As demanded by my sister, I was under house arrest for the next few days. She proceeded to list various things that were wrong with me and said that staying at home and not working was the only cure. If I remember correctly, some of the various ailments she prescribed me with were: looking so exhausted it’s scary, smelling disgusting, drinking too much (she removed all alcohol from my penthouse), and bmed my insomnia getting worse on my tendency to overwork. So now, I’m sitting on my couch, no, sorry, sprawled aimlessly on my couch because I have nothing better to do. I’ve somehow reached the end of all of social media and watched every interesting video on YouTube. All of it! Netflix is boring, and Disney is a hard pass.
What has my life come to? There’s not even anything good to read anymore.
I had at least ten bookshelves spread throughout the expanse of my home, but none of the books that were on them captured my attention anymore. I’ve read all of them, and a few of them were some of the best literature I could’ve gotten my hands on, but I still didn’t have enough energy to re-read them. Not even my danmeis sparked my interest. I groan, my voice being slightly muffled by the couch cushions. I rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position, but the restless energy within me made it impossible to rex. I couldn’t even take a nap. I suppose that the only thing I could do now was to just y here rotting into oblivion until my sister came home.
I need to do...something! Anything! I can’t keep being cooped up in this tiny house. Okay, well, it’s not tiny. I’m just being zy. I somehow managed to get up to a sitting position. I look towards the open door leading to the balcony. Maybe it’ll be beneficial just to take in some fresh air. I don’t think I’ve stepped foot outside these couple of days that I was back. Not the worst, but probably not the best thing for my body.
I pushed myself off the couch, feeling a bit unsteady as I stood up. Stretching my arms above my head, I made my way to the balcony door, sliding it open. A cool breeze greeted me, carrying the faint scent of fresh flowers and distant city sounds. I stepped out onto the balcony, the sunlight warming my skin and the gentle hum of the world below filling my ears. Leaning against the railing, I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill my lungs. The view from the balcony was a comforting reminder of the world beyond my four walls, people going about their lives, the skyline stretching out before me. It felt good to be outside, even if it was just for a moment. I closed my eyes, savoring the simple pleasure of the fresh air and the warmth of the sun. Maybe this was exactly what I needed to shake off the lingering lethargy. With a renewed sense of determination, I resolved to make the most of the day, starting with this moment of tranquility on the balcony.
Some part of me missed this when I was away. I never thought I’d say this, but I really did miss being in the States. Maybe it’s just bias from living here all my life. I chuckle softly and look down. Look at those people just roaming around. Parents yelling at their children to stay close to them, couples clinging to each other as they ugh about something, or just random people going about their day with the fresh air clearing their heads.
Standing on the balcony, I let the familiar sights and sounds wash over me, providing a moment of soce and reflection. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, and I closed my eyes, letting my mind wander back through the years. It hadn’t been an easy journey to become the CEO. Every step of the way had been paved with challenges and hard work. My parents had always emphasized the importance of diligence and perseverance. Despite our wealth, they never let it get to my head. From a young age, they instilled in me the values of humility and hard work. I remembered the countless te nights spent studying, working part-time jobs, and the internships where I started at the bottom, learning the ropes from the ground up. My parents never gave me any special treatment. They believed in earning success, not inheriting it. Their guidance and support were unwavering, but they also made sure I understood the value of every achievement.
Even as I climbed the corporate dder, my parents’ lessons remained with me. They pushed me to strive for excellence, to never settle for mediocrity. Their influence shaped the leader I had become, always mindful of the responsibility that came with my position. Some part of me did resent them for what they did. I was just a kid, but they instilled too much discipline in me. I mean, what kind of child would rather spend their time trying to work out their future in elementary school than hang out with their friends? I suppose I couldn’t be what I am today without such discipline, but...was it worth it to lose my childhood?
I watched Genevieve grow as well, and they were never as strict with her as they were with me. They brought us both up under the pretense that I was the one to take over their company, and Vivi should be there to help me or forge another path she was interested in. I was somewhat jealous of her at the time. But as we grew up, I realized that I needed her support more than anything because she was the only one who had any idea what I was thinking. Those who knew me know what I was worried about, but those who don’t always think I had other intentions.
I sigh. That’s enough digging up depressing thoughts from my past. I still love my parents, and they’ve been my biggest support and I could never be jealous of my sister. She’s the best thing that I could have by my side, and I’m so grateful that she decided to stay with me and help me navigate through this. I’m not sure what I could do if she weren’t with me. I slowly trudge back to the couch and once again flop face down.
I roll over and dig my phone out from the crevice of the couch. I groan even louder. It was only four in the afternoon. My sister won’t be home for centuries! What did she expect me to do over here? I’ve gone through everything, and now I’m just bored and tired. Almost as if she had heard me from that office, the front door opened, and my sister barged in.
“Up you get!”
“Huh...whyy?”
“Because we have a dinner party with Canbornes.”
“Is it tonight?”
“It is! I came early because I just knew that you were going to be rotting in bed and won’t get ready until thirty seconds before we have to leave...”
“I’m not on the bed…I’m on the couch. I’ve outperformed your expectations,” I mutter, stifling a yawn.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Get your ass up, will you? I have to get you ready. We have to leave by six if we want to make it by seven.”
“Why do we have to leave an hour early?”
“They have this party in a cabin they have in the woods, so it’s pretty far out.”
