CUPID DOVE
CHAPTER FIVE
"Love is a bird that needs to fly, release your wings, and soar into the sky."
An avalanche of sultry heat runs through his vein. The uprising of negativity he feels soars from his heart to his throat and he chokes for breath as the image flashes through his mind.
A deep feeling of remorse and regret escalates in his heart. His mouth is an ocean of bile that runs from his stomach.
He wished he had done this earlier; Hudson is an asshole, and he should have been careful, but he learned a great lesson here. It is time to fix his mistake.
Thousands of thoughts run through his mind about how he will face the board of directors with this new decision he is about to make.
But he believes they will not make a fuss. He curses under his breath for not listening to them and his dad when they warned him.
He shakes his head and says, "No time for regret. It is time to fix this mess."
Still deep in thought, his cell phone rings, and he wonders who that might be
Standing up with reluctance, he picks up his phone from his suit jacket.
His brother Josh calls and says, "Lance, I need to speak to you."
"Can you come to my office?" he asked
"Ok, I will be right there," Lance says
He puts his phone in his suit jacket; he calms down with a slow steady breath and says to himself, "I am fine, and all is well."
He exits his office to speak with his brother, but he feels tremors quaking inside of him because Josh only calls him Lance when he wants to scold him or has something important to say.
He struggles with his emotion and uncertainty as he walks out of his office. He walks to the elevator and steps in.
Eyes staring at him as he leaves the office, but he put on a big smile on his face as he walks to the elevator. He waits for the lift to take him to the next floor and the door opens.
He walks out and marches to the door of his brother's office.
Walking into the large spacious office, the room looks more like an art gallery than the office of the joint acting vice president.
His father's decision for him and his brother to take over the company is to serve as the acting vice president for 3 years and they all agreed, even though they dislike the decision.
"Please take a seat, bro," Josh says.
Lance takes a seat. Drops of sweat run down his forehead to his chin.
"I received a fax for an urgent board meeting." Josh blurts outs.
"Can you explain this?" he asks, and he drops a white sheet on the table.
Lance clears his throat and says, "I called off the deal with Hudson."
"Oh, my goodness!" Josh exclaims.
"Why did you not tell me before you made the decision?"
"How are we going to fix this mess?" Josh screams.
"You know he could sue us for millions of dollars for this."
Josh explains, "this will affect us terrifically."
Lance looks downcast and says, "I know this could happen, but I had to decide on a jiffy."
"He kept pushing it and I could not take it any longer," Lance explains.
"I could have avoided this mistake," Lance says with remorse.
Josh asks, "what will you do now?"
"I believe you should have a plan to fix this with the board members?" He asks.
"Yes, I do," Lance replies.
"Am going to talk to dad about it before announcing it to the board members."
"Dad warned me about him," Lance speaks and sighs.
"I believe dad will help me out." He concludes.
Josh rises from his seat, his hands in his pocket walking towards where Lance is seating.
He kneels by his side to face his brother, placing his hands in his brothers' hands, and says, "we are in this together bro. If you want me to be there when you talk to dad, I will accompany you."
"Just make no more mistakes." He chips in.
Lance's heart melts at the soft words of his twin brother and gives Josh a tight hug.
"Thanks, bro," Lance says. "This is my mess; I will not involve you."
"I will talk to dad myself," he says.
Josh rose to his feet with beams of a smile smearing his face.
Lance's hearts wander to his daughter.
"I need a break," he says with excitement...
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
Life is a box full of surprises when you least expect love finds its way to your path.
Lance's eyes shimmered with passion as Sheila appears down the stairs in an off-shoulder coffee cream lace dress that clung to her skin, revealing her gentle curves and beauty.
She wears a thin diamond necklace and earrings that shimmer on her neckline and ears. Her hair was tied in a ponytail at the back of her head with a large diamond hairpin.
She stood at the top of the stairs with a glittering face, ready to join the party. She felt a little unsteady.
