The Billionaire Bride's Diary

Episode Nine

Diary Entry # 966

The year was 1985 on a beautiful sun-shining day. My life began, yet it ended on the very same day. But several months later, you came into my life, my precious Pearl, breathing new life into my lungs. Pearl, you gave me a purpose, a drive to survive, and I knew when it happened and the way it happened, that it was your parent's wish, my wish, and soon it will be your wish too, my dear, to fulfill all our desire for justice, through you.

I won't be able to be by your side always, but I will prepare everything here in Paris for you. I will mentor you by providing everything you need to succeed in your mission and life. With tears of joy, I can envision it now. My beautiful daughter will become the CEO of a multi-million dollar worldwide company. A business that only employs females from around the world. You will live in an elite apartment in Manhattan, and there will be other benefits you will receive. I can see all of the blessings flow into your lap, Pearl.

Oh my dear, I'm getting ahead of myself. I have a lot of groundwork to lay first. Paris will be the headquarters that we will share. It will all start here, laying the groundwork and getting all the kinks out. So, when I pass the baton to you to finish, it will operate smoothly. Once our mission is complete, then you can return home to Paris, and we will finally be able to be content with our lives, and your dear parents will finally be able to rest in peace. It will be just us two once again. We will travel together all around the world, happy as mother and daughter.

Five years later:

Deja had always wondered about the first time when she stayed in mama Olivia's home was she dreaming? But now she knows it wasn't a dream. It had turned out to be real and something she would never forget what she saw that night. She heard that beautiful music playing across from her bedroom. The string instrument's sound was so lovely, soft, and calming. That night and many more like it were etched in her mind as a little girl. When the instruments danced around her tiny ears, she climbed out of bed.

Little Pearl tip-toed down to the far end of the balcony.

Her eyes widened with amazement and awe. Deja had never seen anything so grand and beautiful before in her life. It was like she was dreaming. She looked through the french glass doors at the glistening chandelier that looked like the moon in the sky.

The candles glowed like a thousand stars in the heavens, illuminating the large room. A swirl of sparkling gowns worn by beautiful ladies swept around the room as they were being held in dance by men in sleek black tuxedos.

In Pearl's little mind, the men and women danced across the floor like princesses and princes.

Lady Olivia's functions, at least that's what she called them, were more of a good time, but interestingly enough, mainly they were about business while having a good time. How did she skillfully mix business with pleasure?

Whenever her male guest arrives, you can see their eyes combing through the room until something very eye-catching captures their attention. Men are so interesting and yet so predictable, Olivia thought. Once they see her, their eyes expand in delight at her curvy form. At the same time, she sees others trying to play it cool as they proceed to come and greet the beautiful lady Dubois.

"Good evening, gentleman. I'm Ms. Dubois."

The bold ones look her directly in the eyes with a hint of sultriness. "Good evening Ms. Dubois. What a pleasure it is to finally meet you."

Most take her hand and kiss it gently. While others hold onto her hand in an attempt to claim her as theirs, little do they know she can't be claimed or owned. All any of them will ever be is her business lackey.

"Let's have a seat, gentleman." She said, sliding her hand from the clingy one's grasp. When she encounters one who wants to linger, that's who she gives her attention to first.

"So let's get right to it; time is money, and money is time. Let me share my proposition." The elegant young lady Dubois said. Some, in a sly way, may prefer to try and converse on some personal level.

"I was thinking you could tell me a little more about yourself."

"I can tell you why I'm interested in helping you save your business, that is, by the way, plummeting in the stock market," Olivia replies with a sultry smile.

" It's not fair to bring up something so sore."

" You kick a man while he's down," the other remarks.

"Is it true? What we agreed upon over the phone is what I expect us to talk about. If there's one thing I despise, it is a man that changes in mid-stream."

"What do you suggest?" He says, easing the tension he felt building.

"I suggest you stick to what's been agreed upon. If not, I have no problem walking away." Olivia states.

Even with a multimillion-dollar deal on the line? Some men may ask smugly, "Is this deal for certain to rake in that kind of money?"

"Only if we make it happen." one says, challenging her.

"You can't miss something that was never in your possession, now can you?" She said, narrowing her gaze.

"This is true." Most agree because they know they are financially weak and pitiful.

"My word stands; I'm a woman of my word. Now let me give you a sample of what you'll be missing if you walk away." Lady Dubois stands among all the peering eyes with her hand extended.

"I think you would like to dance?" She says, smiling at the gentleman that reaches for her hand first.

"Sure, why not? I'll take you to the dance floor."

All eyes watched the tall, beautiful lady walk out onto the dance floor with whomever the gentleman may be. But, at the beginning of her business venture, what happened next surprised her. After dancing with the men, 99.9% of the men signed the deal turning their company shares over to her, giving her control of a large portion of their business and finances.

*******

Sometime later, Olivia is on the phone in her office:

One day when Pearl comes home from school, she sees that her mother's office door is slightly open, so she stops and listens to her conversation.

"Just stop." Pearl knew what that phrase meant. Mama Olivia had heard enough.

