Chapter Two•

Kylie called Becca through the intercom and she walked in holding her notepad.

"I want you to reschedule the meeting with the designing team. I want the meeting held in about two hours." Kylie said and Becca nodded.

"Once you've done that,meet me in the car and do not make me spend a second waiting for you." She added and Becca flushed,heat rising to her cheeks.

Kylie stacked the papers in front of her. "you may leave." she said and Becca nodded and walked away.

Assessing Thomas analysis again,she took a pen and signed it. "This better be good." she muttered to herself.

Thomas was among her trusted employees who had joined in bringing Shell's Design to where it was today. A glorious sight.

She picked up her bag and walked out of the office keeping it locked. Her office was a restricted area when she was not around.

She got to the car and the driver opened the door for her. The weather had suddenly become mild and the sky less cloudy.

Immediately she got into the car,Becca came out the company doors walking briskly towards the car.

"Right on time." Kylie said when she got into the car. Becca flashed a timid smile. Her boss was sometimes very strict despite her having a very pretty face and personality.

The car drove out of the premises of the building towards the Southwest.

"I need information on the new competitor Becca." Kylie said.

"I'll endeavor to find out all you need to know ma'am." Becca said and Kylie nodded.

They arrived at Shell's Textiles and alighted from the car. This was also hers. The textile industry was her father's till he handed it over to her and she had expanded it.

She had also created Shell's Designs which was what it was today.

In four years she had achieved nothing more but success.

She was and still is,her father's priced treasure.

They both walked into the industry and the manager,Rick Gibson came to welcome them.

"This way to my office,miss Shell." Rick said leading them towards the office.

They got to the office and got seated.

"Very pleased to have you here again miss Shell." Rick said.

"The pleasure is indeed mine."Kylie said placing her bag on one of the chairs. "I don't have much time to exchange pleasantries Mr Rick. Shall we get down to business."

He nodded."But of course. I requested for a list of fabrics you'll see deem fit for Shell's Designs Broadway." he said.

"Send in your finest textiles let me have a variety of picks." she said tapping her well manicured index finger on the desk.

He nodded and made a call.

Soon enough,his office was filled with different colors of fabrics.

Kylie rose to her feet,her steps in a glorified way as she ran her fingers across the fabrics.

"This,this,this,this and this." she said almost immediately pointing out purple,sunset yellow,emerald green,crimson red and gold.

She was about to leave when her eyes caught two colors,cobalt blue and white. "Add those two."

"Very nice choice miss Shell." Rick said smiling.

"Send them in by tomorrow morning." Kylie said taking her bag and heading out the door with Becca right on her heels.

"Definitely." Rick said going out with them.

They arrived back at the company a little bit late for the meeting. The team were already seated waiting for her.

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting," she said as they all stood up. "You may be seated." she said again and they resumed their positions.

She sat at the head table and cleared her throat. Most of the people in front of her were older than her but it didn't mean less as long as they all shared alike minds.

"Let's see what we've got Anna." Kylie said 

"Yes ma'am." Anna said standing up and walking towards the huge screen. she stood beside it with a tablet in her hands that was connected to the screen.

She was the company's textile designer. Scrolling through the tablet in her hands,the huge screen displayed sketched out fabric patterns that interested Kylie but still yet she felt something was missing.

As Anna went on and on about the prints of the fabrics,an idea popped into Kylie's head.

"Becca,pass across that notebook to me." she said and Becca complied,handing over the notebook and watched Kylie scribble on it.

She sketched out a pattern and showed it to the rest of the team.

"What do y'all think?" she asked.

"Impressive." Mr Thomas said the rest nodded in agreement.

"It is settled then." She turned towards Anna. " With your patterns and mine on one fabric,it's definitely going to turn out amazing." she said.

Anna nodded smiling.

"With that done,I'll like to see y'all designs by tomorrow morning. I want the best and nothing but the best." Kylie said in a manner only a boss who hated mistakes,flaws or errors would. They nodded. 

"Meeting's over." she said as Becca picked up her bag and followed her out.

"Done for the day?" Kylie asked. 

Becca shook her head. "Not quite yet. There's one more thing. Jenner White auction."

Kylie slapped her head mentally. How could she have forgotten?

She was trying to wrap up the schedules for today on time all for mother.

She hoped she didn't regret it. Her mother could be sneaky at times. She wondered how her father got to put up with her.