Her heels were high to what she wears, but she decides she will look stunning for this occasion.
With a bright smile on her face, she walks down the stairs with utmost care to meet her husband at the end of the staircase.
Today is Emily's 6th birthday and Lance and Sheila hired the best event planner for her birthday to make it a memorable day for her.
Sheila stone loves Emily as her own and would give her heart to make such a darling smile.
Daddy! Mummy! Emily exclaims, running towards them both as fast as her leg could carry,
She is a little fairy in her blue ball gown with a light blue crystal embroidered shoe and her red hair falls to her shoulder in a spiral wave. Her blue eyes glitter with so much euphoria.
She is the lady of the day, and everyone agrees she is genuine beauty at a young age.
She runs towards her dad and stepmother with great vigor, her hair bouncing along as she runs. She grabs a hold of her step mum's legs with so much strength that almost threw Sheila down to the floor.
"Oh, my, you are so strong!" She exclaims. Sheila struggles to stand tall while Lance holds her, stopping both of them from falling.
Emily holds on to her new mom and says, "I'm sorry, mom."
"I did not mean to do that, am just excited to see you both."
Sheila bends towards Emily and says, "you don't have to be sorry am happy you look so beautiful, my sugar."
She hugs her so tight and places a kiss on her head.
The music played so softly in the background, and children played in the garden nursery created for Emily's birthday. It has been Emily's idea to have her birthday in the garden because she loves flowers' fresh feel.
Lance is grateful for this beautiful daughter who is a resemblance to her late mother. He looks at her and his new spouse with so much tenderness and smiles with all his heart.
Lance remarried a year ago after 5 years of mourning his late wife, Sheila emerges in his life when he least expects it. Their meeting is unusual that started as a conflict on the country road.
He thanks heaven when he spent the day with his parents on his daughter's first birthday and there, he found love again.
Lance bends towards them, his hands encircling them both, and says,
"You both look beautiful." He says with a smile, "ladies let's join the party, our guests are waiting."
They all rise to their feet, holding hands. Emily stands beside her parents as they move into the midst of their guests in the garden.
Lance could not take his eyes off his wife. His eyes feasted on her body, ravaging through her curves and her temples to her hips like a hungry lion watching to catch its prey. Passion erodes in him as he felt the urge to kiss her.
They stroll into the party with splendour, exchanging greetings and pleasantries with their friends and family.
Lance's parents and siblings were present. Few friends and business associates came to celebrate Emily's birthday with their children.
Violet Lance's cousin, his siblings, and their children graced the party.
It is a gathering of the crème de la crème of the society. The news reporter Deborah sanders of the daily metro news covered the event live.
The occasion will be the headline news: Elaborate birthday of a young business tycoon's daughter.
Deborah, being the first to greet Lance and his family, salutes the beauty of his new wife, Sheila.
"Lance is so good to see you!" she squeals with delight.
She hugs Lance and Sheila, placing a kiss on their cheek.
"The last time we met was at your wedding." She says.
She turns towards Sheila and says, "You look so good, Sheila, wow! I could have thought you won a beauty pageant several times."
"You know what? I will do an exclusive interview with you soon."
"There you can share tips of your alluring beauty; I promise I will talk to my boss to make you the cover of our magazine."
Sheila smiles, revealing a set of clean white teeth.
"I am looking forward to the interview," Sheila replies.
She looks down at Emily and says, "who do we have here?"
"The birthday girl!" she squeals with excitement. She bends forwards and plants a kiss on Emily's cheek.
"Happy birthday, sweetie, you look like an angel in your dress," she says.
Emily kept blushing because of Debby's flattery.
Lance, getting a little impatient with the lengthy conversation with Debby, hopes it will end soon.
Lance cut in and says, "Debby, it's nice you are here. Please keep us updated about my wife's interview."
"Now we have to see to other guests. I hope you don't mind."
"Sure, Lance," she says, "but please, can I steal your princess for the moment?" She asked. "I have to take pictures of her."
