The four girls have the best of their lives during their stay in the academy. It was never easy at first; they had all their hidden insecurities and doubts just like a normal teenager would have, and growing up is not a quick process. In any case, knowing that they can depend on each other could be a great step, indeed in case they do not say it out loud for others to hear, deep in their hearts they know, it'll not be long until they respect one as soul sisters.
Within the huge city where times go by in a squint of an eye and everything is changing each moment, somewhere, not as well distant, there's another soul that's stowing away from the world. And like every young person out there, she too has uncertainties, questions, and stresses. She may seem solid on the outside, but the truth is she's covering up her genuine sentiments. She's covering up her most profound craving; her yearning for acknowledgment and thirst to be adored in return.
Victoria was silently eating in the dining area together with her father, stepmother, two stepsisters, and a big brother. She looked distinctive from her regular arrogant and full of certainty within the academy. This is the other version of her inside the Greene Mansion. She learned to act invisible for as long as she can remember. Her stepmom was not that warm but not that cold towards her. Well, you can say she was treated indifferently by her. Here, she was treated as invisible. Her stepmom can tolerate her as long as she doesn't go beyond her bottom line. Her twin stepsister loves to bully her because she looked beautiful compared to them. They even go as far as calling her a prostitute's daughter because her mother was the mistress and they don't like her at all.
Victoria's birth information was locked away from the public and only a few knew her true origin. She was known as the adoptive daughter of the Greene family since the legitimate wife of the house doesn't like her family getting involved in scandals; it was the only request she made with her husband to avoid divorcing him. Her father depended on his wife’s family's reputation.
Just like every day, Victoria made her way inside the car and drove to the academy. She was not in a good mood for weeks now and she hates going to school so she wanted to change school and just go to a boarding school abroad. However, her stepmom vetoed and told her she was asking for an unnecessary expense and that she had better stay in the academy. Victoria knows that her stepmom hates spending money on her, and her dad doesn't even care about her, for him the extent of being a father to her was to give her a life and a name, though she was only acknowledged by his father through her mother’s threat. For him, Victoria is just an obligation after fooling around with another woman. It was a sad reality, but what else can she do? Sometimes she despises her mother for being weak. If only her mother didn’t settle for a married man, then maybe she won’t be here…
Just as she passed the corridor she met Hayley Guevarra, the new crowned Lady of St. Claire, she was still feeling sour about losing against her, if only she was not impulsive and didn't take on the challenge she wouldn't end up losing even her twin stepsister laughs at her. She just ignores the girl and went past her. These days, she can't help but notice that girl, she was an initially pompous recluse without companions, but at that point, all of a sudden something happens she made friends, and to add to her wounds those girls look different, like something warm and cozy, unlike any other group that's taking benefit because she’s from a known family and somehow she felt jealous. but when this group of girls entered the academy, all eyes were now on them like they were such a sensational group. and it's making her angry. St. Claire is her domain originally.
And so, recently, she was satisfied teasing Raeven by being with Bryce whenever the girl was within her sight. Nobody knows of her real relationship with Bryce, because no one knows of her real mother's identity. Her mother and his mother were blood sisters, and since Bryce's mother was luckier than hers, she was entrusted to his care for however long it takes before she gets her inheritance.
During class and while she was attending some school council meetings, she felt bored, like being a leader was a dull and cumbersome chore. The position she coveted before was now reduced to an irritating job that she can't wait to pass on to somebody else.
"Hey, what's eating you?" A low and hoarse voice asked, teasing her.
Victoria completely forgot where she was right at that moment. She doesn't even know that the tea she was holding has long gone cold. "Nothing." She irritatedly sighs and puts down the tea.
The male just chuckles and shakes his head. His shoulder-length hair was swaying in the wind. "Auntie called mom yesterday and was asking about you. She was asking if your father was considering a marriage match for you these days."
Victoria thought about her mother. It has been a week since she last talked to her. Well, it can't be helped. She was so frustrated about the school, given the fact that she was still nursing the humiliation she received from the competition that had happened a week ago. She's still angry and doesn't know what to do with her slowly declining popularity inside the academy.
Those damn rich girls!
"How about you? Your grandma was so invested in your marriage match that she can't see any other girls now. Look at the ever-infatuated Lauren. Does she know?"
Bryce grins, "Lauren? Nah, who cares about her?"
