Chapter 48: The birthday invitation.
The Rochester’s POV:
The day the Rochesters received a birthday invitation from House Christiansen, Calvin was elated. He saw this as a sign that House Christiansen was ready to merge the families.
“Perhaps that useless girl did something right.”
He thought to himself as he prepared for bed. For the past three months, Calvin had been trying to reach Graceland. All the attempts, however, had been in vain. She no longer had the same phone number, and she never provided any updated information. For weeks Calvin fumed about her ungratefulness and lack of respect.
“How dare she shut this family out!!! That ungrateful ingrate! I’m her father! Over three weeks with House Christiansen and she hasn’t set any type of business meetings up!”
CRASH!!!
Calvin threw his glass of gin at the wall as he cursed Graceland. Noah and Brian rushed into the study curious about what the ruckus was.
“What the hell happened in here?”
Noah questioned as he slowly walked into the room. Brian trailed behind him; a puzzled look on his face as he saw the stain from the gin on the wall.
“Dad…are you okay?”
“No! I want to know what the hell is going on with your sister!”
Brian’s face twisted up, of all the brothers, he held the highest disdain for Graceland. He couldn’t figure out why someone who didn’t grow up with the same resources as he did be better than him in so many ways. Graceland was smarter than him and more talented. She was actually more superior than all of them. And whereas he took full advantage of her talents, he still hated that he had to resort to such behavior just so succeed.
Since she had been gone, his grades suffered significantly, and his father and Noah noticed.
“Are you telling me the only way you can pass a test is if Graceland cheats and take it for you?”
Noah stood firm with irritation in his voice as he confronted Brian about yet another failed test. As he scolded Brian, Noah couldn’t help but think about all the things that had changed since Graceland left.
In addition to Brian and Olivia’s grades, Cole was suffering from ‘writers block’. The truth was that Graceland had composed some of his best pieces. Cole was a fairly talented pianist, but Graceland was on the level of a prodigy. Her ability to compose flawless pieces fell into the shadows of Cole who used her work for his advancement in Kingston’s grand orchestra.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do! My conductor is threatening to demote me as lead pianist and composer! Has anyone heard from Grace? I need her help!”
Cole paced as he panicked thinking about his position.
Sharon sat silent. Since Graceland’s departure, she had mixed feelings. On one hand, she was glad that pest was gone. But on the other hand….she hated how Graceland embraced Marla Christiansen as if she were her mother.
‘That little bitch! Treating that woman like she’s her mother! I knew she would be nothing but trouble! Benard…you screw up!!’
Her thoughts rattled on as the family continued to suffer at the loss of Graceland's depature. It wasn’t until the birthday invitation that they felt any hope might come.
“This is good! We can ask her to come to the estate for a few weeks and help!”
Cole exclaimed as he read the invitation.
“What makes you think she’ll come back here? If you ask me…she was a little too eager to leave.”
Brian scoffed as he scanned the TV for something to watch.
Noah’s brows furrowed as Cole responded.
“Of course she would. Look, Graceland may not be one of us, but she’s always been desperate for our approval. Besides, she’ll probably leap at the chance to stop playing maid and nurse to her comatose husband.”
Brian and Olivia laughed hysterically at Cole’s comment.
“Oh! Big brother! Do you think I can get Graceland to complete my homework!”
Brian beamed down at Olivia. He’d always adored spoiling his little sister.
“Of course she will! If she don’t, we’ll just threaten to disown her.”
That was something that always made Graceland cave, the thought of no longer having a family again always made her cave into the countless demands of the Rochesters.
Noah shook his head in disgust. In truth, he hated how lazy and unexceptional his siblings were. They were the future of the Rochester clan and yet they were completely indulged. But he didn’t have a choice but to go along with their plan. Graceland was the reason why he landed that huge project with the largest real estate firm in North Bay. The meeting for the project was in two weeks and he was nowhere near prepared. He would need her help.
“Will she even be at this party?”
Jonathan Brooks asked in an irritated voice. He still fumed at how Graceland chose to defend some brainless stranger over him. He could still see the fire in her eyes the day she’d slapped him for what he said about Kai Christiansen.
To make matters worse, Olivia had been getting on his nerves lately. All she did was complain and shop. Instead of spending her time studying to make sure she graduated with honors; she spent most of her days wasting time and money. This type of behavior was sure to anger his grandfather.
Everyone assumed his grandfather wanted him to marry Graceland because she was the biological daughter, but the truth was, he believed Graceland to be the more superior of the two.
“Listen boy, this isn’t about your personal feelings. This is about what can elevate you as the head of the Brooks Clan! That girl is a genius and a prodigy; she’ll be able to take you to the next level!”
Patting Jonathan on the shoulder, his grandfather lowered his tone.
“Listen, you know I love Olivia…but she isn’t cut from the same cloth. Now you can keep her as your mistress…but Graceland will be your wife!”
The day he told his grandfather about Graceland marrying into the Christiansen family, his grandfather Isaac nearly had a stroke.
“GOT DAMMIT BOY! You control one girl!”
“Grandfather! It’s nothing I could do! Calvin wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to merge with House Christiansen anymore than you would have. Besides, you’re wrong about Livie! She’s top of her class! She’s just as smart and talented as Graceland is.”
Isaac laughed at Jonathan. He’d been around long enough to recognize what a ‘good stock’ was, and he was convinced it was Graceland.
“Fine boy. Marry the girl. But mark my words, if you end up being wrong about this…I’ll make sure you live to regret it! Also…see if that girl can get you a connection to House Christiansen…might as well use her marriage to our advantage as well.”
When Jonathan learned about the Rochesters being invited to the birthday party, Olivia informed him that he had been included as her plus one.
‘This will give me an opportunity to speak with Graceland about a merge with House Christiansen.’
Still, he had his doubts about whether she would even be there. Since her departure, Olivie constantly complained about how Graceland was ignoring her calls and wouldn’t do her homework. She even suggested the Christiansen’s had her locked away taking care of their brain dead son.
Considering her lack of communication, perhaps that was true.
“I’m sure she’ll be there if not for any other reason but to keep face.”
Noah’s answer made sense. Surely House Christiansen wouldn’t do anything to embarrass or bring shame to their family name. Even if Graceland was a mere maid, they wouldn’t show that to the public.
As the Rochesters and Brooks all schemed on how to use Graceland, they failed to notice the storm that was slowly brewing.
For someone had been recording all of their conversations and would soon help Graceland and the Christiansens bring them all down.
“Hey…did the invitation say who’s birthday it is?”