Chapter Nine

The Expected Arrival

Maria's PoV

I looked at the time and smiled when I saw that even the time was on my side, then I leaned back against my sofa and yawned dramatically, almost inelegantly. “This conversation has been enlightening, Sebastian but you know what I just realized?”

“What is it?” He asked with a small suspicious smile on his face.

He was still unsure but was starting to suspect that I was up to something.

“The Boulevard proposal meeting. I just remembered that I have a very important meeting first thing in the morning and I need to go through my proposals again.”

Sebastian chuckled as he finally caught on to what I was doing. “I see you are kicking me out.”

“Oh, not at all” I feigned regret then gave him my sweetest smile. “Even corporate princesses like me need to go through their proposals again and again then catch some beauty sleep before D-day.”

He shook his head in disbelief while smiling then stood up gracefully. “Fair enough. Don't get too comfortable with this win.”

I laughed and saw him to the door then we bid each other goodnight and I closed the door after him with a small satisfied smile.

**********

It was two days since Sebastian's visit and four days since the dinner incident with my family and Sebastian's father but there was no feedback from my family.

I got tired of expecting them to show up and slowly settled into my normal routines.

“Hello Helena, please be a darling and order something nice for both of us on your way home. My day was super long and I am too tired to go into that kitchen this evening. Thank you, darling. I love you.” I hung up the  phone and stepped out of my car to the entrance of my apartment building.

“Good evening, Ms. Belluci. Hope you have a wonderful day?” My door man greeted me in his usual pleasant manner and this time I replied him pleasantly.

He gestured towards the guest waiting area and said. “You have guests ma'am.”

“Guests?” I wondered briefly and immediately it dawned on me who my guests were before the door man mentioned.

They came later than I expected and I wondered what kept them away all this time. They were probably reinforcing their arsenal.

“Maria!” Was all Cassandra said immediately she saw me, so that the others would be aware that I had finally shown up.

Others being my step-mother and ex-fiance. My father was noticeably absent.

“I was starting to think you wouldn't show up. Is this how you stay out late for a girl living on her own?” Her step-mother sneered.

“What am I? Five?” I scoffed, ignoring her choice of words.

She waved my reply off and asked quietly. “So when are you going to back off?”

“Back off? From what?”

“From marrying my fiance, you slob.” Cassandra half screeched and Richard rubbed her shoulder to console her.

I stared at both of them who were obviously still having sex, then asked him. “If she's here to whine about wanting a man who obviously doesn't want her back, then why are you here?”

He stepped forward and said softly. “Maria, I am here for a different reason. You have to…”

“That was my kind of rhetorical question. What you have to say doesn't matter so hush.” I stopped him mid-sentence with a raised fore finger.

At that point, my step-mother angrily moved forward and pointed an accusing finger at me. “Now you listen here little girl, I will not stand here and watch you be bratty. You already know why we are here, leave the Bolt heir alone. He belongs to my daughter, Cassandra.”

When she was done, I dropped my briefcase on the chair close to me and started clapping.

“Excellent performance, thoroughly superb. Now that you've passed your message, use the exit door.”

“Maria, you're just a fat loser who thinks she can get away with anything.” Cassandra shouted. “Give him up now or get ready for whatever consequences that come with your refusal.”

“It's sad that you're an illiterate body shamer who does not know the difference between fat and curvy. Even if I am fat, which I am not, you have no right to make anyone feel bad about their looks. It's downright nasty.”

Then I turned to Cassandra's mother and said. “It's funny how you all choose to be delusional. You were all present at the dinner the other day when Sebastian clearly stated that he would not call off the wedding to me.”

“He obviously saw you there, Cassandra and if he wanted you, he would have clearly stated it. He is a man who knows what he wants so why are you coming after me? Go after him! Not me!”

Seeing that they were still bent in continuing with their delusional thoughts, I decided to leave them alone. I was tired from my long day at work and still had some work to finish up.

“Where do you think you are going, you brat!” Cassandra's mother asked.

“My house, of course. I already told you to see yourself out.”

My mother-in-law moved towards me slowly in a menacing manner and didn't stop until she was toe to toe with me. “You may think you are some hotshot, Maria but trust me, you are only making a major mistake. I generously give you one week to call off that sham of an engagement with Sebastian Bolt or..”

“Or what? Tell me, or what? Let me guess, you'll do something drastic. That's all you empty headed Kidmans can come up with.”

I angrily turned and headed back to the door man's station and instructed him to get me four of our security personnels.

After giving him the instruction, I came back and stood in front of my estranged family members with arms crossed angrily but I kept my face blank.

They did not deserve to see me express any emotion, not even anger.

When the security personnels entered, I made them stand at the door so that Cassandra and the others would not easily escape.

“Take a good look at the faces of these three people. The older woman is my step-mother, the young lady is my step-sister and the man is their friend. I am saying this so that nobody would use the family member card to gain access to me unnecessarily. Now, mark their faces. If you ever see these people here again trying to gain access to me or even come remotely close to this building, take them straight to jail. Arrest them immediately. For now, escort them out of this building.”

When I was done, I sat down and watched in satisfaction as they were escorted out of the building with Cassandra screeching threats incessantly.

“Good riddance to bad rubbish.” I said to myself then stood up, picked up my briefcase and headed up to my apartment.

I was so happy about getting rid of them even if temporarily that immediately an idea with Sebastian came to mind , I decided to act on it.