Chapter 2 Treasure

When Caroline arrived at her penthouse in New York, she was

greeted by her maid, Susan. “Welcome, Miss King.”

“Hello,

Susan.” Susan has been working for the King family since Caroline was twelve

years old. Since then, Susan has taken care of Caroline’s needs. Susan is even

considered part of the family. Being Caroline’s loyal servant, Susan moved with

Caroline when she got her penthouse four years ago.

“How was

your trip, Miss King?” Caroline responded, “it could have been better, but

nothing is perfect in this world, right?”

“Miss King…

your nutritionist called. He asked if you are taking care of yourself. He

wanted to know if you were eating your balanced meals.” Caroline nodded. “Okay.

I will give him a call, thank you.” Caroline started to make her way towards

the living room and Susan grabbed Caroline’s suitcases to her room.

When

Caroline took a sit on the sofa, her cellphone suddenly rang. She looked at the

caller ID before answering the call. “Hello?” Said the man over the phone. “Hey

dad, how are you?”

“I’m well, pumpkin. How was your birthday?”

Asked her father. “I was okay. I landed back in New York an hour ago and I am

in my penthouse right now. You know how traffic is.”

“I’m glad you’re back from your trip. Why

don’t you come over for dinner and tell me how your trip went? I would love to

hear about it. And I still have a birthday present for you”

“Another

gift? But you already gave me the private jet.”

“Yeah, but

I have something very special for you.”

“Okay that dad, I’ll go over for

dinner.” After a pause Caroline added, “will Mason be there?”

“Well of course, he lives here

after all.” Caroline rolled her eyes and sweetly spoke, “yes, I was just asking

because I missed my older brother. I haven’t seen him since his birthday. And

he still owes me my birthday gift.”

“You’re right, darling. But his birthday

wasn’t that long ago. Though, I am happy that you to get along so well- given

the circumstances.” Caroline spoke, “well, I will see you soon, dad.” Caroline

finished her call and let her cellphone fall on the sofa. She laid back for a

bit on the sofa and then got up to get ready.

After taking a shower and picking an outfit,

she brushed her long brown hair and put on some light makeup. She made sure to

not put on too much make since she was only meeting her father and brother for

dinner. Plus, she doesn’t really need it. With or without makeup, her beauty still

beams.

Once she was ready, she called her

chauffeur and let Susan know she was leaving. Caroline got on the elevator and called

chief assistant, Joseph. “Hello? Joseph I am back from Cancun… I want a report

of what happened while I was gone… I also want you to investigate someone for

me… Liam Sabbatini.” She finished her call and got on the white Maserati.

When

Caroline arrived at her father’s penthouse, she was politely welcomed by

Francis. “Welcome, Miss King.” Francis has been working as the butler for the

Kings even before Caroline was born. “Thank you, Francis,” said Caroline with her

signature smile. “There is my beautiful girl!” Victor greeted as he stepped

down the stairs. “Hi dad. What’s with the whole enthusiasm?” Caroline asked.

“What? Can’t a dad be excited to see his little girl? Well, she is not so

little anymore. She is an adult now. Oh! They grow up so fast.”

“Yes, dad. By the way, where is

Mason?” Caroline asked. “Oh, your brother might be coming here soon, he just

got out of the company,” Victor spoke, “come on, why don’t we go sit in the

living room.” Caroline nodded as they started to make their way towards the

spacious living room. They sat on the white upholstered style couch and Francis

opened a bottle of red wine and served two glasses. He handed one glass to

Victor and one glass to Caroline. Victor made a gesture to Francis. “So, tell

me, pumpkin, how was your trip?”

“It was good. I bought the hotel I

wanted to buy and celebrated my birthday there. It was a fun trip.” Actually,

she was lying. Her entire trip was ruined by Sofia and Christopher, all the

good memories she had before she found out about them where turned into

terrible memories. Caroline did not want her father to find out about what

happened with Christopher. She knew that if she told him, he would probably

kill Christopher. She wanted to deal with Christopher and Sofia by herself. “Really?

You sounded like you didn’t enjoy your trip over the phone?”

