Desire of the elite

It is already a known fact that rich people like to party. The music, the party decor, and most especially the food are always top-notch, even if it's just for a kid's birthday party; they always go all out. The scent of grilled steak filled the atmosphere as the children ran around the compound, and the adults vibed to music. Ethan could remember sitting close to his mom, wishing the party would just come to a close; it was his half-sister's tenth birthday celebration.

The entire scene looked real, just like it had been many years ago, only now it is a dream that he badly wants to wake up from because he already knew how it played out.

"Ethan, see Maxwell, your friend has arrived, now you have someone to play with," his mother pointed towards the huge gate as the already-known Lexus pulled into the compound. Maxwell and Ethan have been friends since they both learned how to walk, this is partly because their mothers are friends, and their fathers are business partners.

"Come along now,let's welcome them," she beckoned to Ethan.

"Emily darling!" Maxwell's mother exclaimed with arms wide open to envelop her friend in a hug.

"How was London?" Ethan's mother asked as she warmly received the hug.

"It was nice, I just wished the holiday did not end, but I do not have any other choice, these children need to go back to school."

"But at least you enjoyed yourself."

"Oh sweetie, it was a blast!" Maxwell's mother darted her eyes across, taking in the entire scene.

"How much did she request for this party?" Ethan's mother sighed.

"I don't know; you know I don't ask. If I ask, they quickly shun me, so I have learned to mind my business. After all, all I have to do is make sure Ethan and I dress and show up."

"Speaking of Ethan, where is he?" Maxwell's mother asked.

"He has gone inside with Maxwell; they have missed each other," Ethan's mother replied, laughing.

Ethan could enjoy the party now that his friend had shown up. He no longer went back to sit with his mom. He climbed the swing, jumped on the bouncing castle with Maxwell, and even changed his clothes to swim in the pool area of the party, experiencing all the joys of a seven-year-old.

"Miss Laura, where's my mom? I can't find her in her room, and we need to start going back home before it gets late," Ethan asked the chief housekeeper, having searched around the building since the party ended.

"I haven't seen her, love. Have you checked her room? Maybe she decided to spend the night here."

"Yes, she's not there, did she tell you she was going to get something?"

Before Laura could reply, they heard a familiar voice.

"She's gone," Lucas Brown, Ethan's father answered.

And just like it has been all these years, Ethan woke up from his dream, drenched in sweat.

Ethan didn't like being in New York. Whenever he was in the U.S., he preferred Arizona because of its calm and serene nature. While everybody thought New York had nightlife, Arizona was the best, with beautiful ladies who knew how to keep a secret. He had a joint partnership with most of the major clubs in Arizona. Whenever he was around and wanted to unwind, he paid a visit to them. A single phone call could get him any girl for the night, but an attractive man always pulls a crowd, and Ethan was one hell of an attractive man, a sexy demon with an average height. God blessed him with high cheekbones, a broad nose, small brown eyes, ladylike lashes, full lips, and to crown it, he had two ear piercings, giving him a corporate bad boy look. Even though he is attractive, Ethan doesn't get down with just any woman, he likes his privacy, so he moves with only the women who can keep a secret after an exotic night together. This was why he liked Arizona. New York girls were unnecessarily loud, got into bed with anyone, and ended up on entertainment blogs the next day, all for fame and clout. But now he is in New York,hopefully, he won't stay for long.

He had a business meeting to get to that morning, and a meeting with his dad after. The Brown Palace, a hotel that is a subsidiary of the Brown Group, was experiencing bankruptcy, and as the acting head of the Brown Group, he had to call an emergency meeting with the shareholders and the head of the hotel, his half-brother Paul. The Brown Group is a family company built by Lucas' great-grandfather, and for years, they ran the affairs of the business in New York and the U.S as a whole, from hotel chains to seaports, airplanes, car productions, and construction. They were the leading king of the business world. They also had a leg in politics, sponsoring electoral candidates who would, in turn, allocate them projects and put in laws favorable to their ventures. With a strong reputation for years, they have been unchallenged, and they intend to keep it that way.

"Good morning, sir," the head of operations at the hotel greeted Ethan as he stepped out of his car.

"Good morning, Mr. Martin. Are they all seated?"

"Yes, sir."

"And Paul?"

