2. MEETING THE SIX DAUGHTERS

A few minutes later, Callan arrived at his mother's mansion. She was already waiting at the garage with her chauffeur. David halted the car when they got into the house, he peeked over his shoulder to receive an order from his boss.

"You can stay here until we are back, I am pretty sure my mom would want us to leave in her car and you know, she prefers it when her chauffeur drives the car." Callan kneaded his fingers against his temples worriedly, his eyes squinting as he stared around the wide garage of his mother's manor.

He got out of the car and met with his mother, who was already out to meet him.

His lips twitched in a smile when he saw her approaching him, she was young and as beautiful as ever. "Mom," he took her hands, ducking to her level to kiss her cheek.

"Oh my son," Elizabeth hugged him tightly. "You look so good, I bet the ladies would want you."

"Mom, every lady wants me, don't you think?" He asked teasingly as they headed towards his mother's black Bentley Bentaya that blended well with the warm night.

"Yes, yes, they do." Elizabeth smiled, adjusting her knee-length straight gown. "I made the most handsome young man in town. Just take a look at you." She lauded herself, sending him a double wink.

"Yes mom, you did." He bumped his fist with his mom's and led her back into the car, admiring her as she carried herself with so much grace and elegance.

His mother was in her early fifties, but one would think she was still in her early thirties. Elizabeth was one of the few old women who took workouts seriously to stay fit. She was a very beautiful woman, tall and elegant. Callan inherited most of his traits from his mother, his ocean blue eyes, brown wavy hair and stainless beauty. He was the replica of his mother, but in a male body and he was taller too.

They have always had each other since he was little, she strove to provide him with everything that he needed and made him the finest of young men of his age.

After a long drive, they finally arrived at Arnold Sullivan's mansion.

They were welcomed by bright overhead lights shimmering from the incandescent bulbs that seemed to be in every corner of the surrounding area. The Bentley Bentaya was parked beside a white Bentley that belonged to one of the daughters of Arnold Sullivan. About seven more exotic cars crammed the parking lot, giving it a fine view.

The overhead lights became bright white immediately after Callan stepped out of the car with his mother. He quickly scanned through the tall glass windows that were not very different from the ones in his mansion.

Smiling, he linked his arms with his mother's and led her through the compound that had flowers of different kinds planted all around, all giving a pleasant scent as they walked through.

They were ushered in by a young maid. She greeted them and led them into the pulchritudinous living room. There were large artworks sparsely scattered around the white-painted wall, a treadmill was positioned close to the media set that housed books, and electronic devices.

Chandeliers attached to the very tall ceilings produced a glow that uniquely illuminated the living room with a cool color that matched Callan's mood that turned gloomy immediately he stepped foot into Arnold Sullivan's living room.

Elizabeth crouched down on the chesterfield while Callan made do with the Divan.

"Sullivan was my business partner when I was still in the business world. Getting married to his daughter will be beneficial to you and your company, Callan." Elizabeth whispered to her son as they sat in the living room, awaiting the appearance of the great Arnold Sullivan.

He said nothing to his mother's words. He could choose to do whatever he wanted and no one would hold him for that, but his mother was everything to him and he never wanted to hurt her. He had to visit with her, but he had plans of not choosing any of Arnold Sullivan's daughters with the excuse that none of them was his type. He had met a few of his daughters at social events before and he wouldn't deny the fact that they were breathtakingly beautiful, but he had never had a proper conversation with any of them.

Callan was still chatting with his mother when he sensed a strong manly scent, slightly different from his smell of cedarwood. He slowly shifted his gaze from his mother and it landed on a very tall man almost the same height as he was, a bit old and clean-shaved.

He donned a pair of white trousers, a white T-shirt and a white suit jacket, his lips tugged in a big smile when he sighted Callan and his mother, he hurried down the stairs, sauntering over to meet with them at the alcove of the vast living room.

Callan recognized him. He was the great Arnold Sullivan, the CEO of the greatest shipping company in the country, known far and wide for his dexterity. Even though Callan was rich, one of the richest young men in the city, he still secretly looked up to Arnold Sullivan.

"Elizabeth," Arnold smiled, revealing his dimpled cheeks.

"Oh, Arnold." Elizabeth hugged him, letting go almost immediately.

"You look great, Lizzy and I can see that you are with a fine man as well." Arnold adjusted his blazer, gawking at Callan.

"I am Callan Barlowe, the CEO of Barlowe Holdings." Callan quickly introduced himself before his mother did.

"I have heard about you and I must say that you are a great young man. Just the type that I want for a son-in-law." Arnold grinned. "Come on, let's move over to the dining table, my daughters will soon be out." He said, pointing towards the dining area.

"Sure," Elizabeth looked at her son and he nudged her with his head. She smiled, following behind Arnold as he ambled over to the dining room.

"How are your businesses doing?" Arnold asked when they were settled on the cushion that surrounded the glass table in the dining room. "For a young man like you, how has it been?"

"Very good." Callan smiled proudly. "One just has to know the pros and cons of whatever business they are doing. However, there are problems that occur from time to time, they are solvable if you think very well about them."

"I trust that you are doing great." Arnold smiled. "You know we've been in business for a long time and you can always come to me whenever you need elderly advice. Oh, I forgot your mother is a guru too, no wonder you are doing so well." He said jokingly and they all laughed at his dry joke.

Arnold went into a deeper conversation with Callan and Elizabeth. He got to know that Callan was extremely intelligent, just what he wanted for his daughters. He was glad he came to his house to seek one of his daughters, he was cool with whichever he chose out of his six daughters.

