Caddel

To say what happened the next day was surprising is totally an understatement. Guess what I woke up to? A full house.

My parents are running a party, and they invited the guests overnight.

Me saying yes to being the one running the company, so my Dad can retire was taken so well that neither of my parents took it silently, before I knew it, my Dad was telling his siblings and family, so was Mum, at first, I learnt from Mum that they had just called to let them know that “…I was back home, you have no idea how much we all missed you so we just wanted to tell them you were back at home.”

I raise my eyes at that, being woken early in the morning with my Mum holding a pretty large package, handed it to me and bullied her way into my room that still needs a little work but it’s doing pretty well.

“So while on the call to Grandmother Pasha, we decided to make it a party, you know, have everyone down to meet you again, have them listen to your Dad resign.”

I sigh in realization at that. “Ah, from saying it’ll be just family members to mentioning his resignation, he’s so eager to vacate the chair, this also means there will be other people at the party cum resignation party, hm?”

My mum gives her signature guilty smile and pats me on the back. “I’m sure you’ll do well, that’s why your father loves you so much.”

“So you don’t love me?” I ask jokingly, tickling er in her weak point.

She laughs as she shies away from me. “You know I love your brother more.”

“Hahaha.” I laugh sarcastically while she bursts into laughter and leaves the room with me alone with the still unopened package.

I and my brother came to terms with it a long time ago, Dad was my favorite and Mum was his, it felt equal, and we’ve not had reasons to complain, even till now.

I turn around and look down at the package, it’s averagely large and there’s no form of writing on it, and neither did Mum say what was in it, so I tear it open from the middle using my nails, I remove the light paper packaging and what beholds my eyes is a stunning piece of fabric.

I remove it from its package and hold it down to its full length and it is simple breathtaking.

In her hands is a sleek long black gown with bold and visible etching of shimmering silver, the dress has a pretty bold V neck lined with filigree and extremely slender straps that you might not even see if you don’t look hard enough, it has a long slit from the ankle till the end of the gown.

Raees hurriedly pulls it over her head and goes to stand in front of her floor to ceiling mirror and she gasps audibly, all her reserves about the party has melted away just for the fact that she’ll get to show off in such a beautiful dress. She twirls just a little bit in front of the mirror and is extremely satisfied with what she’s seeing.

“You look positively stunning dear.” My Dad says as he watches me from the door that Mum had not closed.

Old habits really do die hard.

“Thanks Dad, Mum brought it in here.”

“I know, we picked it ourselves overnight, I knew it was going to look so good on you. You aren’t annoyed?”

I chuckle, knowing it’s no more about the dress. “Not like I have a choice, but no, I’m not. It’s the barest I can do after absconding like that.”

Dad chuckles softly too.

“Please come in.” I say as I push away the box so he can sit at the edge of the bed. “I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you think I should use the straps as a regular hand or as a halter neck?”

He laughs, caught a bit off guard by my question. “Your mother would be in the place to answer that. Aren’t you heartbroken about what happened though? With Daniel? If I should get that jerk somewhere or in one corner, I promise to strangle him for you.”

That gets a good laugh out of me. “I would totally appreciate it.”

“What of a blind date then?”

If there is anything I hoped to hear the whole day, it’s not that. I would have nodded if my parents had a third person in their relationship, I would have nodded understandingly to anything else but to this, even my dad gets a confused glance.

“I am not in a hurry to get into another relationship. Or do you want me out of your house already?”

Dad shakes his head. “Raees, I only have your best intent in mind. You just got put of a bad relationship, the media will eat that up, and worse, that Flanagan idiot is a medium big guy in this industry, if you want to have a grip on this right from the start, have someone who is bigger than Daniel as your partner. Even if it’s just temporary.”

For some reason, I actually do understand what he means but…

“I know you have concerns like it being too early, or that you haven’t recovered from the last one, but my Raees is a strong woman, just like one you’ve been named after. Moreover, if you don’t know, you better know now that many eligible bachelors will begin to line up for you, why not snag the richest and finest while we’re at it, hm?”

I laugh good naturedly and nod. “You have convinced me. Just give me some time to freshen up and come down. What time is the party?”

“Four pm. So you’ve still got time.”

“Time to freshen up, sleep a little bit more and have breakfast, yeah, I appreciate that.”

My Dad smiles smugly and rises up from the bed. “Not that. We prepared you a homecoming gift, your blind date is waiting downstairs.” He whispers before running as fast as he can to the door.

It takes three seconds to register in my head.

“WHAT?!” I scream just as a door bangs shut downstairs.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

It’s a full mantra in my head by the time I’m done freshening up, by the time I’ve made my hair, by the time I’ve dressed up and sprayed a little bit of perfume in the air and walk into it… Another thirty minutes is already gone.

“Can I come in honey?”

“Sure, you can, just stay out of my arm’s length so I don’t strangle you before realizing it.” I really am back home at this point. As soon as my mum opens the door, I hit her with a barrage of questions. “Why did you do this to me? Who the heck is he? Why did he agree to this?”

Mum bursts into laughter, holding her ribs. “Slow your roll girl. One by one. Why? Your father’s doing, maybe he’ll tell you later, why did we do this to you? Interesting question. Who is he? Well, well, well, I can only tell you his last name.”

“Okay?”

“His last name is Caddel. One of the biggest names in this country when it comes to the business world, and he has some sort of affiliation with your father so I guess…”

Caddel seems like a rich name truly… “Is he really waiting downstairs?”

“He’s been there for about forty five minutes now, your Dad’s keeping him company. I came to rush you up. You look good by the way for a first date, you look ready for more.” She winks and leaves the room.

Is that something a mother should say to her daughter?

Whatever.

I take one last look at the mirror and pick up my bag, heading downstairs. As I round the curve into the living room, my Dad stands up while my date’s back is turned to me. Mum is giving me the 'you've got this' hand sign from behind the hall's cover.

“She’s here.” He announces, beaming at me.

I manage a nervous chuckle at him and he gives me a small reassuring smile before nodding. I take a deep breath as my date turns around.

The breath catches in my throat as my ‘blind’ date turns around. Might have been an actual blind date if I haven’t slept with him.

Reid Flanagan, scratch that, Caddel turns around, and when our eyes meet, he looks just as surprised as I am, or he is good at hiding the fact that he knows me.

“You…?” I say out loud, unconsciously.