrace your fear darling. He's the man for you.”
“I know but what about his ex wife…”
“Shush— her memory is in the past. Whatever she might have said to you is just a mere threat. No woman would want that, I know. As your mother, you have me by your side. Tomorrow is your day and you must look your best.”
Charlene forced a delightful smile on her lips while gazing at her mother steadily. “He was nice to me today but how about tomorrow?”
“Everything is going to be alright. Don't over think, my dear.”
“I'm not, mom.”
“Come on.” She pulled her into her arms and embraced her warmly, she patted her back in a lovely way. “It's all right.” Her phone rang, making them disengaged. Charlene looked at Kathleen helplessly while narrowing her eyes at the phone. “Go ahead, I'll be waiting outside.”
“All right, mom.” Kathleen stepped down from the bed, she smiled brightly at her before exiting the room. Charlene picked her phone, her heart race when she saw the call ID, it was Richard. She wondered why he called her and it was already late in the night. She mustered courage and picked up the call. She held her breath when she heard his voice. What he told her made her stop thinking for a few seconds. Before she could utter a word, Richard had hung up on her.