"P-pardon?"

"Before you continue, you should know I refuse to do business with anyone who lies to me."

Then Mama Olivia got up from behind her desk. Her eyes focused on the door. Pearl's heart races as she presses her back against the wall. That's when she hears the door close and lock. It was as if she knew Pearl was there listening. Allowing her to hear just what she wanted her to hear. At least that's what Pearl speculated.

The two contrasting images of Mama Olivia, as a homemaker, and the businesswoman Olivia Dubois contradict one another.

Pearl's lesson from her mother that day is that she should be flexible and willing to change when there's a need for change to get what she wants. And never make a statement or a threat without being willing to back it up.

Another admirable thing about Mama Olivia is that she was able to speak several languages. Pearl knew how to speak four languages at the age of ten, including her native tongue. Learning multiple languages was a goal Mama Olivia set for Pearl at a very young. Education and having high marks in school were criteria. Pearl wasn't short of intelligence either; she was brilliant like her biological father and gorgeous like her mother, and like Pam Crush, her daughter naturally had charm.

Pearl had less time to be a child. She quickly transitioned from student to a hostess for some of the greatest functions ever seen. But it was a metamorphosis of what her life would be like when Pearl became an adult. For the next fifteen years, she had been Mama Olivia's aide.

Pearl went everywhere with Mama Olivia, fielding off reporters, taking telephone messages from her female and male agents all around Europe. She observed how mama Olivia treated and entertained wealthy men. Pearl grew to love the lifestyle of parading around Paris with Olivia. Men found Olivia irresistible and yet unattainable. She was no ordinary mortal bird of paradise.

If any were to look at her and her lifestyle, many would think it was questionable, and some thought it was illegal. It was easy to confuse Olivia Dubois with possibly having some elite escort service. Lady Dubois was so blatantly beautiful, unfailingly charming, witty, funny, and delightful to be around. People in the neighborhood thought she had to be doing something illegal to be surrounded by all the wealth in Paris and even some royals.

But to Pearl, she was admirable and her hero, not to mention her best friend. And Pearl had gotten to know her well. Of course, Pearl knew all her hidden flaws, fears, and gripes, but she knew the beauty of the woman, the brilliance, the gentleness of her soul, and Pearl loved her with every ounce of her being and knew she would do anything she asked her to do.

During Pearl's school days, she participated in sports and even took up judo. She was very athletic and strong. Pearl ran track and won many races and trophies. When it was time to train her in adult ways, Olivia assured her that kids her age were dull and would bring her down if she interacted with them too often. So Olivia begins taking her along with her lady friends to keep Pearl from boredom.

Sure at times, Pearl craved teenage picnics and going to the beach, and even dating as she grew more mature in her adolescent years. But her picnics were at grand hotels and affluent homes and business luncheons. And at night, instead of going to school dances, she attended galas and got to wear lovely evening gowns. Olivia would tell her it was training for her to one day when she becomes an independent woman who could have the moon and stars.

~~~~~~

When Pearl turned seventeen, she was still so youthful, still so innocent, because Olivia wouldn't let a boy or man get within five feet of her daughter. The charm behind those almond-shaped hazel-brown eyes seemed to draw males to Pearl automatically. But yet her mother knew there was the wisdom of the ages lurking there too, in Pearl's eyes.

It wasn't because Pearl had experienced anything, but rather because of what she had heard and seen. Pearl had noticed how women could make men twice their ages fawn over them. Even though she had never done it herself, Pearl certainly knew that she could and would one day when mama Olivia would tell her it's time.

One night, coming home from one of the gala's out of curiosity, Pearl asked Mama Olivia about love and marriage. Olivia seemed a little surprised by the sudden questions.

"Precious, why do you ask me about those things? Has someone approached you or tried to sway your heart?"

"Oh no," Pearl says, shyly giggling like the young girl she is. "It's just that you are so beautiful and so many of your friends are beautiful. I wonder why none of the men have ever asked to marry you?"

"Who says they haven't? Hum? They have, and I tell them all, no. I don't need a man. No female needs a man."

"Have you ever been in love before, Mama Olivia?"

There was a long silence on the way home as Mr. Raymonde looked through the rearview mirror at them.

"Yes, a long time ago."

Shock entered Pearl's eyes. "You were? When? Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"Pearl, that's enough for tonight. I will share that tragic tale with you one day, and when I do, you will never see men the same again." Olivia says, taking hold of Pearl's chin.

"Love and men are dangerous, my precious, very dangerous. And love and danger are one and the same. So never trust them. They are only good for business dealings. If you allow them to get too close or go any further than that, it can end deathly."

Raymonde pulls into the driveway and drops his head. As Olivia gets out of the limo and goes inside, Pearl sits there with her heart beating rapidly. Pearl had never seen mama Olivia's eyes filled with so much darkness and cold. It was frightening for Pearl. She had never seen her look that way ever before. The look she had in her eyes when she told Pearl those words shook her heart from within, only settling much later. Did Pearl need to know why?

Yes.