ACT 1

DINNER SOCIALS

"They simply go way back,"

In the Swiss alps sat a vast house sitting beautifully in the cliffs with snow running down the roof. The house itself was a prized piece that had been recently renovated with its futuristic architecture yet nostalgic-ambience. Bright tinted window walls could be seen across the outside with firm wooden walls in between.

The house was none other belonged to the Läckerbergs for almost a hundred years - who were originally reigned from and still of a real estate supremacy with also founding the club decades ago- with hundreds of acres of private land for skiing in the winter and in the warmer month horse riding and pigeon clay shooting were popular to do.

The Läckerbergs group were a secretive group of the most powerful people -the reigning few including of the Kadamskiynovs, the Hu's, the Vanderhadens and the de Belluccis- from ex-politicians to secretive old-money families these where you could find the people who had shaped the world itself.

The club itself wasn't posted nor bragged on social media. Invite was the only way in and a one-point-five billion annual fee per year.

The grand hostess herself, Elsa Läckerberg, in a beautiful white Dior jumpsuit walked into the main lounge which illuminated by the dazzling waggon wheel chandelier casting intricate shadow shapes onto the heated tiled floors.

"Everyone," her thick Swiss accent evident as another woman stood beside her an Asian woman beside her, "This is Mrs Shi. Her husband is sadly unable to attend with her so let's all give her a warm welcome. Dinner will be served in half an hour so Mr Kadamskiynov don't drink too many shots, I guarantee you the wine is to die for. Courtesy of the de Bullucci's everyone," she announced as everyone clapped and looked to the couple Anna and Abramo de Bullucci smiling as Richard Hu playfully nudged Maxim as he chuckled putting his flawlessly cut crystal glass down.

Mrs Ophelia Shi was completely over the moon to finally placing her after fifteen years on the waiting list for her and her husband a spot in the exclusive club. After had worked tirelessly to get to this level, every sacrifice in her life was worth it now.

Ophelia eyed at one person in the room.

Angelina Padilla-Hu.

After hearing rumours and stories about the woman, her husband and her family she was determined to be favoured by the woman to seek higher ambitions.

God I should have asked my brother to refill my botox she touched her cheeks

Angelina was located near the lounge far back of the room right next to the window with two other women of other backgrounds as well as chatting contently. The Eurasian woman was seated on the tanned chair with her legs in a Sussex slant. Her hair was done in a regal side-swept chignon revealing her pristine line of pearls sitting on her neck as she wore a simple knitted knee-length dress.

Ophelia had begun her journey to her goal she was stopped by a Bruneian woman.

"Trying to get to Angelina huh?" she chuckled as Ophelia -annoyed- narrowed her eyes at the woman.

"Yes? Is there a problem," she chastised.

"You can't just start a conversation with her, especially when she is talking to those two," she explained.

"Those two?" she odiously remarked.

"Yes. See that woman with the brown hair with the red jumper, that's Anna de Bellucci and the other with the ponytail and blondish hair and black chiffon shirt, that's Quinn Vanderhaden," she ardently explained as Ophelia scrunched up her nose.

"Why would the Mrs Padilla-Hu be very well acquainted with a bunch of pretentious gweilos?" she scoffed as Michelle's eyes widened as she shushed her like was a cavewoman.

"Watch what you say here, Mrs Shi. You do not want to get on the wrong foot with other people, especially those people," Michelle snapped.

"Who are those people then?" she effused as the diverted their heads to the women.

"Anna de Bellucci, wife of Abramo de Bellucci. During the end of the reign of the Medici's in Florence back in the seventeen hundreds, they took a portion of the families money by inheritance as they were distant relatives of the lot while the other was mainly inherited to some popes. They were smart about it and they own basically anything and fund anything in western Europe. I heard they secretly fund Nutella and get five per cent of the revenue cause Abramo absolutely loves a good spread on his toast.

The other one Quinn Vanderhaden is the wife to none other than Killian Vanderhaden. I heard their son is quite the snag as a future suitor, very handsome and recently graduated. They have strong ties to the Kadasmkiynovs. They date back to the great reign of Russia when it was in its prime. Made basically almost all the jewellery and still have it. They have great connections and own most of rarest mines, especially in Brazil for diamonds. France was a good ally to, I heard Marie Antoinette simply spent as much as she could to get her hands on a few of their pieces. They still own some historic pieces away from government and museum eyes. They own billions and billions,"

"How can I get my hands on a piece?" Ophelia said intrigued.

"Oh no. You can't just like that. Especially if your new like you to this club. Your family must simply have old ties for them to just hand over a historic piece. They're not like you average exclusive jewellers like Graff even for us bunch. They don't come to you, you have to come to them. You have to fly all the way to Antwerp. And the location changes every time I heard," she baffled, "And their pieces start in the millions and have been rumoured to extend to the billions,"

Elsa Läckerberg clicked the back end of a knife onto a champagne glass soliciting everyone's attention.

