Chapter 1

Today was another day, another great and successful day in Ashely's life. Once upon a time, this woman was viewed as the vulnerable stepsister that miserably fell in love with her stepbrother, but now tables are turned. 

Now, this woman was known for her great success, courage, mental strength, determination, and self-motivation. 

Now, she was known as Ashely Miller, CEO of the most well-known magazine company in New York City. 

______________

*ALARM* *ALARM*

Ashley opened her eyes as she straight at her white ceil with a blank expression. In her mind roams a million and one things at the same time that caused her to close her eyes and took a deep breath in before opening them once again. 

"Today is a new day, new goals are being set there is no room for failure, you are beautiful, your mind is beautiful, you are intelligent, you are independent, you are grateful, I am grateful," Ashley mumbled to herself as she took another deep breath in before slowly sitting up. 

She glances around her dim bedroom while gently massaging her messy hair before patting the bed in search of something. A firm object was felt as she removed it from under the covers, with the press of a button, the curtains that were covering the windows slowly opened revealing the breathtaking view of the city. 

The sunlight light up her bedroom as her smile widened at the peaceful sight before she slowly crawled out of her bed. Her breath hitched as her bare feet touched the cold floor, causing her to retract her feet back as her skin grew goosebumps. 

Taking a deep breath, she slowly laid her foot on the floor getting a custom to the temperate before placing her other foot on the floor as well. Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, she walked towards the bathroom while dialing the number of her secretary. 

Placing her phone down on the sink counter, she looked at her reflection in the mirror before lightly massaging her face with her fingers before a voice was suddenly heard coming from her phone, "boss lady, I'm here, good morning, boo," her secretary greeted as she grinned, "Good morning, David, how is your morning going, love?" She asked as David scoffed, "Girl, I've been pissed since last night when I came home from work," he said as Ashley furrowed, "Oh, yeah, what got you so upset?" She asked as David scoffed again, "Terek's lazy ass," he said as Ashley smiled, "What did he do this time?" She asked as there shuffling in the background, "Girl, I came home last night in the mood to get some vitamin D, but when I came home, he's busy playing on that childish PlayStation, I was so pissed off," he said as Ashley grinned while shaking her head. 

"And what did you do?" Ashley asked as David chuckled, "I told his ass to have fun alone in the guestroom," he said as Ashley laughed, "Well, I hope he learned his lesson," she said as David hummed, "Trust me, he sure did," he said as Ashley laughed once again before grabbing her phone to hold against her ear, "Anyway, David, I called you to ask if you can call my driver, I'm not in the mood to drive myself today," she said as David responded with an 'okay' before she ended the call. 

After doing her morning routine, she hopped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away her endless worries and stress. 

Approximately 10 mins after, she exited the bathroom before walking towards the entrance of her closet to get ready for a long day of work. Getting dressed in a casual dark blue pantsuit, with her hair laying neatly against her back, Ashley continued to gather her work items before the sound of a horn was heard. 

"Just in time," she mumbled with a small smile on her face as she made her way out of her apartment before heading out to meet up with her driver. As she exited the building, she immediately came to face with her driver, who instantly opened the car door as her presence came into sight, "Good morning, Charles," she greeted the young male with a sweet smile on her face as he blushed, "Good morning, Miss Miller," he greeted back with a shy smile on his face as Ashley furrowed, "I thought I told you to call me Ashley, Charles," she said as Charles, her driver sighed, "But, Miss Miller, you're my boss, wouldn't it be disrespectful to address you by your first name?" He asked as Ashley giggled while shaking her head. 

"No, Charles, it's not disrespectful especially when your boss is requesting you to do so," she said as Charles nodded as his smile widened, "Alright, Ashley it is," he said as Ashley nodded before getting on the backseat of the car. 

Soon, Charles arrived in front of Ashley's company, as she smiled while looking out of the window, "Here's where the magic begins," she mumbled before the door was opened by Charles as she steps out of the vehicle with the help of Charles, who smiled sweetly at her, "Thank you for the ride, Charles, I'll see you after work," she said as Charles nodded before leaving. 