"He's not here yet," Ethan stopped in his tracks.

"Put a call to him now!"

The boardroom was quiet and cold, it could have been because of the air conditioner, but everybody knew the cold aura was emanating from someone else, Ethan. He had been seated for 2 hours, and Paul was still not in sight, and he had no intentions of starting the meeting without him.

"Hey, brother!" Paul walked in gleefully.

"Have a seat, Paul," Ethan cut him short. He adjusted the table mic in front of him, staring intensely at everyone seated in the room, and began calmly.

"I can decide to start this meeting by pointing out your lackadaisical behavior of coming late to a meeting that was scheduled to begin 2 hours ago, but I will not waste my time. I have gone over the hotel's report for the last 3 years, and there are so many funds that cannot be accounted for. When I asked the account manager, he said all funds were signed off for use by you, Paul. What was the money used for?"

Paul shifted in his seat. "I think you have forgotten who you are speaking to, Ethan. I am in charge of Brown Group's hotel chains. What gave you the effrontery to go through our yearly reports, and what right do you have to question how I run the hotels?"

Ethan let out a laugh. "I think you are the one who has forgotten who he is talking to. Need I remind you that I am the head of Brown Group, so you answer to me, dear Paul. I won't sit and watch you crumble a very important aspect of the company."

"You must be out of your senses, Ethan! Because Father made you the head, you think you are the head. You are just filling a spot for every one of us, and when whatever you have used to blind our Father comes out of his eyes, he will dismiss you, just like he dismissed your mother."

Upon hearing his mother's name, Ethan's face twisted with a mix of pain and anger, his gaze turning into a storm of emotion. His knuckles whitened as his fist clenched. The room felt electric with tension, and those present could almost feel the heat radiating from his body as if he were an approaching tempest. In that moment, it was clear that he was struggling to control the emotions welling up inside him, and his voice, though seemingly calm, held an underlying intensity as he addressed Paul.

"I give you one week to send me a detailed report of how you spent the hotel's money, or you will be fired." Not looking at him, he walked out of the room.

"For the best-graduating medical student, Olivia Williams!"

She heard her name, but her legs wouldn't move, or maybe they could move, but her anxiety wouldn't let her stand in front of a crowd to give an acceptance speech. She knew days before the ceremony that she made the best-graduating students list with a GPA of 4.92. Why wouldn't she? When she stuck her head in her books all these years, all to make her parents proud.

"Well deserved, I guess,"

She muttered under her breath, adjusting the pink flowery gown her mother had sent from home, designed by who she called "New York's most talented". The gown has a lengthy slit at the front, showing off her tall legs. It has a corset which makes her waist smaller and her hips rounder.

Her parents couldn't make it to her graduation ceremony,

"We are deeply sorry Love, you know your father has plans to contest for the upcoming Mayoral elections, there's so much to do, the party hasn't decided yet, so we have to keep our ears to the ground, we can't just leave New York." Her mother told her on the phone.

She wasn't surprised. It had always been like that, they were barely around, and they barely showed up even though she was the only child. She did all she could to impress them. Maybe if there was something worth showing up for, they would. Since her early school days, Olivia swept all her school awards. When she got to the university, it had already become a habit to regularly go home with a prize. And now this, the first black best graduating medical student from the University of Oxford. She felt the tears coming, but Stacy, her roommate, would kill her if she ruined the hours of work she put on her face.

She had never felt loved, in all her life. The hall for the ceremony had a separate sitting section for family members and well-wishers. She could see parents beaming with smiles and pride for their children who made it this far, best-graduating student or not, even Stacy's parents showed up. This is love, this has to be what love is, and she's not getting any. Her best friend David couldn't make it because he just got a new job, and taking a leave so soon didn't seem like the wise thing to do. Even though the Alfredos invited her over for a celebratory dinner, it still didn't feel right, that's Stacy's celebratory dinner, not hers. It felt like they pitied her.

When she was in her first year at a private university in Los Angeles, she met Caleb, an engineering student in his final, sweet charming Caleb, Caleb she swore was going to be the one to take her virginity. Caleb showered her with words of affirmation, leaving cute notes on her desk before class and sending her his songs playlist that made him think of her. It made her feel beautiful, sexy and wanted. Even though Olivia had never lacked in beauty and body, she never felt enough, but Caleb made her feel enough, although that's what it looked like.

