CHAPTER 5: The Unexpected
Two weeks later in Chicago...
Mr. and Mrs. Leagan happily welcomed their son back home. They were happy to see him looking happy, healthy, and handsome. He looked fitter and tanner than ever. The natural tan color on his face was back more gloriously because of the sun exposure. His eyes shone brightly and smiled with the rest of his face. His appearance was a far outcry from being a withered pale walking skeleton as when he left the house three years ago.
"You eat and sleep fine, honey?" Mrs. Leagan asked Neal.
"Oh, he does. Don't worry, Mrs. Leagan. He's fine. He exercises regularly and this year he hasn't been sick at all." Nichole answered her question. She quickly stole a look at Neal with a peculiar little smirk.
His parents saw their eyes met, twinkled mysteriously as though there were hidden secrets they're not willing to share to anyone else but themselves.
"Nichole is a famous author in Florida and on the brink to conquer the USA and the world," raved Neal.
Their chemistry was unmistakable. Mrs. Leagan used to want her son to marry a high class woman. But after the nightmare three years ago, all she wanted was for him to get someone who deeply cared for him.
For this visit, Neal's schedule was somewhat occupied since his father wanted to make sure he participated in many family and business activities in the short visit. Mr. Leagan especially wanted to finalize the legal paperwork to appoint Neal as the legal heir of the Leagans enterprise. Mr. Leagan had been planning to do this since a few years ago but got delayed by his son's depression problem and departure to Florida. Thus, Neal arranged several maids and staffs to assist Nicole to prepare for the party and accompany her for a tour around Chicago and surrounding areas.
After taking care of Nichole, Neal asked about his sister. Elisa had been working actively with Mr. Leagan every day.
"Elisa has been quite busy. Should be in her office," they said. He hurriedly went there to visit her.
"Welcome Neal," hugged Elisa. "How's school?"
"A few months to go then I'm done," he hugged his sister back.
"Let me introduce you. This is Eois, Eois McCallister." Elisa introduced Neal to a man who's sitting in her office.
Eois was a short thin man in the mid forties. From the last name, Neal recognized who he was immediately. His famous father was the head of the council who governed the Ardlay enterprise until the right heir, Albert, was mature enough and ready to lead.
"The famous uncle McCallister's son," greeted Neal addressing him respectfully.
They exchanged friendly greetings and chatted briefly before Eois excused himself.
"Famous person who lives in obscurity as soon as William took over the enterprise." Neal said after Eois left. He looked inquiringly to his sister's eyes."Why are you interested in him?"
"Networking," said Elisa shortly.
"He doesn't have much, does he? Well compared to when his father was the boss."
She shrugged. "One doesn't only talk to those who're richer."
Neal doubted her answer. It didn't at all sound like her. But since he just came home, he didn't feel like debating.
"Exciting. I've been out of contact with this kind of family relations," said Neal.
"Precisely, that's why dad wants you to start to get involved. Soon, you'll work with him full time in the heart of Chicago!"
At doctor's advice, Neal had been living for three years in total seclusion from the rest of the Ardlay family members. He never came home, not for the wedding of Beatrice and Albert or Annie and Archie.
"How's your wedding preparation, sis?"
"Fine." Elisa shrugged off indifferently. "Wedding is what common girls are dreaming for, but not for me. I'm more interested in being a business woman than to be a housewife. I want to beat the Ardlay family and be the richest woman alive."
Neal nodded proudly at her. "Florida has a huge potential, Elisa. I invested some already. I make more money now than dad's allowance. I bought a new Bentley* using my own money."
"Good job, Neal." Elisa said and lifted her glass. "For our partnership."
"For beating the Ardlays," answered Neal.
They cheered.
"Will you be okay in the Ardlay party next week?" asked Elisa.
"I'll look anyone straight in the eyes. All they could was to bully a boy, I'm a grown up man now. "
"What would you do if you met Candy?" asked Elisa.
"Come on, sis. Candy who… I forgot all about that orphan already," he scoffed. He told her about all his girlfriends in Florida.
"Good," answered Elisa. Then, she added persistently, eyes looked sharply into his, "But you didn't answer the question. What would you do if you met her?"
"I'd laugh on her face telling her what a fool I was. I have a hundred Candies in my disposal."
...
ooo-OOO-ooo
For the next few days, Nichole used all her time to get familiar about Chicago and the surrounding areas, the lake, famous sites, and more. She left early in the morning and came back late at night. She enjoyed the trip immensely, she took pens and a notebook with her to take notes and write story ideas she might have during the trips. She rarely met Neal since his father made his schedule fully occupied too with participation in business meetings.
They met again on Beatrice and Sir William's wedding anniversary day. They attended the party together.
"You're stunning, Nich," said Neal.
"I spent all day in a beauty salon," she laughed. "This is surreal... I'm going to the Ardlay's party."
She examined Neal from head to toe.
"Look at you. Extraordinarily handsome!" said Nichole admiring the man. "Your girls are not blind, Neal."
He grinned.
She straightened his bow, adjusted the collars, tap them lightly to remove minute dust particles in his suite giving the last touch preparation to ensure his perfect appearance.
"Lift up your head, we face your relatives," she said with confidence.
He nodded and offered her his arm.