Ashley walked towards the entrance of the building as the doors were opened by the two security guards, "Good morning, Miss Miller," they greeted, as Ashley smiled, "Good morning, gentlemen," she greeted back as she entered the building. 

The receptionist at the front desk greeted Ashley with a bright smile as Ashley returned her greetings before heading to the elevators on her way to her office. As the elevator stopped at the top floor and the doors opened, Ashley exited the elevator and walked towards her office while greeting working employees. 

As she entered her office, she placed her belongings down and got comfortable in her chair before the doors of her office opened revealing her one and only secretary, David.

"David, my love," she exclaimed in an excited tone as David chuckled, "Hey, boo, welcome back, here sip on this," he greeted back with a grin on his face before handing over a cup of coffee. 

 "How does my schedule look like today, babe?" She asked while sipping on her coffee, "Actually, it doesn't look that pack today, you have a company staff meeting today, company portal, and office work," he said as Ashley nodded before flagging him off, "Alright, get, work isn't going to start itself," she said as David playfully scoffed before heading towards the door, "I hate you, you're such a b*tch," he said as Ashley laughed, "I love you too, David," she said as David blew her a kiss before leaving. 

Ashley stood up from her chair, gently brushing over her pantsuit before walking towards the door, exiting the office. She slowly walked door the hall of the top floor while examining her employees as they work extremely hard for their boss's praise.

Reaching at the very end of the hall, Ashley suddenly overhears a conversation between two familiar female voices, "I really hate working for that phony b**tch," one of her female employees said as another individual hummed in agreement, "Right, she's so irritating," she said as Ashley smirked before approaching their desk catching them off guard, "Good morning, ladies, are you getting my work done?" She asked as the two women gulped, "Yes, ma'am," they both answered in unison as Ashley nodded before turning around to leave, "Oh, and one more thing, you're fired, get my work done and get the hell out of my company, since y'all obviously don't like working here for an irritating b*tch like me," she said before walking away leaving the ladies dumbfounded. 

After doing the company portal, Ashley went back to her office and as she opened the door was greeted by a bunch of red roses. A smile grew on Ashley's lips as she closed the door behind her before walking up to the familiar person, whose face was blocked by the big bouquet of roses.

"Good morning, Daniel," she greeted as the rosed lowered revealing Daniel, Ashley's college playboy, and her current boyfriend, "Good morning, beautiful," he greeted back as he stepped forward to place a gentle kiss on her lips as she blushed, "So, what do I owe to this visit?" She asked making her way to her desk, "I thought, I'd come to visit you this morning, since I didn't see you last night, and I also came to tell you that I'm picking you up after work," he said as Ashley furrowed, "Oh, you are?" She asked as Daniel nodded, "Yes, I want to take you somewhere special, spend some time with you," he said as Ashley said before walking up to wrap her arms around his neck. 

"That sounds lovely," she whispered against his lips as he smiled, "I'm glad you think so and these are for you," he said before handing over the bouquet of roses, "Their beautiful, Daniel, thank you," she said before kissing his lips. But it soon came to an end as the door to her office opened revealing David, who had a disgusted look on his face, "Y'all  nasty," he said in a playful tone as both Ashley and Daniel chuckled before separating, "What's up, David?" Ashley asked as David furrowed, "What's up, girl, you got a meeting in 5 mins," he said as Ashley's eyes widened, "Oh God, I almost forgot," she said as David rolled his eyes. 

Ashley immediately placed the roses in a vase before quickly thanking Daniel with a peck before rushing to the door, "Goodbye, Daniel, I'll see you after work," she said before rushing out with David close behind. 

As they speed walk down the hall David took the chance to interrogate her, "Ash, why did you fire two workers?" He asked as Ashley scoffed, "Because I don't need the negative energy in my company, everyone in this building is considered family, we work as a family, we succeed as a family, and we fail as a family," she said as David remained silent with a smile on his face. 

"What is this meeting even about Ashley, considering that we need the entire company here?" He asked with his brows furrowed, "You'll see and baby, you better be ready because it's big."

TO BE CONTINUED...