She was sure he was the one until he started asking her for cash. There was always a fee to pay, a book to buy, a project to write. Considering how he didn't come from a well-to-do home, she repeatedly came through for him, demanding from her parents, who didn't bother about what she needed the money for. This went on for an entire year, after his graduation, he stopped texting her and replying to her texts, not until she got a text from a strange number warning her to leave her man alone. How could she still be so naïve to not realize Caleb only used her?

The podium where the award was to be presented suddenly looked far, or her legs weren't fast enough. She just wanted to get there, pick the award, say a thing or two and go hide in her room, not like there were pictures to take after.

Olivia swore she would not get involved in any intimate relationship with anyone again. She was most grateful for not having slept with him. It then dawned on her, he never pressured her for sex. He wasn't even interested, he never desired her. She met Peter one day during night class. She had a tough test the following day. Peter was in her class, but they never interacted.

"You need guidance with that?" Peter pushed back the seat close to her and sat on it.

"Who? Me?" Olivia replied, surprised.

"Yes, you, Olive, need help?"

She liked he called her Olive

"Uh, yes, I need help, this calculation just isn't entering."

"Let me see,"

And that was how it started. They went to class together, left class together, read together, and made out during night class and sometimes in the library. Now she felt desired. There was never a day he didn't leave kisses on her neck or cupped her breast in longing. The first time his fingers went in her was the best day ever. No one had ever done that. She felt the heat between her legs and how wet she was. He went in slowly, taking it in and bringing it out. She couldn't control her moans, Peter had to cover her mouth with his hands, so they wouldn't get caught. She felt like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, her senses awakening to a new world of desire.

On the day it was expected to happen, it was the last day of the semester. They were all supposed to travel back home that day. They had planned to lodge in a hotel and spend the night before going to their homes the following day. When they got to the hotel, Peter didn't book a suite like she assumed he would. He asked the receptionist to make a call to 23B that he was downstairs. Olivia didn't get what was happening but stayed quiet. Could be there was a mix-up somewhere and Peter was all smiles, so it didn't look like there was any problem. Maybe he had to see an acquaintance before paying for their room, she told herself. When they got to the room, Vivian, a coursemate of theirs, opened the door.

"Welcome Olivia" Perhaps Vivian is the friend, she said to herself and when they finish talking, she will leave.

"Have you informed her?" Vivian looked in Peter's direction.

"Informed me what?" Olivia asked, now tense.

"That we are all here for a threesome," Vivian answered, giggling.

"Uhm Olive" Peter walked up to her and took her hands

"I like you, I admire you a lot. You are so beautiful with a banging body and I have had a crush on you for a long time and so has my girlfriend Vivian."

"Your girlfriend, Vivian? I don't understand". She held the table close to her for support because she could already feel herself breaking down, her hands were trembling.

"Okay, see" Vivian cut Peter short

"Peter and I have been dating since our first year. I'm bisexual, but he's straight and we both liked you and wanted you. We knew we couldn't approach you together, and you didn't act gay or bisexual for me to meet you myself, so Peter approached you instead and here we are, the end!" Vivian said, with no hint of remorse.

Olivia looked at Peter and could not find the exact words to say, even if she knew she had a lot to say, she picked up her box and walked away, thankful that none of them tried to stop

her.

On the podium, she noticed her palms had become sweaty and her heart racing so fast it could burst out of her chest, but she needed to give this speech,

"I owe this award to myself for never giving up, to my parents for always being by my side, for their support and encouragement. To every black student out there, you all can set and break records. Lastly, all thanks to God almighty who made this possible. Thank you."

Lucas Brown is the actual definition of old money. His ancestors were smart enough to build and establish themselves early and years later, their children and grandchildren are enjoying the fruit of their labor. He was a very fine man growing up. Just like Ethan, the women surrounded him like flies after a corpse. He met Emily, Ethan's mother when he was 24 and she was 22.

Lucas Brown, heir to a legacy of old money, and Emily, a woman with a deep connection to the black community despite her white heritage, first crossed paths at a protest against racism. Amidst the fervent crowd and impassioned speeches, their eyes met. Both of them had a fire burning within, ignited by the injustice they had seen the blacks suffer at the hands of the white racists. He was drawn to Emily's unwavering dedication as she took to the stage to defend the rights of the black community.