With Nichole in his arm, Neal entered the mansion. He shook hands with Sir William and Beatrice wishing them happy anniversary. Neal secretly examined Beatrice, the woman who made Albert ditched Candy. She looked gentle and yes she's a beautiful woman. Taller than Candy, blonde hair, blue eyes...
Albert cordially hugged Neal as though the scandal in the past never happened.
"Neal! I didn't recognize you," said Albert friendlily.
"William, congratulations!" said Neal equally friendlily.
Neal hugged Albert back courteously too in return as though Albert was his best friend and both exchanging more friendly greetings. Deep inside he laughed sarcastically remembering all the awful words he exchanged with Elisa about Albert just before they came to the party.
One can't live in this family without wearing a mask on their face, thought Neal.
Neal introduced Nichole proudly, didn't fail to mention that she's the most promising rising young writer.
"Oh, fantastic," said Beatrice appreciatively. She gave her a friendly hug. With Albert, they showered Nichole with nice words of praises and admiration.
Neal then mingled with the crowd, bravely lifted his head high meeting everyone who mocked him in the past on his canceled engagement party. One by one... Throughout, he felt grateful to Nichole's supporting grip of his hand.
"Thanks, Nich." He kissed her cheek and took her to the grand ballroom to dance.
After the second dance, they went to the side of the grand ballroom next to the garden to get some fresh air and drink. Neal heard someone calling, it's Archie.
"Neal!" shouted Archie excitedly even thought he's still many steps away from him. "Is that really you?"
To return the friendly sign, Neal walked approaching him and equally said back out loud "Archie!"
"Wow! It's been a while! You're taller than me now," hugged Archie. "This is my wife, Annie, we're expecting our first child."
With Candy nearby he chose to surrendered to Annie! thought Neal.
He congratulated the couple heartily. Uncontrollably, his heart started to beat fast.
When there's Annie, there's Candy, finally the most exciting part of the party is here, Neal thought.
Not that he cared, he hurriedly told himself. He's over her but it'd be nice to tell her how good life was now without her. Unconsciously, he looked around to find the blonde with two buns.
oOo
"Ma'am, would you like to have something to drink?" asked a servant to Nichole.
Nichole was thirsty and since she noticed that Neal was busy chatting, she went ahead to examine the tray trying to make her pick.
"We have more over there," said the servant pointing to the table.
Nichole saw a table full of exquisite food and drink displayed nicely. Many she had never tried in her whole life. Now that she's alone she wanted to study what rich people really drank in their party. She noticed the drink table was not too far, only two steps away. She decided to step out briefly from Neal to study the selection.
oOo
"Let me introduce you to Nic...," said Neal to Archie and Annie. He turned around to get Nichole, unaware that she had stepped aside a few seconds earlier.
*BOOOMM! * Bang! * Bang! *
Suddenly the grand ballroom was filled with a loud boom and sounds of guns fired. From the corner of his eyes, Neal noticed men in black masks entering the ballroom, dressed in tuxedo. They kept firing the guns which made loud noises.
People were screaming, stunt,... dodged in panic. Neal felt a trembling woman hugging his back from behind. Thinking she was Nichole, without checking further, he turned around to hug her, shielding her with his body.
"Silence! Everyone gets down or we shoot," barked one man loudly. "Silence!"
The big hall which was full of noise a few seconds ago suddenly became dead silence like empty.
"Where is Sir William?" the man asked loudly. "We're looking for Sir William."
Almost instantly, a steady voice rang filling the hall.
"I'm here," said Albert. "If I'm who you want, take me, don't hurt others."
He stepped forward bravely.
Neal heard a woman shouted in fear. "William no… William… Come back!" she cried.
"Beatrice, I love you," said Albert, looked at her momentarily. "Stay, please. If you love me, don't move a step." Albert then continued his steps forward.
"No!" his wife screamed hopelessly ran after Albert. "William, come back!"
"Someone, hold her. If she came closer, we'd shoot," said the man.
"Don't shoot her." Aunt Elroy steady firm voice rang bravely. "Someone hold Beatrice! She's pregnant."
The man pointed his gun to closest men to Beatrice. "Did you hear? Hold her."
Then, the man laughed ravenously "The legendary bravery of the Ardlay women is not a joke." He mocked. "How come I don't hear any man's voice here?"
"Let me go...," Beatrice struggled hopelessly. "Give back my William!" Beatrice screamed, her hopeless voice shrieked in the grand ballroom hall piercing everyone's hearts.
But they ignored her.
"William, I love you... " Beatrice cried in desperation again and again as Albert was taken farther and farther away from her.
Neal felt the woman he's hugging struggled and shouted with a daring commanding voice.
"Don't take Albert!" the woman screamed. She couldn't stay still anymore. But since they're outside, in the balcony, her voice got drowned in the midst of Beatrice's loud hysterical screams. The bad guys who almost reached the front door didn't hear her.
Albert she said? Neal was stunt, Why Nichole called him Albert? At about the same time Neal saw Archie looked at his direction. Archie said quietly, "Candy, be quiet!"
Candy? thought Neal and examining the face of the woman in his arms. Gorgeous blonde hair, although without the familiar two buns, mesmerizing big emerald green eyes, porcelain skin, crimson red lips...
Hell!I'm hugging Candy not Nich!
- TO Be Continued -
Bentley: A luxurious car brand
~ Thanks for reading. ~
Sabrina: this is a mystery/adventure story 101.. At least, I'm trying... It's coming...:D