Chapter 6

years later

The top-class events facility in Charles State buzzed with activity. Josephs & Co, owners of the biggest jewelry company, had returned to the country to introduce their long-lost daughter to the world. Jack Josephs, a renowned jewelry craftsman, was a force to be reckoned with who had taken his family's jewelry company and made himself wealthy. He had always been at the front of the fashion parade in the jewelry industry. Everyone was always complimenting the jewels he made.

But he left the country with his wife several years ago. All of them wished that they never had the chance to develop relations with the Josephs family. The Josephs family eventually came back. Most of the number one men and women in Charles State yearned to greet their hands with Jack Josephs, MD of Josephs & Co. They arrived in limousines and brought expensive gifts in an attempt to capture the hearts of the family.

A reporter from KB Entertainment made a live appearance on television as they covered the event live. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have come to the largest event of the year where Josephs & Co.'s MD is going to present his only daughter to the world. Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see Miss Josephs, including Charles State's most eligible bachelor, Frank Lanka, who has also brought with him his fiancée, Dera Pete. It appears that the dignified MD also wants to meet the missing daughter of the Josephs family."

Continuing repeating himself, a handsome tall man strode by the door wearing a suit made to measure and proceeded into the hallway. The reporter's remark angered him and provoked him to jest. He was not 'interested' in greeting the missing daughter. He only wished to put forth an offer of union with Jack Josephs in behalf of his impending jewelry venture. The guy was none other than Lanka CULT CEO Frank Lanka. Tall dark-haired guy with a sharp angular jaw that could cut through a diamond. He had a trimmed, well-groomed beard that made him a hunky, macho-looking dude.

"Frank, over here!" A voice barely above a whisper whispered on one side of the hall.

Frank turned his head to glance at Dera Pete. He smiled and approached her, inquiring, "Have you talked to Mr. Josephs yet?"

Dera laughed nervously. She had tried to venture out earlier to see Mr. Josephs but was driven away by his security guards. Anyone who wished to see the man would have to wait until the event. The fact that she knew him from her father did not work in her favor. "I just sat here waiting for him. Don't you worry, Frank. I will get you a partnership with Mr. Josephs. He is my father's friend, so he owes me some face," Dera said.

Frank shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded. He had no other choice but to turn to Dera since his own efforts to reach Jack Josephs were an exercise in futility. It seems the man is deliberately avoiding him for one reason or another.

Before long, the MC had called out that Mr. Josephs had arrived and all were standing by the door waiting. One minute went by, and in walked a man in his late fifties with a gorgeous woman. He was his wife, Freya Josephs, a famous jewelry designer.

"There he is, let's go and meet him. I'll introduce him to you," Dera declared in confidence.

Frank nodded and rolled Dera's wheelchair forward. They inched up to Jack Josephs and his wife when they stopped to greet some other partygoers. Dera smiled and said, "Uncle Josephs!"

Jack Josephs turned at the sound of his name. He frowned when he saw it was Dera. "Remember me? I'm the daughter of—"

"Good evening," Jack Josephs brushed Dera aside with a greeting and moved on without glancing back at Frank.

Dera's face turned red like a tomato. She did not expect Jack Josephs to cold-shoulder her in front of all these people. "I thought you said you were family friends?" Frank asked, surprised that Jack cold-shouldered Dera who claimed to know him on a personal level.

"Perhaps he does not know me. Because I'm a cripple now," Dera gasped, and Frank scowled at her statement.

"Let him be. I'll take care of him afterwards," Frank had said softly.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jack Josephs stood up on the platform and grasped the microphone. "Welcome."

The party crowd were immediately hushed and all of them looked over at the Josephs couple on stage. "Thank you for your support. Josephs LIFTX is moving its business centre back out to the countryside today," Jack announced.

The crowd applauded thunderously. Everyone was aware of the news once they received the invitation, but no one was hesitant to show their happiness.

"Alright, let me introduce to you my long-lost daughter. Welcome on stage, Lydia Josephs!"

There was a commotion at the entrance. A lady walked in and everyone's attention was focused towards her at once. She was wearing a fashionably dressed outfit. Her complexion was light and she wore her dark brown hair in an up styled updo. She had on an open back, sapphire blue formal dress with light makeup on her face accentuating her stunning features. Frank also turned to see what everybody else was staring at. But when he saw the woman entering the room, his jaw dropped and eyes widened.

"Ruth?" he thought to himself. Was he dreaming? The woman looked so much like his deceased wife, Ruth.

Frank was also shocked, just like Dera. She looked pale and whispered, "Is it Ruth? How is this possible? She died!"

But Frank didn't utter a single word. He was staring at the goddess-like lady who was similar to his wife.

The heart of Dera sank when she realized that Frank's eyes were diverted to the mysterious lady. She clinched her fists into tight balls as fear started creeping onto her. Who was the lady and why did she look so much like Ruth?

The crowd lost it as Lydia Josephs descended onto the stage elegantly. She proceeded to her dad with a smile on her face. She took the microphone from her hand and smiled at the audience and proclaimed, "Hello everyone, I am Lydia Josephs. I'm back and I will be occupying the office of the MD of Josephs & Co. Jewelry Company from here on."