“Really? No, I didn’t mean to sound

like that. It might be because I’m a bit tired from the long trip.”

“How are things going with

Christopher? Did you break up with him?” Caroline chuckled. “Not at all,

everything is good.” Another lie. “He said he was going to stay a few days

there for some business. He was ‘obligated’ to stay because of his father; you

know how it is. You have done that many times with Mason.”

“Well enough about him. How is your mother?

Did she call you to wish you a happy birthday?”

“She is doing well. She did call me

to wish me a happy birthday.”

“Is she still in Paris?”

“Yes, she is still there with

Mark,” Caroline answered as Francis entered the living room with two red velvet

jewelry boxes in his hands. “Oh, that’s good… Here is the present I wanted to

give you.” Francis handed the jewelry boxes to Victor and went to the kitchen. “This

is a necklace,” said Victor as he opened the biggest of the jewelry box.

In the jewelry box there was just a

Cartier 24K yellow golden chain with nothing more. Victor opened the other box,

there was a 24K yellow golden key with a K design at the top and a little ruby

under the K.

As Victor attached the key to the

necklace he said, “this key has been passed down from generation to generation

to the women of the King family. You are the first woman of this generation, so

now you get the key, and then it is passed down. Your grandmother gave it to me

to give to you on your twenty first birthday. This key it is given to the first

woman of the King blood of that generation on their twenty first birthday.”

Victor was putting the necklace on Caroline’s

neck when she asked, “If this is passed on by blood how come grandma had it?” Victor

chuckled. “Well, my grandmother was only able to have one child, and that was

my dad. When he got married and had me and your uncle, my grandmother decided

to give this key to your grandmother to give to her first granddaughter.”

“What am I

supposed to do with this key then?” Caroline asked while looking at the key hanging

on her neck. “You are supposed to find the treasure and open it.”

“Treasure? Do you think this is a fairytale

story? Are you messing with me?” Caroline asked while chuckling. “No, I am not

messing with you. Before your grandmother passed away, she told me to give you

this on your twenty first birthday.”

“Okay then if this story is real, then tell me

where this ‘treasure’ you speak of is located.” Victor explained, “I don’t know

where it is. The men of the family don’t get to know where the treasure is hidden,

and your grandma did not know where it was either because she was not of blood,

so my grandmother never told her where it was.” Caroline crossed her arms and

said, “I call BS.” Victor grabbed Caroline’s hands, “it is true. You must

believe me-.” Caroline interrupted, “so you’re telling me that the company is

passed down to the men of the family and a mere key is passed down to the women

of the family?”

“Yes… and it is not a mere key.

That key holds great treasure. You have to believe me.”

“How can I believe you when you

have always loved to prank me.” How could Caroline know that her dad was

telling the truth? Besides if it were true, her grandmother would never leave

her such thing. Her grandmother hated her. She just decided to just play along

with her dad, but still thinking that it was a prank. “Ahem... Mister King Jr.

has arrived,” said Francis.

Sitting at

the dinner table, Victor being the head of the family, sat in the end of the

table. Mason sat to his right hand and Caroline sat to his left. Francis poured

the glasses of wine and then served the dinner. They were having fettuccine

alfredo, Caroline’s favorite. Caroline only knows of two Americans that can

make the right fettuccine al burro. One of them is her cousin and the other

one, Francis. “How is the company doing, Mason?” Caroline asked. “It’s going

well,” Mason replied as he took a sip of the white wine.

“Dad, are you going to keep Mason

as the executive VP forever? Why don’t you make him the CEO already? I know you

are the one mostly managing the company, but after all of these years, he might

be ready,” Caroline spoke. “When I see he is ready, I’ll hand him the company, but

for now he is still on probation.” Mason Chuckled. “How am I still on probation-.”

Victor cut him off, “when you show me you are ready, I’ll give you the company.”

They enjoyed the food and continued with small talk.

After dinner,

they were gathered in the living room. “Caroline, Gabriella Sabbatini contacted

me today. She told me that she called your mom, but she said she did not answer,”

said Victor. “Gabriella? Sabbatini? That name and that surname…” Caroline thought for a moment and remembered that Gabriella was a good friend

of her mother’s, “but that last name… could the man she met in Mexico

related to Gabriella?”

