His Terms, Her Heart

A MYSTERIOUS INVITATION

Aria was joyous after helping Mrs. Estelle Carrington to her estate as she was heading to her own street, where she is staying with Mrs. Craig for now.

She was thinking about how she would survive with her daughter.

"Hi, I hope you are good, because you don't seem focused on where you are going," said a woman who was walking behind her on the road.

"Are you talking to me?" Asked Aria, looking lost.

"Yes, I was talking to you," replied the woman.

"Yes, yes, I'm good; I just want to get to where I'm going on time," replied Aria with a cold smile.

"Ok, just be careful, young lady; everything will be fine," replied the woman.

"Thank you," said Aria.

They parted ways, and she was already approaching her street.

"Hi," she greeted the few people she saw on the road, and was already at the front of Mrs. Craig's house.

She knocked on the door.

"Who is at the door?" Mrs Craig shouted from inside

"It is Aria," answered Aria

"Mummy!" screamed Lila.

Mrs Craig stood up from where she was sitting, and she opened the door for her to enter

"Welcome, darling," said Mrs. Craig with a smile on her face.

"Thank you, ma," she replied

She carried her baby and held her tight

"My baby, how are you doing?" She asked Lila

"I'm fine, Mummy," replied Lila, who is still resting her head on her mum's shoulder.

"How was the job hunt, dear?" asked Mrs Craig

Aria nodded negatively.

"It was futile," she replied soberly.

"It is well, dear" replied Mrs Craig with a smile on her face

"Hope you are good, baby," Aria asked her daughter

"I'm fine," she replied.

She dropped her, and she went ahead to play with her toy.

Aria narrated how she met Mrs. Carrington, how she helped her to her house,, and how she invited her to her house the following day.

"You can go and let's hope something great comes out of the encounter," Mrs Craig said positively

"You think so?" Replied Aria

"Yes, I hope so," replied Mrs. Craig while holding Aria's hands.

After chatting for a while, it was already late in the night, and they ate dinner.

"Good night Ma," said Aria

"Good night, darling," replied Mrs. Craig.

Lila had been put to sleep after eating in the evening.

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning, and Aria woke up sound and happy after the previous day.

She said a word of prayer, and she was positive something good would happen.

She checked on her daughter, who was still sleeping beside her on the bed, and she didn't want to wake her up.

So, she quietly stood up and went to the bathroom to take her bath.

She dressed up and went to the sitting room, where she met Mrs. Craig reading her Bible.

"Good morning, ma," greeted Aria

"Good morning, granddaughter. I hope you had a great night's sleep. Replied Mrs Craig

"Yes, I do, and thank you for helping me and my daughter, Ma," said Aria thankfully.

Mrs. Craig was already preparing breakfast for the family before they woke up.

She prepared jollof rice for them to eat in the morning.

"Are you ready to eat?" She asked Aria

"Yes, ma," Aria replied

Mrs. Craig served her.

Lila was already awake by this time, and she was also served.

"Thank you for the meal, Ma," Aria said thankfully with a beautiful smile on her face.

"Thank you," Lila also said.

"My pleasure," replied Mrs Craig

Aria went into the room to think about her next plan of action

"I need to fix all these," she said aloud

"I pray Mrs. Carrington helps me as I visit her today," she thought.

It was already noon, and she wanted to prepare because she wanted to visit Mrs. Carrington.

She puts on a beautiful green bodycon gown alongside white shoes to complement the gown and a little makeup on her face.

Aria is a typical example of a lady with the perfect figure; she attracts people's attention whenever she walks.

"Yo! I look good," she said

Aria always compliments herself because she is a beautiful lady, both inside and out.

She heads towards the living room

"I'm already going, ma," she told Mrs Craig

"Mummy, where are you going?" Asked her daughter

"Mummy is going out to buy things for you, my daughter."

Said Mrs Craig

"Okay, Mummy," Lila replied with a radiant smile on her face.

"I will soon be back," said Aria

She was waving to them as she was heading out.

"Bye," chorused Mrs. Craig and Lila.

Aria stood outside the gate to call a cab, and after standing for 5 minutes, a cab approached her.

"I'm going to Carrington's

Estate," Aria said

"It is $5," said the driver

"Okay," she hopped in.

"Good afternoon sir." She greeted the cab driver

"Good afternoon ma'am," the driver replied

After some minutes, the driver alighted.

She pressed the gate button, and the gate man opened the gate for her, and she entered.

"Good afternoon sir," she greeted the man

"Good afternoon, Miss," replied the gatekeeper

One of the maids was already approaching them

"Hi, are you Miss Aria?" The maid asked

"Yes, I am," Aria replied

"Mrs. Carrington said I should let you in," said the maid

"Thank you, sir," said Aria to the gatekeeper

He waved to her.

She followed the maid into the big building.

She was welcomed by the maids standing by the door.

She was stunned by the artifacts of the building.

She was wowed by the expensive furniture in the living room and the drawings on the wall.

