They were runninng 15 minutes late for the dinner and Celia's father did not look pleased as he waited for them outside the pavilion steps. Celia could hear how her big family of fifty members were being seated inside the dining hall of their Italian Villa. She ran quicker.
She smelt like salty tuna and her hair looked like a tangled fish net. Alberto himself looked as if he used a hurricane as a hairdryer.
"Celia, this is unacceptable. Where have you been? You know how important these dinners are. You look like a fishmonger's daughter and you smell...awful." Dr Woods held his nose as they approached.
"I'm sorry, Father. We tried to be on time but Uncle Alberto's boat suddenly broke down and we had to row in the emergency boat." Celia was deathly tired after the rowing session and it felt like her arms could fall off. Alberto nodded as he tried to catch his breath.
"Çi, brother. My old rustbucket has given me great service over the years but I think she is at her end." Dr Woods looked skeptical but decided to accept their excuse.
"It better not happen again. I'll send a few men to go and retrieve your boat, Alberto. You are more than welcome to go find yourself a seat inside." Alberto grinned and waddled into the dining hall. Celia followed but her father stopped her. What now?
"Not you, young lady. Tonight is incredibly important that you are on your best behaviour. No surprises and good manners." Celia nodded her head obediently but groaned inwardly. She was hoping to slip away tonight and find out where Robert went. At least she had her cousin Elmar for company.
"I invited a few very important people that might close a very important deal with me tonight." Celia rolled her eyes. Not another business deal. That meant she had to be all-smiles tonight. Dr Woods was not just a widely known neurosurgeon and political figure but he also had shares in a quote an amount of companies. He checked his watch and turned in the direction of the dining room.
"Emily and Gemma will quickly help you get dressed while your mother and I welcome our guests." This was going to be a long night, Celia thought. Her two maids appeared and whisked her off to her bedroom on the second floor through one of the side passages. Their house was truly massive. It was situated on a little cliff and had its own harbour, indoor swimming pool and private beach. It was originally built to suite all her brother's training needs. The house itself was three storeys high and built around the dining hall. There was also a floor underground which belonged entirely to Toby. Her father was angry at Toby for disappearing and struggled to accept that he was probably never coming back. He left everything just as Toby left it 17 months ago and nobody else was allowed to touch anything either. Dr Woods also built many secret passages as well to make sure that the maids and cooks could move around the house without bothering him too much.
"Darling, your father is really going big tonight. We've been baking and cooking since this morning." Emily exclaimed as they entered Celia's room.
"Yes, there's lots of fancy people. Reporters, docters, professors and even a few ministers." Gemma chimed in.
"Yes there are some handsome young businessmen down there," Emily chided and they both chuckled. Celia rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Em! I'm pretty sure they're too old for me and I smell like a sushi platter."
"Oh you're right, they'd all go screaming home if they saw you now. Ew!" Gemma teased.
"Aw thanks Gem, you're too kind," said Celia sarcasticly. Emily grabbed the red dress draped inside Celia's gigantic closet.
"I think this one just might do the trick." She winked at Celia and Gemma giggled excitedly.
The two ladies practically raised her. When she was younger, they had to travel for all her brother's competitions and her parents didn't really have time to take care of her. Emily and Gemma sometimes felt more like parents to her than her own.
"My darling, you look breathtaking," gasped Celia's mother as she entered the dining hall. Emily and Gemma beamed and disappeared back into the passsage. Her father gave an approving nod. Celia blushed. She rarely got compliments from her parents. Although she did look beautiful. Her hair was a bouquet of curled locks and her short red dressed shimmered as she walked. The back was a low slit covered in lace. She wore short high heels and she smelt of roses. It was a big improvement from a few minutes ago.
The hall was packed with people all mingling. Celia recognised the usual faces of family members but there were a great deal of new elegantly-dressed people. Why did her father invite so many strangers? And where was uncle Alberto and her
Elmar? She felt a little awkward and uncomfortable. These people looked like princes and princesses.
"Celia, please come here." beckoned her father. He was standing next to a wealthy man in a navy blue suite and his scrawny wife.
