Chapter Twelve — Ceremonial Dinner

Third Person's POV

At The Dinner Hall

In Evander's seven star hotel, Otro Mundo Hotel

The sounds of cutleries striking against the ceramic plates filled the dinner hall. The whisperings among the men accompanied with the sounds. What else could the men talk about if not business stuffs? And the ladies in the dinner hall could do nothing but courteously eat their meals while chattering and laughing.

Mr. Levi Sinclaire, Desha's father could be seen eating and chipping in few words in the discussions among the men. He looked very glad and everyone could feel his exuberance. Only God alone knows why he was so happy at that moment and everyone could feel his high-spiritedness. Even Desha his daughter seemed happy too. Anytime Desha smiled or laughed, there was no need for a soothsayer to know she wanted to do something selfish.

The whisperings had died down, so did the cutleries striking against the plates did. At the left hand side of the long rectangular sophisticated dining table, Jayden and his family could be seen eating joyously. Jayden looked so graceful in his lush tuxedo, the other girls at the table were winking and smiling secretly at him and Desha could only glower at them, Jayden focused his attention on the assorted meals so as not to create any ugly scene. His father, Mr. Raleigh Flintstone were chatting with other men. He was one of the best surgeons in Ohreja and had attracted respect and admiration from others. He had straw-colored hair and ultramarine eyes while his wife, Mrs. Brownwyn had chestnut-colored hair and brown eyes so Jayden got his good looks from both his parents. He had twin sisters named Mackenzie and Michaela who were very beautiful but outspoken.

Caitlyn Jones and her family were next to the Strauss Family after the Flintstone Family. Caitlyn looked as lovely as she had always been in her black evening gown that had silver glitters. Mr. Dennis, her father, was a recognized business tycoon and her mother, Mrs. Mila was a known importer. Caitlyn came with her elder brother, Emmett, who just came back from his trip to Lurktroy and her elder sister, Becca who was just nineteen and naïve.

After the formal introductions and happy toasts from the families, Mr. Levi was the first to indulge a conversation. As the current richest man, he was considered as the most powerful and important man in Ohreja as they practiced plutocracy.

"Mr. Quincy, I heard your first daughter is getting married?"

Mr. Quincy craned his neck to see Mr. Levi who was just wolfing a chicken lap. How did Mr. Levi know that his first daughter was getting married? And now, all eyes were on the shaky Mr. Quincy and then they noticed that his first daughter wasn't even in the dinner hall.

"Y-yes..." He stuttered under his breath. "She will be getting married...very soon..." He added. Jayden who was just gazing at the two men wasn't astonished that Mr. Levi would get to know about Mr. Quincy daughter's wedding. Mr. Levi always had his ears to the ground and he could expose anyone's secrets at the quick snap of his fingers.

"Congratulations!" Mr. Levi said with such straightfaced tone and Mr. Quincy didn't bother to reply back.

Moments of silence that seemed like forever had passed and no one talked or initiated a conversation. Everyone was probably having good time enjoying the extravagant dishes apart from Desha. Jayden wasn't looking at her at all and she was very unhappy about it. She had always wanted a blissful relationship with Jayden as it would improve her family connections but Jayden was just crushing her plans.

Jayden on the other hand could feel Desha's gazes on him. He was just tired of Desha pushing him into a relationship with her. And his father wasn't helping matters at all.

"Son, why don't you just give it a trial? Desha is from a decent and influential home, she would be a good match for you... it's not like I'm a matchmaker but the relationship between you both can bond our family with theirs and we will be the next powerful and influential family in Ohreja. Think about it, Jayden."

Jayden looked so whacked and drained. After his previous heartbreak, he promised never to delve into a relationship with a girl until he was fully ready for that. He didn't even know when the dessert course was brought in and he just looked so still like a lifeless figure. Kudos to Mackenzie who smacked him and he snapped out of his deep thoughts. He was sweating profusely despite the hefty working air conditioners mounted in the dinner hall.

"Gosh! What the f*ck is wrong with you? I've been calling your name but I don't know where your ears travelled to?" Mackenzie spluttered in anger. Her brother made her a fool in front of her friends.

"Sorry but I was just deep in thoughts." He said with sad tone. "So waddup?" He faked a smile to thrill her.

"Well...papa and Desha's papa were discussing and I heard your name in their discussions. They were talking about you and Desha being a perfect match for each other and...yadda yadda yadda...so what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing serious." Jayden lied. "Just bothersome school issues..."

"Do you really like Desha?" Mackenzie asked Jayden. He blinked his lashes as he was shocked hearing such from Mackenzie's mouth.