ELLA'S POVThe soft sound of giggles rushed into my ears as I stepped out from the elevator. The warm air of the hallway greeted me, the decor gripping me in it's inviting solace.I strutted towards the door to Ivy's room with uncertainty reeling in my veins. I still couldn't get over Madame Browne's proposal and what was at stake. The proposal was cornering, like a two edged sword with no way out. Hosting events was never my thing but I was determined to make it work, at least this time. I couldn't afford having Xavier see me create a mess, also, I saw this as an opportunity to prove to everyone that I could take on the task and still deliver.Madame Browne had obviously given me the role to see me fail, I could tell she was certain I would fail when cornered with such a huge job. But I would try my best and actually give it my all.But first, I needed to meet Ivy, I'd missed her nagging voice over the days. As I gripped the knob, the soft smell of sandalwood flustered into my nostr
ELLA'S POV “Alright, tell Ivy I'll be back.” I said and flashed a glance back at Mrs. Winters, the housekeeper. She was a petite blonde lady who obviously in her mid 60s, I could tell from the soft tinge of gray at the base of the strands of her hair.She offered me a soft smile and I flashed a quick glance at Ivy. Anxiety rushed in my veins, why had the president requested my presence? I had a million questions bubbling in my veins at that instant.He rarely called for anyone's presence so I was worried. Who wouldn't be? He was my father-in-law, and I couldn't help but wonder why he had called for my presence.Did he find out I was the one hosting his birthday party? If yes, then how? I thought the event was supposed to be a surprise to him and a celebration of a life well lived. My palms grew wet as I clenched my fists until my fingers bit into the flesh of my palms. A wave trudged down my spine as I inhaled softly. I could do this, of course I could. I turn on my heel and took p
ELLA'S POV The president's cold voice jerked me out of my interlude as I swiveled to see my once smiling father-in-law now frowning. He looked nerved, clear lines of worry laced in his electrifying green eyes. It was almost as if my question had striked a chord. But I wasn't going to press on.“Let's focus on why we're here,” he said, gesturing sharply to the work table situated at the middle of the room. I followed him as I traced my steps to the high neck swivel chair opposite his.“Sit,” he prompted softly and I took a seat. The soft lush texture of the chair crumbled beneath my back as I felt myself drifting into the comfiness.“You requested my presence,” I said sharply cutting through the silence as I tried to get some emotions but his eyes remaind cold, evident as if hiding a secret.Who were the people in the picture? And why did he feel offended when I asked who they were?I was still going to do my research later on but now I had to focus on the president. I watched as he
ELLA'S POV “So what's your say?” I held by breath after asking. I couldn't directly read the look on the president's face but from the little info I could get, I could as well say the expression on his face was a bland mixture of shock of and comtempt. I waited for his response anxiously, my palms turning wet as I bit my tongue.Just before I could finish my little prediction, his face twisted sharply into a frown, his eyes gleaming with a dark glint of anger. The leafy green color of his eyes burned with the golden red color from the chandelier. My heartbeat thumped hard in my chest as my pulse raced. The anxiety in me was filling to the bream with each passing second, waves rolling up my spine.“I… I am so sorry father in law—” I was saying when he interrupted me with a raise of his index finger. Pausing, I pursed my lips as I watched his finger fall. Fear seeped into my veins. What had I done? He looked so angry, like I had provoked him. It seemed my apology didn't work but the
MADAME BROWNE’S POVHow dare her? That bitch! She even had the audacity to confront the president and have him agree to her stupid excuse of an event. The rage in my veins was hot and blazing, my fingers biting into my palm until I felt little patches of blood seeping out.I clenched my jaw tightly as I watched the president yell, “You may leave Madame Browne!”My jaw fell slightly as I stared back at the president, his eyes were blazing with fire, his tone sharp and unquestionable. I felt my once felt courage melting into a pool of regrets. The president had never opposed my words before, even though we weren't exactly close, he always allowed me have my way not untill she came into the picture.Ella.I wanted to tear into her, that bitch, for what she did. I tried to resist the sharp pungent anger in my veins as my pulse raced. My breath came in muffled puffs, the tendsion in the room rising with each passing second. Smirking, I turned in the direction of the exit and traced my wa
ELLA'S POV As I stepped into the hallway, the chillingly familiar smell of Madame Browne's cologne flared my nostrils. The haughty smell of cedarwood sent shivers down my spine. The thought of Madame Browne haunted me, filling my insides with loads upon loads of fear. The way she stared at me back in there was haunting, her gaze flickering with malice. Her eyes, as I recalled, burned with a flicker of rage and contempt like a threat orchestrated just for me.Her jaw had dropped slightly when she found out that the president chose to support me over her. It was obvious he hadn't went against her words in years. She was used to having her way and it felt good to finally stand up to her.But the consequences of it struck at a corner in my mind. Consequences? The president had warned me about her, of how conniving she could be if things didn't go her way. I had to be careful with everything — the decorations, the guests and hosting the event.I traced my steps down the hallway, the fami
