Elizabeth
3 am and Elizabeth stood with her bags and belongings all packed, while still wearing the dress from the ball. She took one last look at her room and sighed, realising she probably would not miss living here, and the thought alone saddened her profusely. When she reached the stair landing, she walked towards the kitchen and placed the keys where she knew her mother would see them when she came downstairs in the morning. With her resolve set, she straightened her back and wiped the last of her tears away.
These would be the last tears she ever shed for her mother.
Ever since her sister, Blair, died, her mother had been nothing but cruel to her only daughter. Blair was her mother’s favourite and a musical genius well on her way to becoming a prodigy. She had always shielded Elizabeth from her mother’s mood swings, but now that she wasn’t around anymore, Elizabeth got the brunt of her anger all the time.
On the way from her musical recital one evening, a drunk driver ran a red light and slammed into Blair’s car. Elizabeth was with her and barely survived. Instead of being happy that her daughter survived, Agnes had treated her with nothing but contempt. She knew her mother wished she had died instead.
Pulling out of the Manor driveway, Elizabeth gives it one last look and drives away.
She had booked a suite in a hotel nearby as a temporary residence until she found a home for herself. When she arrived, a bellboy took her bags, and she gestured to the valet to park her car and return the key to the reception where she would collect it in the morning.
Taking the elevator to her suite, she leaned to one side and sighed. “What a night,” she thought. The elevator came to a stop on her floor and she walked to her room. It was modest and had everything she could need, but it was only temporary. And it felt that way too.
She stepped into the bathroom and stripped off the dress she now deemed the bane of her existence, and proceeded to scrub the remnants of the evening away.
After her shower, she curled up in the comfortable blankets and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. She hasn’t checked her emails since she left for the ball, and wondered what lay waiting for her.
The blood drains from her face as she reads. All 24 projects she had scheduled for the next few months had all been cancelled by her clients! She knew that this could only be her mother’s doing, so she takes a deep breath and puts her phone back down. This will be tomorrow’s problem. No use trying to solve something now when she felt this exhausted to the core.
The following morning, dressed in her signature tight mauve dress that ended just above her knees, coupled with her favourite Louboutin heels, she headed out to do battle. But only after breakfast. Mauve was her power colour, and she would be damned if anyone tried to take her company down. Even if it was her own family.
She got into the elevator and hit the lobby button while taking out her cell phone to call her PA, Liza, who she knew was probably freaking out right about now. There was serious damage control to be done and they needed to get on it at soonest. “Liza, please have 2 dozen coffees and cakes delivered to the board room and tell the staff there is to be an urgent meeting at 8 am.” The elevator dinged just as she was done with her request, so she got out and walked to get her keys from reception.
“Thank GOD you called. What is happening? My lines are swamped with calls from the press and new client requests.” Elizabeth chuckled at her friend’s words. Leave it to Liza to get worked up for the both of them. Liza has been by her side since high school and the only real friend Elizabeth had. So when she started up her fashion house, she knew the only one she could trust with the job as her second in charge was Liza. “Don’t worry about all that for now, I have it under control. Now, if you could get those-”
Before Elizabeth could complete her sentence, she found herself walking into someone. Feeling unsteady on her feet because of her high platforms, she staggered back but was quickly caught by an arm around the waist.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I was on my phone and not watching where I was going!” she apologizes while blushing and looking down. Normally she wasn’t this clumsy! “Didn’t I tell you a beautiful woman like you should never look down like that?” Elizabeth felt herself pale at these words, but as she looked up her heart jumped into her throat when her eyes met with a pair that did not match.
One blue, one green.Elizabeth "August!" Elizabeth exclaims and looks at the handsome man who just caught her. Out of anyone she could have run into, it had to be him. "Little Dragonfly, are you following me?" he says and gives her a sly smile. She frowns at his words but feels a blush forming on her cheeks. But as she was about to respond to him, she remembered that she still had Liza on the line. "Sorry about that Liza, you got all that?" She asks, not just talking about her cake and coffee order. She hears Liza chuckle. "I'm still here and want all the details when you get back. I'll get a mixture of cakes. See you at the office, boss lady." Liza responds, and Elizabeth smiles," "You're a star, babe!" she said and ended the call, then looked at August. "I am sure you would like to believe I'm following you, but I am afraid that this is not the case. I am staying here for the time being due to personal reasons." Elizabeth said and wondered why she was telling him all this.
