Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Ella sat at the table with her parents and they were all eating in silence but she knew the silence was not going to last long. There was no way her father would just sit down with them to have breakfast without something to say and she knew he was going to bring up the marriage thing.

“You have to see how everyone has been talking about the proposal…” Just like she thought, her father started to say as he reached for his glass of wine on the table. Ella couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Every magazine I read is about the Bolaji company and Goldstone group coming together. It’s such satisfying news.”

Ella didn’t say anything but just kept eating. The whole thing was already annoying enough and she was in no mood to contribute to whatever her father was saying.

“Gabriella Aniyah Bolaji…” Martins called her full name as he stared at his daughter with a smile.

Ella sighed and looked up from her meal. “I have seen it too father.” She said quickly to avoid the long speech her father was about to say.

“This is real good news; Richard has even agreed to invest with us. A bright way is already paving for our family and it’s all thanks to your cooperation.”

“Honey can you just give the girl a break? All you have been talking about is this.” Stella frowned at her husband before she turned to Ella. “It’s okay darling, ignore your father and eat.”

Ella nodded and continued eating.

Martins sighed, “What did I say wrong now, hmm?” He shrugged. “Well, your grandma is back.”

Ella’s eyes brightened up and she stopped eating to look at her father. “Are you serious dad? When?” She asked with excitement.

“She arrived two nights ago but I didn’t want to tell you so you wouldn’t disturb her. She needs to rest.”

Ella frowned, “Rest? Then why didn’t she come home to rest?”

“She went back to where she used to live.”

Ella furrowed her brows, “Why?”

Martins shrugged, “I don’t know, she probably missed the orphanage and wanted to see them but don’t worry, she would be coming home today.” Martins said and shook his head.

Ella couldn’t hold her excitement. She had missed her grandma so much and was very happy that she was back. She was very close to her grandma than she was with her own parents and you couldn’t blame her. Her parents were not around most times and so she spent most of her times with her grandma.

“I have pleaded with her times without number to take me there but she wouldn’t…” Ella said and sighed. “It wouldn’t be so bad to visit her hometown.”

Stella smiled and patted her shoulders. “She probably has her reasons.”

Ella pouted and nodded, “Yeah. I have really missed her. I’m sure if she was around, she would have supported me when I refused this whole contract marriage stuff. She would have pulled her son’s ear to listen.” She said frowning at her father.

Martins shook his head drank from his wine.

“But at least he is handsome, is he not?” Stella teased her.

Ella rolled her eyes, “Do I look like I care mom?”

“Was the date the first time you saw him?” Martins asked in disbelief.

“And if it was?” Ella frowned.

“His face is on every business magazine covers, why would that be your first time of seeing him?"

“Let’s stop talking about it please, he’s very annoying and rude.”

Stella smiled, “It would be over soon.”

“And what would be over soon?” A voice suddenly asked and they all turned around to the direction of the voice.

“Grandma!” Ella exclaimed with excitement at the sighe of her grandmother and she quickly moved away from table to pull her in a hug.

Sarah staggered back at the suddenness and she laughed. “Oh, my darling, how are you?” She asked amidst her laughter as she patted her back.

Ella pulled away and smiled. “I wasn't fine but now, I'm fine as soon as I saw you grandma.”

Sarah smiled and pulled her cheeks playfully. “Aw, my Aniyah baby.”

Ella beamed, “You are my baby too.”

Sarah smiled and they both walked over to the dining table.

“How was your trip mom?” Martins asked with a smile.

Sarah nodded, “It was fine.”

“We have really missed you mom.” Stella said with a smile.

Sarah turned to her and smiled. “I have missed you all too.”

“So, what were you two telling my granddaughter? You were not giving her trouble, were you?”

Ella clutched her grandma’s arm, “It’s all over magazines grandma, I’m about to be married.”

Sarah sighed, “Of course you still went with it.” She said frowning at her son.

Martins sighed, “I didn’t have a choice mom, we would fold up and I cannot let that happen when we have an alternative.”

“And what if you didn’t have a daughter? What would you have done?” She asked him with a serious face.

Martins sighed and rested his back against the chair. “Well, that’s not the case because I have a daughter.”

