chapter two

"What's going on here?" Joshua, my father's personal assistant asked.

He had been specifically appointed by my dad to look after my progress in the business. I always just thought he'd eventually get tired and go away, but he always made it through. He wore thick round glasses that hid the wrinkles on his aging face. Unlike my father, I preferred and could stand him.

"Heather, my office... Now!"

I resisted for some minutes before finally giving in. "You better be gone before I get back." I warned her, before following the man to his office.

The whole ground remained silent as she left. The lady knowing all was over, got up and went to her desk. Nobody even dared to look at her direction as she left to pack her belongings before the security men showed up.

"Heather, what was the meaning of that fuss outside?" Joshua reprimanded me. "This wasn't the deal with your dad. How do you expect to make him proud if you keep acting like this?"

I shot him a dirty look. "Don't involve that man in this."

"Okay fine. We can't keep loosing more employees that we don't have. Couldn't you have at least have considered carol? She's a really good accountant. We can't afford loosing good people at this rate... We have a dea-"

" Are you done?" I cut him short. I couldn't even keep hearing about this deal stuff anymore. Everybody, even him, still believed I could get us a deal. I had given up in doing that in a really long time. Everything I worked for in this company was strictly for private purposes only. I didn't need or recognize any need for partnerships.

" Excuse me?" He looked at me very confused.

"Listen anziano, I really don't see reasons why you should interfere in my decisions. Know your place in my life, okay?"

"Don't say that heather! You know we all care about you. Besides, this is your inheritance, your hard work. Do you want to throw it away for nothing?"

"I have no interest in continuing my father's legacy. I'm tired and and done. I'm only still here cause I can't afford to get broke. Any other thing is not my business."

"But you have so much potential... Do you really want to throw it all away? ho fiducia in te. I know you can do it."

" You've brainwashed me enough, anziano. I don't think I want to continue in this gibberish any more. I want to watch this place rot to the ground and become nothing. Enough to watch my father die from an heart attack."

"Enough! I can't sit and watch you continue like this any longer. You need to let go Mia principessa. "

"Your fath-i mean, Mr Georgeio is critically ill. This is the only time you have to make peace with him. You don't have to keep holding this grudge against him, Mia principessa." For some reasons, Joshua still called me that. "Mia principessa," like I was still some little girl.

" I don't think I have the time for this. This....this whole thing is bullshit!" I looked at my phone, "I need to be somewhere right now." I walked away leaving the aging man to his thoughts.

"You don't have to fight it heather, I know you're better than this.... ho fiducia in te...."

Joshua sank on his chair, recalling old memories. Heather was a changed person now, and there was no going back. She was never going to forgive him and it was final. If only her mum was alive, things would have made sense a little. Probably... a .....little better.

* * * * *

Heather, a young girl of 19 went up the stage to receive her degree. Her blonde hair bouncing around as she went up the stairs. She was light skinned, tall and walked in a very elegant way. One could even call her a model, with how coordinated her movements were.

She smiled at her parents, who in turn waved at her as they occupied the front seat. The day couldn't even get more better. She was finally graduating business school as the youngest in her class, and most importantly, the smartest. Her parents must be so proud.

"I want to thank my parents for this opportunity. My lecturers and friends, this wouldn't have been possible without you all. Thank you so much for the support."

The crowd cheered as she walked out the stage. "Give it up for a Heather Aria Martin," another teacher called, grabbing the mic from her hands. "She is one of miracle falls most exceptional students."

Heather couldn't believe she was done with school. It was all happening so fast, there wasn't enough time to process everything.

" What do you say about going with me to work tomorrow? Her dad asked at the dinner table. "I mean, if you want to of course. It's just that there's so much for you to know already... I'm so proud of you".

"Really George? She only just graduated and you're filling her with work already ? Her mum defended. "I need some time to spend with my baby too you know," she pinched her cheeks.

" Amore mio, she's your daughter. You can spend as much time as you want with her tomorrow." He turned to his daughter, "But I'll have to take her with me to work first thing in the morning. There's still so much she needs to know about the entertainment industry."

"So you're willing to work her to death then? Lei è solo una bambina, I don't want her to get all worked up."

"Enough.... enough. Papà, mamma, I think there's a way we can work this out. I'll go with dad in the morning but, I'll be back before noon. I promise. "

"That's my girl. Amore mio, she really takes after her father."

" More like her mother," her mum hissed.

Heather had always looked up to her father. He was an extreme workaholic but still managed to carry his family along. He wasn't a powerful man from the scratch, but had managed to build his way bit by bit on the chain of influence through consistency and hardwork. That was what she loved about him. He was a very hardworking man.

Her mother on the other hand wasn't much of the business type but she was special in her own way. From the stories Anziano had told her, it was obvious that her mum was born into wealth. But despite that, she followed her heart and went for what she loved.

...Her parents disowned her thereafter.. Anziano explained when heather had asked him. "She was asked to choose between a life of luxury and the man she loved. Signora.... was pregnant at that time, about four months or so. Her parents demanded that she abort the baby and continue like nothing ever happened. But she insisted that she rather live without her family legacy, than to abandon you or leave Georgeio. They lost contact thereafter."

Heather couldn't understand how some parents could be so cruel to their child. They never came to visit and she never met her grandparents. But none of it mattered anymore. They had moved on from that chapter of their lives, with or without them.