Caught in the Family Web

Two people exist inside of me!

I found out when I was ten that every one of my actions was always debated and tossed around in my head before I made them.

I told my mother about it and she told me it was my conscience. It was the first time I had ever heard the word, but I believed her.

Conscience. 

When I was twelve, I could say poems and Shakespearean quotes I had never heard or learnt before that time, and I knew it wasn’t my conscience that lived inside me.

It was another soul that had lived before and learnt all of the things I was just supposed to learn.

Maybe it was why I threw the word out of my vocabulary and moved around without it. 

I called her my Fire— my alter ego, a concept I learnt of when I began seeking answers. 

It didn’t matter now though, I thought as I remained hunched over my desk. I was scrolling through contract terms and recent developments in the company and both me and my alter ego were bored. 

Lola Bryant, my assistant’s head popped into the office after knocking. “Miss Spears, Mr Wales is here for you, should I let him in?” 

“If he isn’t bearing gifts, tell him to return to his office so that I can see him at home.” I called back, my attention back to the system in front of me.

“If flowers and chocolate count as anything, then I guess I have gifts.” Micheal’s friendly tenor voice filled the room and I sighed inwardly before plastering a smile on my face and standing up.

My lover and submissive, Micheal Wales stared back at me, his pretty face holding a big smile and his hands clutching a bouquet of equally pretty roses.

Micheal was a golden retriever; at least, that was how I thought of him. At twenty-five, he was a year older than I was but definitely not in experience. He was sheltered, sweet and kind and the son of a billionaire. 

He worked in a branch of his father’s company as the head of operations. 

Micheal was voted most charming bachelor in Los Angeles society twice and it was how I had known I must have him. 

“I guess I would have to endure you now.” I muttered as he leaned in and I kissed him, lingering before stepping away again. 

“Wow, it never gets old,” he said with a cheeky grin. And I wanted to tell him I didn’t particularly enjoy the fawning over but I didn’t want to ruin the mood. So I ran my hand through his hair and kissed his lips before returning to my chair. 

I settled slowly and crossed my legs before turning to watch him. 

He was very handsome and that was why I still kept him around till this point. He loved me— poor boy and he let me make love to him the way I wanted. 

“What do you need?” I asked him, still smiling, my eyes searching his apprehensive face. 

“I really just wanted to drop this off and see your face before your party tomorrow.” He commented and settled on my desk, staring down at me.

I leaned back into the chair at the mention of the party. 

“I'd rather not discuss that,” I groaned and he chuckled.

It was my birthday tomorrow, and because I was going to be 24, all the reins of my father’s company would now be placed in my hands.

I was going to be CEO, my management had decided a party was necessary.

A masquerade ball to be precise, and I knew it signified more than just an additional year to my already long life. It also signified a little more seriousness and responsibilities in terms of Spears INC.

In case I hadn’t made it clear, I run a multibillion-dollar company. My parents had died six years ago, just in time for my eighteenth birthday, and in turn, left the company in my care.

No risk was taken because I have been in the family business since I turned 12. 

I watched him stand up and straighten his crisp white shirt, before turning to him. I watched him with some adoration but my ‘alter ego’ was irritated by him already. Why did he smile so much? 

My alter ego is riotous, so when he said;

“Hey, Caitlyn , do you mind that I invited my father for your birthday tomorrow? I mean, he could be a good investor for your new project in the grand scheme of things.” 

I wanted to respond with something like, ‘Why would you invite your ugly, balding sixty-year-old father to my 24th birthday party?’ 

Instead, I said, “Oh, that’s fine! I don’t mind, I am surely interested in seeing the father of the man I am fucking.” 

I watched with profound irritation as he smiled wide and bright in what looked like a blush. 

“I’ll see you, babe.” 

The door closed behind him and my eyes fell to the bouquet he had brought. 

I hated roses. 

I believed they were cliche and pretty. There was nothing extraordinary about it. I was already distracted and could not do anything more that day so I closed my eyes tight and begged the universe for some excitement.

As if on cue, my phone rang and before Lola could pop her head in again, I reached for it. 

“Hello,” I said to the speaker, waiting for the reply and after a few seconds, the breezy and husky voice of one of my close acquaintances came on. 

“Hey Caitlyn ! This is Brianna!”

I smiled. Brianna Sky represented everything crazy and daring, and although I didn’t think she was a bitch like I could be, she had her spark and was just what I needed. “Brianna.”

“Yeah yeah! Are you still up for your request? I seem to have found a perfect spot tonight!” Brianna said, her voice overly loud, it was clear she was in a noisy location. 

“Is the sky still blue?” I replied as I closed up my laptop and stood up from behind the desk. 

It wasn’t such a bad thing to close up work by four a day before your birthday/ induction party. Was it?

“I don’t know, Caitlyn , it’s pretty grey right now, so I can’t….” 

“Don’t be sly, text me the address.” I cut her off, smiling to myself.

It was the only reason she was my closest acquaintance, she was daring and brave. She didn’t get intimidated by me like most society women. 

“You’re sure you want to do this, I mean, you know what goes down?” Brianna asked, her voice still sounding loud and distant. 

“I told you already, Sky,” I muttered as I stepped out of my office. Lola stood up when she sighted me, she saw the look in my eyes and immediately knew what it meant. “One last ride. One more night.”