Ch 0004

It has been two weeks since Zoe left, and the difference in the ambiance around the Meyers mansion was evidently palpable. The maids had returned to their post as usual trying to catch up with everything they had left for so long, and things became difficult because there were barely enough hands to handle all the jobs at once.

It had them all wondering endlessly, how Zoe had managed to juggle everything by herself at once. It was difficult.

The chefs had been unable to prepare meals to suit everyone's palate and taste buds, and they could not afford to set the table as early as Zoe cooked all meals because of the difference in everyone's preference. The maids that were hired hastily in a few days to cover up for the job, had broken almost all the precious glassware collections in the kitchen.

There was always too much confusion in one morning, with vicious rages flying around from every member of the family, and the maids to be the receiving end of every complaint. They had no clue where Zoe purchased the groceries used in the kitchen, and the order in which she got everyone ready for work daily according to their schedules.

Aaron had missed school four days in a row because they always forgot to set his alarm, and Irina, the matriarch of the family had not had her favorite desert in days because the chefs didn't get the perfect taste of what she wanted. There was too much anger to deal with from everyone since she left!

In the living room, Audrey and Ivy were comfortable as usual, with a maid swatting by the low, marble stools while peeling the apple that they both wanted to have for brunch that afternoon.

"If I would admit, things have been so hard since Zoe left. Aaron barely knows how to wear his clothes properly because there is no one to place them in order for him, and I have bought two extravagantly expensive school uniforms in barely two weeks because those filthy maids used the wrong iron and burnt it!" Audrey gritted her teeth, as she narrated her forlorn to her closest person in the house even if they often bickered at one another.

Her husband, who was the first son of the family was dead already three years ago, and she had been living comfortably with the family since she matched their standards perfectly. However, she had joined them to collectively put Zoe under the scrutiny of suffocation.

"Does she even have a family to fall back to? I wonder where she went back to after leaving," Ivy rolled her eyes in anger, as she sat back comfortably, and watched the other maid in the room give her foot a soft massage with medicinal oils because of how tired she was.

"That isn't good. I can see how weary everyone is looking in days just because they all have something they want, and only Zoe knows how to do it! I mean is she going to return to the countryside to her grandma and start another wretched life after refusing millions for alimony?" Audrey lamented bitterly under her teeth, and rolled her eyes because how how stressed she was at the thought of it.

"In the past, she let us just trample over her, and then she suddenly rejected that huge amount for alimony and left so abruptly. I wonder what she's thinking," Ivy speculated with a frown, as she harshly told the fragile and timid maid to change the color for the paint she was using again, yet the third time.

"What if she is ready to sell our family out to the media?" Audrey suddenly gasped at the thought that suddenly occurred to her, "What if she tells them everything she has seen here?"

"Malcolm wouldn't stay still. She knows him better than not to mess with him," Ivy retorted with pride in her voice as she spoke of her brother.

"Anyways, why does Isla seem not saying anything about Zoe's absence? She seems to even hate her the………."

"Shhhh."

Suddenly a cold chill blew across as the door to the living room parted slowly, and a daunting, but gorgeous lady sauntered into the room in gorgeous red blazers and black heels. They both tucked their lips in their mouths as soon as they saw Isla, whose cold gaze spoke nothing of a friendly demeanor as she walked past them.

The sister-in-law and sister barely associated with her even if they ate together and saw one another often, because she was not so friendly with anyone in the mansion apart from her mother. She was just like her brother in terms of rigidness.

"Isla. Have you gotten your dress for the party Malcolm invited us to?" Ivy turned to ask her sister, so that the awkwardness that settled into the room the moment she entered would not be palpable.

"No," came Isla's curt reply.

They both watched her climb the stairs and disappear from their sight before they heaved a sigh of relief.

"Have you gotten yours? I totally just remembered that the limited edition dress I ordered is not in stock anymore," Audrey panicked.

"Zoe is not around, so I obviously do not have a dress yet!" Ivy frowned instantly with an immediate switch in her capricious moods, as she stood up angrily and stormed away not minding that the maid was not yet done with her nails. She hated that everything sucked already without Zoe around.

*•=•*…… --~`•`~--……*•=•*

As the huge moon hung high in the night sky casting a glow over the chauffeur-driven luxurious cars rolled into the front of the gigantic structure carrying people of status and symbols that were invited to the grand ball of Sinclair's corporation.

A beautiful and sleek midnight black Rolls-Royce led the way for the Meyers family, as it purred into the driveway and halted. In her most gorgeous flowing gown of purple which exuded elegance and grace, Irina, the matriarch of the Meyers family, radiated an aura of sophistication as she stepped out of the car after the chauffeur opened it. Isla stepped out with her afterward in a dazzling dress of similar colour, as they twinned their way in, so elegantly.

The second luxurious car pulled in after the first, and Ivy stepped out with a vibrant smile wearing a gorgeous burgundy dress that clung to her petite frame and accentuated her figure. Her hair which was in curls bounced according to the direction of the silently, swirling wind, framing her beautiful face which was similar to that of her brother.

Beside her was the gorgeous daughter-in-law of the house, Audrey in her own minimal, fishtail, buttercup dress, which matched the custom-made suit her son was wearing, as they all made their way into the ball party, exuding great wealth and opulence.

The last car pulled in ostentatiously, carrying Malcolm Meyer, the most important guest of the family. With his striking chiseled features and impeccably styled appearance, he exuded an air of confidence and intimidation as he stepped out of the car, sending shivers down the spines of those who saw him.

As other guests arrive afterward in chauffeur-driven limousines they are greeted by a red-carpeted entrance in the same way as the others, lined with private photographers, and videographers that were stationed to capture the glamour of the evening.

Inside the luxurious ballroom, the atmosphere spoke of great enchantment and allure, as crystal and diamond chandeliers of ten, and twelve tiers, hung from the ceiling and shone brightly over the exquisitely decorated space.

Every guest seamlessly blended into the midst of glamorous guests as they exchanged pleasantries and engaging conversations, which were mostly A-socialites, High-profile business-oriented celebrities, tycoons, and nobility. Their charm, elegance, and wealth were the embodiment of the extravagant lifestyle everyone in the room led.

As the night progressed after an anniversary speech and appreciation, laughter echoed throughout the ballroom as it mingled with the melody of song played, the clicking of champagne flutes, and the preparations for Francis Sinclair, to introduce the heir to his trillion-dollar corporation before everyone since it was not known by anyone, who will take over as he had no family.

There was anticipation in the air as everyone continued their hushed talks, waiting patiently in their hearts to know the person who would take over the trillion-dollar fortune of the Sinclairs. Plans on how to get acquitted with the person into winning favouritism would be the next thing on their minds.

Through the spotlight in the gathering of hundreds of elites, a lady emerged and sauntered through the crowd in elegance with her every step exuding confidence and allure. A hush fell over the room as a spotlight illuminated the figure gracefully making her way toward the centre stage, Heads turned collectively to catch the shock that first occurred to them.

'The heir was a female?!' They all wondered.

"I hereby announce Zoe Oliver, the only surviving granddaughter of Sinclair Francis, as the new heiress to the corporation."

Draped in a flowing gown of shimmering black worth millions, she glided through the spotlight with her eyes sparkling with pride and glamour, and her lips painted in a deep shade of red curved to charm, as she was introduced as the Multi-Billionaire heiress of the Sinclair's.

"Oh my goodness! Isn't that Zoe?!" Ivy lost her elegance in astonishment and uttered in a voice loud enough for the entire family that were all in one space to hear all they all turned to look.

Everyone was shocked!