Walking into Libellule House, Elizabeth was still stunned at what had just transpired. August's fiancee was begging her to take on her wedding dress project. "I have been such a big fan since day 1, and it would make me so happy if you would design my wedding dress!" Elizabeth could not say no to her, and she had looked so sincere. So, she gave in. "Alright, team, are we ready to go into battle?!" she exclaims, walking into the meeting room. Her team yells back, excited and sensing her renewed energy. "Despite the setback of our projects that my mother pulled out from under our noses, I have some exciting news!" Elizabeth beams at them and looks at their anxious faces. "Come on, boss, we can't stand the suspense!" "Yeah, please tell us!" Elizabeth chuckles at their curiosity and looks around the room. "This morning, something rather spectacular happened on the way here," she continues while looking at their faces. "We've got th
8 pm: Elizabeth stretches and looks at the time. Not realizing she had spent her whole afternoon putting out fires and designing her new line, she switches off her computer and takes out her phone. Fifty-one missed calls?! She stares at her phone in shock and then realizes she left her phone silent after lunch with a potential client. She unlocks her phone and clicks to go into her call list. Twenty calls were from the same unknown number, and the rest were from her mother. Sighing, she returns her mother's call. Her mother answers on the 4th ring. "This is just like her, like she's not the one who was desperately looking for me." Elizabeth thinks sourly. "Elizabeth," her mother croons; she groans inwardly. "Sorry I missed your call, Mother. I have been quite busy putting out the fires you've created for me," She responds curtly. Sensing her mother's anger, she continues, "Was there a reason for your call?" "I've heard through the grapevin
Elizabeth gets off her flight from Tokyo and heads to collect her luggage; afterwards, she heads to the hotel. In the elevator, she pulls out her phone and calls Liza. "Hey babe, I'm back. Could you please do some house hunting for me? I need to find a place ASAP, or all our savings will be going to this hotel suite." She says, "No problem, boss. I will come back to you with the prospect's tomorrow morning. Your schedule has been cleared for Ms Gray today." Liza responds. Elizabeth has not been looking forward to this meeting for some reason. "Thanks, Liza. Chat tomorrow," she says and hangs up. After showering, she decides on a casual, off-the-shoulder top and tight jeans, accentuating her curves. With a satisfied nod, she opts for flats instead of heels today. She pulls up in front of Emily's address and parks her car. The villa is surprisingly quaint, not the Dereon flashiness at all. Elizabeth smiles and heads inside. She was about to ring the bell, but E
Elizabeth stands up, feeling flustered at being so close to August and trying to maintain her composure. "I'm sorry about that, Mr Dereon," she says while collecting all her scattered things that had fallen. "I should watch where I'm going." August frowns at her formality. Why was she acting like this when she knew how much he despises it? "No problem at all..." he responds, and Elizabeth looks at him defiantly and turns to walk away. "If you'll excuse me-" "Elizabeth, wait, please," August calls out after her and grabs her wrist. Elizabeth looks down at his hand and swallows hard, "Mr Dereon-" "Please call me by my name. You know how much I hate formality." Elizabeth knew this; that is why she was doing it. She needed him to think of her as just another employee contracted to his fiancée. "A-August. What is it?" she responds. He feels his heart tighten when she says his name. He looks at her with a broken expression. "I'm sorry for not introducing my
The past two weeks have flown by quickly. Elizabeth has seen more of Emily lately. The latter let it slip that August would be working out of town for the next month, so Elizabeth decided to take advantage of the situation and get to know Emily better. Sitting in her office at 5 pm, Elizabeth closes her laptop just as her phone starts ringing. She glances at the caller ID and smiles. "Lizzy, save me!" Emily exclaims on the other line, "The Dereon's kidnapped me today. I have been at their mercy for 9 hours, jumping to boutiques along with the wedding planner. I am drowning in frills and lace!" She finishes off dramatically. Elizabeth chuckles before she says, "Want to go out tonight? It will help you forget a bit. I promise not to tell August!" She jokes and can already see Emily making a face. "Yes! I would love that!" Emily responds. "Great! I'll bring Liza along. You two haven't met yet, and I know you'll love her." Elizabeth was starting to get excited as
3 am After dropping Liza off at her villa to sleep off the alcohol, Elizabeth pulls up outside Emily's place, intending to drop her off as well, but Emily is way too drunk. Elizabeth looks over at the passenger side and notices that Emily has passed out. Thinking back on the evening, Emily and Liza hit it off unexpectedly well, although a bit too well. The two of them danced and drank the night away; Elizabeth felt like the third wheel and resigned herself to being the designated driver. "Emily, wake up. We need to get you inside, "Elizabeth tries to coax her awake while giving her gentle smacks. Emily eventually wakes up, and Elizabeth bolts to the passenger side door. Emily gets out and leans on her for balance. As they walk towards the villa entrance, Emily is mumbling drunkenly, "Thank...Thank. You for taking out, Lizzy." She muttered. Elizabeth grimaces and continues to lead and drag Emily inside. "The Dereons will kill me if they see Emi
Elizabeth Waking up with a pounding headache, Elizabeth sits up. She sighs as she adjusts her dress, puts on her heels, and heads towards Emily's room. Taking in her surroundings, she remembers that she slept at Emily's villa. Oh no, she must have had quite a bit to drink last night. If she did, she doesn't remember it at all. She stops outside Emily's door and knocks softly. "Come in, "Emily responds, and she opens the door. Sitting on her bed, freshly showered, and in her robe, Emily was sitting and staring wide-eyed at her laptop screen. Elizabeth sensed something was wrong and walked over to her bed. "What's wrong, Em?" She asks, and Emily points to her screen. Elizabeth looks and realizes that the cause for her discomfort is displayed there. Emblazoned on the screen was a caption, AUGUST DEREON, GET A HOLD OF YOUR FIANCEE!! It seems that the paparazzi have been watching Emily and waiting for her to slip up. They c