As Emily spoke, her words resonated with Lucas on a profound level. He admired not only her brilliance but also her unswerving commitment to justice. It was in that charged moment, amidst the chants and protest signs, that their connection was kindled. Lucas couldn't help but be captivated by her passion and grace.

When asked what drew him to Emily, he answered, "Her intelligence, you should have seen her basking on that stage defending the black community", and when Emily was asked she would say "It was the way he looked at me and never took his eyes off, like if he left me unwatched even for a second, I was going to disappear".

Lucas' father still ran the business, so he could live as he liked. However, his father died of a heart attack a few days after he turned 25. With no knowledge of how the company was run, Lucas felt stuck. Emily's father was the mayor at the time, hence had many connections.

Even though Lucas loved Emily, he wasn't ready for marriage. His mother convinced him otherwise, as they needed the influence of Emily's father to keep the business running and out of the hands of greedy thieves who disguised themselves as shareholders. So, they got married.

Everything flowed smoothly for years, but Emily didn't take in. That wasn't an issue, they were still young. However, by then Lucas had become a big business tycoon and money was flowing in and so was the attention of other women. Feeling like he was boxed into marriage and didn't enjoy his youth, he got acquainted with other ladies, particularly Rose. She was his secret girlfriend.

They met at a wedding party in Canada. She was the bridesmaid, she was stunning and had an air of mystery that drew Lucas in. He became irresistibly attracted to her. But he told himself he was going to stay faithful to his wife. Call it coincidence or fate, Rose started showing up wherever he was, be it a party or a gathering of his business associates. They conversed, their connection deepened, and he couldn't resist anymore. He gave in. They began to date secretly, traveling to different countries together. He even got her a luxurious apartment of her own. But Rose had her plans, she stopped taking her contraceptives and got pregnant. She hid the pregnancy and when it was too late to get an abortion, she showed up on Lucas' doorstep. He either marries her or she goes public with the news. Having a reputation to protect, he had no other choice.

Emily, his first wife, wasn't pleased with the news of the marriage. No woman would, but she stayed, regardless. Three years after Rose gave birth, Emily took in, she was overjoyed, now she had someone to fill in the void of loneliness that was creeping in. Getting a divorce was out of the question, she would rather not ruin her dad's political career. After she gave birth to Ethan, she moved out of the house she shared with Lucas and Rose and only showed up when necessary, she didn't stop Lucas from seeing Ethan. He was the father, so he had every right.

"Good evening, sir," Ethan greeted his father as he strolled into the large sitting room

"Ah, My boy! How are you? How was the meeting with the hotel's board of directors?"

"It was okay. I have it handled."

"Okay, good!" He picked up the TV remote, lowered the volume, and stared at Ethan as if trying to process what he wanted to say. He smiled, the boy was a replica of him.

"Dad, why did you ask to see me?" Ethan asked impatiently.

"Are you still with Emma, General Joseph's daughter?"

"No, why are you asking?"

"She's the only girl I have seen you with. What happened?"

"We broke up. Since when did you become interested in my love life?"

"I am interested because it concerns the matter I am about to talk about. Have you been able to secure us the railway contract?"

"Not really, the mayor is being a headache, elections are coming, so he's acting like that's the only thing on his mind currently, so I need to give him time."

"But we don't have that time, what's the issue?"

"The Green Harmony Alliance is protesting against the railway track construction on the grounds that i it will hurt the local ecosystem. The Mayor doesn't want to drop his two cents on the issue or go against them because elections are coming, and he needs to look like a pacifist before everyone."

Lucas shifted his focus from Ethan and looked at the TV even though he was not interested in whatever the news reporter was saying

"There's no need for that. He won't retain that seat after the election. Have you heard of Jonathan Williams?"

"The former chairman of Citibank?"

"Yes, Him! He wants to contest in the upcoming elections. If he wins, we win, the Brown group of companies win, he is the man we will sponsor, the Mayor can go to hell."

This was an issue of politics, and Femi wondered how this was his business.

"And how does this concern me?"

"Oh, your part in all this is to get married to his daughter. She will be flying in from England next month."