MADAME BROWNE'S P O V "Yes." I heard Ella say as I chuckled inwardly. I inhaled deeply, my deft fingers roving into my hair as I stared back at that whore, Ella. She looked innocent, smiling sheepishly like the fool she was. She had obviously said yes just because the offer to have Miss Genevieve, an award winning event host, was to her profit. But things weren't always as they seem. Instead of it to be at her profit, it turned out to be her loss. If you're also wondering what I meant, let me take you on a little trip down memory lane.*******“Grapes!” I ordered opening my lips as I a maid fed me some red grapes. The sickeningly sweet taste of the grapes spread on my tongue as I pierced my teeth through the grape.It was time. The heat from the water ravished my body in it's heated hold, causing me to fiddle here and then. The taste of wine on my lips intensified with a sour yet soft familiarity to red wine. It's metallic tinge reminded me of the scene of the president turning me
MISS GENEVIEVE 'S P O VTWO HOURS A GO.When I received a call from Madame Browne from Browne, I knew it wasn't going be good news. It never was and would evidently never be. She always reached out just when she needed you the most and she spared no freaking' excuses.She had a way of having her way. She'd remind you of your most vulnerable moments and slam her expectations at you to make your insecurities boil. People like Madame Browne were inevitable, unable to not come across in one's lifetime.And people like me were mostly their prey. As I stepped out from the elevator to her floor, I saw her assistant shuffling behind me. “Good morning Mis Genevieve.”"How's Mr Allen and—" He was about continuing when in interrupted, "We're divorced." I interrupted firmly, my feet strutting deeper into the almost endless hallways."I'm sorry fot your—" He bickered and was about finishing when I interrupted again, but this time with a firm authority laced in my tone, "I'm not here for this littl
ELLA'S POV Xavier was finally here.My joy knew no bounds as I rushed over to the parking lot where I had guessed his car was packed. From afar, I could already see a glint of his backview stepping out of his car.The security men following him led the way as he turned. His face, as you'd expect, was strict, the bad-boy look plastered on all corners of his face but once he saw me, a bright smile tugged at his lips.“Xavier.” I said, running as fast as my legs could carry me. Xavier also ran in my direction and when I finally came in contact with him, I jumped into his wife arms. The smell of his cologne flared my nostrils, the joy of being in Xavier’s arms washing back into my veins.In as much as I didn't want to admit it, I missed him. And I could tell he also missed me. His arms wrapped aroundy back, his lips placing a hot kiss on my neck.“I missed my princess.” The sound of Xavier's voice trudged into my ears, fulfillment washing into my bones. I felt happy, safe and contented
ELLA'S POV “This way ma'am,” The news reporter walked over to me, his finger pointing in the direction where his camera team were located.I looked back at the script in my hands, I still didn't understand why Madame Browne had insisted I did the interview when I was told only ten minutes away. Madame Browne was seated by the edge of the hall, a wicked smile playing on her lips. The flickering lights of the camera team washed her features, the malice in her gaze burning my flesh. I parted some loose strands of my hair behind my ears as I walked over to the corner where the interview was going to happen. The walls had a green background and the makeup artist walked over to me with a make-up box in her hands.“Make-up?” She asked nicely, revealing her bright set of dentition.I was just about to respond to her when Madame Browne interrupted, her tone dismissive, “No! She doesn't need that.”“The interview should start in a minute.” The director stepped in beside Madame Browne, his fi
THE NEXT DAYELLA'S POV Grin Grin!I woke up to the first ray of sunlight. The air loomed celebration and joy, the distant sound of the workers at the hall bracing my ears. My alarm clock receding ringing filled my ears as I tapped on the button to turn off before stepping out of the bed. The president's birthday was today and I had set a timer to wake up early enough to be one of the first set of people to wish him a happy birthday.I took my bath and dressed myself in a simple top and some khaki pants to go surpervise the event before the guests arrived. I traced my steps to Ivy's room to find her already awake in her pajamas. “Let's go wish Grandpa a happy birthday!” I smiled, pointing to the cake I'd ordered earlier. “Yay cake.” Ivy squeeled beside me, her sweet voice filled with joy.“Let's go.” I urged, taking the cake pack. Ivy gave out another squeel as she ran over from the bed. “Don't forget the party poppers.”Madeline, ivy's caretaker who was watching us from the side,
