The Heiress And The Ford Brothers

Diane didn’t know what to expect when she decided to move to Kensington, London, as the Richardson heir but life as she knew it had become very different. She moved into her parents' grand mansion in the Richardson estate with Michael and Victoria. They marveled at how their lives had turned out, as they previously lived in poverty ridden cardboard shacks and now they live in a grand mansion with numerous staff. Jonathan started preparing Diane for the elite life as she had grooming and personal care with designer clothes, footwear and jewelleries. She had private tutors to brush her up academically, as well as training in etiquette, public speaking and media, among others. She stepped out of her Rolls Royce at the parking lot of Jonatha’s office building. She had a meeting with the PR team to prepare further for her unveiling as the Richardson heir. She took purposeful steps towards his office and turned heads while at it. Diane had always been gorgeous, she always turned heads back at the community but coupled with her makeover, she was drop dead gorgeous. “Hello, uncle Jonathan.” She greeted him cheerfully. She was starting to like her uncle, his wife and their two children a lot. They always had dinner on Sundays with her, Michael and Victoria. “Emma, please sit. There’s something very important I want to discuss with you.” He said tentatively. “Okayyy?” She said curiously, looking at his expression. “I want you to know, Emma, that everything your parents did, they did to protect you as it is not easy or usual to be a twenty four year old handling this vast amount of wealth.” He explained carefully, as if talking to a child. “Your father’s best friend was Simon Ford. Now, your parent’s businesses and properties are yours to control. Every other person is just an advisor, but he indicated that you cannot have access to the vast wealth until you marry one of the Ford boys. It’s just his way of making sure you have protection.” He finished tentatively and became worried when she didn’t say anything for a while. “Say something, Emma.” He said this when she remained quiet. “Uncle Jon, you mean I am to get married to some guy I do not know? Bloody hell, man! That’s totally...” she started angrily. “Hey! Language, young lady.” Prim and proper, Jon corrected her. “I am livid! Why do they have to go and make such an arrangement?” She muttered angrily and Jon gave her some time to cool off. When she calmed down, she said, “I think I get why they would do such but surely Mr. Ford’s sons should be married by now, ey?’’ “Well, the eldest has been tied to the Barretts so that leaves the second, Edward. I won’t rush you, Emma. You can take your time to get to know the young man and his family. Infact, you know the business school you have to attend? His brother and sister go there too.” With slumped shoulders and a resigned voice, Diane reasoned, “I guess that’s fine because it’s what my parents wanted and they must have seen good reasons to tie me in matrimony with the Ford family.” “Good! Very good, Emma.” Jonathan cooed, glad to be past this part. He guessed that it would be the hardest part and it was, as she seemed to be catching up just fine with everything thrown at her. It was as if she knew she was born for all these things. His niece was very gorgeous and kind but he is not sure her anger is what people would enjoy experiencing. He was glad that she was not a pushover or weakling. She may look all soft and feminine but beneath all, she is a girl whose life in an impoverished community has toughened up. Jonathan made a mental note to put a call through to Simon Ford and keep him up to date about Emma and all that is ingoing. His secretary’s voice on the intercom distracted him from his thoughts. ”Mr. Richardson, your 1 PM appointment is here, sir.” “Oh great! It’s about time everyone knew that the Richardson heir is alive, well and absolutely gorgeous.” He said this when Emma’s new PR team stepped into the office. **** The Fords sat at the breakfast table with a pretense of all smiles and cheers, but they couldn't wait to get away from their father and husband, Simon Ford. To the rest of the world, he was the handsome Simon Ford- a loving father, great husband and great businessman but only his wife and children knew that he was a greedy, over-ambitious, manipulative snake who was never satisfied no matter what he acquired. Elizabeth gasped and everyone turned to look at her, staring at her iPhone with shock. “Good heavens! Has anyone seen the news today? The Richardson news?” She asked, looking directly at Edward. “Now, Elizabeth, what did we say about no phones here during meal time?” Her mother, Eileen Ford, cautioned and Elizabeth pouted her lips apologetically. Simon gently dropped his coffee cup and said, “It’s fine, Eileen. Let’s allow that this morning. I believe it’s what we all have to discuss before we go about our business today.” Simon smiled when he saw that he had piqued everyone’s interest and crossed his legs elegantly. “As we all know, I made a promise to my late best friend, Emmanuel Richardson, before he passed on, that his daughter would marry one of my sons so that she would be safe and the vast amount of wealth she would inherit would be protected by this family.” He paused for effect, to be sure he had everyone’s attention, which he still did. “His daughter’s name is Diane Emma Richardson and she was supposed to be betrothed to James since he’s the eldest but we all thought she was dead but now we’ve found her so Edward, you just got yourself a wealthy wife.” He said that and gave a sinister smile. Everyone on the table had a different depiction of disgust at what he just said, from eye rolls to cringing to sad head shakes. They all knew it was just his way to accumulate more wealth. If only his best friend, Mr. Richardson, knew who he really was, they would have taken their precious daughter very far from the Fords. James stood up, placed his napkin neatly on the table to the left of his plate and said, “Thank you everyone for the lovely breakfast, this has been delightful. I must be on my way to an appointment now.” He clapped his younger brother, Edward, softly on his back to encourage him. He was obviously still in shock. James smiled sadly and walked away. He walked to the parking lot with his briefcase and headed for his office, grateful that he had that to himself at least. His father runs one of the biggest conglomerates in Europe but because of his greed, he ran his affairs himself and allowed his children start-up their own companies, Now James runs his own multi-billion dollar tech empire, Edward is a real-estate tycoon with vast connections and Elizabeth is an upcoming global fashion mogul. Midway to his office, his phone beeped with a message, He checked to see it was from his father “Be home early tonight, we are having dinner with the Richardsons.” He canceled his morning appointment, changed his mind, and drove to his best friend, George’s house. **** Diane took a deep breath as she stood in front of Ford’s mansion with Michael, Victoria and Uncle Jonathan and his family. She had dressed up for dinner with the Fords and to meet her proposed fiance. It was all a little overwhelming but she shouldered it and reassured herself again that her father had good intentions when he planned this. Edward Ford had been in a good mood all day after breakfast. He was shocked at first, when he got the news that he would be marrying the Richardson heir, and he felt like his life was over but one glimpse at her picture and he forgot all about that. She was a goddess in human form. “What made you in such high spirits, Did you plan something mischievous tonight, Ed?” James and Elizabeth asked, watching their brother, who had been giddy with excitement; he couldn’t contain it. “You should see her, Jamie. She’s so so gorgeous. I think I am in love already.” James rolled his eyes and straightened when the Richardsons came in. He took a step forward to extend pleasantries but stopped mid-step when he saw her and his eyes bulged the same as hers and she let out a shocked gasp and said softly, “Jay?” “Aphrodite?” he replied under his breath, unable to stay in his usual composed state. He heard his mother gasp softly when he said the name. Simon Ford looked at the different reactions on the faces of his sons and their guests—not what he was expecting, especially from young Ms. Richardson and James. He asked “James, Ms. Richardson, do you two know each other?”