Chapter 1
PATRIARCH.
To be honest I would not mind swimming in the waters of bora bora right now. but here I am,making my way across the cobblestone street in London going to my grandfather’s hotel.
With the ink on my certificate barely dry,I knew it was only days `before I will be summoned to the helm of the family business.
“Hello miss Arizona”The footman greets me.
“Hey chaplains”
“I thought you were supposed to be somewhere warm and sunny”
“I thought so too” I muttered,passing through the wellworth’s hotel grand doors.
If a theme can be golden luxury,that is what the reception hall is. Chandeliers dangled above,subtle hints of gold with overwhelming gold color flows throughout the interior design of the room.
It wasn’t a busy night,but a respectable amount of people were at the bar and the lounge area.
“Miss wellworth” Harley the receptionist greets,nothing misses her gaze. A few turned to take me in,which immediately made me uneasy.
“Hello Harley” I mustered a smile.
“Congratulations on your graduation” she felicitates as I pass the reception area to get to the elevator.
“Thank you” I politely waved at her.
Pressing the elevator doors open,I stepped in.
Sighs.
The hum of the elevator calms me down a bit.
My grandfather doesn’t call on me because he misses me,so this has me on the edge. The suspense and the urgency of his call last night made me cancel my vacationing plans.
“I hope the old grump isn’t kicking the bucket anytime soon” I grumbled as my mind kept coming up with worst case scenarios to explain the urgency.
He is just seventy three,still has a lot of years to live.
Personally I will like to take two years off any responsibilities and just travel the world before coming back to be the golden heiress and act right.
So I really do hope he is not sick and dying.
The elevator dinged at the penthouse floor.
I got out of the elevator and walk to the door of my grandfather’s office.
Three raps on the oak door,I heard a gruff “come in”
Gingerly pushing the door open,I sighted Gerald,my grandfather’s PA.
“Elizabeth” Gerald gasped and crossed the room in seconds to wrap me in a bear hug.
“Gerald” i Said happily while being I was smothered. Gerald was more of a father figure than my own father was.
He drew back to look at me “you look so skinny? Have you been eaten well?”
I smiled warmly at the man who took care of me.
“I barely had time because of exams and all”
“Don’t worry,you are home now. Esther will have soon have you nursing a food baby”
I giggled at him. A stern cough came from the direction of my grandfather.
“Gerald,please excuse us”
Gerald mouths “i will see you” later as he left the office.
“Sit down”
I sat down on the leather couch.
Sitting in his office is quite nostalgic,reminds me of when I play hide and seek behind those bookshelves . The book shelves are currently overflowing with books but I don’t think grandfather is doing any redecoration soon.
He hums as his eyes scrutinized the ledger on his hands. A ray of sunlight falls on his salt and pepper hair,more salt than pepper.
He bumps up the double rimmed glasses on his nose,hums and snaps shut the ledger.
“So how are you doing?” He drops the ledger on the ever growing pile on his table.
I raised an eyebrow at his question “I am fine,shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” He looked at me “sorry?”
“Are you sick or retiring?” I blurts out.
He barked out a laugh “no,not soon”
“So what is it?”
There has to be a good reason for me to cancel my trip.
“Can’t I want to spend some time with my grand daughter who just graduated?”
He leaned back on his chair.
This old geezer doesn’t do anything for the love of it.
“I am not buying that,what is it exactly?”
He gingerly stood up,wobbled a bit but righted himself. I didn’t move to help him cause I know that his ego is more important that his well being. A lesson I learnt quite early.
“You are done with school”
“A question or a statement?” His sharp gaze cuts into me.
He moved to a book shelf and picked a book,he was clearly stalling.
“What is it?” Annoyance was brewing in me.
“Marriage proposals are coming in”
“Oh good for you,your grand daughter ’s reputation isn’t that ruined. Reject them” I stood up.
“No”
I took after him in the headstrong department.Our gaze clashed,identical stormy grey eyes.
“I already accepted The croixs” his unrelenting gaze sharpen.
“I hope you have another grand daughter stashed somewhere or the croixs are partial to seventy something man bride”
I could literally see steam coming from his ears but I didn’t wait around for the explosion.
With a loud bang,I close the door.
“I’m fucked”
