Chapter Seven:
"After the party."
Three days had passed since Resena's birthday bash. The city was still raving about it. "The long-lost Blackwell has finally returned!" That was front page article of The Conland Gazette. All of Lenoria's top society attended the birthday bash Spencer threw; all except for the Lansters. Delvoy sat in his study drinking a scotch and smoking a cigar. He was seething, all the top society could speak about was Resena!
"I didn't know the Blackwells had a daughter."
Delvoy overheard a woman say the day after her birthday bash. He had been standing in line at the deposit center when he heard the conversation of two elderly woman standing in front of him.
"I remember Dr. Blackwell! He was an amazing doctor!" One of the women said.
"Wasn't he called the loving hands or something like that?" Her friend inquired as the line moved forward.
"Not loving hands! Gifted hands! I swear you don't remember anything!"
"Oh relax! I knew it was something like that." The women continued to chat as the line progressed.
"Well, anyway, it looks like she'll be marrying that Duke Julius Spencer. He's a handsome fella, should make for a beautiful wedding."
Delvoy expected many people to speak about the birthday and the return of the prodigal daughter Blackwell, that wasn't what concerned him. What did bring him pause however, was what followed in the two women's conversation because he knew it would only be a matter of time before high society started inquiring as well.
"I wonder where she's been all this time."
"I don't know. One of my neighbor's sons worked the party though and he claims she was staying with relatives all this time."
"Well, that doesn't make any sense. I would have figured whoever her family is must be prominent too, right? How'd they hide her all this time?"
That question, that question that would soon become a burden to the Lanster name. "What happened to Resena Blackwell, and where had she been?" Delvoy knew this was the beginning of the end, once the public learned he and Larna were the relatives, it would be only a matter of time before the questions started flooding in. Delvoy had to think of something fast! At that moment, he decided to leave the center, it was time he and his wife spoke regarding this situation. Although he and Larna had not spoken much since the proposal, this was something that could ultimately destroy Lanster Software if they did not have a plan.
Back at Lanster Estate, the tension was so high you could cut it with a knife. The night Resena left with Spencer, as retaliation for Carla and Resena leaving, Delvoy fired Diana stating her embracing of Resena as an act of betrayal. He then threatened to fire any servant that maintained contact with her or Resena. He also suspended a third of his staff for over a week for witnessing his humiliation as a way to scare them into not spreading the rumors of what happened. The entire estate was in shambles, the servants of the house barley saw Larna and Marsell at all except through minor passing. If Delvoy did not do something fast, Lanster Estate would surely crumble.
"Good afternoon, Master Lanster, would you like anything for lunch?" Jessica became the new head maid after Diana was fired, a job she felt guilty for having.
"No, where is my wife?"
"I believe she is in the master bedroom sir."
"Go and inform her I need her in the study now!"
Lanster barked his orders at Jessica and slammed the study door before she could answer. Scurrying away Jessica made her way to staircase. Passing two of the other servants she made a troubling jester.
"He's in a mood today, so everyone be careful"
"When is he not in a mood these days." Mary sighed as she made her way to the kitchen. With another servant.
In the master room, Larna was sitting at her vanity seething as she read the Gazette. "The big question on all of Lenoria's mind, when will the big day be!" An entire day had gone by, and the entire country was falling over themselves because of that runt! Larna threw the paper onto the floor; she had read enough.
"How long?! How long will that pathetic paper write about that runt! I can't stand it! This is all Delvoy's fault! If he had simply-" KNOCK, KNOCK.
There was a knock on the door before Larna could finish her rant.
"What!" Larna baked at the door startling Jessica.
"It's Jessica mistress, I have a message from Master Delvoy."
Larna looked confused, she and Delvoy barley spoke these past couple of weeks, why summon for her now?
"Fine, come in."
Jessica nervously opened the door and walked in. Larna was stirring at her with irritation and confusion.
"Well! What's the message?!"
"Oh yes ma'am, Master Lanster has requested you come to the study immediately. He said it's important."
"Did he saw what the matter was regarding?" Larna asked in a tone of annoyance, who the hell did Delvoy think he was to request her after everything that has transpired.
"I'm afraid not ma'am. He only requested you."
Larna rolled her eyes; she wasn't sure what her husband wanted but she had an inkling that it probably had to do with Resena. Soon word would get out they were her family members and that could lead to disaster in the social world.
"Still a thorn in my side!" Larna seethed under her breath. Standing up she took one more look down at the paper on the floor.
"Inform all of the servants, anyone who brings a gazette in my house that has story coverage about Resena will be immediately fired."
And with that, Larna walked past a startled Jessica and made her way to the study. As she bent down to pick up the paper, Jessica had a revelation.
"I need to find me a new job and get the hell out of here!"
As Larna opened the door to the study, she could smell Delvoy's cigar burning as he yelled at someone on the communicator.
"I don't give a damn! Find out where the hell he went immediately and bring him here!"
Delvoy slammed his communicator on the desk, as he grabbed his cigar, he noticed Larna staring.
"Oh good. You're here, sit down my darling wife; we need to talk."
Now, two weeks had gone by since that day and Delvoy still had no idea where Paul Clansky, the Blackwells' attorney was. The day after Resena left, he immediately sent one of his security guards from LansCorp to his home in Conland, only the attorney was not there. Since that day, Delvoy had hired a private investigator to try and locate him, but with no luck.
"Dammit Clansky! Where the hell have you gone!"
Delvoy threw his glass into the wall; just then, Larna walked into the study with a look of anguish.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Delvoy asked as she stared at the wall the glass was thrown into. Rolling her eyes, Larna sat in the chair next to his desk.
"It seems you're having a shitty day too."