Chapter 2 The Golden Envelopes

• "Hank, it's us! We're going to the Caribbean!" shouted his wife Jamie, excited above all the party noise.
• "I heard you, love! I can't believe it, I can't... I can't believe it..." he stammered, trying to contain his excitement with his 5-year-old daughter in his arms.
• "Daddy, is that the Caribbean with the pirates?"
• "Yes, Cami, that's the one!" He smiled brightly at his youngest daughter's innocent analogy.
• "Camille, I've told you it's just a movie," her mother Jamie reminded her.
• "I know, Mom, but Vic told me that pirates do exist."
• Frowning, Jamie turned to the table where her second daughter was sitting and gave her a stern look. "Victoria, what have I told you? Don't put messes in your sister's head!"
• "Mom, I didn't—"
• "Don't do it again!" Before Victoria could explain, she was interrupted by her mother.
• "Jamie, love, don't be so strict," Hank intervened. "Victoria was just trying to explain to Cami about the movie."
• "Yes, Mom, I know that many, many years ago pirates existed. I just wanted to know if they still exist there," Camille defended her sister with that guilty tone that only a young child can use. "Don't be mad at Vic."
• "Well, let's leave the pirate topic," Noel, the oldest of the three siblings, chimed in. "The Caribbean must be fun, right?"
• "I don't want to go," Victoria said, not in a good mood.
• "Victoria, enough with your hermit attitude. You're going, that's it."
• As the sky darkened, the party atmosphere reached its climax. The music's stirring melody floated in the air, intertwining with people's laughter and conversations to form an upbeat symphony. On the dance floor, people swung their bodies to the rhythm of the music, releasing their inner passion and vigor. Their faces were full of happy smiles, as if all their troubles were thrown away at this moment.
• Everyone was excited, but Jamie seemed more excited than the others, which could probably be blamed on the party. She kept talking about how good the trip would be for the family, and how much she needed to get out of the city. Her children knew that when she started to chatter, it was best to keep quiet and not make her angry, or there would be consequences.
• Each of them was given an envelope with their name on it. Inside the envelope, they could find everything they needed to clarify all their doubts about the trip. Hank opened the envelope, eager for the trip details, but was shocked when he read that the departure date was the next day. He turned to face his family, "I know it's a bit sudden, but we need to pack soon!"
• "What?" Victoria asked, alarmed.
• "Yes, dear. We're going on vacation tomorrow, so we need to pack our bags. They're picking us up at 3 in the afternoon."
• "But... do I really have to go on this trip? I could stay at Sue's house," insisted Victoria.
• "Sweetie, we're not going to leave you alone for 3 weeks while we enjoy all the comforts of this trip."
• "But dad, I was going to—"
• "Victoria, discussion is over," Hank ordered before Victoria could protest again.
• ---
• Every year, the fireworks display marks the end of the annual party organized by Rothschild.
• At first, a few scattered fireworks rose into the sky, like elves dancing in the sky. Immediately afterward, more fireworks, like illuminated stars, bloomed uncontrollably, illuminating the entire night sky. People stopped to watch, cheering, applauding, and marveling. In this moment of colorful lights intertwined with various fireworks, it was as if all worries and fatigue had disappeared, leaving only endless joy and emotion. Laughter echoed in the night sky as the fireworks display capped off a great night for everyone.
• On the way home, the guys discussed the upcoming trip to the Caribbean all the way, exclaiming how lucky they were. But Victoria didn't think so. Her parents had practically ordered her to go on the trip in a tone of finality, jeopardizing her perfect vacation plans with her friends, which further exacerbated her bad mood.
• "What are you mumbling about, Victoria? You're such a spoilsport," Jamie said, looking at her daughter with displeasure.
• "I hate this, I don't want to go to the Caribbean!" Victoria walked straight back to her room and slammed the door behind her.
• This little interlude didn't change anything.
• After getting the rest of the kids settled, Jamie poured two glasses of red wine for Hank and herself.
• "Are you excited, honey? I can't believe we're going to the Caribbean. You know it has always been my dream to go to one of those paradise islands."
• "I remember, of course."
• He tried to smile, but he couldn't get Victoria's refusal out of his head.
• "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're dwelling on Victoria's attitude?"
