THE REUNION
CHAPTER ONE
Sally sat by the window all lost in her thoughts. The memories of 5th grade flashed through her like a mirage. She had kept the scar in for so long , without a soul hearing about it.
“Sally ! Sally!! Sally!! Her mother( Mrs Harding) who is in her late 40s called out, “why are you so lost in thoughts” she asked? Sally looked at her mother with a long grin and said , “ mother I’m fantasizing about my date with Derrick” . Her mother teased , “ I see you two love birds are getting along pretty well, it’d be my fulfilling joy to see you walk down the aisle with him” sally kept the long grin and muttered some words to herself looking back at the window.
“ Give them a break , don’t you think you’re putting a lot of pressure on the kid” Sally’s father( Mr Harding ) well built black man in his early 50s yelled. “ sally really loves Derrick, and I see him reciprocating the love, you let them do their thing honey “ Mrs Harding replied back to her husband who walked away with so much displeasure in his eyes. Sally was still by the window when the door bell rang. “Get the door Robin” Mrs Harding yelled at her son who had his head glued to his phone . Robin with an average height who clocked 17 last summer .Ivy was at the door, a friend of sally . A tall caramel skinned lady, she’s the same age as sally. They both have their birthdays on the same day.One would think they were born of same mother, they clocked 21 last winter .Her figure fit perfectly into her body. She had the body of a model. With more fashion sense than sally . Ivy and sally had been friends since 5th grade , the bond grew so strong that they applied to go to Harvard university together, unfortunately Ivy got in and sally didn’t . Sally went to school of Economics in London. Ivy just got back in town and decided to pay a visit to sally . “ Ivy!!! “ Robin screamed as he hugged her so tight. “ I didn’t know you were in town” Robin said,”I got in last night” she said . Sally’s Mum came downstairs as she heard Robin screamed Ivy. They exchanged pleasantries and talked for a while, then Ivy went straight to Sally’s room. Ivy knocked at the door , sally stood up to get the door . Ivy!!! She screamed and hugged her passionately . “ You didn’t tell me you were coming back this Christmas, sally questioned. “ I’d give the world to see my best friend in the world” Ivy replied and the both hugged passionately again.
Ivy talked about how hard it was for her to cope at Harvard university and the clique of friends she got involved with in her first year, and how they tricked her into doing drugs. Sally looked in bewilderment on how deep her friend might have been in doing drugs. But none of that mattered to her . Ivy was back and that was all that mattered. They laughed about it and hugged again. “So who is the lucky guy that has you all glowed up” Ivy asked sally. Sally gave a long grin and after blushing so hard , managed to say his name.” Well if you must know, Derrick had me all glowed up. I met him at my first year in school of Economics” Derrick was in his third year at school of Economics, when sally gained admission there . Derrick is the son of the renowned professor of stock management at the school of Economics. They met during their first welcome meeting for freshers. Derrick a tall, light skinned man, with his beards neatly shaved to fit down his finely curved jawline . One would think he did a surgery to get them perfectly curved out.
“ I’m having a dinner date with him tonight, thank God you’re here. You’ll help out in picking a nice outfit , sally said. “ Trust me on that , I know how to make him go heads over heels for you again when he sees you tonight. I’m gonna pick something revealing that’d bring out your perfect figure “ Ivy teased. “ Oh get away you spoilt brat” sally said laughing. They both laughed and laid on the soft bed and held hands tight grinning at each other.
“ Lunch is ready” Mrs Harding screamed.
Everyone went downstairs to have a taste of Mrs Harding’s irresistible spaghetti and meatballs sauce. Mrs Harding is known for her delectable meals , that always has everyone hungry for more. Mr Harding said a prayer and everyone started to eat as though they hadn’t ate for days...” Your cooking is always delectable Ma” Ivy said .”Thank you darling” she replied. And soon everyone was done eating.
“Ivy let’s go pick a dress for my date tonight “sally said. As they went upstairs, Sally’s phone rang, it was Derrick. “ Hello Angel, I couldn’t keep my head straight at home, I can’t wait to see how ravishingly you’ll look tonight. I miss you already babe”Sally blushed so hard “oh stop it, you’ll have to wait then, I’m gonna make you fall all over again for the caramel skinned girl” she said laughing and blushing so hard. “ See you at 8pm my angel”Derrick said and hung the call.
“ Well , it seems someone is about to lose her virginity tonight “ Ivy teased . They both laughed . Sally finally settled for a red silky evening dress, with a long slit passing through half the knee cap and a open chest revealing her cleavage. “ Derrick is sure gonna fall a 100th time for you girl” Ivy teased and they laughed. After they settled for what Sally was going to wear, Ivy asked that sally showed her the picture of Derrick.Ivy looked at the picture with so much mischief in her eyes and wondered how her friend got so lucky in getting a man as good looking as Derrick . She asked about Derrick’s parents. Derrick’s parents are world class citizens who run a family business with the name Stock management. The business has been in existence since Derrick’s great grandfather’s time. Stock management deals with management of shares and stocks . They help online readers monitor their stocks and shares , the family business is one of the biggest in the country with different investors coming qfrom all over to buy shares, stocks and seek for stock management advice. Ivy got so furious hearing all these things and got jealous of her friend. Ivy was lost in thought when Sally called out .”Ivy!! Why are you so lost in thought “ She gave her a long grin and said nothing. Mr Harding called out for Sally to come downstairs. “I’ll be back shortly” Sally said, leaving her phone behind. Sally went downstairs to meet her dad . “Come with me” Mr Harding said. “I want to talk to you as a father would talk to his daughter, your relationship with Derrick is almost a year, and both of you have been friends since your first year at the London school of Economics. You know how wealthy they are, and you know how we struggled to get you where you are today, I wouldn’t want you to compromise that for all the riches in the world . I have a bad feeling about your relationship with Derrick, I just want you to be careful in your dealings with him. If you’d ask me, I’d tell you to break up with him. I’m not saying this because I have anything against them, I’m just saying this for your safety and that of your family. Your mother and I love you so much , and I wouldn’t want you to compromise that for mere riches” Sally looked at her dad with a ready eyes and wondered how her dad could come up with such ideas and how he could make such decisions without even caring whether she is hurt or not. “ I love Derrick so much , and I’d do no such thing . You loved Mum and married her despite all that happened between the both of you. You have no right to tell me to end my relationship with Derrick. I love him and will always do “ Sally said has she walked out on her father, he pulled her back and grabbed her by the neck and told her she had no choice than to do what he instructed her” I’m your father, and I have every right to tell you what to do. You’d do as I say and that is final” He pushed her out of his way and headed for the door. Sally grew with so much rage and anger and looked for what to hit her dad with before he left the room . She reached for a flower vase and hit her dad with it,on the head. He screamed loud and Mrs Harding ran upstairs to see what was going on . Mr Harding fell to the floor as Sally made her way out of the room. Her mother came to the room and asked her husband what was wrong , he kept mute and entered the bathroom.