Genevieve marched into my walk-in closet with determination, her eyes scanning the array of clothing hanging neatly in rows. She rifled through the hangers with practiced ease, pulling out one outfit after another and scrutinizing each piece with a critical eye.
“Nope, too casual,” she muttered, tossing a sundress onto a nearby chair. “Too formal,” she said, setting aside a cocktail dress. “Too outdated,” she added, dismissing an old bzer.
I watched from the doorway, amused by her single-minded focus. “You know, I could just pick something myself,” I offered half-heartedly.
She shot me a look, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Trust me, Essie, we both know your idea of appropriate party attire would be those sweatpants you’re so fond of.”
I ughed, conceding her point. “Alright, alright, continue your quest.”
She pulled out a sleek, emerald green dress, holding it up for inspection. “This could work,” she mused, examining the fabric and the cut. “Elegant, but not over the top.”
“Fine by me,” I said, knowing it was best not to argue.
But Genevieve wasn’t done yet. She continued her search, finding a pair of matching heels and a delicate neckce to complete the ensemble. “Perfect,” she decred, ying everything out on the bed with a satisfied smile. “Now go get changed. We don’t have all day.”
I took the outfit, feeling a mix of gratitude and mild annoyance at her bossiness. “Thanks, Vivi,” I said sincerely, knowing she had my best interests at heart.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, giving me a gentle push towards the bathroom. “Now hurry up. We’ve got a party to get to.”
-------------------------
My sister was right. Once again. The dress was beautiful, and the color suited me well. I wasn’t sure when I’d actually gotten it, perhaps an impulse buy I had forgotten about. I looked at myself in the mirror, admiring how the rich emerald green fabric complimented my skin tone and how the fitted bodice accentuated my figure. The delicate ce appliqués and gold embroidery added just the right touch of elegance. I had to admit, Genevieve had an eye for these things. But there was a small thought in the back of my mind that I had seen this dress or something simir to it somewhere else. I really loved that dress, and it was special to me. But...where was that? I don’t remember this dress to begin with...so what other dress could there be?
I racked my brain, trying to conjure up a memory. Was it something from my travels? A boutique I had wandered into on a whim? Or maybe it was from a special occasion in the past that had slipped my mind? I touched the golden hibiscus flowers embroidered into the waist of the dress with a sigh. The more I thought about it, the more elusive the memory became. I decided to let it go for now. There was a party to get ready for, and dwelling on a hazy memory wouldn’t help. I shake my head.
This is probably one of those random deja vu moments you can’t help but get. I probably saw this dress on some woman or something.
I straighten my dress and put on my best smile. The people at the dinner party are going to be vipers with beautiful masks. They’ll think I’ve grown weak in my time away from the main company and try to use that to their advantage. But I need to show them that I’m just the same as before. I just have to hope that they haven’t gotten my sister under their spell just yet. As much as I hate to admit it, my sister isn’t always the best cut-out for the corporate world. I made sure that I handled all dealings with outside companies, just because I was worried that she would accept their shitty offers just because they said please.
With one st look in the mirror, I turn and walk out of my bedroom and into the living room. Vivi was sitting on the couch, touching up her makeup. She looked up when she saw me walk out of the bedroom. Her eyes sparkled as she took me in.
“See! You look awesome, Essie!!” she giggled.
“I owe it all to you, Vivi. And hey...you look spectacur as well. It would seem that your fashion sense has grown since I left.”
The dress is made from luxurious satin fabric that has a soft, silky sheen, catching the light beautifully. The light red color complements her complexion. The dress has cap sleeves made of sheer ce. The waist is cinched with a subtle satin sash that accentuates her figure and flows seamlessly into a knee-length, A-line skirt. Paired with simple gold jewelry and elegant heels, Vivi looks every bit the picture of grace and poise.
She’s grown up.
“Yeah...I stole some of your clothes occasionally, and I gotta say they grew on me.”
I groan, “Can’t say I’m surprised you little thief!”
-------------------
Got to hand it to her. The girl is punctual. She made sure we left at exactly 5:56, and we reached the car exactly at 6:00. Gerald was already waiting downstairs for us.
“Girls, I have to warn you that this trip is going to be a long one. Do you have everything you need? I don’t think I will be able to get you there on time if we have to turn back.”
Vivi spoke up, “I’m pretty sure that we have everything we need. I made sure to double-check before we left the apartment.”
“She definitely did. She could be a military instructor with the way she was screaming at me to get my things.” I quipped, earning a sharp gre from Vivi.
Gerald just ughed, “It’s nice to see you two haven’t changed one bit. Still bickering as though you were little kids.”
That earned him a very indignant look from both of us that caused him to start ughing even harder. But we finally got on the road. I turned my thoughts away from them and towards the dinner party.
So...the Canborne family.
From what I remember, they were the country’s leading tech company. They were pretty powerful in the corporate world. At least Viktor Canborne was. I’m not too sure about his two sons, though. I’ve never met them in person, but I’ve heard that Cassian and Damien Canborne didn’t take after their father. The Canborne legacy was well-known, with Viktor at the helm, steering the company to unprecedented heights. His reputation as a shrewd and innovative leader preceded him. However, the whispers about his sons painted a different picture. Cassian and Damien were often described as not living up to their father’s towering legacy. Some said they cked the ambition and drive that defined Viktor’s career. I wonder what tonight is going to be about. They hadn’t specified much except that they hoped the Rothbrides could attend.
