The Fancy Pants Club — Chapter 30 - Birthday Party for Two?

~ Daniella ~

As the song goes, “The sun still shines, the sun still sets,” so I had no excuse not to be productive this day.

After what happened last night, I developed a hangover. I remember we partied hard. We were more than tipsy when it was time to leave but Mr. Clyde (thank God for his impeccable timing), drove us to our respective abodes.

Although my head felt like it was being hit by a raging bullet train, I pushed myself to stand up. First things first, I needed to freshen up; take a long warm jasmine-scented bath, eat my breakfast downstairs, and prepare for my day at my mother’s office. She did invite me to lunch today reasoning that she missed me and that we needed to catch up on things, business-related. Not to mention that she wanted some juicy details while I stayed in the chateau.

I did the first two lists in one and a half hours. Tia Sofia really is an indispensable woman when it comes to cooking my favorite dishes. I ate a raspberry cookie butter-dipped waffle and partnered it with freshly squeezed orange juice, both of which were simply heaven. Aside from the food, she also helped me prepare the bathtub where I soaked myself peacefully for an hour.

Peacefully, was an understatement though for my mind from time to time wandered off to different matters, and when I say different, I mean Erik-related, especially his look-alike I saw last night at the bar.

Probably, it would be better if I will talk to Suri about the man and the fact that he had the same tattoo on the right side of his neck, pretty much the same as Erik’s. I might get some new insights if I tell her this since she has worked with Erik for years. Maybe she knew something about the tattoo too.

After taking a bath, I stood at my bedside looking at two different designs of dresses. My mom isn’t a fashion critique, but I thought that I could at least show her that I still look like a human after my short time with the Club members.

I choose the black pencil skirt with a pink off-shoulder blouse in the end.

After I put them on inside my dressing room, my eyes caught a glimpse of a reflection in the mirror. It was the bedside table and on top it was my shoulder bag a.k.a. my travel bag where my passport and other personal items were placed, including the medium-sized fancy box Erik had given me.

My memory immediately lifted, remembering Suri’s necklace given by Amano.

“Oh my,” I uttered as I marched out of the dressing room.

As soon as I was within reach, I took the bag hastily with my heart pumping hard.

Shit. Erik couldn’t have possibly...

I opened it but it didn’t show what I expected to be an expensive necklace with his charming initial letter E as the pendant. No, it was far from that.

It was my family heirloom.

It was my emerald ring.

My mind turned a hundred and eighty degrees confused.

“What is the meaning of this?” I asked myself with furrowed brows.

Speedily, I took my cellphone from my bed and dialed Erik’s number. It rang one time but then it disconnected. Frowning and with my thumb shaking, I pressed the call button again.

This time, it wasn’t disconnected. It was much worse.

‘The number you dialed doesn’t exist,’ was the automatic operator’s statement.

What the F?

I sank at the edge of my bed looking at the cellphone screen.

Why Erik gave the ring back to me was beyond my understanding.

As the contract states, I am supposed to finish my six months service before he gives the ring back. I am yet to enter my second month of work, so why?

And why didn’t he pick up my call? Why did his damn phone number suddenly go in incognito mode?

Answers. I want answers, and there was only one person that could give them to me: Suri.

I dialed her phone number, but it was unavailable.

What the?

“What is happening?” My hands trembled and my breathing turned deep. After slipping on a comfortable sandal, I sprinted out of my room with my shoulder bag in hand. The whole time I managed the stairs, I dialed and dialed Suri and Erik’s number alternately, all of which returned the same results.

I know I am overacting but I felt the start of panic inside. Something wasn’t right and I needed to find it out immediately.

The moment I reached my living room though, I received another call. Glancing at it, I found it was from my mom.

“Daniella, are you leaving now?” she asked.

Oh, great. I almost forgot that I am supposed to meet my mom.

“Ye-yeah... I am on my way to the office Ma,” I answered amidst the hesitation at the back of my head. In truth, I really wanted to go to Suri’s townhouse and see what was going on.

“Good, now I want you to be here as soon as possible because I want you to meet a very important new client.”

I raised a brow. “Why the sudden business meeting?”

“Oh, that’s because he specifically chose you to set-up the birthday party, Daniella. Considering that you might return to de Esclavette anytime soon, I am taking advantage of your time here.  And other than that, Mr. Startsev has other business matters to attend to. His time is very essential.”

“Mr. Startsev?” The name definitely screamed Russian. “Fine, but I need to know exactly why he specifically chose me.”

“Yes, the details we will talk later Sweetie, so be quick in coming here.”

I nodded whilst exiting the front door and waving a hand on Tia Sofia’s way when I passed her. “Alright, I’m on my way.”