• "Of course I am. I don't understand, she's acting strange."
• "Ignore her bad mood, Hank. Stop being so soft on her."
• "Jamie, she's a good daughter. She must have a reason."
• He replied bitterly and with a hint of displeasure.
• "Fine! She's upset because she was going on a trip with her friends."
• Jamie felt like she should explain a bit about why her daughter didn't want to go with the family.
• "What? The trip to Europe is so soon?" Hank asked in surprise, realizing it was happening but completely forgetting the exact time. "Now I understand her anger. God, I'm so sorry for my negligence. My little girl was saving all year for that trip! Jamie, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
• "We're her parents, and if we say she's coming with us, then she's coming," she retorted carelessly. "And it's a complete waste of money what she and her little friends are going to do."
• Indignant at Jamie's frivolous attitude towards his daughter, Hank walked away from his wife, watching her in silence from a distance. "She worked hard, saved money, and planned carefully... all for her European plans."
• "Don't make me look like the bad guy."
• Jamie warned with a serious and controlling gaze, without losing her composure.
• "Jamie, honey, it's not that. It's just that this trip is important to her and... forget about it. I'll talk to Vic tomorrow."
• Hank approached the bar, finishing his glass.
• ---
• Victoria locked herself in her room. Once again, her mom wouldn't let her talk or explain why she didn't want to go to the Caribbean. She paced back and forth agitatedly, anger churning in her head as she contemplated what she could do to escape the three weeks she'd spend in the hot sun.
• "I don't want to go to the damn Caribbean, I hate the sun!" Victoria took her anger out on her poor suitcase.
• She picked up her phone and called her friend Jax. It was late, but she knew Jax would answer.
• "Vic, hi, what's going on?"
• She sighed as she heard her friend clear his throat on the other end of the line.
• "Hi, Jackson... It's not really a big deal."
• "Come on, it's 12 o'clock at night, you wouldn't be calling for no reason." Jax insisted. He would listen carefully to whatever Victoria said. "Tell me."
• "Okay," She sighed tiredly. "The egocentric owner of the company where Hank works has given paid vacations to four families and we've been chosen... I'm going to the damn Caribbean, and I don't even like the sun!"
• "To the Caribbean?! Is he a trillionaire or what?"
• "Yes. To have so many employees, I think he must be."
• "Don't tell me the old man offered steak and crystal champagne?" He laughed.
• "Actually, yes..." She fell silent, wondering if there was any need to clarify that he wasn't that old.
• "You should have seen all the food and wines, he must have invested a small fortune in all that. I think last year wasn't so extravagant. But that's not important. You don't understand why I'm so angry about going on this damn trip!"
• "Sorry, I'm half asleep."
• "I won't be able to go to the festival, idiot," she reminded him with a devilish mood.
• "What? Say that again, Victoria," he exclaimed, surprised, fully awake now.
• "I'm leaving tomorrow for three weeks."
• "Damn it, Vic... but we had everything planned for four, what are we going to do?"
• "I know, Jackson. We had a year's worth of traveling planned, a whole month in Europe, the four of us traveling around the Old World. Everything falls apart all in one day. I haven't told Sue and Dexter yet... they'll be as disappointed as I am." She hung her head.
• "Shit, Vic! What am I going to do? You were my travel companion!!" Jax's anger became evident in the tone in which he was speaking to her; he felt so frustrated not having her by his side on this trip that he couldn't think clearly. He is known for his bad temper, but with Victoria, it has never come to light.
• "Can you do something about it? Change your flight? Or you can come back before the family vacation is over, and I can pick you up at the airport!"
• "Jackson, I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen..." she whimpered, with a soft voice full of guilt. "I had to give up our European plans. I don't think I can do anything to change my parents' decision."
• "I'm sorry… you know, I'm an idiot. It's not your fault, I shouldn't have yelled at you... you know how I am when I'm in a hurry." He rushed to explain, fearing she would hang up. "I hoped Europe would be my chance, Vic."
• She sighed, trying to pretend she hadn't understood that innuendo.
• "I can change the names on the ticket..."
• "Come on, Victoria, stop pretending that nothing is happening between us. We finally had 'something' at Dexter's party, and it was amazing."