Chapter 135 - Barbecue and Death

The barbecue was a huge success. While some parents were overwhelmed by the hospitality they received, the event ran smoothly. Orita was an expert communicator who easily won the hearts of the initially uneasy parents. The E.C. Class was very different from the Special Class and to have friends from such a vastly different background made them feel inferior.

Their children like Jinru and Jeremy were initially unable to persuade their parents that the Wildes' were nice people. Jeff's parents came with apologies instead of thanks when they understood that the entire resort had been booked out for the overnight party. Scarlet and Alex did their best to explain they didn't have to pay or feel guilty for attending but Jeff's parents were very insistent until Orita and Jenna stepped in.

Watching the two ladies handle the situation professionally with that refreshing smile that never tired made Scarlet's respect them more than ever. She didn't know how Orita never seemed exhausted dealing with so many people.

"What's on your mind?" Wilmer asked, handing two fruit punches to his exhausted daughters. The party had only started but Alex and Scarlet looked like they were ready for bed at any moment.

Scarlet accepted the drink gratefully and eyes her mother who was laughing alongside with some of the boys from the E.C. Class at their stories.

"I don't understand how mommy can be so tireless and constantly maintain that smile. She's able to handle Jeff's parents so easily too..."

Wilmer nodded and Alex took a sip of the fruit punch. It was a little too sweet but she didn't mind. After all, most of the other kids loved it.

"Mm," Wilmer nodded. "That is something your mother worked hard to achieve. She's a social butterfly not because of her wealth, name or beauty. It's a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Most of the world only sees Orita like this but behind closed doors, she reads up a lot on others and does a lot of communicating via emails, texts and sometimes phone calls."

"Is that why Jenna has to sometimes write greeting cards to all of mommy's friends? She's making connections and maintaining her huge network while increasing it. That's what a socialite does, right?"

Alex's questions put a smile on Wilmer's face but Scarlet still looked confused. "Mommy works?"

At that, both father and daughter laughed. "Yes, she does. However, she doesn't get paid in monetary value," Wilmer explained and Scarlet's confusion grew.

For half of the event, Wilmer and Alex did their best to explain to Alex the concept of a socialite and the duty of an heiress. While Orita was more than capable of running a business, she was better suited to building her business' image and network through activities like organising tea parties and attending official charity events.

At the end of the lengthy explanation, Scarlet roughly understood Orita's duty as the lady of the Wilde Family. She turned to her sister and wondered if the day will come when Alex will have to take on that mantle too.

"What?"

Scarlet shook her head with a smile. "I was just wondering if you'd have to become a socialite too when you grow up. After all, you are the Wilde princess."

Wilmer cooed and Alex blushed, shoving the responsibility back to Scarlet saying that she was also a Wilde princess. Scarlet looked horrified at the thought and shifted the responsibility back to Alex who claimed that she was much better at being an artist than a social butterfly. Wilmer was enjoying hearing his daughters squabble over silly things when the phone in his pocket vibrated.

"Sorry girls, daddy has to take this call. Can you girls find Claire and stick with her for a bit?"

Alex nodded and agreed while pulling her sister along to locate their head maid. Scarlet let Alex pull her along for a bit but then decided quickly that she couldn't leave without satisfying her curiosity.

"Sorry, I think I'll head to the washroom for a bit. You go without me," Scarlet apologised and Alex pouted but agreed.

Now that she was alone, Scarlet hurried to where Wilmer disappeared. If this was a work call, Scarlet might be able to listen in on some information that could help her with her plan to take Anastasia down. Wilmer didn't have access to Elfie's chatroom so neither of them could plant bugs to listen to his calls for more information. Hence, the young writer had to find her information using a different method.

The latest news from Elfie was how Wilmer and his board of directors seem to be getting targeted by an unidentified bunch of thugs. The incidents were suspicious and while they had no evidence, Scarlet was willing to bet that Anastasia had a hand behind the scenes. The other day, Wilmer returned home with a bandage on his arm because a falling flower pot broke right before him. If it weren't for the security team's quick reactions, Wilmer would have been hit on the head instead of scratched by the broken ceramic shards. The fact that it happened in their very condominium made everyone nervous. Claire had talked to the building management who agreed to tighten security checks on all visitors as well as carry out a thorough investigation about that flower pot's origin. While the investigations point to a careless gardening contractor working on replacing the function room's exterior decoration, nobody in the Wilde family was convinced.

"Wilmer speaking," the CEO answered the call and Scarlet quickly hid behind a pillar within hearing range in the empty car park.

The young writer couldn't hear the other party but from Wilmer's side of the conversation, she had to cover her mouth to muffle the gasp that came out.

"Robert's dead?" the CEO trembled and slammed the wall beside him in grief.

"Did they find out who did it? How did he die?" Wilmer asked and Scarlet listened with her heart beating in her ears. She couldn't hear the rest of the conversation because Wilmer wasn't saying anything much but Scarlet ran away to the nearest washroom to collect herself again.

If she remembered correctly, Robert Wang was a business consultant of the Wilde Empire as well as one of Wilmer's old friends. Benjamin did work closely with him and now that he was dead, Scarlet knew it was because Anastasia had been increasing his threats. They were no longer safe from the man's reach and panicked gripped her.

The plans she made with Elfie and Jun Le's help is only beginning but before the seed can become a tree, they might be trampled on and killed quickly. Unable to think positively, Scarlet could only cry in despair at what appeared like the inevitable downfall of the Wildes' who took her in. Happiness was like a mayfly, short lived and fleeting. If only she wasn't just a ten-year-old... if only she knew them earlier.

So many 'what-if' scenarios made Scarlet sick and the light faded from her eyes. Was there really hope in this war? No. Scarlet shook her head and wiped her tears. Even if there wasn't hope, she couldn't give up. If there was no miracle from the gods then all Scarlet had to do was create one by borrowing the name of the gods regardless of the price she had to pay at the end. This war isn't over, she still had everyone with her. The war isn't over until the King falls, it doesn't matter how many pieces Scarlet has lost over the course of the battle, she would have no choice but to continue fighting even if she was the only one alive by the end of it all.

With her mind made up, Scarlet cleaned her appearance and returned to the barbecue party. She couldn't tell anybody about what she found out, not even Elfie or Jun Le. She didn't need this to affect their carefully laid out plans. If she was right, Danny would also not tell Elfie about Robert's death. Wilmer will also try to keep things under wraps and not let the media get hold of it so that he can buy time to cover his tracks and prepare to deal with Anastasia.

If Scarlet was in Wilmer's shoes, she would make preparations to leave his family in order to keep them safe while fighting the war alone. Now that one of his generals had fallen, he needed to devise a new plan with the remaining army under his command. The young writer paused. Will Danny also be relocating? It could possibly be the last time she sees Elfie if Danny decides to disappear from the records. With his status as an information broker and a spy, it wouldn't be difficult to make everyone forget about a mere school counsellor. People move on with time and many things get buried beneath the many other distractions that life throws at them. Nobody will remember Danny who, as queerly as he behaved, was just another ordinary person who didn't root himself deeply into anyone's hearts.

Knowing what she must do now, Scarlet raced to find Elfie. The barbecue might be the only time she could tell the boy everything he needed to know before their inevitable parting.