Chapter 85 - New Bride For Daniel

Morris Mansion [Friday Evening]

Anthony worriedly asked Catherine "Is everything ready? James and Michael will come any moment now"

"Don't worry dad, I have taken care of everything, you just need to go and get ready"

"Where is Harry?" He looked here and there searching for his son.

"He is getting ready, stop worrying, everything will go smoothly"

"Yeah and don't forget what I told you earlier." Anthony looked at Catherine with a look full of warning

"Oh god, I won't forget, I also want Rachel and Daniel to date soon, I won't come in between, happy?"

"Very happy and now go and get ready."

Smiling at her father-in-law who is acting like a baby, Catherine too went to change her clothes.

After some time, Harry, Cat and Anthony dressed up well and were sitting in the living room waiting for their guests.

Rachel and James arrived on time, Rachel wore a blue knee length one-piece, silver hoops in her ears and a silver watch on her wrist, although she dressed up simply, she looked elegant with her waist long hair kept open. The dress she wore was one of the dresses she bought when she went out shopping with Catherine.

Caterine welcomed James and Rachel with a cheerful smile, "You are looking really pretty Rachel" Catherine complimented her.

"Thanks auntie, you are not looking any less pretty, I really need tips on how well you maintained yourself at this age." Rachel praised her as Catherine indeed looked young and pretty, she looked more like Daniel's elder sister instead of his mother.

"You really have a cheeky tongue, don't you" Catherine smiled and was very happy with the bond she was developing with Rachel.

All the men smiled seeing the interaction between the two ladies, Harry was really happy as it has been a lot of time since he saw this kind of smile on Catherine's face, the one she had when she was with her friend Liz, he understood Catherine was searching for her best friend in Rachel.

"Rachel this is Harry, your father's best friend" Catherine introduced Harry to Rachel as this was the first time they were meeting.

"Hello dear" Harry extended his hand for a handshake, he got very emotional as she reminded him of William.

"Hello uncle Harry." Rachel smiled, and shook hands with him, she was not sure why but she felt a sudden warmth in her heart when she saw Harry, she felt like she was meeting her father, she realized somewhere she was searching for her parents in Harry and Catherine.

"You look a lot like your mother" Harry commented.

"See, didn't I tell you, and look at her eyes they are exactly like Will's" Catherine got really excited discussing her old friends.

Harry nodded in agreement as Rachel indeed had grey eyes like William.

James felt uncomfortable remembering his son and daughter-in-law but he didn't show it on his face as Rachel looked really happy at the mention of her parents.

Harry then attended James and went to him "How are you uncle? How is your health?" 

"I am fine Harry, see for yourself how fit I am, I am only growing younger everyday" Everyone laughed at James' quirky way of speaking.

Rachel and James too settled on one of the couches.

"Where are others?" James asked as there was no one else except for them.

"They are all on the way." Anthony answered.

Harry then enquired Rachel, "So, how is work going on?"

"It is going good uncle, currently I am finishing the pending projects and soon I'll be working on a new project, need to work hard to crack it?"

"May I know which one is it that you need to work hard for" as they are into similar businesses he asked.

"It is the Carlson project but I didn't get it yet, it is in the initial stage, we will be submitting it this monday, this week I will know if I cracked it or not, I really want to get this project but it seems a bit difficult." Rachel finally found someone she could discuss her work with and she found a high level of comfortness with Harry and frankly told him what's up with her.

Harry too was happy as Rachel was not hesitating or acting awkward around him, "Yeah, I know about this project, it is being handled by the new CEO, Jessica Carlson, she recently took charge of the Carlson industries, she is very talented but is equally stubborn and a tough person to deal with." He too enlightened her with more knowledge he had about this project.

"I too heard the same about her, so me and my team are trying our best to crack this deal"

"Yeah indeed, if you get this deal, you will rule the cosmetics market." 

"Yeah that's why I am focussing solely on this project."

"Isn't that a risk you are taking?"

"Yes I am taking a huge risk but I need to grab this project. It will help me set a brand in the cosmetics Industry across the globe, as my brand is popular in Europe, with this deal the brand presence will reach Asia, Africa and American markets. Since, the gain is higher so is the risk" She explained her decision and Harry was really impressed by her.

"William would have been so proud of you Rachel, if you need any kind of help or advice regarding this deal, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Uncle do you know Jessica Carlson personally?" With Harry's experience in the business world, there are higher chances of him knowing almost everyone very well.

"Yes, she is my close friend's daughter, I have known her since she was born. She is the most stubborn person I have ever met in my life and believe me she is equally amazing."

Just then Michael came and seeing Rachel and Harry in a deep discussion, he quietly joined his friends and observed these two just like them.

"Oh, is it going to be very difficult to deal with her?" Rachel wanted to get an idea of what kind of a person she will be dealing with.

"It depends on how you handle her, one thing I'll warn you about Jessica is that you should be yourself when you are dealing with her, she doesn't like people who don't have their own opinions and who try to change themselves according to the requirement of the situation or according to Jessica's will, you know how people agree to everything one says even if they don't just to get a project, she hates it."

Hearing Jessica's name again and again, Anthony couldn't control himself and inquired "Is this the same Jessica who recently came back from the States?"

"Yes dad it is her."

"She is indeed that one right who is a very close friend of Daniel?" Anthony again asked another question.

"Obviously dad, how many Jessica Carlsons do you know?" Harry got confused the way his dad was talking and also felt something was fishy.

"Oh, what is your opinion of having her as your daughter-in-law?" Anthony suddenly asked, surprising everyone in the room.

"What? For Jimmy?" Harry hesitatingly asked.

"No, for our Danny."

Harry opened his mouth in surprise as a few hours back his dad warned him not to do anything that would mess up Daniel and Rachel's relationship and also asked him not to spend too much time with either of them and let them spend time with each other instead as he is hoping for them to date soon and now his father was finding a new bride for Daniel.

James and Michael too were surprised as they didn't expect Anthony to say something like this, Catherine understood her father-in-law's intentions but she was still worried as she didn't like having misunderstandings pop-up between Daniel and Rachel.

Rachel was shocked too but she tried to look calm and indifferent but in her heart she was very angry with grandpa Anthony.

Not getting any reply from anyone, Anthony again questioned, "Jessica is your friend's daughter and Danny's classmate too, they have been friends for so many years, wouldn't they be perfect for each other?"

Harry felt awkward and spoke in a soft voice "Yes dad but Jessica is not right for our Danny, they have very different personalities."

"Even perfect, don't you know how opposites attract each other? You and your wife too are the perfect examples, you two have opposite personalities and you two were childhood friends just like Daniel and Jessica, I think she would be absolutely perfect for him."

"But dad don't you think you are being too nosy and although they are friends, she is not right for him." Harry tried to persuade his father to give up on such an eerie idea.

"Why is she not right? You have selected your life partner when you were in high school so you won't understand. What if Danny ends up being single forever and never finds a girl for himself? It is our responsibility to find a bride for him, and just like you two, they are also high school friends, so they would be perfect for each other." Anthony was not ready to give up.