A sky-blue Porsche was parked in the street right in front of my apartment. After shoving the cellphone inside my bag, I stopped a few inches away from it and grinned.

God, how I missed my baby.

I hate taxis so this was what I used going to my mom’s Manhattan headquarter.

“Mom,” I uttered once I stepped inside her office.

“Daniella!” She stood up immediately from her seat, smiling from ear to ear. Her face, even though already in her early fifties, was still a picture of beauty and grace. With hair tied up into a bun, a cream-colored office uniform, and in red high heels, she approached me with arms wide open.

“Oh Sweetie, I missed you!” she spoke whilst squeezing me to death.

I made a lopsided smile. “It is just one month, you know.”

When we pulled away, she gave me her signature puckered lips. “Your talent is really valuable in our business, do you know that? I was beginning to have problems with new wedding decoration ideas!”

“Oh, I’m starting to think that it is my service that you miss Ma, not me,” I stated with arms akimbo and teasing brows.

She became frantic and pinched my cheeks like she always does when I was still small. “Of course, I miss you too, Sweetie.”

“Ow, cut it Ma,” with a big smile, I ordered. When she did, I felt my cheeks burn immediately.

She gave me a wink and rounded back to her office chair.

“Where is this Mr. Startsev by the way?” I asked after noticing that there wasn’t at least one soul present sitting in her sectional sofa behind me.

She looked up after taking her pen and said, “Things have changed dear. Mr. Startsev invited us on a business lunch later, so by eleven after your work, come back here so that we can go together in the restaurant.”

“Oh.” My brows arched. “I will be in my office then.”

“I’m sure you want to take your time there,” she gave me a grin knowing that I wanted to update myself on our current list of clients. “But be mindful of the clock.”

“Yeah, I will. I’ll see you later.”

She nodded before I exited the door.

Inside my junior office which was just right next to my mother’s, I stayed and waited for the time. I used it not to update myself of the business, however, but to ring Suri and Erik back. Again, it yielded the same results with Suri’s phone out of reach, and Erik, nonexistent.

I felt the same wave of panic and confusion rush over me then, and if it wasn’t because of my mother’s presence and the sense of responsibility, I would have already gone out to Suri’s townhouse.

When it did strike eleven though, I went back to her office. The sadness in my face, I wiped it off and replaced with an eager, happy one. I can’t show my mother I was worried about something. We are going to a business lunch meeting, so the least that I could do was to show proper decorum and put on a business face.

She was already in a black coat and holding her handbag when I stepped in.

“Are you ready?” she asked and I consequently nodded.

“Yes, I am,” I answered showing a fake smile.

To Harland Gustave, a restaurant near our building was where we went with me driving us there. There wasn’t any traffic, luckily, so we arrived just on time, but when we were directed to the reserved table for three, Mr. Startsev wasn’t there yet.

“Is he really coming Ma?” was my first question when ten minutes passed by after we sat in our seats.

“He will, Sweetie. Like I said, his time is essential. All businessmen are busy.” She took a sip of her ordered lemon juice and smiled at me.

I shrugged. “Why did he specifically request me anyway? Were you able to ask?”

It does sound unusual and creepy that a client would especially request for me. As I said, I am not at all popular just like our family business, and I have been keeping a low profile since my mother and I were left by our father.

There was only one possibility present for me to believe why this Russian man wanted me and this was because of client referral. Maybe, some of our previous wedding clients or Ms. Elaine herself referred my name specifically to him.

“Mm-hhh, I did, since it was rather odd that he would,” was her wise answer.

“And that’s because?”

“He was referred by an old client of ours Sweetie.”

Figures. I knew it.

“I figured it was because of that,” I stated whilst looking at the perspiration of my own glass of grape juice.

“That, it is.” She nodded at me. “This is a good sign though. Our business would be in good hands with you as the soon-to-be CEO.”

For as long as I can remember, it always gave me the chills whenever I hear this acronym. It was my ultimate desire to take her place and bring the business to new and greater heights. But for some reason, right now, I don’t feel anything other than the longing of returning to the chateau.

“Ye-yeah,” was my only reserved answer. Brief was my smile on her way and after which I turned my attention on my glass again.

“You don’t seem ecstatic like the usual, Daniella,” was her sharp observation then.

I glanced back at her and from there I saw affection and kind understanding in her eyes.

“I wonder what has changed your heart.”

Not what, but who.

“I just...” I choked. The feeling of panic and sadness crashed altogether inside me again when I remembered the emerald ring and the lack of connection on Suri and Erik through the phone. “It’s just that I had made friends with all of the club members Ma.  Being in the chateau, it felt like I was at home. I miss them truly.”

