ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 1
THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 10,1992
7:56 PM
The 565 trembled as the sea of ominous clouds pushed and tossed the plane violently.The pilot as he jerked aggressively in his seat flipped over the speaker so his worried voice was carried throughout the plane
’Is your seat belt fastened,Miss Frost?
There was no response
‘Miss Frost…Miss Frost….’
She was startled out from her deep reverie. ’Yes.’Her thoughts had been drifting to more joyful times and places.
‘Are you all right?We should be out of this storm soon.’
‘Im fine,Lincoln’
Maybe we’ll get lucky and crash,Kara Frost thought.It would be a fitting end.Her life from what it had been had done a devastating 180 on her.Its the Fates,Kara thought.You can’t fight the Fates.In the past year her life had spun wildly beyond her control.She was at the brink of losing everything.At least nothing else can go wrong,she thought wryly.There is nothing else.
The entrance of the cockpit opened and the pilot came into the cabin.He paused for a moment to allow his eyes to sweep over his passenger.The woman was breathtakingly beautiful,with shiny ink-black hair falling in light waves,a smooth and fair complexion,intelligent and capturing eyes,lavender-grey.She had changed clothes after they had taken off from San Juan,and she was wearing a white,off-the shoulder evening gown that promised a slender,seductive figure.Adorning her neck was a dazzling diamond necklace with blue sapphire beads carved into flowers. Around her wrist was a sparkling Pandora bracelet which twinkled in the light.How on earth can she look so damn calm with the pillars of her world collapsing around her?he wondered.The newspapers had been mercilessly attacking and bombarding her for the past month.
‘Is the telephone signal back on ,Lincoln?’
‘Im afraid not,Miss Frost.There’s a lot of interference and turbulence because of the storm and moreover the storm looks like its about to get fiercer.We are going to be about an hour late getting into La Guardia.I apologize Miss.’
Im going to be late for my own birthday party,Kara thought.Everyone is going to be attending.250 esteemed guests including the Vice President of the United States,the Mayor and Governor of New York,famous celebrities and sportsmen,and financiers from half a dozen countries.She had revised and given her consent to the guest list.
She could picture the Grand Ballroom of the Frost Square,where the party was being held.Strass crystal chandeliers would hang from the ceiling and reflect its brilliant light onto the floor.There would be place settings for 250 guests at 25 tables.The finests linens,china ,silver would adorn each table setting,and in the centre of each table would be a floral display of blue and purple orchids and white peonies.
Bar service would have been set up at both ends of the large reception hall outside.In the middle of the hall would be a long buffet with elegant ice sculptures of ballerina’s and swans,and around it,imported caviar,fresh oysters,shrimps,lobster and crab,while bottles of champagne were being iced and laid for display.An 8-tier birthday cake would frosted and set on the kitchen counter waiting.Waiters, security guards and the personal bodyguards of all the VIP’s would be in position by now.
In the ballroom,a society orchestra would be on the bandstand ,ready to tempt the guests to dance the night away in celebration of her 36th birthday .Everything would be prepared.
The dinner was going to be delicious.She had chosen the menu herself.Foie gras with white pearl caviar to begin with,followed by a cream of mushroom soup under a delicate crust,fillets of John Dory,and then the main course:Lobster Fritatta with French beans and a mesclun salad with hazelnut oil.Moose cheese and grapes would be next,followed by the the cake and coffee.
It was going to be an extravagant party.She would hold her head high,and she face her guests with a heart-warming smile that would fool most into believing nothing was wrong.She is Kara Frost.
When the private jet finally landed at La Guardia ,it was 1 and a half hours late.
Kara turned to the pilot.’We’ll be flying back to San Juan again Lincoln.I expect the jet to be in full form by 2 a.m.’
‘I’ll be here ,Miss Frost.’
With a subtle dip of her chin she strode to the ramp where her limousine and driver were waiting for her arrival.
‘I was getting worried about you,Miss Frost.’
‘We ran into some intensive weather,Jack.Let’s get to the Square as fast as possible.’
‘Yes maam.’
Kara reached forward for the car phone and dialled Kabir Nair’s number.He had made all the arrangements for the party.Kara wanted to make sure that her guest were being looked after and were comfortably settled.It went straight to voicemail.He’s probably in the ballroom,Kara concluded.
‘Hurry,Jack.’
‘Yes Miss Frost’
The sight of the huge Frost Square Hotel never failed to give Lara a beam of satisfaction what she was capable to create and it always dimmed her stress,however on this fast-paced evening,she was in too much of a hurry to think about it.Everyone would be awaiting her in the Grand Ballroom.
She shoved through the revolving door and hurried across the large spectacular lobby.Carlos,the assistant manager,saw her and came running to her side.
‘Miss Frost….’
’Later,’Kara said in an authorative tone.She kept walking faster than average.She reached the closed door of the Grand Ballroom and stopped to take a breather.Im ready to face them,Kara thought.She thrust open the door ,a smile etched on her face and stopped in shock.The room was completely darkness.Were they planning some kind of surprise?Her hand wandered for the switch behind the door and flicked it up.The huge room was flooded with twinkling light.There was no one there,not a single person.Kara stood there,stunned and allowed the quietness and the loneliness to envelope her..
Last year,at her birthday party,this same room had been filled with her friends,filled with music and laughter.She remembered that day so well…
Suddenly she felt bony fingers grasp around her arm …
