4. The Female Billionaire

During my childhood days, I remained isolated most of the time because I was going through a rough time. It was a time when I started understanding the word 'orphan'. Almost all of the orphans experience the same phase. My eyes always glistened when I used to see kids at school coming with their parents, especially at annual parent-teacher meetings. No one came for me in any of the school meetings because I had no family. My progress report was emailed to the foster home time to time.

Since these issues are normal for the teachers and volunteers who work there so they have solutions for this. They treated me. I went through series of counseling sessions with their psychiatrist and counselors. They also gave me medicines to reduce my stress. Once I passed that stage of my life, I started doing better. I accepted the bitter truth about my fate and tried to live with it. I stopped thinking about my biological parents.

I was searching through my small wardrobe for some fresh clothes. Carol had invited me to join the discussion about our final exams at the library. All of her friends decided to study together so she also asked me to come over. I didn't deny the offer because I wanted to be a part of the discussion and get some tips to do well in exams.

My eyes caught the silk blouse that was blemished by that suited-booted man. I took it out and stared at the stain on it. This piece of fabric reminded me of those blueberry eyes, those virile physiques and the strong cologne and how he didn't show any interest in me. I got surprised when I found that feeling of disappointment was still there in me.

Maybe, I should just change my style of clothing, get a new haircut and learn some good makeup techniques. Maybe I was being too careless about my appearance that even Samara also insulted me. The ringtone of my phone disrupted my chain of thoughts. I threw my silk top back in the wardrobe and reached for my phone.

The caller was Ryan; my friend since my early days. He also faced the same problems like me - no parents. We both went to the same high school, but since he was three years older than me so he completed his high school earlier and then shifted to California for college.

"Hello?"

"Hey. How are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm doing good, getting prepared for the finals. You tell how's everything there?"

"Oh. Good luck. Little Sanaya is finally completing her high school phase. And yes everything is fine here." He answered in a teasing tone.

I raised my brows, "I'm just three years younger than you, not ten years. So stop sounding like a big brother."

Ryan was also my first crush. Despite possessing good looks, he was a owner of great, friendly and supportive personality. In my early teens, he was very protective of me. He never liked when one of our teachers scolded or punished me for my mistakes because I was a slow learner. At school, he helped me with my homework and class assignments. During that time, feelings for him grew in me, but it was one-sided. He didn't look at me that way.

He didn't say anything to me. I just found out about his heart when he started dating Tessa. She was his classmate. Ryan was my first male friend. I was so dependent on him during my early teens that I started imagining on my own that we would be perfect for each other. However, I didn't think like this anymore. He was still dating the same girl who went to the same college.

Gradually, I accepted the fact that we were only good as friends and forgot about him. One-sided love for Ryan was the only thing to tell about my dating life. I had never dated anyone nor thought about any guy because I got busy with my money-making goals that I thought I won't be able to keep someone happy due to my busy routine.

"Oh come on. We're each other's family, you know that. I've to act like a family sometimes to remind you that you have someone to call your own. I'm happy for you that you're finally graduating." He said.

I smiled in awe, "Hey, are we getting emotional?"

"Okay. Fine, I just stop now." He groaned.

I only took him as a friend now, but in case if he comes to me in future and shows any romantic interest in me, I would maybe reconsider my decision if I wouldn't be in love with some other boy at that time.

I chuckled, "Good. So did you call me for something important? I'm saying this because I've to rush to the library for the finals' discussion."

"No. You should go. I just called you to know about how you are doing."

"Okay. Take care. I'll call you later."

"Wait. Remember that I'm always just a phone call away from you. Never hesitate to call me when you need me." He reminded me as always.

Ryan visited the foster home few times. He didn't want to lose connection with his first family. Before leaving for California, he forced me to promise him that we would remain friends forever. And on every phone call, he reminded me that I was not alone.

"Yep, I know." I responded with a faint smile.

💙

For Chinese-styled chicken balls, I took the raw chicken from the frozen-room and began washing it with clean water. Two young servants helped me sometimes and did the minimal tasks like passing me the spices or cutting veggies for me. But today there was no one. I was all alone in the kitchen.

Andrew said that all the domestic staff was busy in grand event's preps because only few days were now left. Once I was done washing the meat, I put it aside and started preparing the mix.

"Are you Sanaya, right? The new cook?" A female voice disturbed my concentration. I turned around and frightened a little when I saw Katherine Hobsons was standing there at some distance.

She walked towards me. Immediately, I grabbed some napkins and wiped my hands, "Hello, Ma'am."

"I'm Katherine, wife of the owner of this mansion." She gave me her formal smile.

"Nice to meet you." God, I was feeling nervous. It was the first time I was seeing her in person. The billionaire's wife, who was a billionaire herself, standing in front of me.

