IMOGEN'S POV
"Mum I just can't accept this. Seriously, I don't think I'll ever get used to the strange girl posing as an elder sister and living in our home. Was it so hard for father to have given us a hint all these years? Why let us find out only recently?" I said to mother, not hiding the displeasure in my voice.
I mean, we had to sit there and listen to her talk about herself as a 'legitimate' daughter. She had guts really! Even the way she smartly answered the questions thrown at her shows just how well she knows what she's doing. Mother sighed and touched my arm slightly, I was looking out the window as the driver drove us home.
"Imogen, don't be too hard on your father. Take it as my fault," I turned to look at her in confusion. "I didn't care enough for him that's why he probably couldn't tell me." She said.
"Mother!" I cut in, immediately. "That's not true. Everyone knows how greatly you care about father." I said and she gave me a small smile.
"Just leave it all to me, Imogen. Focus on winning your father's heart. I'm sure your brother would do just fine. Don't forget the business meeting with Song and Kwan group. If you can secure that contract, I'm sure your father would be proud of you again."
"I can't anymore. Ashton told me he's already on it." I said lowly and mother sighed again. "It's all because of that damn secretary." I said and mother gave me a warning glare. "Urgh! No swear words, I know." I groaned and she chuckled.
"Be nice to your sister, Imogen. I don't want you fighting her over anything. I hope you understand?"
"But mother__"
"I know it's not going to be easy accepting a sister all of a sudden but I hope you'll understand your father. It's true she's the daughter of my late friend, we don't want any false rumors spreading around. That wouldn't help the growth of the company." She smiled at me.
Although mother smiled I couldn't help wondering a little if she really meant all she just said.
"She seems to have another motive Mum." I sighed and looked ahead. "Hey! I'll stop here." I said to the driver.
"Imogen, what are you doing? Where are you off to? This isn't the right time to go out, you know that." She said in alarm.
"But Mum, I can't go back home where I know that girl would be. It's really not comfortable. Why did she announced herself that way? Anyway, I can't return home tonight. See you later mother." I kissed her cheeks and stepped out of the car.
I already called Yori, I'm sure she'll pick me up soon.
ASHTON'S POV
"Should I call you Ashton Grey or Mr Grey? Which would you prefer?" He asked, moving his chess piece across the chessboard. I stared skeptically at him, trying to understand how he seemed so easy going.
This is my first meeting with him ever and he offered to play chess together while discussing business.
"Your choice." I said, picking up my piece and moving it since it's my turn. He smiled.
"Very well, I think I prefer Ashton Grey. That sounds better and more informal if you'll agree." He said, casting a brief glance my way.
Right after the press conference ended, I was on my way back home when I got a call from his secretary, accepting my proposal to meet up. She'd sent me the address to his private villa. I was still much more in a bad mood when I received the call so I'd thought briefly to decline the meeting for today. But on second thought, I realized I mustn't skip it as we've been looking for an opportunity to meet up with him in a while now. If I should skip today, there's no possibility of me getting such opportunity again. As for his wristwatch, there's no way I could stop him from having what was rightly his_I don't dare try to.
Although a larger part of my thoughts were presently occupied by my stepsister's way of introducing herself, I still couldn't help but try to focus on what Kyle Kwan has to say to the company's proposal.
"You know, you seem pretty occupied upstairs that I'm wondering if today's the best day to discuss business." KK's words made me snap out of my thoughts and turn to him.
"No, today's perfect." I smiled politely. "Forgive my absentmindedness, Mr Kwan." He chuckled and reclined back on his cane chair.
"Is that so? Oh my bad. My condolences to your family as I learned today's the death anniversary of an important figure in the Grey's household." He picked up his wine glass and took a sip from it.
"It's fine. Thanks for your concern, Mr Kwan."
"You know, you ain't being fair." He stated and I raised a brow in confusion.
"Sorry?"
"I mean, I want to discuss business with you like I'll do with a friend but you keep being so formal with me. I'd prefer if you'll just refer to me by my first name. In this country, I have no friends but I have business partners. Being friends with you, would that be hard?"
Wait, what?!
Okay, play it cool Ashton.
"It depends Mr Kwan as I'm quite a picky fellow. For now, I think we'll both do well as business partners." I said and his lips curled up into a small smile.
"It's Alright. Thanks for finding my wristwatch Ashton Grey."
I didn't find it really. I was just opportune to have been there at that time if you ask me.
"So, let's hear the business offer your company wants to have with mine." Kyle said, switching to business mode immediately.
He pushed the chess board aside_as I wasn't quite interested in the game today. A servant quietly removed it just as I nodded to my PA beside me. She professionally brought out some files and handed it over to him.