I miss him...

“Mhmm, I see.” She took my hand and caressed it with her fingers. “Then return if that’s what your heart yearns for.”

I...can’t, at least not now.

“I will when everything in the club is sorted out,” was my audible response. Although she is my mother, I can’t tell her the circumstances of the club. It was a no, no. She wasn’t bothered by my lack of explanation anyway.

What I said to her however was true, I will return to the chateau if I can’t find Suri in her townhouse, and that was whether I am in danger or not.

“Right.” She pulled one of my hands and kissed the knuckles with slowness.

This gesture always eases me and she knew it.

I smiled at her, this time showing a sincere one and nodded.

“Now, focus on the present and deep breathe because I believe our client has arrived.”

Just as she said that she released my hand and stood up, waved once, and looked at the restaurant’s front door.

“Is that him?” I asked.

My heart, for some reason, pumped a lot harder.

The man that was gliding on our way looked dashing with a black businessman suit. He didn’t wear a tie yet he still looked the part. Once a couple of inches away from our table, he stood stiff but cracked a small grin. Overall, his aura commanded attention and fear at the same time.

I was tongue-tied for a greeting but luckily, my mother was there to fill up the silence.

“Good noon Mr. Startsev,” she stated, sticking out her hand for a handshake.

Our client took it swiftly and shook once before letting go.

Cold, blue eyes met mine before he could respond to my mother with the same greeting.

“Good noon Madame Rosecraft and oh, please just call me Mr. Hyde,” he spoke with an easy Russian accent and pulled a vacant chair to sit. “I had some business matters to attend to. I hope you didn’t get bored while waiting.”

He acted composed like a gentleman no matter how menacing he looked like with that long, thick, bad scar on the corner of his left eye.

Damn, I know it wasn’t proper but God, I can’t take my eyes off of that!

“Not at all, Mr. Hyde,” my mother shook her head to dismiss his apology, or what I think was. She didn’t even look shaken with the sight of the scar!

I just remained silent while they exchanged smiles, but then my mother touched my left shoulder and said, “I’m sure you already know, this is my daughter, Daniella.”

“Yes,” he straightened and looked at me with what seemed like brief predator-like eyes until it turned soft. “I am glad to finally meet you, Ms. Daniella.”

I raised a hand to do a handshake to which he accepted without so much as a pause. “I feel honored Mr. Startsev.” I didn’t use the name he suggested. “May I know the details of the party I am to organize?”

He looked taken aback. “Ah, so you want to go straight to business huh?”

God, his voice was even dark and raspy. It gave me the chills.

My mother rolled her eyes at me and gave me a raised brow.

I know I sounded hasty. We had just met and here I am already demanding the candies. But what was I supposed to do? I wanted to go to Suri’s house as soon as possible.

“Yes, if that is suitable to you,” I answered with a composed smile.

He nodded and made himself comfortable by crossing his legs and putting an elbow in the table. “How convenient of you. Well, I am in a hurry anyway.”

I saw my mother’s shoulder relax. “Okay, let’s start with the basic details, shall we? Like the name of the celebrant, where and when it will be held, the theme and the number of guests,” she started.

From my handbag, I produced a black pen and a small notebook I took from my office.

“I want to throw a birthday party for two very good friends of mine,” Mr. Startsev stated whilst staring at me.

I cleared my throat and bend my head to look at the notebook, acting as if I am the transcriber, which basically, I was.

“One celebrant is named Nikola Aristov, the other well...will be announced on the day of the party.”

I raised my brow at that but didn’t look at him. A surprise double party huh?

“Both of them will be turning twenty-six a month from now, exactly October 9.”

I wrote down the information, while my mother, as I noticed from my peripheral vision, just nodded at him.

“The party is going to be held at the Le Château de Esclavette.”

My jaw dropped. Wow, isn’t this convenient? My mind blurted out.

“Wow! What a coincidence!” my mother grabbed my hand and beamed a smile at me. “My daughter here is a member of the Fancy Pants Club Mr. Hyde. You do know that this Club owns the chateau right?”

“I am aware, Madame,” was his simple reply. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was a short glimmer in his eyes when he glanced at me. “Although I find it advantageous, I won’t ask for any rent discount with your daughter over here. I pay well and I pay in full.”

“Ah, I don’t think I have the power to give you a discount anyway,” I voiced out. “Only the President of the Club can do that Mr. Startsev and I believe it would be a conflict of interest in my part if I give you one--if I have the power.”

Right then, his chuckle, deep and throaty, erupted. Mom and I stared at each other clueless of what seemed to be a funny statement.