"This is Mr Edgar Thomson and his wife of who I told you earlier."
Celia smiled politely and shook both their hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Ah and you too. I've heard many things about you." Mr Thomson said with a wink. Celia was confused. Who would have said anything about her to this man? Surely not her father.
"And this is my son, Liam." Mr Thomson stepped to the side to make way for a handsome young man about Celia's age. He had coffee coloured eyes and tanned skin. His short hair was combed back neatly and he grinned playfully. He reached for her hand and kissed it.
"It's nice to make your acquaintance." Celia didn't know where to look. She felt her face burning. This guy was awfully friendly, she thought.
"It's nice to meet you too." was all she could manage. Dr Woods showed them to an empty table and Liam pulled out the chair for Celia. The dinner bell rang and everybody took their seats.
"Looks like we're joining you for dinner." He said as he sat down.
"I hope you like fish," Celia commented as plates of salmon, prawns, lobster and more were being brought out.
Celia scanned the room for her uncle and cousin but they were nowhere to be found. Champagne was brought out and Dr Woods stood up to make an announcement.
"Family, friends, co-workers and shareholders of Vestigrow, I'd like to make a toast in honour of my new business partner, Mr Edgar Thomson to celebrate our new company." The room filled with applause and Mr Thomson stood up to raise his glass. Celia stared in astonishment. So that's why there's so many important guests. Her father had bought a investment company with Mr Thomson. Everybody raised their glasses, including Liam and Celia.
"We are grateful for all your support and we hope to make you proud. Please enjoy your meal and the rest of the evening." Liam was obviously too young to drink but he gulped his glass down in one go along with the rest of the guests. Celia took a sip of her own glass and left the rest.
"Now tell me," Liam said as he poured himself another glass of champagne. "How come I've heard so much about you but never had the pleasure of meeting you in person?" Celia cocked her head to the side.
"It surprises me that you have heard about me. There's not much to say about me. Most people just know my brother."
Liam flashed his brilliant white smile.
"Ah Toby. Yes I have heard plenty about him too. More than you think. Yet, your story has always fascinated me more."
"You knew my brother? And my story? There's not much to tell." Celia said looking at him uncertainly.
"Me and your brother used to dive together." He said staring into the distance. Toby definitely left out the part that he dived with hunks like Liam, Celia thought.
"But yes, your story. As a child you survived from lung cancer and inspired your brother to start his watersport career. You were an academic phenomenon and you were moved two years ahead in school. You were an amazing gymnast, dancer and athlete. Yet, you gave all that up to travel around the world and support your brother. Now, you're back and forced to pursue your missing brother's dream. That sounds like a hell of a story to me." Liam said looking Celia straight in the eye. She sat in stunned silence. Who is this guy? He just told her things about herself that she didn't even know.
"Wow. You're quite the stalker, aren't you?" she managed to say weakly. Liam laughed nervously and pushed his hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry. That was insensitive. I guess I'm just very curious. Your brother told me so much about you I just wish I knew more. Now that you're even more beautiful than I expected I guess I..." Celia was surprised. She didn't think her brother would speak so highly of her. She tilted her head back and laughed.
"Do you flirt with every girl who's backgroundstory seems interesting or am I the lucky first?" Liam laughed at her joke. Maybe, he was worth getting to know.Suddenly, the lights popped and the whole room was flooded in darkness. Chaos followed. Something hit Celia on the head and she thumped hard onto the floor. Her head felt wet. She could hear fists flying and men scuffling all around her. Someone heavy was suddenly on top of her. She screamed in anguish as an immense pain seared through her body from her neck. It was as if her blood turned to lava and boiled her from inside. She felt the heavy weight being knocked off her and she gasped for air. The pain continued to burn through her. Lights flashed back on. Celia lay on the ground shivering and screaming. People were scattered all over the hall. Many rushed and crowded around her. Alberto and Elmar's worried faces were among those in the crowd. Out of the corner of her eye, Celia saw Robert standing in the doorway. Her head was throbbing and her whole body shook violently. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Liam's unconscious face next to her.