ELLA'S POV I walked over to the hall with the president behind me. I was taking him on a short tour of the hall and things were going smoothly. I pointed over to the stage, “That is stage and that is…”As I spoke, something in me felt uncertain. I could feel iny veins that something bad was about to go down. Madame Browne was the only person in the hall and the thought of that was unsettling.“I'll be back.” I took several steps back. I flashed a wink at Glenda telling her I had to use the lady's room before walking out of the corner into the main hall.I took slow yet calculated steps into the hallway, my heels walking slowly without making any noise. I stepped to a side and caught a view of Madame Browne's figure looking as maddened as I had left.I waited for a second, a cold sweat running down my forehead as I searched for any movements from her but received nothing. I was just about to turn and leave when I caught her walking back in the direction of a corner of the hall. She
ELLA'S POV “My mistake…was thinking the size of the event mattered more than the heart behind it. For years, I was impressed by noise. But this year, Ella reminded me that silence…can steal the show.”It would be an understatement to say my heart skipped a beat when those words escaped the president's lips. I felt the world beneath me crumble, the shock causing me to nearly lose my stance.A tear slid down my cheek. My heart was still racing from the shock. I had been so afraid of the president not acknowledging my efforts. For a split second, I'd thought I lost it all to Madame Browne and that she'd won but I was wrong.I had won.Madame Browne's efforts to ruin the event didn't work, I scaled through. The president had walked over to me and for the first time, had offered me a hug.He seemed very happy, probably the happiest he'd ever been. Once the hug ended, he turned in Ms. Glenda's direction. I hesitated for a second before I spoke, “This is Ms. Glenda she helped me design the
MADAME BROWNE'S POVThe elevator door in front of me chimed open sharply, a soft metallic swoosh brushing my ears. I stepped out of the elevator into the long hallway to my room. As expected, my maids were lined up by the walls like figurines dressed in uniforms I'd designed myself. The elevator's soft gloom layered over the purple linen of the uniform, catching my gaze from the side.The silence in the hallway was soft, almost unbearable but somehow, it felt okay. The discomfort in my veins rolled easily, my face fixed into one of those things oldsters call a warrior's mask.The president would be here anytime from now and he was going to come back to her— Ella, and that bitch, Glenda. He would witness their event and would probably give her some accolades— accolades that should've been mine.I bit my lower lips furiously, the impatience in me was cold— chilling cold. I clenched my fists trying to think of something else, something other than her.Ella.Her name was like fucking tat
ELLA'S POV I wasn't expecting to see Madame Browne at the event hall but there she was, claded in one of the most expensive dresses I've ever seen. Her eyes loomed with malice and an even darker emotion, the air shifting sharply.Smug smirks slipped through her lips as she strutted into the hall. Her presence daunted curious gazes, hushed whispers trudging through the air as she made her way into the hall.My bloodstreams tightened, the veins in my legs twitching as I maintained a straight stance. The air, if I remembered clearly, stood still with unspoken tension.I stood by the stage, the clipboard in my hands nearly snapping to the floor from the shock.The silence in the hall was thick with suspense, the whispers fading immediately as Madame Browne strutted into the hall. Her eyes wandered around sharply, inspecting each and every detail as if searching for a flaw to bicker on about.My heart raced in my chest, my gaze following Madame Browne. And just when I thought she wouldn't
Madame Browne's PerspectiveThere was only one sound filling the car: the smooth hum of the engine beneath me, as I sat in the backseat, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my wine glass. Outside, the city was a blur of lights and motion, a sea of faceless people who didn't matter to me. They were all just ants, scurrying around in a world that would never understand the power I held.The driver, a quiet man that had driven for me for years, looked back at me through the rearview mirror. "Ma'am, where to tonight?"I took another sip of my wine, let the rich flavor dance on my tongue. "To the mansion," I said coolly, my voice low, deliberate. "I need to speak with the staff, make sure everything is in order.The mansion had been mine, my domain where I could let my guard down, and relax in the knowledge I was in control. But tonight… tonight was different. The tension was palpable, an unhealthy knot threatening to tighten in my chest. It had not gone according to plan, and to say the le
MADAME BROWNE'S I thought I'd seen it all.Well, not until I saw Glenda Bacci stepping into the one bar I thought I could escape her god-damned presence. She stood by the door to the mini bar, the club's flickering lights highlighting her silhouette.A proud smile tugged at her cherry red lips, disgust burning in my breath. I tried to flash my eyes away, to hide the discomfort I faced.Anger steamed in my blood, hard and pungent. I gripped the shot glass on the table, my fingers wrapping against the hard glass as I gulped it all down. I tried to turn away, to not acknowledge Glenda's presence but the attraction was daring, like that of a moth to a flame.“Oh! Look who it is?” I said, sarcasm dripping in the base of my voice. “Little Miss messiah.” “Yes, Madame Browne it is but this time, I'm no little messiah, I am Glenda Bacci, the one woman you tried to ruin years ago.” Glenda remarked like she didn't give a damn about my presence.She’d really grown wings I must say. But, like al