“Indeed, Ms. Rosecraft,” he spoke a few seconds later. “Anyway, back to the topic, the party will be at dinner. I don’t prefer a theme, but I do know that Nikola prefers the color silver, so keep that in mind when you set-up the table. He hates flowers and basically anything that is sparkly and cute, so steer clear of those.”

I jotted them on the paper whilst nodding. “How about the other celebrant? What are his particulars?”

“Nothing,” he answered quickly and with a clipped tone. “But, do prepare towels for him.”

“Towels?” This time, I raised my head and I saw a hint of coldness in his eyes. That was an odd request.

“He’ll need it I assure you,” he continued, but other than that, he didn’t add anything specific.

“O-kay...” was my hesitant answer.

“What about the food Mr. Hyde? What dishes do you want?” my mother butted in, acting as if nothing was odd. “We would also want to know the exact number of guests.”

“Russian dishes are preferred with lots and lots of beverage, Mrs. Rosecraft,” he let out. “Guests would be just a handful, about ten to fifteen, all male, but cater to up to fifty people. We might have some gate crashers on that night.”

Weird. This is better called a stag party rather than a birthday party.

For a moment, I spaced out looking at the highlighted notes. This would be my first time to host a party like this. It may be odd but it was a challenge I liked to take.

“Any questions Sweetie?” My mother’s voice broke my wanderings then.

“Uh, nothing. Nothing for now.” I eyed her and then Mr. Startsev who was observing me keenly, a smirk on his lips.

He then straightened from his seat and pulled out a wallet from the back of his slacks.

“Here, take this.”

He gave me a black business card. I took it and read his name and employment status in haste.

Mr. Yuri Startsev, CEO, Security Holdings Incorporated

“Call me whenever you need to ask something. And here.”

He pulled a gold credit card and handed it to my mother. “Input the amount that I am to pay for your services.”

Our mouths dropped.

“I’m sorry Mr. Hyde but a cheque is just what I needed,” she hastily said. “It is the protocol of the Company. You don’t really need to give us your gold card.”

“Nonsense,” the man waved a hand in the air. “Money is money no matter how it is represented.” Swiftly, he took a lighter and a Cuban cigar from the pocket of his overcoat and lighted it. I couldn’t help but gape in response.

A gold card means that one can purchase anything no matter how expensive it is. It also means one can spend or use any amount without the need for approval or signatures.

He was one wealthy man, I give him that, but it doesn’t mean that he had to wave it right in our face.

My mother looked defeated as I eyed her. “I’ll return this to you once I swipe the amount in my office. Considering the humble set-up of your surprise birthday party, the Rosecraft Weddings and Events will not charge much.”

“Do what you want, Mrs. Rosecraft.” He puffed out smoke after he answered. “Well now, I must leave. Just keep in touch with me whenever there are problems along the way.”

My mother and I both nodded in unison as he stood up and left.

After a few seconds of watching his back retreat, I voiced out what I had wanted to say the whole time, “Wow, that was...new.”

“To you, that is,” was my mother’s response. I gave her a confused brow and she only further explained, “I’ve been in this business for quite some time Sweetie. Over the whole course, I get to meet different kinds of people with different attitudes, characteristics, and background. Mr. Startsev isn’t a new experience for me but I was startled when he gave us his gold credit card as if it is just candy for him.”

“Aren’t all businessmen with shady businesses like that?” I questioned.

She frowned. “What makes you think his business is shady?”

I crossed my arms against my chest and sighed. “Well, for starters, he has a nasty scar in his face.”

My mother broke out into a small laugh. “Okay, you have a point, but as I told you many times, don’t judge people by what they look like.”

I took a deep breath and shrugged my shoulders.

“I think I should go Ma,” I announced, wanting to stop backbiting my new client.

“Where to?”

“I need to see a friend of mine. She is a fellow club member,” was my answer while I returned the pen and notebook inside my shoulder bag.

“Ah, I see.” She tapped a finger in the table and then continued, “But before you go, we should eat lunch first. My treat.”

She gave me a wink.

I resigned, in the end, to stay for another hour in the restaurant. We dined heartily, talked about a lot of things and we concluded our break with a peck on the cheek while we were standing at the restaurant lobby.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” was her statement before she slipped inside the taxi.

“Yeah, see you Ma.” I waved.

The taxi drove away and after it turned around a curb, I went to my Porsche which was parked just a few feet away.

Once I got inside, I did what had been bugging me the whole time of my lunch: call Suri and Erik again, and yeah, as expected, I got the same results.

This time, I was hell-bent on speeding my car to her place.