NARRATIVE
Ashton poured yet another content of champagne into his wine glass, ignoring the noise and chitchat going on around inside the bar. It was past noon and he had left the office to come cool his head after the unexpected turn of events at the company during the morning conference.
He was reluctant about going home now because of the new family member that would be coming to the house during dinner.
His hands caressed the wine glass and his green down-turned shaped eyes bore a distant look in them, as he leaned on the bar chair. His phone which was on silent mode, kept ringing consistently but he wasn't willing to answer the call. Even though it was an unknown number calling, he refused to pick up because he knew it was none other than Cora, his twin sister's best friend. The girl have been obsessed with him ever since they shared a kiss during a truth and dare game they played, when they were teenagers.
Ashton was already tired of her, he's blocked her number already several times but she always found a way to ring his phone with an entirely different number each time. Recently she even had the audacity to stripe naked for him in an attempt to seduce him into having sex with her but he didn't do it.
But this wasn't even what was making Ashton sit in a bar alone, consuming alcohol. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he knew things would be different in his family as soon as he returns home. The Grey's family wasn't perfect but they were peaceful.
He dread returning home to meet this strange sibling that happened to be his elder sister.
At this moment, someone walked past him and something dropped on the floor. Ashton glanced sideways and happened to see the expensive object on the floor beside his feet.
He furrowed his brows as he dropped his wine glass on the counter and bent down to pick it up.
He stared at the expensive tracker wristwatch in his hand with a small frown.
Who's so careless to have dropped his tracker wristwatch worth billions of pounds on the floor of a popular bar in city center? He mused.
He turned towards the exit door, looked around but didn't see anyone who was likely to have dropped anything.
Just as he made up his mind to call the bartender and give it to him, he saw an inscription on the strap side that caught his attention.
The letter KK was engraved in it with gold.
'Wow!' He mouthed.
*******
Imogen paced about the terrace of her friend's home. She was agitated but Cora was busy talking in her loud thick voice to Yori, lamenting on why Ashton wouldn't pick her calls.
'I mean I did everything you gals suggested, do you know I even stripped for him?' She said and Yori stopped slopping on her cocktail to stare wide eyed at her.
'You did?!' She said in unbelief. Cora nodded affirmatively. 'I'm sorry girl, but you just gave Ashton the impression of a whore!'
'I don't care Yori. At least, he'll realize that I was ready to be his whore all for his love and attention.' Cora said indifferently. Yori shook her head and continued with her drink, clearly her friend had long lost her mind.
'Pick up the damn phone Ashton! Pick it up!!!' She shouted like the crazy girl she was, tapping her feet noisily against the marble floor of her home.
'Stop that girl, you could just send a text.' Yori suggested.
'And have him leave me on read again? Hell no!! I have to hear his voice, I'm certain he needs someone to talk to now. He needs me!' She said in her loud voice again. Yori sighed in surrender, casting her gaze at the pacing Imogen.
'Pick up Ash, Pick up!!!'
'Will you shut the fuck up, Cora?! I'm trying to think here!' Imogen snapped, turning around to glare at her. Cora pouted.
'But I'm trying to...'
'Ashton wouldn't talk to anyone now. I can swear you'll be helping him right now by not ringing his phone!' She yelled. Cora pouted and looked down. She wasn't mad at her friend for yelling at her in anger just now, in fact she was used to it. As Imogen had a huge temper.
'I'm sorry. What am I supposed to do?' She said lowly. Imogen sighed.
'Look girls, I'm trying to figure out an excuse that I'll give to my father as a reason behind missing the family dinner we are to have in an hour's time. I don't want to see that girl but she's moving in my home today. You girls can help me with excellent ideas, father would easily buy and not suspect.' She said and went to sit down on a chair facing them.
'I don't think you should skip the dinner.' Cora said and Yori nodded in agreement.
'Cora's right Imogen. If you do that, your father would find a way to punish you and you know that. Besides, you're trying to win his favor of recent aren't you? Also, you skipping the dinner would make you come off as a weakling before this new girl and I'm certain you don't want that.' Imogen nodded understandingly as she listened. 'What I think you should do is to go for the dinner and protect your territory. I'm certain the new girl showing up don't intend to sit and be babied about, you know she won't do that. So go home and protect your rights!' Yori advised and Imogen smirked.
'You're are so damn right Yori!' She said.
*******
Harriet glanced at her wristwatch for the umpteenth time. She was still agitated as she sat with the rest of her family members at the dinner table, in the huge dining room of the family's mansion.
Silently, she prayed whatever was making Paige's daughter delay, to continue to hold her back so she doesn't have to meet her soon until she's got a plan.
She wasn't alone in her agitation as her children; particularly Imogen, were also nervous.