"Everyone, with chefs flown in from the Frantźen restaurant in Stockholm they have certainly whipped up a sumptuous meal. Please enjoy as you follow me," she guided them elegantly to a large door as she opened it as it revealed a large dining hall with a large table with servants in every corner waiting to serve as they stood profoundly and their beautiful livery and a napkin flopped over their right elbow.

As they were seated in a perfectly constructive manner. At the far end of the table sat Michelle and Ophelia as they soon served their entree.

Ophelia looked up as she saw the layout of the table. Though most amusingly and to her dismay was the hostess not seating in the centre front of the table, rather a European contently chatting to Richard.

"Tell me-,"

"Michelle,"

"Michelle, thank you, doesn't the Hu's bestow a daughter?" she asked as Michelle nodded.

"Yes, I've met her with my younger one. She's quite the lady. Very beautiful I must say. Not a hint of makeup or fakes," she claimed as she finally caught on what her new acquaintance was doing, "Oh, no,"

"What?" she nonchalantly said

"I know that look. I'm afraid she is already courted," as Ophelia looked utterly mystified. Guess her plans for her eldest son are ruined.

"Your joking," she silently exclaimed.

"No, no. Believe me, everyone was quite shocked,"

"To whom?!" as Michelle's eyebrows were raised to the Maxim.

"Maxim's son. Would also be quite the bachelor if he wasn't betrothed to Angelina's daughter," she revealed as she shook her head in disbelief.

"The Hu's?! To a European. Is Angelina desperate for one of those pretty Eurasian babies like she is?" she brusquely whispered.

"Watch your tongue, Shi. Do you know why that man is sitting in the centre and not the hostess? That is Maxim Kadamskiynov," she indicated as Ophelia didn't look impressed at all.

"Never heard of them," she scoffed as Michelle looked like she was about to bang her head on the table.

"You truly are new to our milieu," the brunette rolled her eyes as the servant took their plates.

"You going to explain?" she mocked

"The Kadamskiynovs are a powerful Russian household, dating before the reign of Catherine the Great. They were quite wealthy beforehand but they rose when Catherine the Great came into power. Back when Russian, the UK, Greece, Denmark, France and etc were all allies and had a royal connection they this family funded them. Russia was first, Catherine built a great relationship with the family and in return, all their riches went into their bank for safekeeping. Soon they set up banks in London, France, Greece, etc and soon other royals followed to and in return of the funding they gave their services to the family.

Its rumour that the Kadamskiynovs was the reason that Russia was one of the greatest European empire at the time cause of the secret banking and loans they did with them. But during Russia's descent, the Kadamskiynovs saw and quickly fled to London at the time and watch their ally go down in pursuit. But the thing is they still had their secret strings and banking still going on so a decade after the fall they fled back and kept building up their empire. A lot of people forgot about them. Now they basically control everything. Everything, the Queen, the Russian president, everything. And best of all, the Tzar had left a majority of their jewels in safekeeping until they thought they would come again. Now they control almost half of the world's money and most likely ours, and with a Hu in marriage, the wealth is only to be imagined as astronomical,"

Ophelia had no words left. She was speechless. This would truly be a marriage that would seal its fate in history.

At the other end of the table, Maxim was already finished with his main as in his right hand was a glass being filled with wine by a waiter.

"Oh please do tell me more about the wedding and such, my daughter Alice can't bare the wait. Tell me at least a few details?" The champagne haired woman eloquently asked as Angelina only smiled.

"well, Maxim? Should we shed some light?" Angelina chuckled.

"The ceremony will be held in the Winter Palace in the Grand Church like all of us did," Maxim unveiled as The wives gasped in adoration.

"That's simply beautiful. I can see now Ange, Talia will be the beautiful Alexandra Fedorova of the event," Anna sighed dreamingly.

"Yes, beautiful, compare her to an empress that died horrifically," Quinn sighed

"that's not what I meant!" she objected.

"However will pull off that? Wouldn't the public be wondering?" Abramo asked.

"Every few decades the Winter Palace is closed off for an entire two days. Every ancestor of mine after a few decades of the death of the royal family we decided it would be a tradition to renew the tradition. Cars come in discreetly through a secret tunnel and the event is held quietly. Guards are changed to our security team. The next day specialists clean up any left trace of the event and the Palace is held once again for visitors," he explained.

"It's going to be beautiful. Talia will be beautiful," Elsa commented.

"Is the gown going to be traditional or full-on haute couture?" Quinn asked.

"A bit of both. We kept the gown design between me and only Talia instead of the entire family," Angelina said.

"Oh please tell us who is designing it?" Elsa pouted as Ange shook her head.

"Not a word," Ange winked as Elsa sighed in disappointment.