Moments after skimming through the contents, Kyle nodded slightly and handed the files back to Esmeralda.
"Nice ideas and a generous offer too Mr Grey. I'm honored to know JP's Enterprise want to engage in such an amazing project with my company. I'll review your offer with my board members and send you a feedback soon." He said.
"Great! Thanks for your time." I said, standing up immediately and offering my hand for a handshake which he received briefly. I nodded to Esmeralda and she immediately gave him the small gift bag we came in with. It contains his wristwatch. I noticed his expression brightened immediately he saw the content.
"Seems like a precious possession of yours. Well be careful out there, someone already had his eyes on it." I said and he chuckled. The way he laughed seems to tell me not to underestimate him.
I cleared my throat and turned away.
"We'll leave you now." I added. But just as I was about stepping out of his terrace, his voice stopped me.
"That's one remarkable sister you've got Mr Grey. I look forward to meeting her in the near future." He said and I furrowed my brows in confusion.
A remarkable sister? Definitely not Imogen. Then is it?
I turned to him immediately and he smiled, a somewhat lopsided smile.
"See you around, Ashton Grey." He said.
As I walked to my car with Esmeralda and Toby beside me, I wondered what the young chairman meant by his words.
SCARLETT'S POV
I smiled as Skylar cried dramatically over my shoulders. I was at the airport and seeing them off that same evening_immediately after the press conference ended.
"Stop crying Sky. You'll be back in two weeks remember?" I chuckled.
"I know but it's seems so far away. Sugar we've never been apart for that long and I'm gonna miss you crazily." She cried. I looked at Mom pleadingly. She seemed to have a far away gaze in her eyes and I could vaguely guess what's on her mind. She smiled when her eyes met mine before she called Skylar.
"Skylar you have to let her go now or we'll miss our flight." She said.
"Aunt Aimee, you don't think that'll make me budge right? No one's understanding how I'm feeling. You're so mean but I love you." She whined again, hugging me again. It's always a battle when she goes baby mode on me.
"I guess you don't wanna come back here again." Mom said and that did the trick. Sky gasped dramatically and left me instantly. She ran to Mom.
"Of course I do Aunt Aimee. How do you want me to survive without my sugar?"
I laughed and hugged Mom.
"Take care Mom and thanks for everything again."
"Oh c'mmon baby, stop saying thanks to me over nothing." She chided and I grinned. "Now let me go so Sky doesn't jump on us_" Before she completed her intended statement, Skylar was already hugging us again as she cried.
"Oh my sugar! My darling sugarplum!" I giggled and pinched her cheeks slightly.
"Be a good girl hun. Say me hi to Mom 2 and Dad. Send my love to Cole and please Sky don't steal his sweatpants, shirts, caps or anything when coming back." I said and she giggled.
"Girl I got no boyfriend, so why not make bro one." She said and we laughed. Mom shook her head with a small sigh.
"You'll be needing some help upstairs soon." She said and pulled her away.
"Goodbye hun. Goodbye Mom. Safe flight." I waved as they walked towards the terminal. Mom was practically holding Sky's hand firmly to prevent her from running back to me. Despite that, she was still blowing kisses and screaming about her love for me.
My downright crazy friend...
I heaved a sigh as I turned around to the car, my guards with me.
Moments later, I stared out the window of the car as we drove back home, my thoughts revolving around the press conference few hours earlier. I can't help but wonder about the strange glare I felt directed at me when I walked in the conference hall.
Who might that be?
Also, the female reporter, Amelia Mills, seems familiar but I can't recall where I'd seen that face or the name. And her questions seemed so pressing and particularly intentional_as though she was driving at something. This particular question she asked would have caused a stir if I hadn't handled it smartly.
FLASHBACK
"Ms. Grey, It's being said that your mother 'Paige Grey' and your stepmother 'Harriet Grey' used to be bestfriends. What's your take on that?" Amelia Mills asked again and Scarlett chuckled in feigned amusement.
"I wouldn't know that Ms. Mills. I mean, my mother died right after I was birthed. But that's not a cause to worry as I think my stepmom would be 'more than happy' to share such details with me." She said, casting a glance in Harriet's direction. Harriet's face flushed from embarrassment but she covered it up with a tight smile.
_____
Whatever Harriet must have thought of me during that moment would definitely not be pleasant. Well, I'm sure you know I won't be sitting down and doing nothing when my mother's murderer lives in same home as I, deceiving my father and everyone else.
No! I'll be sure to expose her to the world one day. It'll take a while because I'm not letting her off easily but I will deal with her in areas she had never considered possible.
Harriet, you just wait and see...