Chapter:01:Surprise

It was already dark by the time Chloe realized what time it is, she quickly ran back to her cabinet and took her bag, she left the office in a hurry. She got to the parking lot and located her car at the extreme right corner of the hall.

It looks shabby, but Chloe still feels there was nothing wrong with the car.

“How could I have been so stupid not to notice that the time was fast spent” she muttered under her breath.

She has been thinking of having a complete family dinner party with her family for the past few weeks, and today she got the opportunity, then she was stuck with work

.

Despite being the daughter of one of the most prestigious and feared men in the country, Chloe has always preferred working her ass off to make her own money, rather than depend on her father for everything.

Driving along the beautifully colored street of the Rave city, Chloe kept smiling to herself. She couldn't understand why she was happy but she just felt happy about everything going on in her life.

She just graduated from University a few weeks, then her marriage is already fixed with her childhood friend Gabriel. Chloe and Gabriel have been lovers since high school, Claire couldn't wait to spend the rest of her life with him.

Although she wasn't entirely happy about her life, she wants to be strong for the people that matter to her. Her late mother, her aunt, younger sister Andrea, and Claire. 

While organizing this dinner party, she had planned to ask her dad for something, but if she fails to show up on time, then, she might not get the chance to talk to him anymore, since he would be busy with the investors.

And most importantly, her future-in-law. Chloe would be getting married to Gabriel in a few days, there was not enough time to prepare for everything, but she is trying her best to make sure everything goes well. 

While she was still lost in her thoughts, her phone vibrated and she picked it up, upon identifying the caller.

“Hey, nanny! Wait! , are you missing me so much that you have to call and check up on me? 

“Where are you, Chloe? Come home as soon as possible!” she shouted from another end of the phone.

“But nanny what happened? why do you sound so tensed? ” the smile on her face disappeared.

“I don't have time to explain, just come home now! 

After that, the call dropped.

Chloe was beginning to tense up after she had received the call.

“What could be the problem? Why did nanny sound like that? 

While she was still in her daze,  another call came into her phone, and she hurriedly picked it up without checking the ID, as soon as she heard the loud voice from the other end, she knew who was on the line.

“Not now please, not now Claire, I can't speak right now ” 

She dropped the call and focused her gaze on the road.

Claire has been her best friend ever since they were kids, although Claire is from a humble background, Chloe doesn't mind it.

She drove as fast as she could, as soon as she got to the parking lot of the mansion. She ran into the living room, without taking her things with her. 

When she got to the living room, she discovered that the entire room was dark, not even a single shred of light to illuminate the hall.

This was never how things work in this place!

How could the Crowther mansion be this dark? 

Her thoughts run in different directions, then she decided to use her instincts to locate the light switch while calling her nanny's name.

“Nanny? Dad? 

“Why is it so dark in here? 

She asked no one in particular, just as she was about to press the switch button, the lights suddenly came on, and there was a loud exclaim of wishes.

“Happy birthday to you!

“Happy birthday to you! 

“Happy birthday dear Chloe!”

“Happy birthday to  you  ” 

What! Yeah! It's was supposed to be her birthday, but she has forgotten about it due to the contracts she is working on.

They sing in unison, while Chloe watched with her eyes wide open, she used her palm to cover her mouth, then she covered her eyes with the other palm.

She was still in denial.

“What! 

“Andrea! Aunt, Claire? 

“Why didn't you all tell me, you were going to be here!?

She asked, giving each of them, a peck on the cheeks while circling her hands around them in a hug.

“This is such a pleasant surprise, why didn't you tell me you were coming over!? 

“Miss busy, you have never had time to have a chat with me, so how was I supposed to tell you  about me being here and, any way you don't even remember your birthday, how are supposed to remember me?” Claire said, making an accusing look. 

“Come on, you know, I will never forget you! I was just busy with work”

“Come on, let's go and meet aunt, I will explain everything to you later” 

Chloe tried to change the conversation, dragging her along to meet her aunt.

“It's such a pleasant surprise having you here, aunt! you should have told me, you are going to come, I have picked you up myself” 

She laid a complaint after hugging her, then she proceeds to hug little Claire, who looks at her with a shy face.

“I wanted to surprise you on your birthday, that's why I came here, I learned your wedding is in two days, I will leave after the wedding then ” 

“What you can't be serious, aunt! " Chloe exclaimed, drawing the attention of the guest, having drinks, and discussing some important matters at the other end of the room.

“Sorry about that, carry on!” 

She apologizes to them, she turned her gaze back to her aunt. 

“You can't be serious, aunt? Or are you?

“I am dead serious Chloe unless you want to test me. I think Andy and I brought enough clothes to last us the next two days”. 

“Wow, great then, carry on and enjoy the party. I will go and discuss something with dad” 

After that, she hugged Claire and left her side.

When they got close to meeting her dad, she asked Claire to wait for her at a corner while she goes speak with her Dad.

But unfortunately, as soon as she got there, she met her dad standing beside her stepmother, and she felt a shiver ran through her spine.

" With this woman here, dad will never listen to me,” she thought, then turn her back about to leave but before she could make a move her dad got a glimpse of her, and call out to her. 

“Hey Chloe, how do you like your party” 

He asked dropping his glass of wine on the table, then he walks up to her.