He asked him a question and Callan was about to answer when his six daughters filed into the dining room; all of them looking breathtakingly gorgeous, he swayed a bit when he caught a glimpse of their well-toned long legs slapping against the tiled floor.

They were all tall with slender frames like that of runway models. He wondered if they worked out together to keep fit. They smiled, pulling out their respective chairs to sit down. They all had their eyes on him except for one of them, he knew well that ladies couldn't resist him.

"Here are my daughters," Arnold smiled like a proud father. "Introduce yourself to Callan, girls." He urged them with his hand.

The one with the curly hair, clearly the most beautiful of them all, stretched out her hand and smiled flirtatiously at him. "I am Mia, the first daughter of Arnold Sullivan, I am the Vice chairman of Sullivan Shipping Company." Her long arms dangled in front of Callan, smirking as she slid her hand into his. He bumped her hand up and down and smiled. Mia was his type with her perfect smile and pretty oval-shaped face. She was the kind of woman he'd like to go out with once, sleep with and get rid of.

"Callan Barlowe." He let go of her hand. Trying to recall where he had seen Mia before as his eyes scrutinized her, he had seen her before and it was not at a social event.

He thought carefully and then it clicked. They met at a clubhouse and what happened that night was vague. He kissed his teeth, muttering some cuss words. He was certain Mia remembered him too because she was staring strangely at him.

"I am Sophia, the second daughter of Arnold Sullivan." The dark-haired one smiled at him, not stretching out her hand to him. She was clearly uninterested in him, and he appreciated her for that because he clearly wasn't interested either.

She was simply beautiful, not overly dressed like Mia. Her green eyes shimmered as she stared at everything and everyone in the dining room except him. She didn't even talk about her job, he smiled at her nonchalance. He loved that.

"I am Camila Sullivan, the third daughter of Arnold Sullivan." She had a bubbly personality, she was all over the place and Callan didn't like that. He took her hand and smiled at her, letting go very quickly. Though very beautiful, she wasn't the kind of woman he'd want, she was too skinny. "I am a model." She said, as if on cue with his thoughts.

"I thought as much." Callan chuckled lightly.

"I am Amelia, the fourth daughter of Arnold Sullivan, an attorney." She flipped her shoulder-length hair to the side and winked at him. She looked like one who was interested in going to bed with him.

He took her hand and she stroked his fingers for a while before letting go. Callan smirked back at her, returning her vibes and energy. They could hook up later if she was still interested, but the marriage was a no for him.

"I am Emma, the fifth daughter of Arnold Sullivan," She took Callan's large hands in her smallish ones. "I own a fashion line for men and women. You must have heard of Emma's styles, that's me." She grinned widely, revealing her perfect set of white teeth. "I must say that you are a very handsome man." She flirted with him, talking back and forth about how a model like him was needed in her fashion brand.

The two adults watched them with utmost interest. When Emma was talking too much, her father quickly cut in. "Emma, let your sister continue from here."

"Oh, dad, come on." She shrugged her shoulders, her short hairstyle perfectly fitted her, making her look more like a stylist. Her chatty mouth was a turn-off for Callan already. "Welcome here." She leaned back on the cushion, her eyes intently fixed on him.

"I am Mila Sullivan, the sixth daughter of Arnold Sullivan. I just graduated from medical school, top of my class. I am currently a resident doctor in my father's hospital." She was smallish and really pretty and had the same green eyes as her sisters. She looked way too innocent, but there was something about her aura that Callan felt would be dangerous like she was hiding under a facade. She shook his hand, bumping it up and down.

Callan nodded his head, he was impressed. They were all beautiful and all seemed to be doing well for themselves from what he was told. Sophia was the only one who didn't tell him what she was into, and he wasn't interested either.

"My daughters are exceptional, is there anyone you'd want to settle with," Arnold asked Callan, smiling.

Callan scrutinized them, all of them had eyes on him aside from Sophia of course. None of them caught his attention, he shook his head and replied in a bored tone. "None,"

Their jaws dropped when he said that. "What do you mean?" Mia spat angrily. "You mean none? Even me?" She smiled.

Callan could feel his mother's hot gaze burning him down, but he chose to avoid her eyes at that moment. Then he remembered that Arnold Sullivan had seven daughters but just six were there, he was yet to meet the seventh daughter.

"There is one more of your daughters that I am yet to meet. Can I meet her too?" He asked Arnold. "I heard you have seven daughters, where is the last one?"

A look of displeasure washed through Arnold's face when Callan asked him that.

"No, she isn't your type. These six beautiful ladies are my most eligible daughters. If you don't want anyone from them, then forget about choosing a bride from the Sullivan family." Arnold stated sternly.

"You won't even like her, she's not someone you'd want." Mia chirped in, scrunching her nose in disgust.

"I still insist on meeting her." Callan stood on his words.

The six daughters exchanged a knowing glance and they laughed out loud.

Sophia looked at her dad and said. "Dad, you know well that I am not into men, I love ladies more and this gathering is not for me. If you don't mind, I would like to excuse myself."

Callan nodded his head, he now understood why Sophia didn't show any interest in him, she was a lesbian.

"Mia, my first daughter is beautiful and smart." Arnold countered.

"And she will make the perfect bride for you, son." Elizabeth who had been quiet all this while finally talked. "Mia is..."

She wondered how Callan got to know about the seventh daughter. She only told him they were meeting with six, but Elizabeth knew that Arnold had a daughter he never spoke about.

"I want to meet your last daughter, Mr Arnold Sullivan." Callan insisted, his voice domineering and authoritative. 

That was what he needed before he walked out of the dining room and forever out of Sullivan's mansion with or without a bride.