Rayleigh Kaufman, 36 years old and a lesbian, works as a business development
manager for a multinational corporation involved in food trafficking between
Europe and the United States. Her parents created the company into what it is
today, and they wanted Rayleigh and her brother to carry it forward. But she
has no interest in carrying on the family business and would much rather devote
her time to her passion for baking or cooking. When she needed to release some
steam, she would visit her younger sister at her apartment and spend time in
her kitchen.
"Does Brother Matthias know you're here?" Sarah Isabelle, one of the siblings of Kaufman, has established herself as an influential figure in the industry of high fashion, particularly in the vibrant city of New York. Her upbringing was carefully orchestrated with the intention of securing a marriage with a wealthy tycoon or their children, which allowed for the flourishing of the Kaufman industries.
"Of course he knows; it was the least he could do."
The Kaufman siblings have garnered significant popularity within the United States, particularly among the rich and famous billionaire community. Notably, their wealth is not their sole distinguishing factor, as they also possess the appearance of divine lineage. The elder sibling and sole male heir of the family has gained considerable reputation due to his striking physical appearance. Famous for their beauty beyond compare, Rayleigh and Sarah Isabelle Kaufman have earned the title of being hailed as the embodiments of beauty on earth. "He's the best brother we could have asked for," Sarah said.
"I agree, but do you intend to marry Norman? The youngest son of a French millionaire?"
"He's gay, which is beneficial to us. At the very least, to feed our parents' egos, how about you?"
"I'm going to follow Matt and do whatever he needs me to do while slowly opening my cafe." Rayleigh has always been the center of attention due to her wit and brilliance, and her parents hope she will wed the son of a United States senator so she can run the family business with her brother, Matthias. According to TIMES magazine readers, she is one of the top ten most attractive people in the world.
Sarah couldn't help but tease her older sister, Rayleigh, as they stood in the kitchen together. With a mischievous grin, she playfully remarked, "You know, Rayleigh, you don't exactly look like a chef with a body like that." Rayleigh towers over Matthias at an impressive 182 cm in height, and her slim frame is ripe with toned muscle. She has the kind of body that would make any man die for her, and she's better at martial arts and politics than Matthias. However, she's terrible at business, and Rayleigh would rather spend her time in the kitchen than following her parents' wishes and getting involved in politics.
Rayleigh couldn't help but let out a mischievous laugh as she looked at her sister, Sarah, who was dressed in a stunning outfit. The vibrant colors and stylish cuts perfectly accentuated Sarah's natural beauty. With a playful glint in her eye, Rayleigh couldn't resist teasing her. "You know, Sarah," Rayleigh said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, "you don't exactly fit the stereotypical image of a lesbian when you're dressed like that." Sarah raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and curiosity evident on her face.
"Oh, come on, have you seen yourself?"
"What are the chances? Our parents have two gay daughters." Rayleigh couldn't help but burst into laughter. Her contagious laughter filled the air. Meanwhile, Sarah simply shook her head in response.
As some of the wealthiest children do, they give off the impression to the general public that they are a distant and uncaring group of siblings. Some have hypothesized that Matthias and Rayleigh are in conflict because they are both superiors and potential heirs to the business empire. Although Rayleigh has no interest in the company, she has been pleading to Matthias ever since they were young adults for him to let her follow in his footsteps instead and help him, on the condition that he gives her the opportunity to do what she enjoys the most, which is cooking and baking. And how Sarah wailed on Matthias' shoulder if she had to marry some billionaire's kid; at the very least, find her a gay son or she'll run away or commit suicide. Matthias, the oldest of the Kaufmans, found himself surrounded by a handful of sisters. Rayleigh and Sarah are two girls who brought both joy and chaos into his life. Matthias often marveled at the unique bond he shared with his sisters as they navigated the ups and downs of life together. From playful adventures in the backyard to heartfelt conversations late at night, their sibling bond grew stronger with each passing day. Matthias cherished the moments spent with Rayleigh and Sarah.
Matthias was married to one of the American's business magnate's daughters; it was completely business, but the two fell in love the first time they met. It was easy for him to give his consent to the marriage; he fell for her, and his future wife works as a surgeon at one of the busiest hospitals in New York. She may not be as stunningly attractive as the other suitors, or Rayleigh and Sarah Isabelle, but there is something about her that has won the hearts of the Kaufman children and the admiration of their oldest sibling.
