LEGACY AND LOVE

I woke up to the sound of a piano playing my favorite song, and I knew it was going to be a great day. There were no recent promotions, signed contracts, or anniversaries to celebrate, but this day was special nonetheless. As I got out of bed, expectations made my heart swell with joy. The sound of the piano sank deep into my heart, and my smile followed the rhythms. I got out of bed and slowly muttered the best words to myself, almost in a whisper: "Happy birthday to me." I opened my door, expecting to see my sister Emma, but instead, I found petals on the floor and a bouquet of flowers with a note that read: "Let the petals lead you straight to where your heart lies." It was signed with a familiar closing: "Emma." Without being told, I knew that the note could only have been written by my loving, yet annoying, younger sister. Following the petals, I made my way to where my heart truly lay – with my family. My mom stood beside my dad as he played the piano, and Emma ran towards me for a hug that I would gladly give her over and over again. "Happy birthday, sis! You love me so much!" she exclaimed. My mom intervened, begging Emma not to hurt me. "Thank you, Mom," I said, almost under my breath, as Emma squeezed me tightly. We walked over to where my dad and mom were standing, and my dad played the final key, smiling handsomely at me as his mustache broadened. "Come here, my little angel," my mom said, as I leaned in for a hug. It was a moment filled with affection and tears. My dad broke the emotional moment with his words: "Welcome to 23, my CEO!" I hugged my dad, chuckling because he always reminded me of how old I was getting and how much he needed a grandchild before he passed away. My dad was 65, while my mom looked 45 but was actually 60. Emma, on the other hand, acted 13 but would be turning 20 in few months. Our chef, Eliana, interrupted the moment, saying, "The table is set, Queen Grande." My dad always referred to my mom as his queen, which earned her the title "Queen Grande." We headed to the set table, filled with cakes and delicacies, each with a note bearing the same signature: Emma. I cut my cake, made a wish, and we dug in. Moments later, Williams, my dad's personal driver, came in with three envelopes and handed them to my dad. "These are the invites, sir," he said. "Thank you, Williams," my dad replied, wiping his mouth with a serviette. "Is the car ready?" he asked. "Yes, sir," Williams replied. "Okay, you can go on," my dad told him. As Williams left, I asked my dad, "What are those invites for?" My dad explained that the Reeds were hosting a dinner to celebrate their new wine collection, and the invites were ours . Emma asked, "Why three invites? Is there an extra person?". She added sarcastically, "Is it for Williams?", and we all laughed. My dad smiled charmingly and said, "The extra invite is for Alexandra." I was taken aback, and my eyes widened in surprise. "Me?" I asked. "Yes, darling," my mom replied. "Your dad and I thought you could use more partners and establish a cordial relationship with them by introducing you to top families in the city." My dad added, "Ethan will be there too." I felt Emma and my mom's excited gaze, and I knew they were thinking of Ethan as a potential Prince Charming. "Dinner is at 8," my dad reminded us. "Let's make it early and lead like the Grandes would." Emma responded enthusiastically, "Okay, Dad, we got you. You can count on me." As we finished breakfast, I knew that the evening would be filled with preparations for the dinner party. Emma and I would head out to find the perfect outfits, courtesy of Cecilia , my friend from high school who owned an exquisite boutique. Little did I know that this dinner party would be the start of something new, something I don’t think I’m ready for.