"I wish my Gianna was more like your daughter," Anna began, "She's always with a guy you know. A wild one she is. If we told her she was to be courted to someone she would go nuts and not comply. It would be hard to find a man who would put up to a woman with flings here and there,"

"Huh, my son is the same," Quinn added, "Though he's quite the bachelor I'm not sure if even if we found him a suitor that he would properly impregnate the woman. I mean I'm not surprised if Cesar has a lot of mistresses at his disposal but it will be hard finding him a girl of good origin that can put up with him, these days"

"I got Talia a person to teach her how to be a good wife. It prepares her for what might come. Even if -which I'm very sure won't happen- Mikhail does have mistresses and flings. It helps her handle the debacle in a well-mannered way. If you want I can give you the person's number and word," Angelina offered as Quinn nodded vigorously.

"Talia and Mikhail make such the good couple. Facade or whatnot they look like they are going to have a blissful marriage. Tell me how you did it?" Anna asked Maxim as he pridefully smiled.

"Well to be honest if I hadn't met Talia I don't think we couldn't have found a better match. Originally I've thought of the idea too late, just before I met Talia. The idea is to have a marriage to be established before the arrival of children. You let them grow up together and tutor them in the right manner to treat each other. Keep them away from other distractions and you've got yourself a lovey-dovey relationship at one point or another. Regardless if they friends or in love. It's like when you get a dog, you want a puppy so they grow up with you," Maxim explained as Richard irked in his head:

'It's not like people have used that method'

"Regardless I agree with Quinn, Talia is beautifully well trained. You did an excellent job, Ange. I left Mikhail for his mother's caring so she could teach him in proper gentlemanly. You know discussing over books and those American movies with boundless teenager romance. Works like a charm," Maxim took a sip of his wine.

"I should just find a suitor quick for Gianna. I mean she is the eldest and we've tried for more kids but we only got another daughter. I mean I am very sure Gianna is capable of running but we also need to secure heirs," Anna complained, "Quinn do you know if Cesar has any friends?"

"I'll look into it," Quinn chuckled as she then sighed, "I'm not sure what to do about Mila though,"

"Oh don't say that Mila would make a beautiful partner, fiercely loyal," Angelina said.

"Oh stop it, Ange, even if Talia wasn't being promised to Mikhail she would have a swarm of men and mothers for her hand in marriage regardless of her money," Quinn jeered, "All my daughter does is eat and eat and complains. She's lucky enough she comes from a family of ours or she wouldn't find a suitable boy. Oh well, we have to find one of those gold-digging families with good status I suppose,"

Elsa Läckerberg exchanged looks with her husband as Angelina kept her unemotional expression keeping her temper in place.

"Dear," Killian said putting a hand on his wife's.

"What?!" she sneered, "If you weren't so chill about it maybe she would focus on her weight," as the whole table looked towards Quinn as Richard and Maxim silently exchanged looks.

"Here we go," Abramo muttered as he sipped his wine.

"She has a brother that can protect her," Killian said putting his glass down.

"I'm not surprised if Cesar is embarrassed by his own sister," Quinn said as she slapped the napkin down.

"What do you mean?! Are you really ashamed of your own daughter?" Killian snapped as Quinn rolled her eyes, "Not everyone can have a model figure like you Quinn,"

"You think your family would have accepted me if I looked like a balloon?!" she imprudently exclaimed

"Are you calling my daughter a balloon?!" he got up as the servants gulped.

"Well, I didn't say that, did I?! I said do you think your family have accepted me?" she restated.

"Well, you come from a family of great wealth,"

"Does this usually happen?" Ophelia whispered.

"Once a month at most," Michelle informed

"Oh only the cause of me being married to you is because of my wealth?!"

"(You went up to me in the bloody party and were running your hands on my arm seductively like a sl*t)" he yelled in German.

"(Don't make up stories you pig!)" she jabbed her finger

"That's what happened," Maxim whispered to Richard

"Shouldn't we stop this?" Angelina scolded

"No, no, Ange this why I come," Maxim chuckled as he sipped his wine.

"I'm surprised they're still together," Abramo muttered.

"(Oh yes! And you were constantly whispering things in my ear!)"

"Quatsch!*" she denied

*German for Nonsense in a heated argument

"(I've put up with your damn mistresses phase! You know how many women I've slapped?!)" as Killian further cursed

"(You're going to hear this from your mother!)" as stormed out flicking her hair

"Leck mich!*" he then followed as there was a dangerous long pause.

* Meaning lick me in german, the equivalent to 'bite me'

"How about we bring an encore of dessert in, special sticky chocolate cake?" Elsa offered as everyone nodded.

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SO.....

HERE WAS SOME INSIGHT ON THE LIVES ON THE PARENTS AND BACKGROUND WHAT DID YOU THINK?

QUINN IS A HORRIBLE MOTHER ISN'T SHE?!

MAXIM IS A MOOD.

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