"Is he coming over for dinner?"
"With Beth? I'm not sure; Beth is busy, isn't she?" Rayleigh responded to her sister.
"Are you certain you want to marry the daughter of a British businessman?
"What's her name? Gertrude?" Sarah couldn't contain her amusement any longer and burst out laughing.
"Oi! "It's Sophia!" When they first laid eyes on the woman, Gertrude was the name that came to them; the name fit her well. Rayleigh warns her sister, "Don't be rude to her," before breaking into giggles. Once her parents are aware of Rayleigh's sexual orientation, they will continue to support her, granted that she is willing to marry a lady of their choosing. Sarah is still hiding because she has less influence in the household and less power to bargain than her two older siblings, so Rayleigh's agreement is necessary to prevent her parents from shifting toward her younger sister and destroying everything. Since Sarah isn't particularly skilled in business, politics, or martial arts, Matthias and Rayleigh have taken extra precautions to ensure her safety.
"Damn, okay, but seriously?"
"I never said yes, but she's crazy; she stalks me everywhere, she bothers me about everything, and she drives me insane in a bad way." As Rayleigh stood in Sarah's kitchen, she could feel the excitement building within her. The aroma of spices filled the air as she meticulously prepared the day's final recipe. The anticipation was palpable, and her sister couldn't help but wonder what culinary masterpiece awaited her taste buds. Even though it'll be just her and Matthias's wife, her older sister went ahead and made a full-fledged lavish meal for them.
"You should open your own fine dining business, sister."
"Oh, like your parents are going to agree with it." When she finished, she rolled her eyes and admired her work.
As they sat at the table, their eyes were fixed on the
delectable spread that had been carefully arranged before them. The tantalizing
aroma wafted through the air, teasing their senses and making their mouths
water. Their gaze lingered on each dish, taking in the vibrant colors, the
intricate presentation, and the promise of an exciting meal. As the clock
ticked away, signaling the nearing of dinner time, anticipation filled the air.
The tantalizing aroma of a seafood stew wafted through the kitchen, promising a
delectable feast. "Damn, I
don't want to pay for an overpriced dinner at an Italian restaurant
again." Sarah stood in awe, her lips curling into a smile that radiated
disbelief.
"Just bought the ingredients; your sexy older sister will prepare it for you." Sarah bursts out laughing and gives her sister a big hug when she hears how proud she sounds.
Not long after Sarah settled into her chair, a sudden ring of the doorbell echoed through the spacious space. As she opened the door, a warm smile spread across her face. Standing before her were Matthias and his lovely wife, a pleasant visit that brought a sense of joy to the air. With a beaming smile, Sarah exclaimed, "Oh, I'm so glad you could come!"
"Ah, tonight is the important dinner for you guys, and you invite me; of course, I need to come."
"Awww, why must you be my brother's wife if I can treat you better than he does?" Sarah makes a pouty expression.
"Oi!" Sister Sarah is being hugged by Matthias's wife, but he pulls her away, warning, "Don't start, Sarah."
"Jesus Christ, what a jealous man!" Rayleigh grabs a bottle of red wine from her brother's hand as they all share a hearty laugh, and Sarah leads them into the dining area of her home.
Everyone compliments Rayleigh's cuisine; she's always been the best cook since they were kids, and Matthias and Sarah adore him. That night, they are discussing the planning for Sarah's wedding with Norman Duval, the son of a French millionaire. Norman is the only man who is suited for Sarah Isabelle Kaufman, and even if she has to feed the ego of her parents, she is going to do it in a way that is acceptable to her.
Duval Entreprise's close ties to the French government and its extraordinary success in the United States, as well as the importance of the wedding to the Kaufman family, have made her acutely conscious of the fact that she was raised in the best possible setting to meet all the prerequisites of an ideal bride. They will have more authority in their firm as a result of having Duval Enterprise back them out. Duval thinks that they can take over even more markets in France and the US with the help of Kaufman's wealth and influence. The topic of discussion shifted back to Rayleigh, specifically the question of whether or not she would wed the strange lady who had been stalking her for the sake of her parents.
