The Lonely Gift
The Armon Deluxe Hotel-
Neo Hames walked out from the men's washroom and entered the party floor.
His eyes scanned throughout the floor and it soon stopped at a scrawny guy with short brown hair and an unremarkable face.
"Ronnie!" Neo called out.
"Ah! Neo where were you? We were looking for you" Ronnie said while pointing at the seemingly dead person beside him , he had short black hair, a lean body and above average face.
"I-is he d-dead?" Neo asked with a stutter.
"Haha! No, he just passed out. Man, you and your weak heart."
"I-is that so? Hmph! I was just acting. My heart isn't weak!"
"Yea, yea I know"
"I'm telling the truth"
"Yeah I can hear you"
The two friends continued their bickering for quite some time.
"By the way... did you know that Anieal Starborne is here?" Ronnie asked in a whisper.
"Hmm? What about it?" Neo said with a tilted head.
"Huh?.. you know who Anieal Starborne is, right?" Ronnie asked with a furrowed eyebrow.
"Well of course I do, duh" Neo replied in a matter-of-factly tone.
Ronnie was left speechless after hearing Neo talk about Anieal Starborne like she wasn't sister of the Head of Starborne Emporium.
"Yeah.. you tell them, Neo." Adam said, who had come back to his senses a few minutes ago.
Ronnie felt an ominous premonition after hearing Adam talk, Adam had asked Anna out for a date but was rejected by her, Anna being the first woman to reject his advances caused him to hold a grudge against her.
"That Anieal Starborne isn't anything without her brother.. I am telling you" Adam said with a wide triumphed grin on his face.
People who were standing nearby Adam perked up their ears waiting for a drama to play out.
Anna who also happened to hear Adam walked towards him.
"What did you say?" Anna questioned while squinting her eyes.
"What? Didn't hear me the first time?" Adam questioned back with a wide taunting grin plastered on his face.
"Oh, I did hear you. I just assumed no one else cared enough to respond." Anna replied with a small amused smile on her face.
Adam who heard Anna call him someone ⟨insignificant⟩ couldn't help but get enraged.
Neo who could sense his emotions walked towards Adam seemingly getting ready to stop him from doing something outrageous in anger.
Jacob who could see the mood getting sour called out.
"Everyone! It's time to cut the cake"
Everyone turned toward the sound. A black-haired youth with silver eyes stood there, he was donning an Italian suit, standing beside a table, a 3 layered chocolate cake can be seen on the table everyone started walking towards the table and stopped a few steps away.
Jacob sees that the mood is now better and starts to cut the cake.
Celebrations, gifts, greetings were given to Jacob who had a small gentle smile on his face and replied to everyone with the same enthusiasm.
Anna walked towards Jacob with a gift box in her hand.
"Happy birthday Jacob!!" Anna said with a grin on her face.
"Thank you, Anna.. I am so happy that you came"
"Haha! How could I miss my friend's birthday?" Anna Replied while giggling to herself.
"I mean… your reputation isn't that good in that department" Jacob said while slightly shaking his head.
Anna could only wryly smile at his words.
Soon the party ended and Anna, who seemed to be in a sour mood due to Jacob's words, denied all of her friends who wanted to continue having fun partying.
She had already called her driver to pick her up. As soon as she stepped out from the hotel she could see Jack standing beside a car while holding his hat in his hands seemingly waiting for Anna, Anna started walking towards him.
"Uncle Jack!" Anna called out Jack, who was lost in his own thoughts.
"Ah! Miss Anna "Jack replied with a startle.
"Would you like to go to the mansion or do you have some other place in mind?"
"Let's just go home," Anna replied lazily.
"As you say, Miss Anna" Jack bowed and opened the door for Anna to take seat and he sat in the driver seat.
Feeling exhausted from the party, Anna closed her eyes.
The shy moon drifted away and came the bold sun announcing the start of a new day and a new beginning.
As the warmth of morning sunlight hit Anna who was still sleeping on her bed. Her eyelids fluttered open, She yawned and got up from her bed.
After freshening up, Anna now dressed in clothes suited for a light workout and called her butler.
"Uncle Andy!"
Andy came with a tray holding a glass full of mango and orange juice and a small plate with a few slices of fruits and almonds, Anna swiftly ate and drank all of it.
"I hope you have yet another great day, Young Miss," Andy said.
"Mhm.. I told you not to call me young miss, I am not a child anymore" Anna pouted.
"As you say, Miss Anna," Andy replied with a small smile.
Anna could be seen jogging in the garden pathway surrounding the mansion, the garden was neatly lawned, it had multiple vibrant flowers giving a colour of joy and refreshments to Anna.
"Mew"
"Hmm?" Anna who was jogging suddenly stopped due to some weird noise coming from nearby her, when Anna listened attentively she found out that it was the sound of a cat.
"Meow"
Anna moved towards the sound and she found a feline cat with long black and white fur and topaz eyes, tilting its head curiously, with a collar around its neck.
"Hey kitty!!" Anna's eyes started sparkling when she saw the cat.
"Hmm so your name is Veylor huh?" Anna said after she read out the name on the collar, Anna picked up the cat in her arms seemingly wondering what a pet cat was doing here.
Soon Anna started walking towards the mansion.
"Uncle Andy!" Anna called out for her butler.
"Yes, Miss Anna," Andy replied after a few minutes.
"Do you know whose pet this cat is?" Anna questioned thinking that the cat might be a pet of one of the servants.
"Hmm? A Cat? I don't think we have any servants with a pet" Andy answered with a tilt of his head.
"Maybe it's from nearby houses?" Andy said after pondering on it.
"Hmm maybe.." Anna said as she paused for a few moments and continued "check out if there's anyone trying to find him, if not then I'll make it my pet instead."
"As you say, Miss Anna" Andy said while bowing to Anna and leaving the room.
"Hmm Veylor is a good name but I'll call you Vey" Anna said with a small grin on her face.
Veylor replied with a "meow.." and started nodding his head "myu.. myu"
"So cute," Anna said while hugging Veylor.
"Let's go.. its already too late to start jogging again"
"hehe" Anna chuckled after picking Veylor in her arms.
"To the mansion" Anna said as she ran towards the mansion with Veylor.
Footnotes:
Claw of night - A Runic carving which allows a midnighter to transmit or record their voice from the radius of 100 meters for specific amount of time , Recorded voice doesn't play out loud instead a person have to touch it to hear it ( The voice plays in their head )