Nathalie’s20thBirthday
Chapter One.
Nathalie’s 20th Birthday.
The conference room was still, with looks communicating faster than words ever could as the 20-year-old Mastermind concluded her speech.
“Thank you,” the deafening silence was accompanied by an enormous roar of applause by the members of the board meeting.
“She's so smart!” “That was an incredible presentation.” These words of praise filled the air as Natalie made her way to her father's seat. He stood to receive her in his embrace, “Father, I have to go home now,” Natalie said, looking up at her father.
“Kyle will take you home. I will see you in the evening. Happy birthday, my dearest daughter,” Mr Derricks said as he pecked the birthday princess on the forehead.
Kyle opened the door with a bow and Natalie walked out of the conference room.
Meanwhile, back in the conference room was a quiet-looking figure who looked like he wasn't incredibly impressed by Natalie's performance.
He had a mysterious smile on his face and his back well rested on the white ergonomic chair as he was swirling the wine he held in a glass in his right hand. He was drowned in thoughts.
“We have come to the end of today's meeting, Ladies and Gentlemen,” Mr Derick's voice snapped Julian back to reality.
“An incredible performance that was, Mr Derricks, your daughter is such an innovative and insightful young lady I must say.” Julian commented with no facial expressions. “It's a Derricks thing,” Mr Derricks replied, both brows raised with pride.
“I have an offer for you, that's if you're willing……” Julian continued the conversation.
Natalie briskly ascended the stairs and walked through the hallway. It was her 20th birthday today and her father's most emphasized gift to her was her involvement in his conference meeting with his company's board members, giving a presentation, as a representative of her family's interests.
After all, she's the darling smartass of the Derricks. A smile of admiration for herself crept into her lips but soon disappeared when she remembered the task ahead of her.
“Miss, lunch is served,” Tara, the housekeeper, announced, opening Natalie's room door after a faint knock.
“Oh Tara, I won't be having lunch today, Gracias.”
Tara proceeded to take her leave….
“Maybe you could ask Alisha…” Nat shouted after Tara. She could picture Tara's displeased face as a reaction to her last comment.
Alisha, her elder sister, was a pain in the ass, their domestic staff threaded carefully through her. They knew better than to get in her way!
“Okay miss”, Tara responded in a very low tone depicting displeasure.
Nat undressed and hopped into the cold shower.
Natalie looked up at her vanity mirror. The stylist had styled a bun with some coiled strands of hair dropping on both sides of her face.
Oh my, this is gorgeous,” Natalie said to the stylist with a bright smile of satisfaction.
She had a few hair accessories on her hair that complemented her dress.
She looked breathtaking.
“It's my pleasure, I'll take my leave now,” the stylist said and returned Nat's smile.
She sat for a moment and wondered how her birthday party would be this year…..
Her father always threw a grand party for her. It was all luxury, continental dishes, different kinds of wines, music, luxurious gifts, guests of high status (her father's guests) and a few of her high school classmates. She wouldn't consider herself someone who had friends because she obviously had none.
She had a feeling that there'd be something different about this birthday…… Her instincts just tells her so.
“Miss, the guests are waiting for you.” Nat could hear Tara, the housekeeper's voice from behind the door.
She looked at the wall clock, it was 7:37pm already. “Tara, can you come in for a moment?”
Tara opened the door and walked in…
“Yes, miss?”
“How's my dress?, How's my hair?”
“You look so beautiful, You look like a Princess."
“Ouuu Tara, Thank you so much,” Natalie said with cute puppy eyes.
“You are ready,” Tara replied, giving Nat an assuring smile. “Kyle will lead you to the hall.” She continued.
Nathalie stood at the entrance of the private dining room. It was a big room space used for special occasions at the Derricks Mansion.
“Oh my, she’s so gorgeous,” a woman from the crowd said.
The room had a big silver and diamond chandelier worth millions of dollars in the middle, of a black and gold designed marble ceiling.
The floor and the ceiling had the same material. There was a huge crystal fireplace that looked like it was submerged in the depths of a sea with green and black ruby aesthetics.
The ceiling and floor reflected the shadows of objects and people. Nathalie could see herself on the floor. She could see how beautiful all the stylists had made her.
She was dressed in a red flowing ball gown with gold designs. It was a shoulder-drop dress with dripping strands of gold designs at the shoulder part. She had a golden neck piece that spoke luxury and royalty with a matching earring.
Her pink lipstick sat perfectly on her round lips, her eye contrasts were perfect, and it complemented her eye contours so well.
The white part of her eyes were extremely white, they were whiter than snow, her pupils were extremely brown. She had long, black, thick and full natural eyelashes. Her full brown hair had already been styled into a cutely raised bun.
Her skin was Chantilly fair, and her fingernails were white. She saw her reflected image on the marble floor and blushed.
Natalie started walking to her seat, when suddenly her eyes locked onto a figure sitting in the shadows at the very back of the hall.
The figure looked familiar, and she felt a very strong limerence towards them even if she hadn’t clearly seen their faces.
It felt like instant rapport, she felt like she'd been connected to this person in a life before. She immediately shook those thoughts off her head and focused on her party.
But who was this man?