Her eyes were bluish almost like......blueberries? I knitted my brows confusingly. I thought that color was rare. But I was seeing another person with the same eye color. They looked similar to that man I met at the night club.

That handsome man kept crossing my mind and I didn't know why. Sometimes my mind remembers unimportant things and annoys me. I couldn't understand why it did that when I had so many important matters to think about like exams, like college...

"I've heard you're young, how old are you?" Her voice brought me back to reality and I found myself staring into her eyes and thinking.

I rubbed my temple in uneasiness, trying to act normal, "I'm eighteen."

Her thick dark curls were all gracefully settled on her one side of her face. Since she was fairer than me, her brown freckles were prominent on her face. There were faded lines of wrinkles on her forehead, depicting her age.

"Darling, you're so young." She exclaimed, "Money problems, right?"

I nodded slowly.

She continued, "Well, Sanaya, keep it up. I hope Andrew told you that we only prefer organic spices. My husband and I are very cautious about our diet."

"Yes. He told me about that. Don't worry, Ma'am. I only use those ingredients that are given to me by the staff here." I responded formally.

"That's good."

A woman needs to feel beautiful and confident in order to look beautiful. She said in one of her columns she wrote in a fashion magazine. I remembered that quote of her because I also somewhat thought in a similar way. It's good that fashionista like her focused on the importance of inner beauty.

"I was thinking to meet you personally, but I was quite busy. You must've known my younger son is getting married." She hissed lightly, "It's hectic."

I plastered a smile on my face, "I understand. I wish your son a happy married life."

She touched my shoulder, "I always appreciate hard workers. Nice meeting you, Sanaya. I hope you're coming to my son's wedding. I'm looking forward to it."

I lifted my brows in astonishment. Why would I be attending her son's wedding?

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hobsons. I don't think I should be coming to the wedding."

She furrowed her light brows, "First of all, you can call me Katherine. Secondly, why not? All of my domestic staff is invited. I would be happy if you come. It's in the Catholic Church."

After encountering with Samara, I had lowered my expectations and made up my mind that maybe, I wouldn't be treated with respect here. But, Katherine's behavior was changing my opinion. She seems nice and polite and knows how to respect her employees.

"You should definitely come to help me on the wedding day because I don't want to be short-staffed. You should be a part of the wedding preparations." She insisted.

Okay. I think I could do that much. Maybe, it was her way of saying that she would give me bonus for my extra services. "I'll try to come and help you."

She put her hand down from my shoulder and smiled in response, "That's what I wanted to hear. You're pretty, young lady but you're hiding yourself in those casual clothes. Please don't mind me. I just don't like it when beautiful women like you don't care about their skin and style. You're young so enjoy your time by wearing pretty dresses."

A wave of surprise swept through me. She just called me pretty. She was a fashion guru. If she was saying I was pretty then I couldn't just ignore her comment.

"Anyways, I should go now. You carry on with you work. I'm looking forward to see you at the wedding." She said and walked out of the kitchen afterwards.

Women like her wanted everyone to look beautiful and stay dressed up all the time, but I should not be blaming her, she didn't know about my priorities. I did have a different fashion sense. But still she called me pretty and that made my day.

💙

Wedding day

According to the way Katherine instructed me, this was the room where bride of the day was. I shifted the shopping bags from my one hand to the other and knocked the door with my free hand.

Few minutes passed, but no sound came from inside the room. I knocked for the third time, but there was no response. Hesitantly, I grabbed the doorknob and pushed opened the door slowly, looking inside.

"Miss Samara?"

I stepped into the room and looked around, "I'm here to deliver some bags to you. Katherine has sent them."

The room was bigger than the kitchen where I worked. It was a combination of grey and maroon colors. The curtains and furniture of the bedroom were maroon. But the floor and the walls were of different shades of grey. The color combination was unique. But the room was slightly disorganized. The clothes were scattered on the bed and some were on the floor. The wedding dress was also placed on bed, fully wrapped in plastic bag.

I felt bemused. She was supposed to be in her wedding gown by now. There was not much time left. I put the shopping bags on the floor when I started feeling pain in my arms. They were heavy.

Samara finally stepped out of the bathroom. My astonishment increased some more when I saw her in jeans and plain shirt. Her hair were falling in all direction as if she was pulling them a while ago. I could see dried tears around her eyes. Her overall appearance looked disoriented and panicky.

She gazed at me, moving her eyes from up and down as if she was checking me out. I felt uncomfortable under her intense scrutiny so I just broke the awkward silence, "Are you okay? I was here to deliver those bags to you."

She came closer to me, now studying my face. Her eyes were wandering all over my facial features. I contorted my face in confusion at her weird stares, "Umm, hey-"

"Listen, can you wear my wedding dress and be a bride on my place?" She questioned.

What?

✸✸

In case, you are confused -- last scene is a glimpse of the wedding day. Next chapter will tell you how and why Sanaya went to Samara's room.