Sarah sighed and turned to Ella, “Aniyah darling, I’m sorry this is happening. Forgive grandma, alright?”

Ella sighed and nodded her head. Her grandma only called her by her second name, Aniyah. While her parents named her Gabriella, her grandma named her Aniyah. She actually preferred to be called Aniyah though, she felt the name was special and held a better meaning since her grandma had given it to her but she was more known as Ella.

This whole marriage thing is f**ked up but Ella knew there was nothing that could be done, it was the only thing left to do. Even she herself was not innocent either, she also couldn’t bear to go broke. How would she live her exquisite and expensive life if she has no money?

“It’s fine grandma, it would be over soon.”

Sarah nodded and smiled at her. “That’s my angel. So, how was he? Was he tolerable? Because I hear he is very polite and charming."

Ella’s eyes grew wide, “Wait, who?”

“The Jayson guy of course.”

Ella burst into laughter, “Is that what the media is going around saying? What a lie!”

Sarah laughed, “So I take it that it’s the opposite then.”

“The complete opposite, the only thing true there is his good looks, that’s all.”

Everyone at the table chuckled loudly and Sarah patted her hair with a smile on her face.

“Dad said you went to your hometown?”

Sarah nodded, “Yes dear, I did. I wanted to see the children at the orphanage.” She smiled. “They are all grown up now and most of them had already been adopted.”

Ella nodded, “That’s really great to hear.”

Sarah smiled, “Yes it was great.”

"Alright."

"Ma'am." A voice said and Ellla turned to her side and saw a maid standing close to her with a phone in her hand.

"You have a call ma'am." The maid said as she stretched out the phone to her.

Ella took the phone from her and glanced at the caller before she answered the call.

"Hey Rihanna." She called her friend's name with a smile on her face.

"Hey baby girl!" Rihanna screamed from the other end of the phone.

"Missed me already?" Ella smiled.

"Of course! Are you coming over? I just closed from work."

"I would be coming later, my grandma just got back."

"Oh, grandma Sarah is back?" Rihanna asked.

"Yes she is."

"Aw, how sweet. I have missed her, I will tell Lizzy so we would both come and say hi to her."

Ella nodded, "Alright, see you later." She hung up and handed the phone back to the maid. Just as the maid was about to reach for the phone, Ella let go of it in a rush which made it impossible for the maid to catch it and the phone fell to the ground. The maid gasped in shock and Ella turned to it too with shocked expression as well.

"Are you dumb or what?!" She yelled at the maid and sprung up to her feet. "Look what you did!"

The maid quickly bent do to pick up the phone with trembling hands. She took a good look at the phone and could have heaved a sigh of relief since it wasn't broken if not for the anger she saw in Ella's eyes.

"I'm sorry ma'am." She apologized in a trembling voice.

Ella angrily dragged the phone from her hand and turned it on to look at it. There was only a slight crack at the side of the screen and it was barely visible.

"You useless girl!" She cursed at the maid in a angry tone before her mother spoke up.

"It's alright Ella, I will get you a new phone." Stella said hoping to calm her down but she knew her daughter very well. She never listened to anyone whenever she was angry.

"Go outside and kneel down under the sun. Do not get up until I tell you to or else, I will kick you out of this house."

The maid's eyes became clouded in tears and she quickly ran outside.

Sarah sighed, "Aniyah darling, don't scare the maid like that. This is why they are all scared of you."

"Grandma, she just broke my phone! It's expensive and you know that."

Sarah smiled, "It's alright dear, sit down now."

Ella sighed before she sat down back on her chair. "They never do anything right, so they need to get disciplined."

"Just don't end up killing them." Martins said as he drank his wine.

Everyone chuckled while Ella pouted her lips.

"Was that Rihanna?" Sarah asked.

Ella nodded, "Yes. We promised to hang out later."

"Oh how sweet, how about Lizzy?"

"She's fine. Rihanna and Lizzy will come and visit you later."

Sarah smiled, "Alright. I bought you something from my trip."

Ella smiled broalyy, "You did?"

Sarah nodded, "Yes I did. I will give it to you after the meal okay?"

Ella nodded, "Alright, thank you grandma."

"Anything for you, my angel."

XOXO