DAD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

" How do I look? " Evangel asked her best friend who was stretched out on her King size bed pressing her phone, doing a 360 for her. She just finished getting dressed for her dad's birthday party. Her father was a top business tycoon and his guest list is filled with top men and women of the society who will be looking their best this evening and she doesn't fall short.

Clarice strengthened up and turned to look at Evangel, allowing her eyes to journey over her best friend's form. It began from the caramel silky curls adorning her head, flat aristocratic forehead, perfect carved brows, dazzling pale blue eyes sparkling with dancing stars, long swan neck bearing a silver necklace, a teardrop pendant, her slim trim figure slipped into a gorgeous, plain purple dinner gown with a teasing slit to the mid-thigh revealing a long pale smooth leg that was further stretched out by the four-inch silver Gianvito Rossi sandals on delicate slim feet. " Gorgeous, stunning, breathtaking........ " That is enough, I get it I look good, " Evangel cut Clarice off chuckling.

" You look, more than good baby, but that is always expected from Evangel Clark, the most gorgeous girl on the planet " Clarice hyped playfully, with a laughter glowing in her eyes.

Evangel rolled her eyes at her friend over the top compliments, which is far-fetched from how she sees herself but will take her word for tonight.

" I am leaving before you make my head so big that it can't fit through the door, " she joked picking up her silver clutch purse on the bed.

" Say hi to your dad for me, " Clarice yelled after her.

" I will, " Evangel screamed, her voice echoing back into the room, as she headed out the door.

" Hello, Matteo, " Evangel greeted the tall burly Mexican man standing beside her White Mercedes Benz GLA model. " Hello, Miss Clark, " Matteo responded formally, his Mexican accent obvious in his voice, as he opened the door for his employer.

" Is the gift inside the car, " Evangel asked after the gift she got for Dad's birthday, as she slipped into the owner's corner.

" Yes, Miss Clark, " Matteo replied closing the door. He hurried to the driver's seat and set them on the road.

Evangel arrived in her father's mansion and was helped out of the car by Matteo. " Thank you, " She said with a graceful smile and made her way to the door which was opened by the butler, who immediately blossomed into a familiar fond smile at the sight of her.

" Hello, Mr. Castro, " Evangel smiled at the elderly man as she walked past through the door.

" How are you and Mrs. Castro? " she asked as she is lead through the familiar long well-illuminated corridor leading to the ballroom in the left wing where the party is being held.

She is alright, I will be greatly pleased if you can come around and see her, Mr. Castro replied with a happy glint in his eyes. Happy to see the woman who is like a daughter to him after such a long while.

Will do that soon, Evangel promised with a smile.

As they drew closer to the room, the sound of laughter, boisterous chatter, and sweet cool music drifted up to her, telling her that the party was already in full swing. Just before the brass door barring the ballroom, Castro stopped and turned to look at the beautiful woman in front of him.

" Your dad is going to be pleased to see you, he has missed you so much, "Castro said to her casting a look in the direction of the ballroom as if imagining his employee reaction to his daughter finally being home. The younger woman has been on tour around Europe on a vacation break after her studies before she returns to begin her life.

A happy full-blown smile appeared on Evangel's face at the mention of her dad. She can't wait to see the old devil and has missed him dreadfully. I missed him too, Evangel said out loud before walking through the door now held open by the butler.

The large spacious room was beautifully decorated, with a round sitting arrangement, an open buffet, and bars, teeming with a lot of guests in formal dinner wear standing in groups chatting and laughing with each other.

She stood awkwardly by the door filling a little bit out of place. Her one year of being away made everything seem strange. She looked around, searching to spot the familiar figure of her dad or any of her relatives but someone bit her to it and called out to her when they noticed her by the door.

" Evangel! " my darling a masculine voice boomed across the room in a note that got only Evangel's attention.

Evangel looked in the direction of the voice to see her Uncle Max, her dad's younger brother beckoning her over with a beaming smile on his face. Evangel lips lit with an answering smile as she skipped in their direction.

" Hello, Uncle Max, " Evangel cried joyfully, moving into his plumpy arms for a hearty embrace.

" Hello, My darling, " Max said to his niece pulling her tight into his body. He has missed the beautiful face of his favorite niece.

Evangel endured the back-breaking embrace from her uncle for few more seconds before sweet relief was finally granted her, allowing the ever missed air into her oxygen-deprived lungs.

Max held his nice at arms level, taking a close look at her. The young woman was glowing with happiness. " The European food and sun were really good on you, " he complimented.

Evangel smiled at her Uncle, and the American food is not treating you bad, she teased looking down on him his protruding belly sending the man into fits of hearty laughter.

The loud boisterous free laughter from her uncle aroused an answering fond smile in Evangel before her eyes went to the gorgeous younger woman beside him. " Hello, Auntie, " she greeted in a more reserved tone as they air-kissed each other. She wasn't really that close to her uncle's wife despite the woman being closer in age to her. The woman was haughty and cold which doesn't encourage friendliness in the people around her, and seeing that most of the family views her marriage to her uncle as gold-digging venture she wasn't really accepted that well in the Clark clan.