"Sure." Lane and Sheila reply.
"I will also take pictures of the family."
"That's part of the story…. I will be back in a minute; when am done with Emily." She says.
Lance and Sheila smile.
"It's alright, take your time with her."
"We will be with Jefferson and his kids."
Debby takes Emily to her side, winks, and says, "be right back."
Debby exits the garden with Emily
"Wow! She is so…." Lance exclaims.
"I like her energy." "She's vibrant and enthusiastic for a piece of news. She misses nothing out," he says.
He looks and his wife and says, "let's say hello to the Jefferson before we meet other guests."
Lance moves through the guest, greeting them along the way and playfully laughing with their kids.
Finally, he meets Tyre Jefferson chairman and CEO of Bordeaux's clothing and textiles. He has many chains of business, but clothing is his major.
"Hey, Tyre, it's so good to see you." Lance laughs aloud.
Tyre is playing with his three kids accompanied by his wife Rosalinda (the former beauty queen of Sri Lanka).
"Hey, Lance, am so glad to see you too." He replies ecstatically, holding his girl in one hand while the boys jump on his back.
Rosalinda grabs a hold of the first son and says sternly, "Boys! behave."
Lance and Sheila chuckle as the boys leaves their dad back with reluctance.
"Boys, please stay with your mom." He says, holding his little girl in his arms.
"Phew!" he exclaims, holding his back.
"Hey, Lance, I didn't know you will do something so extravagant; I would have asked my wife to get you, her planner."
"Anyway, you both did a good job, am impressed." He says.
"I will like you to meet my wife, Rosalinda." he looks behind to find his wife.
His wife is busy playing with the kids. The boys knock soft pillows on their mom as she tries to dodge them, using her hands as her guard shield.
Tyre says, "Not a suitable time. She's so busy… with the kids." He says, pointing backward.
"Be right back. I have to fix this." He says, hurrying to save his wife from his kids' menace.
"These kids..." Tyre murmurs.
"Hey boys!" he yells.
Lance and Sheila wave at him and laugh.
"Oh, his boys are…. I wonder how they pull through." Sheila says.
Lance and Sheila kept greeting all the guests while they wait for Emily and Debby, so she can cut her cake.
Lance and Sheila move toward his extended family. Lance's sister Natasha, who lives in India, surprised them all. She gave Emily an exquisite gift.
Not long after, Debby emerges with Emily by her side. Emily puts a candy stick in her mouth.
Debby's cameraman carries a huge rectangular box wrapped with shiny white and blue paper, while Debby was holding lots of decorated balloons tied with ribbons in her hands.
They both place the balloons and gifts by Lance's side. The ushers take the gift away into the enormous pile of gifts beside the big cake. The gift stood like a mountain.
Emily bounces with her candy sweet with so much excitement, she is getting the treat of her life. This is the first birthday her dad and mom planned for her elaborately.
She has wanted such a birthday for so long as her friends talked about their birthday. They make fun of her when she says she spends her birthday with her dad and grandparents.
Now she is excited. She got what she asked for.
Debby and her cameraman arrange the Stones family for a family photoshoot. Laughter and excitement run through the air as they take various poses with Emily.
Emily's friends in school all took various pictures with her.
Finally, the photoshoot section ends. And it's time to cut the cake. The chef made the face of Emily as the cake and it stood 30 inches in height, 15 inches in width.
The cake has a lace of coloured pastries of Emily's gold hair, her blue eyes, her wide smile, and flat nose. The kids marvel at the creativity of the chef.
Emily strolls toward the cake with her stepmom by her side. The chef gives the knife to Sheila.
Sheila throws the knife into the cake, holding Emily's hands as the whole people count from 1 to 6. At the count of 6, Emily and Sheila run the knife through the cake as loud noises of fireworks cracks in the sky.
Emily, joy escalates as the fireworks cracks in the sky. She jumps with excitement and runs outside to watch the beautiful view of the sky. Her dad is pleased everything went as planned...