"Wow!" she shouted

She was embarrassed because she didn't know that what she thought was silent was loud so that the maids could hear her.

She knows that the artworks are expensive because she draws too.

"Hi, Beautiful," said Mrs Carrington loudly

She was brought back to the present when she heard the woman's voice.

"Hi,, Ma," Aria greeted her with a smile

"Thank you for yesterday my dear. Have your seat, please." Mrs. Carrington offered her a seat.

"Thank you, ma," replied Aria

"Please offer Aria something to drink," said Mrs. Carrington.

"Welcome to my home, Aria," Mrs Carrington said

"Thank you, ma'am," Aria said

The maid brought the drink to her

"Thank you," she told the maid

"How is the family?" Mrs Carrington asked

"They are fine," said Aria with a fake smile

"Where do your parents stay?" Mrs Carrington asked

"They stay in Louisiana," Aria replied reluctantly

Mrs. Carrington could sense that she wasn't really interested in answering the questions she was asking her.

"Once again thank you for helping me yesterday," Mrs Carrington said with a radiant smile on her face

Aria nodded and smiled

"Good afternoon sir." One of the maids greeted

Julian Carrington is a young, successful entrepreneur who is the acting CEO of his family's company.

"Afternoon," Julian answered reluctantly

The others also greeted him, not because they were interested in greeting him, but because they had no choice.

He was walking towards where his mother was sitting

"Good Afternoon mum," he greeted his mother

"Good Afternoon son," replied his mother

"How was your trip? I hope the meeting went as planned." asked the mother

"Yes, mum," he replied

"Meet Aria; she helped me on the road yesterday," said Mrs Carrington

"Okay," he replied uninterestingly but looked up and looked at the lady

They both looked at each other

"Wow, this lady is so pretty," he thought but quickly dismissed the thought because of his ego

"He looks so good, but that is the least of my problems right now," thought Aria.

"Hi," he greeted Aria coldly

"Good afternoon sir," Aria replied indifferently

"Mum, I'm heading upstairs to rest from the trip," he told his mother

"Okay darling," replied the mother

"That is my son, and he is in his early thirties, and he is the one acting as the CEO since I stepped down as the CEO after my husband's demise.

"I'm sorry for your loss, ma," said Aria sympathetically.

"Thank you, Aria," replied Mrs Carrington

"Your son is doing well too, ma."

Complimented Aria

"I trained him well," replied the mother proudly.

"What are you doing presently? I mean, where do you work?" Asked Mrs Carrington

"I don't have any job Ma. I went job hunting yesterday before meeting you," said Aria sadly

"Oh! What job are you looking for"? Queried Mrs Carrington

"Anything, ma, I can work anywhere as long as I can put food on my table" Aria said sadly

Mrs Carrington nodded

"I am an artist too; I can draw," Aria added enthusiastically

Drawing is what she does effortlessly.

She has loved drawing since childhood.

"Wow! You love drawing?" She asked excitedly

"Yes," Aria replied

"I love artworks which is obvious in my house but I can't draw," replied Mrs Carrington

"I will see what I can do for you," she added

"Drop your contact with me and I will keep in touch with you," Mrs Carrington said

"Thank you, ma; I appreciate you, ma," Aria replied

"I want to start going ma," she told Mrs Carrington

"Oh! Thank you for honouring my invitation, dear, but wait, I have something for you too.

Mrs. Carrington said with a smile.

She gave her a brown envelope.

"Wow! Thank you, ma, I appreciate you so much ma," said Aria tearfully because she wasn't expecting it

"It is my pleasure, dear," replied Mrs Carrington

Aria stood up, and Mrs. Carrington saw her off to the door on her wheelchair.

"Goodbye, Ma," replied Aria

Mrs Carrington waved cheerfully at her

Aria greeted the maids and the gatekeeper too.

"Wow! Am I dreaming? I was given money, and I wasn't expecting anything," she said aloud with excitement.

The only thing on her mind was to share the experience with Mrs. Craig.

"Where is my son?" Mrs Carrington asked one of the maid

"He is in his room, Ma," replied one of the maids upstairs.

"Ok, thank you," she replied

Mrs. Carrington is one of the rare wealthy women who is humble.

She was able to go upstairs with the aid of the type of wheelchair that was made for her.

"Hi son," she called her son

"Mum," he answered

He was sitting on his bed pressing his phone.

"I hope you are good dear. Well, I thought you would be sleeping," she said

"No, I'm not. I have some unfinished works to attend to," Julian replied

Mrs Carrington was beaming with smiles on her face

Julian noticed that she was smiling

"Mum, is there anything?" He asked curiously because he was wondering what was making his mother smile.

"Julian, you know I said you need to get married to assume the office of the CEO and stop being an acting CEO," she said

"Yes," Julian replied with a frown on his face

"She is the one; make her your wife," Mrs Carrington said with certainty in her voice

Julian laughed

"Wow! What did you see that made you think she is the one for me?" He asked

"That lady?" He grinned

"Yes, she is the one for you! Make her your wife or lose everything," she added firmly