Not that she was bad. No!she could never brand her mother in such a way. Carina Shell was sweet,the sweetest thing Kylie ever known but was also quite very devilish. She always loved to have things done her ways.

Kylie inhaled. This wasn't the time to think of her mother's tantrums. She walked into the dresses room.

"Call Zach to come take these dresses to White's auction." Kylie said to one of the dressmaker. She nodded and rushed out.

"You have a call ma'am." Becca said handing over the phone to her.

"Who is it?" she asked taking the phone.

"Jenner White." 

Kylie placed the phone close to her ear. "Hello Jenner."

"Kylie!"she yelled in excitement. "It is always hard to reach you these days."

Kylie chuckled. "Any problem Jenner?"

"None at all. I just need you to be at the auction. Last year you weren't and it didn't go so well with the crowd. They wanna see Kylie Shell the famous Broadway London designer." Jenner said.

Kylie tried her best to hide her tiredness. "I'll be there." she said plainly and ended the call.

Zach came in and took the dresses and Kylie and Becca walked out of the dress room.

.

.

Kylie pulled over at her parents house. The house was still the same. It been months since her last visit. 

The lights from the inside reflecting on the stone statues by each side of the house.

She glanced at her watch. Six:fifty five pm. "Well,better late than never." she said as she alighted from the car. She had driven herself here and sent off her driver earlier than usual.

She was still in her office wears. She had not the time to change before coming. oh craps,it was no big deal. She was coming just for dinner and nothing more.

She pressed the doorbell and Martha her parents long time housekeeper opened up.

"Welcome young miss." she said.

"You never seem to remember you contributed in raising me Mrs Martha. Cut the miss thing." Kylie said smiling and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

When she was home,she put aside all the bossy and commanding attitudes. She was just plain young Kylie Shell.

"Dad." she smiled when she saw him.

"Kylie." He said in enthusiasm and hugged her. "It's been years?"he teased.

"Months daddy." she said chuckling. Her dad,Henry Shell was known to always exaggerate things.

"My baby."

Kylie pulled away from her father when she heard her mother's voice. Here comes the drama queen. Kylie was the exact replica of her mother.

Same face and eyes,same slenderness and charisma. The only thing she took from her father was his hair color.

She hugged Carina close. "Mom."

"How I've missed you." Carina said.

"And I do too." Kylie said. Holding her,she realized she did miss her mother. Her lavender fragrance reminded her of how she'll nestle herself every night in her arms whenever she was scared.

"Come,come." Carina said leading her to the table. Kylie marveled at the different variety of dishes in front of her.

"Wow,hold up. Is there a feast or am I missing something?" she said unable to fathom why there was so many food if it was just the three of them.

"You'll see." Carina said with a gleam in her eyes. The doorbell rang. "Martha dear,go check who is at the door." Carina said again.

Kylie knew without no doubts that her mother had something up her sleeves.

A man and a woman dressed rather Sophisticatedly walked into the dining room. Kylie wondered who they were.

"Lucida." Carina exclaimed and they hugged. She seemed so thrilled to see the visitor.

"This is my daughter Kylie,CEO of Shell's Designs and textiles too." Carina said rather too proudly of her daughter. 

Lucida smiled. "I've heard so much about you dear. You are even much prettier in person." she said.

Kylie smiled. she wondered what her mother must have told Lucida.

"Kylie this is Mr Rio and Mrs Lucida my old time friend." her mother said.

Kylie smiled again. "It is a pleasure meeting you both."

"What a beauty indeed." Mr Rio admired. Kylie looked away to avoid them seeing her flushed cheeks.

"He's going to be late." Lucida said in a low tone. Carina smiled and whispered back. "Long as he's going to be here." she said.

Kylie wondered what they were whispering about.

With pleasantries exchanged,Carina urged them to sit down." The food won't eat themselves you know."she said in a jovial tone. They laughed.

Knowing her mother so well she knew this happiness was as a result of something but what could that be?

The doorbell rang again. "Are you expecting more visitors?" Kylie asked dropping her fork on her plate.

"Be a sweetie and get the door Kylie." Carina said sweetly.

"But Mar..," a look from her mom stopped her from completing her sentence as she left the dinner table and walked towards the door. 

The doorbell rang again. Why wasn't this visitor patient?

She opened the door expecting to see more friends of her mother but was confronted with a dazzling male who had a formidable aura around him.