“How is she? I haven’t heard from

her in years,” Caroline spoke. “She is doing well. She invited us to her home tomorrow

night. Her son just came back from a business trip and she wanted us to have

dinner with them. She told me that she would invite your mom but since she is

in France, she won’t make it,” Victor explained.

The King family and the Sabbatini

family have been friends since before Caroline was born. When Caroline was a

little girl, her family used to always hang out with the Sabbatinis since they

also had a small child. But one day, suddenly, they lost contact and because

Caroline was so little, she does not remember this. She just remembers

Gabriella from the time she went with her mother to her first New York Fashion

Week.

“Tomorrow

at seven p.m. sharp we will arrive there,” said Victor. “How about I meet you

there?” Caroline asked. “Yes dad, how about we meet you there?” Mason followed

up. “Well, if you don’t want to go there with your old man then fine, meet me

there. I’ll send you the address.”

“Sometimes

he is just so petty,” Caroline thought. “Well, it’s getting late dad; I

better get home. I have to work tomorrow,” Caroline uttered. “Yes, dad.

Caroline needs to get her rest,” Mason added.

Caroline was about to call her

chauffeur when she suddenly got a call, it was Sebastian, her best friend. Sebastian

and Caroline were childhood friends. His dad and her mother were close friends.

“Hello, Care Bear. I heard you are back,” said Sebastian. “Yes, I am. Where are

you? I can barely hear you.”

“I’m at the Blue Diamond club with Jennie and Sephie.

You should come.”

“Alright. I’m on my way,” said Caroline as she

grabbed her purse. She hung up the phone and called her chauffeur.

At the

club, Caroline found Sebastian sitting at a booth with Jennifer and Persephone.

He sat next to Jennifer and Persephone was sitting in front of them. Caroline

made her way to the booth. “Hi guys!” Caroline was so excited to see her best

friends. Persephone got up from her seat and hugged her, “Happy late birthday, Caroline!”

“Thank you,

Sephie!” Sebastian also stood up and hugged Caroline, “Happy Birthday, Care Bear!”

Said Sebastian. “Thank you, Teddy,” replied Caroline. Jennifer also stood up

and hugged Caroline and wished her a happy birthday. Caroline sat next to Persephone

and ordered a martini.

“I felt so

sad that you guys could not go with me to Cancun,” Caroline admitted. “Yes, I

know, but we were all stuck at work. I’m sorry we could not be there for your birthday,”

said Sebastian. “It’s alright, Teddy. How’s the filming going?” Caroline spoke.

“It’s alright. The movie premier is already set.” Persephone spoke, “that’s

great. I can’t wait to see it.”

Persephone is

Caroline’s best friend. They met in middle school and have been best friends

since then. Jennifer is Sebastian’s girlfriend; they have been together for

three years. Jennifer did not like Caroline at first. She believed Caroline

would be a threat to her relationship. But then she changed her judgement when

Caroline started to date Christopher.

The waiter brought

over the martini to Caroline. “Where is Christopher?” Jennifer asked. “I dumped

him. Turns out he is just a piece of shit like all the men.”

“Hey, you

don’t have to speak so ill of us. There are still men in this world that are

good. Though trash like him make us all look bad,” Sebastian spoke, “I am glad

you dumped his ***.”

“Why did

you break up with him?” Jennifer asked. Her anxiety returned. She felt even

more threatened by Caroline now. “He cheated on me… with Sofia.”

It was now

one in the morning. Caroline had a great time with her friends. “Guys I called

my chauffeur, it’s time to leave.” She had called her chauffeur to pick her up.

Caroline was a bit tipsy but not drunk. “Okay thanks for offering to drop us

off,” said Jennifer. “Of course. Anytime,” Caroline responded.

After

taking friends home, her chauffeur finally arrived at her penthouse. She took

off her heels and walked to her room. She threw herself onto the king-sized bed,

she could finally rest. She did her night routine then she changed into a gray

babydoll and went sleep.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***