“It's very nice Dad, it's beautiful ” she replied darting her gaze around the decorated hall.

This is her favorite colors and color, whoever  designed this must have known her preference

“Do you need anything else?” He asked after seeing how nervous, she was.

“No dad, I just wanted to thank you. I wasn't expecting this though, anyway I will be leaving first, you should enjoy the party” 

Without that, Chloe turn around and left with large strides.

Matilda was furious seeing the lovey-dovey relationship, between the father and daughter.

She was scared that her plans to separate them will not work if she fails to do something as soon as possible. 

She needed to do something before Chloe gets married in a few days, otherwise, Javier might push through with his plans of transferring his entire property to his favorite daughter Chloe.

Thinking about it, Matilda felt a lump grow in her throat, she swallows hard. 

“ where is my foolish daughter, she is never around when I need her to do something for me” 

Matilda yelled, taking out her phone. She hid in a corner and gave her daughter a call, after few rings, she picked up. 

“Where the hell are you? Do you even know what is going on around here ” 

“Your dad will be transferring his properties to that wretched girl in  two days, two days Maddie” 

“Don't worry mom, I've got some plans up my sleeves after this, your sweet husband wouldn't want to set his eyes on her ever again” Maddie said with a tone of confidence from the other end.

“Okay then, I trust you to do the right thing, and I will be here if you need anything ” 

After she dropped the call and heard a sigh of relief, then a sneaky smile appeared on her face.

“I didn't work so hard, all these years only for a little brat to take over everything I have worked for ” 

Matilda said, hitting the back of her phone on her palm. 

She stares into the open light for a while, then she found her way towards, the celebration hall.

She was hell-bent on making sure that Chloe doesn't get a chance to speak with Javier before the wedding, otherwise she might convince him to do her bidding. 

*** 

Chloe rushed out of the party hall with tears under her eyelids. She was almost allowing them to stream down her cheeks, but she didn't want to create a scene in front Of the guest, she decided to leave the hall for her room. 

She lifted her legs and removed her heels, then she ran off.

Upon seeing what Chloe did, Claire knew something was wrong with her.

She ran after her, upon getting to the final floor, she found out that Chloe didn't go to her room, instead, she went to the terrace. 

By the time Claire got there, Chloe was wiping her tears. 

Then she fixed her gaze at the sky, watching the stars. 

“And why would the beautiful celebrant be crying on such a special occasion,” Claire asked, upon seeing her from afar. 

She didn't bother to give her a reply, instead, she waited until when Claire got closer to her, then  She ran into her hand and hugged her. 

Chloe got emotional while hugging Claire then, Claire acted like a big sister and patted her head, while she cried.

“My dad doesn't care about me anymore, he doesn't even understand when I can't spend some time with him, he allowed that woman to make all the decisions for him” 

She said amidst crying, after that she sobered up.

“He has become that woman's puppet, I'm glad mom and Andrea are not here to witness all of this”

She said amidst tears.

She straightened up her dress, and turn to face the sky, watching the sky with Claire by her side is a familiar feeling she always enjoys.

“I can't seem to find your vicious sister anywhere, did she go somewhere ” 

Claire asked trying to divert her attention from her troubles.

“Why would I know? Not like she has always been a homegirl!” Chloe replied without baiting her gaze away from the sky.

“And that reminds me! Gabriel still isn't here! I gave him a call about two hours ago to inform him about the party, but he didn't show up, that's strange!” 

“Maybe he is busy with something, you can't blame him for that” 

Chloe replied with a slight smile on her face.

“I can't believe, he forgot your birthday and I even had to remind him about it” 

“Come on, it's fine with me” 

“It's fine you, but not with me. He should be with you on your special day and not the other way around, girl! You are his fiancee and not an employee ” Claire exclaimed with a disgusted facial expression.

“You don't have to blow up everything, it's not that big of a deal,” Chloe said with a calm tone.

“I'm getting used to it already,” She said unknowingly.

“What are you trying to say? don't dare try to hide things from me Chloe” Claire said with a serious tone and Chloe tried to change the topic immediately.

“It's nothing, okay?

“Yes, it's something!

As soon as Claire said those words, she took her phone from her grip, then started strolling through her call logs.

“They are no call from him? he didn't wish you? Wow! interesting!  and here you are covering up for him”

“This is the height of it”

She looked for his number and tried calling him, but it wasn't going through.

“See, I told you! , come let's head out for dinner” 

Chloe took her phone back from Claire after she tried calling Gabriel several times and it didn't go through. 

They went downstairs for the birthday dinner party.

Immediately they stepped into the hall, Chloe's gaze fell on her stepmother, who is sitting close to her dad, while her aunt was nowhere to be seen.

She ran to the kitchen to look for her, and she also needed to see her nanny. 

Before she could enter the kitchen, she felt a buzzing sound on her phone, she brought it out and answered it.

“There is an interesting gift you wouldn't want to miss, I have something saves up for you. Come to the address I sent to you as soon as possible ” 

“oh, you might want to save your dearest fiancee from someone's clutches, right? 

She heard an eerie voice said from the other end of the phone, as she brought it closer to her ear.

“You don't have time to think, come right now!!

“And also there are sexy pictures too, tell me if you like them!” 

With that, the call dropped before Chloe could gather the courage to ask a question.