It was a more serene atmosphere in Hayward city. Business centers and government establishment have opened for the day and citizens as well as non indigenous citizens were busy going about their daily activities. Gilana, who is also fondly called Gil by her friends and relatives, had at this morning between the hours of ten and eleven am decidely driven to one of the exotic hair dressing salons in Hayward, only that this particular salon is owned and managed by her friend Zara, a very close friend of hers..Zara had cited her hair dressing business in the hub of the city, thus, had begun to enjoy massive patronage from many of the creme' de la creme of the society, especially the ones commonly known as the society ladies.
It would be Gilana's wedding the next day, and she had definitely gone to get a befitting hairdo in preparation for her big day. She had envisaged this day and it would be just a matter of hours before she changes her marital status.
No sooner had she entered the exquisitely furnished salon than her friend, Zara gave her an unconventional welcome..
"And here comes the soon-to-be, latest bride in town!", chanted Zara, with arms spread wide to receive Gilana's embrace.. "Hmmm, baby girl, the glow is all over you".
She looked at her friend, Gilana with a look of admiration, and whispered in a lilting voice, . ." I am in love with your beauty!"..
Gilana smiled with a blush on her face.. "I knew you were up to this flattering lines of yours as soon as I walked in.." She blushed further with a grin and managed still to retort with a feminine wave.. "Please, spare me the compliment and attend to my hair.. Am I the first soon-to-be bride…?"
"..Ofcourse not.. but you are certainly the first and foremost person about to get married to the rich, handsome and renowned Cross, one of the wealthiest eligible bachelors in this city.. honestly..babe..I am happy for you", replied Zara.
"Thanks girl..but seriously, it's not a big deal..", Gilana said, waving her hand casually over Zara's remark and compliment.
"Wait a minute Gil..!. Don't even go there.. Do you know how many ladies will literally kill to have that guy; a billionaire CEO of the Rogers conglomerate..of such a high repute..?" Zara responded emphatically, using her gestures almost in sync with her words, showing an air of seriousness mixed with wit and charm..
Gilana by this time had already taken a comfortable sitting posture that would afford her the luxury of comfort to continue the conversation with her long term friend...
"Well, would I say I am lucky?" She asked, her eyes rolling in their sockets, spinning her head with a pleasurable demeanor, as if to say. 'I have arrived', blushing but savoring every complimentary statement Zara made.. ..
"No.. favored.. I mean, what more can I ask for?"
"Tell me more".. asked Zara, gently pulling Gilana's hair, to begin working on it..
The conversation continued unhinderedly amidst bouts of cheers and hilary, until ofcourse, it seemed to have hit a high, as it became more and more fascinating to the two ladies..
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The billionaire CEO, Cross Ray Rogers, who happens to be the one and only son of the billionaire tycoon, Ray Rogers.. former CEO of the Rogers' business conglomerate. Besides, the prospective fact and feeling that Gilana would soon be addressed by all and sundry as Mrs Gilana Cross, the adorable and prestigious wife of Cross Ray Rogers, the well known oil magnate, business tycoon and young billionaire CEO, made her feel airie, with butterflies in her stomach..
At thirty-five, Cross was not only a successful business man who had not only inherited a vast business empire, but had also managed to carve a niche for himself in the business world.. and was now a respectable figure in the society, just like his father..
A tall handsome man, with deep blue eyes, wearing a long flowing and curly hair. A man of wits and charisma.. He wore quite a mass of neat and well trimmed beards with which he carried himself with pride and gusto... Cross was a well built masculino and wore a plethora of neat facial hair. An enigma of some sort… An alpha male in every sense of the word.. Indeed, one could easily conclude that he was every woman's dream..
However, Cross has been a very peculiar man with an unusual and unconventional way of life especially with the women. He was said to have little or no time for them.. and many wondered if he was actually sane to be seen moving around town and going about his business life without the visibility of a notable woman in his life..
Many had yet wondered why he was yet to give marriage a thought considering his achievement and success at such a young age. That was what made him unusual. Besides, he had preferred to live a secluded life, unlike his contemporaries in the business world who perceived success as a license for philandry…
Few people could only identify him when he walked into a place. He was a very private person and was unperturbed by the opinions of the masses who would rather prefer he towed a conventional lifestyle as everyone else did.
He knew that he could get just about any woman he wanted into his bed with his charm and cash.. He drove some of the most exotic and expensive cars and lived in a sprawling mansion, tastefully furnished and situated in the heart of the city. Everything about him was a cynosure. His presence commanded attention and respect.
Need wonder why his envisaged wedding was considered a day indeed throughout the entire city of Hayward… No one would have imagined that Cross would decide to settle with a woman considering the long period of celibacy.. But could there have been a reason why Cross chose a celibate life up until now? One would only help but wonder .. Albeit, in the light of it all, the only son of the former CEO of the Rogers Empire, is about to get married and he would go all out to make it a memorable one indeed…
Gilana was considered to be the lucky prey.. a prey of love and luck and fortune.. She would rather remain in this trap than be anywhere else in the world as the predator.. Enviable amongst many was she to other ladies who had tried to win the heart of this oil magnate, but whose attempt had hit a massive igneous rock…
It was going to be her big day.. and she was determined to enjoy it to the fullest… She imagined the creme de la creme of the society coming to grace her day and shower her with great felicity… She could imagine the standstill the entire Hayward city would be in, as a result of her prospective husband and father-in-law's influence and connections in Hayward city and beyond..