บท 2: The Golden Flower With Thorns
CHAPTER 2
Meanwhile, Alika Langston stared at the image in front of her. "Why don't you want to sell it?" Noor Sullivan asked with curiosity. If her friend was in dire need of money, the painting was a huge flex because it was sought after by the wealthiest people in A City. Why wouldn't she sell?! This painting would likely cost at least five hundred million. Noor thought her friend was extremely strange.
"I'm saving it for my mother." Alika had created such painting in memory of her mother who was on the verge of death should in case something of that sort happens. To her, Blair Langston was like a beautiful golden flower who only suffered her entire life and made the people who loved her suffer along with her. She yearned for the affection of the people she trusts and loves but was equally untouchable as she only drove them away. "That woman only knows how to punish those who get close to her." her father, Maurice Langston always says.
Alika sighed, touching the painting and feeling its life with the painful thoughts in mind.
"What's the theme for the banquet?" She asked remembering that Stefan Sullivan's return banquet was tomorrow.
"It's a mask theme."
"A mask theme? Why a mask theme?" Keeya Thurston queried.
"I don't know... I don't want to know." Noor Sullivan had always been a carefree type- not willing to do anything and never cared about anything either; especially working. She would always say, "Why should I work if I have enough cash flow from my family?" To put it short, she was the spoiled brat of the Sullivans unlike Keeya and Alika had to work their heads off everyday in order to keep the family name alive. Surely, it was exhausting.
"I have to go to bed early. I have an early photoshoot with The Royal Magazine." Keeya Thurston announced.
"Alright, princess Thurston. We know about your busy schedule as a model." Noor Sullivan teased and Keeya rolled her eyes in response, disconnecting from the video call. Noor and Alika equally bid themselves goodnight.
***
"Why don't we ask your eldest daughter? Isn't she friends with the daughter of the Sullivans?" Fiona Langston advised her husband who nodded in agreement.
Alika who was coincidentally alighting the stairs overheard their conversation but pretended as though she did not.
Unfortunately, Fiona Langston had sharp eyes and already spotted her from her corner before she could avoid them. "Alika, why don't you do this one thing for your own family?" She said, hinting at Maurice Langston since he was practically her only family since her mother was almost gone.
"I'll try Dad." she said but was shocked by his response.
"Also get one for your younger sister as well."
Alika glanced in the direction of Giovanna Langston who held on to her father's arm looking just like a shy doll. Something grew in her heart and she who wanted to refuse only asked, "Do you want to go, Gi?" The young woman in her twenties who was only younger than Alika by a year nodded in excitement.
Although Alika always thought that Giovanna was a bit too strange whenever it came to her, she had never questioned her actions at all.
"Okay. I'll ask Noor Sullivan."
***
"No. Way." Noor Sullivan declined Alika's request for the extra invitation cards. "Your father and evil step mom do not deserve an invite." She continued.
Noor never liked the way Alika was treated by her own family so she always stood up for her in situations like this. The Langston family were elite and wealthy members but we're not as influential as the Sullivans and Thurstons. So, getting an invite to rub elbows with the higher socialites was a big chance to create a big opportunity for their international business.
"Think about what they'll do if they don't get an invite... They'll take Alika's and make it theirs." Keeya Thurston added.
"Oooff! Okay. Here are two invites for despicable people." Noor said, pushing the invitations towards Alika.
Even though they were her family, they had no right threatening poor Alika with her biological mother's life. It was utter evil!!
***
Alika placed the invitation in front of Maurice Langston. "Well done, my dear!! I'm sure you'll make a good business woman in the future." He said smiling widely showing how pleased he was. Of course, only when it was beneficial to him would he consciously praise his eldest daughter.
Alika could only fake a small smile and turned around to walk away but was held back by Maurice Langston who awkwardly presented a fancy bag of clothing to her.
"This is for your effort. Take it."
"Thank you, Dad." She said and walked off.
Fiona Langston on the other hand, who hated the rare father-daughter relationship between the two, stared at Alika's back with a fierce look.
Alika who seemingly felt the hot gaze on her back, halted in her tracks and turned around only to see Fiona Langston who looked at her with disdain and her daughter who kept smiling from ear to ear; a stack contrast to the look Fiona Langston bore on her face.
She gave a warm smile to Giovanna and walked straight to her room obviously ignoring the wicked look of her father's wife.
***
Leonardo Graham was already sitting in a dark corner of the fancy hall; no one daring to go close to him even if he was unrecognizable with his mask as the apparent heir of the Graham empire as his aura alone was a scary one.
No one actually knew what he looked like as he had never been on the screen of others.
There were actually rumors that he was disfigured and wore only masks to hide his monstrous face.
Others claimed that he was disabled and a cripple.
Some believed it was both all because of a fatal accident which took place eighteen years ago. But the Graham family paid such rumors no mind since it was actually a good thing for them; especially for the Old Master, Dante Graham.
He kept a straight face beneath his exquisite mask which shone brightly in the dark space staring straight into his cellphone at the image of The Golden Flower With Thorns wondering what prompted such a young person whether a male or female to paint something as lovely but as painful as this?
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