Jamie Grey noticed their nervousness from his side of the round dining table and said with a small smile.
'I apologize for Heidi's lateness, she's probably being delayed by traffic. I'm sure she'll soon be here.' He didn't allow himself entertain thoughts of his daughter ditching on him and their plans.
'On the first dinner she's already pro...'
Imogen's intended derogatory statement was cut in the air when the entrance door of the mansion opened and a tall lady with an unexplainable pulchritude, walked in, escorted by the chief butler and several maids who bore her luggage.
She was dressed in a lovely silver dinner gown, her long graceful legs were trapped in a matching silver platform stiletto sandal, her wrist bore a single silver-grey bracelet and her long black hair fell loosely down her shoulders. She had such irresistible charm that left everyone gaping for a while. Ashton batted his lashes several times as he watched her, almost falling in love. Imogen couldn't control her emotions as she stared, mouth agaped as though hypnotized, at the lady.
Harriet swallowed nothing severally as she watched her walk up to them. She thought she was staring directly at her dead friend.
'I'm so sorry I'm late. Traffic was bad. I hope I'm not missing on anything yet?' She smiled. Her smile was so blinding that Harriet felt invisible before her and Imogen felt choked.
Jamie wiped tears out of his eyes as he smiled and walked up to her.
'Dad,' she smiled as they embraced.
'You look stunning, Heidi.' He smiled.
'Thank you. You look amazing too.' Jamie chuckled and led her to the dinner room.
'Hello everyone,' Scarlett smiled genuinely, looking at the people that were now family to her.
'Harriet this is Heidi, I and Paige's daughter. Heidi that's your step mom, Harriet.' Harriet forced a smile at her. 'Ashton and Imogen, meet Heidi your older sister, Heidi please look after them.' Jamie introduced.
'It's nice to finally meet you all.' Scarlett said, particularly staring at the twins. They were somewhat identical, not much though as Ashton look more like his Dad than his mom. Imogen was her mom's replica, however they both shared the same facial features; their eye colors aside.
Ashton gave a slight acknowledging nod, Imogen looked away. Scarlett smiled. She knew it must be hard on them as they've never imagined they had another sibling who was a year older than them and from another mother.
She was going to try her best to live peacefully with them; they were her siblings after all, Jamie's blood flow through their veins.
Harriet tried to control herself as Jamie helped Scarlett to the empty seat he'd reserved for her beside him.
As the servants began to serve the dishes, Scarlett looked at Imogen and smiled. Imogen saw her smile and she frowned.
'What's so funny?' She said, not able to control her annoyance anymore.
'It's funny how we meet again, under circumstances beyond our control.' Scarlett said.
Everyone turned to look at them immediately.
'What you talking about? I never met you!' Imogen said, her frown deepening.
'Well we did, you just can't recall but it's fine.' She smiled. Imogen gave her a puzzled look. 'I was wearing a beanie, an artificial lens and glasses so it's no surprise why you don't.' Scarlett said. She wasn't having the willingness to explain further as she was certain Imogen wouldn't be bothered, also with time she might recall. Her attention was majorly on Harriet who was mirthlessly picking on her steak.
'Imogen, Heidi happened to have crossed parts with you in an elevator at RD Rotunda. Same day I sent you to the hotel for business purpose.' Jamie Grey said.
'I can't remember every other female I met in an elevator that day can I?' Though her manner of response could be considered rude, Jamie was willing to ignore it.
'Don't stress if you don't recall, I'm sure it's no biggie.' He said.
Scarlett reached for the bowl of kidney pies across the table and Harriet who had just raised her gaze from her plate of steak to look at her, immediately got a heart attack when she saw the silver-grey bracelet, decorating her wrist.
She trembled visibly when a memory from over two decades came to her.
*****
'What do you think of this? Personally, I think this would look great on my daughter. I mean, check out the colors 'silver-grey' same with my eye color.' Paige said as she stared at the beautiful bracelet on the display glass.
'Are you kidding me?' Harriet laughed. They were out shopping for baby wears two days after Paige confirmed her pregnancy. 'Well, that's an adorable thought you have going on there. You making me wanna get pregnant too.' Paige chuckled.
'That wouldn't be a bad idea, provided you bring home the lucky dude.' She grinned and Harriet slapped her arm playfully.
'Naughty girl, you know I'm not ready to have a family yet.' She said and Paige laughed.
'One day you'll be. Hey I'm taking this one, Harriet let's check out the other stall for my baby girl's dress.' She pulled her away.
******
Presently as Harriet saw the bracelet, she knew it could no longer be denied that the lady right here is truly Paige's daughter.
But how? How is this possible?
This was a question she couldn't answer.