She came from a very large close not and wealthy family.

After her artificial pleasantries with her Aunt, she turned back to her uncle, a questioning look on her face. " Where is dad? "

" He is in his study. "

" Study! " Evangel gasped in exasperation of her father's stubbornness. He had been asked to cut down on his workload by his doctor after he gave everyone a scare when he had a heart attack a few months ago.

Max shrugged. His brother was a workaholic who wouldn't take a break even on his sickbed. " He is in there with a young man, probably talking about business, you know how your father is "

Yes, she knows how her father can be and that is why she is going to have a sit-down chat with him concerning his obsession to work even to the detriment of his work. She wasn't going to lose another parent just because her dad don't know the concept of delegation.

Excuse me uncle herself from her uncle to go greet other members of the family. Her other uncles were around with their wives and kids. Her dad has five brothers, no girl and on her mum's side three sisters, no boy, one of the things that made her parents a great match, Evangel thought with amusement. They all received her back with warm welcoming smiles, asking her so many questions about her trip which kept her occupied till she spied her dad walk into the party.

" Excuse me, " she said to the relative she was currently talking to and headed in her dad's direction.

" Dad! " she cried, her eyes lighting up like a kid at the sight of candy as she got close to her father.

" Angel, " the older man vociferated, opening his arms wide for his offspring. Evangel fell into her dad's warm embrace, inhaling the sweet familiar spicy scent of his aftershave, with that note of leather that brings her comfort. " Why are you working on your birthday dad? I thought the doctor said for you to take it easy, " Evangel scolded her dad pulling back to frown at him.

Steven Clark smiled at his daughter being overprotective. " Don't worry child, wasn't doing anything stressful. I want you to meet someone, " he said turning to the tall good-looking gentleman beside him. " Angel meet Trenton Wade, Mr. Wade my daughter Evangel Clark, " Steven introduced in a proud voice

Evangel followed her dad's eyes to the man and their eyes locked in like a safe lock cracking up the tension in the room as everything else disappeared as they ate each other up with their gaze.

" Trenton Wade, " Evangel gasped, the sound so light that it floated away not reaching the people standing few feet from her. As her eyes glued to the familiar figure, high school came flooding back like a rumbling volcano bringing with it debris of bad memories so vivid in her mind that it felt as if it was yesterday instead of ten years ago.

Unwilling to be shackled down by the deleterious memories, Evangel plastered the fakest smile that will make Melania Trump's smile seem real on her face. " Hello, " she said like he is a stranger she was meeting for the first time with her hand held out for him to shake.

Meeting one of the worse mistakes of his youth in flesh after so many years sent a shock wave of surprise through Trenton's veins freezing him to the spot before he shook off the ghost of his past and allowed his famous charming smile know to make most women lose their wits appear on his face. " Hello, " he said taking her hand with his larger one to his lips and allowing his tongue a light stroke over the smooth skin, while he peered at her through his lashes.

Evangel bristled with revulsion at the vile feel of his slithering tongue on her skin. She stifled the screaming urge to withdraw her hand from his slimy grip.

Steven Clark looked from his daughter to his soon-to-be business partner. The tension between the two was so palpable that he could cut through it with a saw. " Do you know each other? " he asked.

" NO! YES! " were simultaneously blurted by Evangel and Trenton. Evangel refused to look at Trenton while she felt his gaze licking at her skin like fire. Trenton was amused by the woman acting like they were strangers.

Steven was confused by the conflicting response and turned to the young man for an explanation.

" I and Angel went to the same high school, " Trenton provided turning to look at Evangel for confirmation. Evangel kept mum, wishing in her heart that school was the only history between them.

" That is fantastic, this simplifies things, and going to make my plans easier, " Steven said, beaming with a smile at his daughter and the young man.

Evangel eyes narrowed. " What decision? " she demanded in a low scary voice.

" Nothing dire, my darling, I promised, why don't we discuss this after the party, " Steven cajoled.

When it comes to Trenton Wade any plan is dire in Evangel's book, and she can't afford to wait to know. " I want to know now, " She insisted.

" Sir, why don't we let her in on the good news, I am sure she will be overjoyed to hear it too like I am, " Trenton responded with a sweet voice, and a smile that doesn't touch his mud-colored eyes.

Ominous feelings licked Evangel's mind. If Trenton thinks something is good news chances are that it is going to screw someone else, that is who he is. Evangel waited with dread for her dad to say something.

Steven decided to heed Trenton's words and reveal his plans earlier than he had planned. He turned to his daughter and held her eyes before speaking. " Trenton has asked for our companies to merge with theirs and I agreed on one condition, " Steven took a pregnant pause.

Evangel shook with impatience. " What condition? " she asked with a chary look in her eyes.

" He has to marry you "