Right from fifth grade, sally had never been in good terms with her dad. She always believed that her dad disliked the fact that she always listened to her mother more than she did with her father. This was a lingering problem and the more he frowned at it, the more Sally disobeyed her dad. Which made them never see eye to eye in the house . Robin on the other hand has a great personality which made everyone love him, including his extended relatives.Sally went back to the room looking gloomy , Ivy asked her what the problem is, “ I’m having slight headache” she replied . Ivy looked at her with disbelief as she laid back on the bed covering herself up with her duvet.
Back at the Derrick’s place, he told his father about his engagement to sally and how her planned to get married to her after she was done in school of Economics. Derrick’s Mum , Mrs Musk asked if it was a good idea , considering the background that Sally came from. The Musk’s family are known to be one of the wealthiest in the country because of the family business they ran since the time of their great grandfather. “ I think we should organize a family dinner and invite Sally over” Mrs Musk said. Derrick gave a displeasing look . “ I already asked her out on a dinner date” Derrick said. His parents insisted that Sally come for the family dinner. Derrick had no choice but to adhere to what his parents decided on . He couldn’t tell Sally that there is a change in their initial plan. “ I hope Sally doesn’t get mad at this decision, I have no choice, I can’t do against my parents will “ he thought aloud.
Derrick called his best friend Jordan . Jordan and him have been friends since middle school. Jordan went to the same elementary school as Sally. But he only heard of her name , because she was the best graduating student in her year group. Jordan’s father was the head of sciences at the elementary school he graduated from. Jordan is a young man in his middle 20s , he is the same age as Derrick. Jordan is a tall masculine man that was admired by every girl in the school . His broad shoulders was a center of attraction anytime we walked, his finely shaped beard , ran through his jawline in a curved pattern. His masculine body can be seen through his shirt anytime we walked. Jordan is no doubt a good looking young man. Jordan works in Derrick’s father’s company. He finished the same year as his friend , he got an automatic employment at Derrick’s father company. Jordan seemed qualified in every way Intellectually,physically, mentally and academically. He graduated as the best student in his year group at London school of Economics.Mr Musk loved Jordan so much, and took him as his own son. Jordan’s parents lived in west California . His both parents are retired government workers.
“ Calm down bro, she’s gonna be cool with it” Jordan said, Derrick was worried about his parents decision of organizing a family dinner and inviting Sally over. “ Alright bro, I’ve got this . Thanks man” He hung the call and laid on his bed to take a nap . Derrick’s parents were discussing on the venue to pick for the dinner date, they finally settled for the Armani Chinese restaurant at west street. Mrs Musk called her fashion designer and settled for a pink evening gown with a Louis Vuitton bag. Mrs Musk has a great sense of fashion which made her stand out in the midst of her peers. She is a woman of very high notable character, who carried herself with elegance and poise. Her husband met her during a runaway fashion show, she was the only daughter of the then prime minister of England some years back. Mr Musk came with his grandfather to the runaway when he saw her at the front row, where they sat with other dignitaries. Mrs Musk a woman in her mid 50s , with an average height,and a perfect body which made her even more beautiful. A lot of people admired her in the society and always wanted to associate themselves with her. She owned the largest 10th boutique in the country. Derrick is the only son of his parents,with 3 adopted girls. Hannah, Betty and Chloe , the three beautiful girls were adopted when they were infants. The Musk’s adopted them when they were told by their family doctor that they couldn’t give birth to anymore children after Derrick, else Mrs Musk might lose her life. The sad news made Mrs Musk depressed for a long time, after much therapy, she got better and agreed to adopt children. The three girls were adopted at the same time in the same orphanage home.
Mr Musk who looked younger than his wife and always working out, always felt he couldn’t let himself look old even though he was in his late 50s . A very respected man in the society , known for his tremendous work at the family business that was left for him to handle. Although his wife is much taller than he is, that didn’t make him lose confidence as in the affairs of the home. He managed them as he managed his stocks. Little wonder he was nicknamed “ The man with the iron fists”
He was given that name because of how well he managed everything that was put in his care without laxity. Both his business, family and everything that was put in his care. He is known for his generous contributions towards national development. He was once made the minister of estate and stocks management in London. He served in the position for two years and resigned to face his family business squarely.
Preparations were put in place for the family dinner, everyone was prepared to meet Sally , as they wondered and talked about what she looked like.
