NARRATIVE
Several minutes later, Imogen slowly stood up from the floor, slightly out of her dazed state. She stared at her sleeping mother for a while and wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Mom, I can't bear to see you in such a state. I must find out what's going on and if it has to do with Scarlett, I wouldn't mind doing whatever it takes to drive her away from here. I can't let you continue like this." She slowly muttered.
Not long afterwards, Imogen walked to the door and opened it. The moment she was outside, she stared briefly at the spare key in her hand before she proceeded to lock the room door with it. Her mother wouldn't find out yet, that she was in her room.
As she walked wobbly down the stairs while supporting herself with a hand on the banister, she suddenly paused. The melodious unfamiliar tune coming from the direction of the music room made her realize someone was there.
"Ashton's at it again." She sighed and attempted to walk off when a thought popped in her head. Ashton seldom plays the keys. Even when he does, anyone can tell he's an amateur. Also, this tune is unlike any she's ever heard.
She didn't need to think much more, before she realized who it was.
"Ahh, it's that intruder." She said irritably, referring to Scarlett.
Every other day, she found reasons to dislike this new older half-sister more.
She stole her father's heart already. Her beloved mother was probably taking antidepressants because of her. Scarlett already met with Chairman Kwan when it's been nearly impossible for herself to meet him. And had also walked side by side with him_a situation Imogen believes should've been her.
Scarlett was already posing as a nightmare, a threat, an obstacle and an enemy to Imogen's chance at happiness.
Imogen's face turned sour when she remembered the incident at her father's office. How he wasn't reluctant in showing his love for her stepsister.
Deciding she was going to ignore Scarlett's existence for just today, she completed her stride down the stairs and retrieved her phone from the pocket of her pajamas.
Not minding her hair was disheveled and the manner she was dressed, Imogen proceeded to walk in the kitchen as she placed a call across to someone_Doctor Greg, her mother's doctor.
"Doctor Greg, what's your schedule for the day?"
_____
"Really?" Scarlett sprang up from the stool she was sitting on out of excitement. "Sky you mean you're coming back before the two weeks elapses?"
"Yo girlie! I mean, I've missed you to death. Can you imagine Carl has been up my neck ever since I told him about you? No...his excitement ain't about you. I'm sure you can guess who he's excited about."
"It's about Imogen, right?"
"Exactly! Crazy dude be insisting on moving down there with me. But of course, Mom and Dad ain't gonna hear of it." Skylar said from her end of the line making Scarlett laugh out loudly.
"OMG! Carl is crazy. Hahahaha. I can imagine him sneaking into your travel bag when you're leaving." She laughed.
"Tell me about it." Skylar sighed. "I'm tempted to think he's the bane of my existence."
"Oh no, Sky. It ain't that bad, is it?"
"I'm sure you don't think it's not." Skylar said making Scarlett laugh even more.
"But seriously, I've missed you so much girl. I've also missed Carl, Mom and Dad too. Hope everyone's fine?"
"Awwn, missing you too my sugarplum. Mom and Dad's fine you know. You won't believe they made me sign an agreement that I was gonna come visiting at the least, once in two months."
"Oh dear," Scarlett scratched the bridge of her nose, a wide smile on her face. Her eyes on the piano keys. "I'm sure they're gonna miss you a lot."
"I know right? I'm the only pest in their lives so it's quite certain they gonna miss me when I leave." Skylar chuckled. "Also, mom insisted the next time I come back to Australia, I must have a boyfriend I'll be telling her about. Can you imagine?"
"You don't mean it." Scarlett laughed. "Well, we've gotta get you one as soon as you're back in Birmingham then."
"Oh...you got that right sugar." Skylar said and they both laughed. "By the way, what's the update on those hotties_KK and the mysterious guy you met yesternight like you told me in our chat."
Scarlett chuckled, she could sense Skylar wiggling her brows teasingly.
"It's only been a few hours after my encounter with the strange guy." She paused momentarily. "Oh, and when I looked him up online, I discovered he's the son of Minister Jordan Bryant, a famous person in this city and my dad's business partner."
"No wonder why he could easily recognize you. But when he said you guys would be meeting again, do you have any idea what that meant?" Skylar asked.
"Heck no, Sky." Scarlett pushed few strands of hair off her face. "I have no idea at the moment. He seemed cool but also weird in a way."
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see. It seems you're catching all the gorgeous dudes around there in my absence. I'd better hurry down to Birmingham city before all the good guys disappear." Skylar joked and Scarlett giggled.
"Oh, you'd better do that." She grinned.
____
Imogen walked out of the family's mansion, fully dressed and ready for her appointment with Doctor Greg.
She walked to the car garage and nodded to a guard, tossing her car key to him and he immediately hurried to open the back door of her private car.
Imogen was about to step in when her phone rang. Pausing on her attempt, she stared boredly at the phone in her hand.
*Mr. Finley* The caller ID says.
Her forehead creased slightly in a frown as she picked up the call.
"Young Ms, the chairman wants you at his private yacht in twenty minutes."
On hearing his words, her frown changed to a smirk instantly.
Is this some kinda bribe? Her father had never invited her alone to his yacht before.
She stared into space for a while as she decided whether to honor his command or not.

#Author's note:
*Sorry about the delay in updates this few weeks. I was ill for a while so I wasn't able to write. Updates on this book would be more frequent now*
Thanks to all who are reading :)