Chapter 120

The next few days that followed had the Harts family working very hard to meet most if not the entire delegates in their party to enable them reach an agreement on how to make sure their party and their candidate came out victorious in the forth coming general election for which Olivia was the candidate. Olivia couldn't meet up with Kelly on the story, rather Kelly decided to be part of whatever they were doing politically. The election was to take place in less than 3days, it was supposed to be an easy one initially, but one of the opposing parties, who came from a well known family like the Harts, began to wax strong in terms of the attention they were gaining in the public space. Also being that he is a man, it looked as if he was having an advantage on the male folks than Olivia. 

Olivia had to consult wide, she had the women, and youths on her side, but like the father would always say, it wasn't over until it was over, there was no relaxing and thinking it would be an easy one. This made her constitute a committee which included Lucy, Pat, Mira and Kelly, with Alicia and Chase playing their role underground. A day before the election, they had met their different targets as given, every one and group that needed to be reached was a were reached. Most of the representations were done by Mira, especially where it required a long trip or a long discussions. This was to avoid any health implication on Olivia whose pregnancy was getting more noticeable with the signs becoming more obvious. 

At this stage, there was an agreement in the family to allow the election be over before Olivia would reach out to Mike on the good news of the expected baby. He was not to be told the gender until he arrived Paris. Ben Hart had planned that the news of the pregnancy was to be incorporated in the celebration when the result would be announced. This was to be done with Mike present so that the formal introduction for the marriage would also be made. Olivia was so happy that things had turned out that way, she didn't have to bother much about Mike any more, as she focused all her energy and attention towards the goal of winning the election. Mira had already started referring to her as ' Senator Olivia' whenever they were alone in their apartment. Each time she did, Olivia would smile but right inside of her, it was having a huge effect positively on her effort. When she was alone, and remember the name, she would also smile, but she would whisper it to herself, only that she would remove Hart and replace it with Mike. It made her happy, she longed to see that day when all these would be over and she would be with the man she had come to love with all she had got in her.

That evening before the election, she noticed that she was having anxiety, so she called on Mira and Kelly and told them, while they were trying to advice her, she demanded that Kelly tell her what happened next from when he was lodged in the hotel by Pauline. Kelly looked at Mira, as if to seek permission whether to go ahead or not, Mira could only shrug her shoulder and nod her head in affirmative. With that, Kelly continued from where he stopped.

Meanwhile Mike had got to the room that morning, as usual, he would always tune in to international news and other programs from different stations, especially when he was out of town. This he did that morning although late this time but coincidentally, the news of the election came up. The mention of Olivia Harts name  triggered some forgotten feelings in him. He sat down to listen to the detailed news. He had to go online to get more information, he prayed that Olivia won the election as that would make her happy and it would give him the opportunity to call her and open up conversation with her. He had just come out from the a long introduction session with a vast family such as he had never seen before. He needed to ease of his mind from what happened, he didn't expect some of the questions that he got, also the readiness of the family to see that the marriage between him and Margaret took place so quick, baffled him. It was when Margaret had seen that the heat was becoming much, that she excused him from the rest, and took him back to the room. Grand pa had passed a message before they left that they were to reconvene at launch.

Mike was happy for the news he tuned in, if not for anything, it brought back the memories of himself and Olivia back. Going by what transpired down there at the dinning hall during breakfast, it was enough for any man to change his mind and go for Margaret. This was a family that had over two generations gathered together. They were made up of over eight couples aside Margaret, who was yet to tie the knot. No wonder the topic of discussions shifted from other general issues of the family to Margaret and Mike. When Grandpa had finished with his breakfast that morning, he was officially welcomed by the first son of the family, He also gave a formal speech on why they were gathered, then the first daughter took over and read what Mike guessed was the minutes of the last meeting. Even though it wasnt written exactly the way minutes was done, but it carried same message which Mike could identify. 

The list of what to be discussed included the family business, which each member of the family represented in each of the country or state where they reside. There was also the issue of the contribution to the grandpa's foundation, a charitable organization he registered when he retired from active service. These were some among others, but the last on the list was Margaret's marriage promise, however it took the front burner. It happened so fast that she couldn't stop it, even she had tried. One of the grand daughters had moved a motion that they handle grandpa's birthday first, before any other issue. It was unanimously accepted, then the cake was brought in, amidst birthday songs after some amazing words of admiration, appreciation and commendation from each member of the family. 

They were swept off their feet when it was Mike's turn to say some few nice words to grand pa, the way he spoke and his choice of words, even as he had never seen nor met grand pa, he was well exposed and learned, his speech was well presented and touchy, this made grand pa ask who he was. When he was told that his name is Mike and that he was a special guest that came with Margaret, Grand pa couldn't help but ask the obvious;

Is he my birthday gift? 

He asked the question because he felt he was worth it, he hadnt heard such amazing kind of presentation in a long while. It goes a long way to show the kind of person Margaret brought home.

The entire room was filled with loud noise of laughter and whispers. It was not a statement anyone would have ever thought of, not to talk of being used as grand pa did. It was unheard of that a human being would be assumed as a birthday gift, but they understood why the usage, just that they turned it to a fun catching moment that served it's purpose. They had to push the question to Margaret which started the rest of the discussions that lasted throughout the breakfast. Margaret had to formally introduce Mike;

Grand pa, this is Mike, he is like you already said, your birthday gift as promised. 

The rest of the members of the family gave a standing and clapping ovation. When they sat down, Margaret continued. She told them he resides in Africa where he worked in an international Logistics firm. They came to know each other because of the affiliation with their own firm in the US, as they had some equipment that they had requested to be supplied which he had come to inspect for shipment, she seized the opportunity to bring him to London as she promised at the last meeting. Grandpa was exceptionally happy because of the kind of man she had chosen as a husband, added to that was that he woiod be an asset to their family business, if he could get them a deal so mouth watering in the tune of billions of dollars, then when brought in as a member of the family, he would use his contact to do more. Various questions began from the other family members, that was when Margaret took Mike out.