The Billionaire’s Hidden Legacy

It was usual for the Foster’s family to hold a “Welcome to the New Year” party every year, but this year’s party looked very different from the previous years and the attendees were twice the number of last year. The party was held in a large, well embellished hall built specifically for events at the Foster’s family compound. It was a detached building, separate from the magnificent family mansion itself. The Foster’s family were known for its numerous parties and gatherings, many of which were unnecessary and just a display of their wealth. Guests were swooning in and out of the hall, holding glasses filled with champagne. Small giggles, chuckles, and laughter filled the atmosphere inside the large hall. A guest artist was singing melodious and slow music on stage; no one was really paying attention to her, all they needed to hear was her sweet voice as they continued chatting with each other while some danced with their partners or partners to be. Gerald stood in a corner, holding a glass of champagne and sipping at it as he scanned the room filled with men and women dressed corporately. Black suits, shining black shoes, different colored ties, different designs of silk dresses and heels, it looked exactly like what one would call an expensive party. ‘They had never been this much,’ Gerald muttered to himself, taking another sip at his champagne, he wasn’t the type to socialize, even though he was a billionaire and technically the owner of the compound where the party was taking place. He knew he’d have to get there sooner or later, if he couldn’t do it. His mother would definitely drag him into it. She always said the parties were to stay relevant, but Gerald thought it was more like a culture to them already. He couldn’t wait to get home and prepare for the New Year. This was the year he had promised his mother to do something concerning his marriage plans. He had been evading it and had promised he’d get married this year. The way time flies was shocking. Marriage wasn’t his thing, in fact, it wasn’t in his plan; he wasn’t the type that wanted to be committed to one woman for the rest of his life. Gerald loved his single life because of the freedom it gave him, but it seemed his time was running out. “Would you like some pudding?” A beautiful woman was suddenly standing in front of him. He didn’t hear her approach him. Was he that lost in thoughts? She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt that was perfectly folded at the elbows, black pants and black heels. The stylish apron she wore was what made him aware that she was one of those in the kitchen. She was a blue-eyed blonde, so beautiful, it took a second for Gerald to respond. ‘How can such a beautiful lady be serving pudding at a party?’ those were the words he wanted to say, but he didn’t say them out loud. “Would love some,” he said instead, his eyes fixated on her face, not on the pudding he wanted to try. He hadn’t seen her at any of the parties. It seemed she must be a new girl, it’s not as if he remembered them all, but this particular lady struck him. She handed over the pudding to him. It was on a very small ceramic plate, with a small spoon. Gerald held it in one hand while the glass of champagne was in the other. “Sorry, have we met?” he didn’t realize when the words came out of him, he felt like taking them back, but it was already a reality. “This is Jasmine Johnson, she’s our new event chef for the whole year,” Loretta, Gerald’s mother interrupted, answering Jasmine’s question on his behalf. She was smiling, but it didn’t get to her eyes. “Off you go,” she nodded at Jasmine and focused her attention on her son. Loretta was a beautiful elderly woman who had refused to remarry since Gerald's father’s death. Her hair was all gray, but she still looked good without too many wrinkles on her face. One would probably say it was because of wealth. “She’s not the one, Gerald, she’s just a chef.” Loretta said, staring at her child with warning eyes. “What are you talking about, mum?” Gerald was confused at first. “I saw the way you looked at her, that’s the way every love story starts.” Loretta continued. “C’mon mum, I haven’t seen her at any of our parties, she’s new, so I was wondering who she was,” Gerald laughed it off, still holding the pudding and the champagne like a lost child. “Whatever, I want you to meet someone, get rid of this thing and meet me at the entrance of the hall.” Loretta said, and walked away, the sounds of her heels retracing. Gerald knew she would come and get him. She always had someone she wanted him to meet. It was tiring. One of the waiters who served glasses of champagne passed in front of him, and he kept the glass in his tray as he walked past. He took one scoop of the pudding, and it was a delight. His eyes searched the hall to see if he’d see Jasmine. He didn’t. However, there was no way he wasn’t going to tell her how good the pudding was. It was genuinely the best he had had in the city. She was good. ….. Jasmine was back in the large kitchen preparing the next dish to serve. How could she have known that he was Gerald Foster, the man she had heard so much about? Jasmine thought as she worked. She didn’t have enough staff, so she had to help out with serving the guests, and it was actually something she loved to do because she’d be able to see the reaction of the guests firsthand. Those brown eyes made her stand still. She was somewhat glad that her mother came along, or was she? Jasmine couldn’t decide. This was just the first event, they’d probably meet a hundred times before the year ends. The thought made her stomach twirl. She shrugged it off and focused on what she was doing. ….. Walking close to the entrance of the hall after handshaking and smiling to almost a quarter of the guests, Gerald already knew why he was there. He could see her, the lady she wanted to introduce him to, and she had decided to kill two birds with one stone this time. Pulling him through the crowd to the entrance of the hall, so he’d have to walk past everybody, like he was someone unpopular. She knew exactly what she was doing. Gerald scoffed, figuring out his mother’s tactics. “Oh he’s here,” Loretta announced…