"Eh, if they force me to marry her, I'll get them to agree to let me open my own restaurant and bakery; otherwise, I'll find someone else. I'm not going to marry a stalker." Rayleigh sat at the elegant dining table, a glass of rich red wine in hand. The deep crimson liquid swirled gently as he took a sip, savoring the exquisite flavor that danced on his palate. The wine's velvety texture and subtle notes of berries and oak complemented the dish before him, a beautifully marinated Florentine steak. The steak, lovingly prepared with a balsamic and rosemary marinade, exuded a tantalizing aroma that filled the air. The tender meat, cooked to perfection, boasted a mouthwatering sear on the outside while remaining juicy and succulent within. "I'm so tipsy from all this wine and negroni that I think I'll take a cab home."
"Let me take you downstairs; I need to get aspirin from the pharmacy downstairs; we're out of aspirin; I'll get you one as well, Ray." When Beth made the offer to assist Rayleigh in getting into a taxi, both Beth's husband and her sister-in-law were already in the same state as Rayleigh, which is to say that they were both intoxicated at the time. The Kaufman siblings are heavy drinkers. "Oh my Lord, I'll get the two of you later, okay?"
"Okay, sis." Sarah, with a gentle smile on her face, couldn't help but let her gaze wander.
"Yes, baby, we agree." Matthias just said whatever he wanted.
Beth, known for her level-headedness, made an alert decision to refrain from indulging in her usual amount of drinks before meeting up with the Kaufman siblings for dinner or a night out. "Come Ray."
"Okay." As they walked side by side, she gently draped her arm around Beth's shoulder, falling into step behind her.
Since the drugstore was located just next to the building, she could easily run in there to get something to eat or drink while the concierge called a cab for Rayleigh. While she was gone, she made Rayleigh sit on the lobby sofa and told her to "stay, don't do anything, speak to no one, and answer to no one except me, okay? Rayleigh Kaufman!"
"Yes, sister Beth, I approved." Her words are slurred.
"Wait for me for your aspirin; I've already requested a taxi from the concierge."
"OK, so that's why Matt is madly in love with you. You're a blessing to us." Rayleigh says it quietly and grins.
"I love your brother as well."
"Excellent."
Rayleigh is currently sitting there with her eyes closed while a few different women attempt to talk to him. After waiting for ten minutes, Beth finally returned with aspirin in her pocket. Beth put Rayleigh on the sofa in the high-rise condo's lobby while waiting for her to go to the pharmacy in the next building to buy aspirin, she is completely unaware that someone is observing them from a distance.
Rayleigh despises it whenever a driver from Kaufman's comes to pick her up because they always drive her to the residence of her parents and then irritate her the following day. Therefore, she prefers to call a taxi or an Uber driver anytime she is too drunk to drive safely, asking, "Your taxi, will you be okay?"
"Okay, just too much Negroni doesn't matter." Rayleigh chuckles as she takes Beth's medicine bottle, hugs her, and gives her a courteous cheek kiss.
"Okay." Just as Rayleigh is about to get into the cab, a woman yells at Beth.
"She's my fiance; how dare you touch her!" Rayleigh hears a scream and sees Beth being pulled forcibly; the shock pulls her into full awareness, and she knows that the person who is pulling Beth is Sophia Bauer, the mad daughter whom she is not willing to marry. The traffic light had shifted to a vibrant shade of green, signaling the start of traffic. However, what caught their attention was not the change in color but the sight of a massive truck speeding towards them from the opposite direction. It seemed to be gaining speed rapidly, inching closer to the point of collision with Beth, who stood frozen in its path.
"Fuck!" She runs, snatches Sophia, and pushes her away from Beth as soon as she can, then drags Beth closer to him before flinging her back into the street and saying, "Please take care of my brother and sister." She laughs, knowing she won't have time to avoid it, after all, it's better than marrying a stalker.
"RAYLEIGHHHHHH!!!!" As the truck crashed towards her, the sound of screeching tires filled the air. In that split second before impact, her senses heightened, and amidst the chaos, she could still hear Beth's voice piercing through the fear, desperately screaming her name. As she stood there, everything around her began to crumble and fall apart. The once familiar surroundings shattered into fragments, leaving her in a state of disarray. The darkness swiftly crept in, wrapping its tendrils around her and consuming her entirely.
==To be continued==
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