Olaedo entered the scene hesitantly, her face calm but her heart pounding. She had only been a part of this household for a few months and still felt out of place during these high-stakes moments.
"Ah, there you are, Olaedo," Old Madam said, her sharp tone softening slightly. "You will greet our foreign guests tomorrow, especially the business delegation. Your grace and intelligence will leave an impression."
Olaedo smiled politely, but inside, she was panicking. 'Me? Represent the Arinze family to foreign dignitaries? This is way out of my league!'
It wasn't that she had no experience in communicating with big shots, that was a walk in the park, but the big shots coming tomorrow were on a higher level since they were affiliated with the top aristocratic family in the country.
Before she could protest, Ifeoma chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh yes, let's send the new bride to handle our most important guests. What could possibly go wrong?"
Olaedo's jaw tightened, but she forced a diplomatic smile. "I'll do my best, Grandmother." Internally, she scheduled time for research and improvement of her skills to a higher level, an aristocratic family level.
Adanna shot her younger sister a warning glance. "Ifeoma, enough. Everyone here has their role to play."
Old Madam clapped her hands sharply. "Focus, everyone! We have more pressing issues. Where's Chukwudubem? Who is responsible for the seating chart?"
As the meeting adjourned, Chibuzor lingered behind with Olaedo. His voice was low, almost too casual. "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
Olaedo looked at him, surprised by his attempt at small talk. "A little," she admitted. "I don't want to embarrass the family."
He gave a nonchalant shrug but didn't meet her eyes. "You won't. Just... don't overthink it."
'Is he... trying to reassure me?' she wondered, puzzled. 'Maybe he's not as cold as he seems.'
Meanwhile, Ifeoma was scheming in her room. "Why does she always get to be the center of attention?" she muttered, pacing. "Tomorrow, I'll make sure everyone sees her for what she really is, an outsider!"
Downstairs in the kitchen, the head chef had reached his limit. "Where is the fresh lobster?" he bellowed, sending an assistant scurrying.
One of the maids whispered to another, "Last year, the chef quit right before the ball. Let's hope he doesn't explode again!"
In the garden, a group of gardeners argued over whether to use roses or lilies for the centerpiece fountain. "The lilies are too common!" one of them shouted.
"Common? I'll show you common!" another retorted, brandishing a pruning shears.
The chaos reached its peak when a shipment of champagne turned out to be the wrong vintage. Mr. Arinze's face turned red as he roared into the phone, demanding an immediate replacement.
Late in the evening, the house finally quieted down. Olaedo sat in her room, staring at the elaborate gown laid out for her. Her thoughts drifted to the expectations on her shoulders. "Can I really pull this off? Will they ever see me as one of them?"
In his study, Chibuzor looked over some documents but found himself distracted. "Why did she look so worried? She's smart enough to handle those guests. But what if she messes up? No.....she won't." He frowned, frustrated with himself.
Elsewhere, Ifeoma smiled to herself as she finalized her look. "I am going to steal all the attention tomorrow," she whispered.
In another part of the Mansion, Lady Ndidi, the second wife of Mr. Arinze and stepmother to Chibuzor and his siblings, sat in her private sitting room. Her perfectly manicured nails tapped rhythmically on the armrest of her chair as her lips curved into a sly smile.
Across from her sat her loyal confidante, Ngozi, a woman with a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind.
"The preparations for tomorrow are in full swing," Ngozi reported, sipping tea with calculated poise. "The house looks splendid, and everyone seems to be focused on ensuring the ball is perfect."
Lady Ndidi chuckled softly, a sound that carried no warmth. "Perfect for them, perhaps. But I have other plans."
Ngozi leaned in, her interest piqued. "And these plans... they involve her, don't they?"
"Who else?" Lady Ndidi's voice was a whisper laced with venom. "Olaedo, the so called bride of my stepson. That girl has been parading around this house like she belongs here. Tomorrow, I'll remind her, and everyone else, that she doesn't."
Ngozi raised an eyebrow, her curiosity growing. "Are you sure this is wise? The family's reputation is at stake."
Lady Ndidi's eyes narrowed. "Our reputation will remain intact. I've planned this carefully, Ngozi. By the time I'm done, everyone will see her for what she truly is, an outsider who doesn't belong in the Arinze family."
Ngozi hesitated, sensing the tension in her mistress's words. "You're playing a dangerous game, my lady. What if she turns the tables on you?"
Lady Ndidi's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "She won't. By the end of the ball, she'll wish she had never stepped foot into this house."
As the clock struck ten and the rest of the household prepared for a restless night of final arrangements, Lady Ndidi remained in her chair, her mind racing with the details of her scheme. Her gaze flickered to a locked drawer in her desk, where the key to her plan lay hidden.
Ngozi rose to leave but paused at the door. "Good luck tomorrow, my lady. I have a feeling it's going to be... eventful."
Lady Ndidi's laughter echoed through the room as Ngozi disappeared into the shadows.
Outside, the wind picked up, rustling the leaves in the garden as if the very air itself could sense the storm brewing.
Tomorrow, alliances would be tested, secrets would surface, and the Arinze family would once again take center stage in the world of the elite.
--------
The next day.
The Arinze family ball was not just an event, it was the event of the year. Aristocrats, tycoons, and socialites across the country marked their calendars months in advance.