Victoria knows this cousin of hers, this heartbreak prince….He knows how to manipulate girls in the palm of his hand.
"So, That Amano girl, do you like her?"
Bryce looks at the blue sky and squints his eyes. "let's wait and see."
Victoria sighed and shakes her head. Guess it's another game for his cousin this time. "You and your game, just don't make a mess where you can't get out of..."
Bryce snorted, "do you think I'll mess around with her? That family's matriarch is still alive. It would be big trouble. I won't dare mess around with her."
Victoria's biggest insecurity is these rich girls. They were born with it. Unlike her, she doesn't know how long she will fight for her position. Worse, she doesn't know if there will be an inheritance left for her either.
She was in the middle of thinking about her depressing future when her phone rang. She irritatedly gets it out of her Chanel bag and looked at it. She raised an eyebrow. Her half-brother is calling her?! What for? She doesn't know what to feel with this older brother of hers. She remembered when she was brought to the house by her father; she was only eight years old, and her older brother was not cold or warm towards her. It just looked like he was not seeing her. It was the opposite action in front of the public eyes where he acts brotherly for the sake of a good impression and his reputation.
"Broth-"
"What took you so long to answer my call?" The irritated male voice said on the phone.
"I…. I'm sorry." She said she learned to act submissively with her father's family because that is the only way to make her life easier while living in the mansion with them.
"Where are you at right now?"
"I'm at my friend's house..."
"Give me the address. I'm going to fetch you around."
Victoria was taken aback. "Ah? Why?"
"Just give me the address." He demanded with his signature cold voice.
Victoria knows that tone of his, and it's like a signal to her body. She hurriedly tidied her things and got up from her seat, ready to go. "A was on my way out. How about you drive right at 32nd Avenue?.."
There was a long silence before it grunted irritably and hung up.
Victoria was still confused by the call she received, but still hurriedly gone out of Bryce's mansion. Good thing 32nd Avenue is only right at the corner of the mansion. She only needs to run faster to get there. She even forgot to say goodbye and just left.
When she arrived at the meeting place, she was out of breath. She saw her brother's car; It was his beloved Porsche; she double-checked the plate license before she knocked on the window, then the car door lock clicked open. She got inside.
"Have you waited long?" She asked nervously.
Her brother snorted and started the car.
She was quiet and made herself invisible; she was dying to ask her brother about his sudden fetching her up when he finally talked.
"I'm bringing you to dinner with me. I heard you were classmates with the daughter of our potential investor." Her elder brother said.
She was quiet letting her brother talk. She wanted to laugh though, 'our investor'. This is her brother acting affectionately again to deceive other people. Only she knew how much hers was in that "company" of theirs. "Who's the investor?"
"Mr. Stevens, dad's new golf buddy, they were planning to expand on the farther North- but you need not worry with all those business things, you just need to entertain him during the dinner, he was quite worried about his daughter's welfare, I heard she was introverted..."
Victoria raised her eyebrow. If it was Charlotte Stevens he was talking about, then the description should be accurate. She doesn't even like that girl, to begin with, however, if she could pull this investor in, then her brother would be nice to her and she can have an ally, even just temporarily.
Her mind was occupied with all these thoughts; trying to make plans on how to flatter the investor the whole ride.
Finally, they came to the hotel where the dinner was set. She looked up,
The Pearl of the East hotel?!
Isn't this Amano's hotel? She snorted.
When they walked out of the parking lot, they turned left and rode the elevator up to the 5th floor where their room was reserved. She was quiet. His brother looked at her for a second, then let her be.
They made their way to the room. They could hear some big laughter. Victoria brushed her hair consciously with her long slender fingers. Then arranged her uniform. She saw her brother shake his head like he was disappointed with something; she felt nervous. Did she do something?
"You should've changed out of your uniform first..."
She looked down at what she was wearing, then looked at her brother. Right now, one thing is in her mind. She wanted to retort. Who's the idiot now?
The older brother just opened the door and Victoria first saw that there were only four middle-aged men and a young man in the corner. He was saying something to the middle-aged man beside him. But then, when Victoria's older brother greets the people, he looked up and their eyes met.
Victoria was taken aback. Isn't this the infamous playboy of the city? If she makes an unofficial ranking, then he will be the first on the list, her cousin Bryce being the second one, then this older brother of hers would be the third. Heck, this guy probably has slept with the girls half the population of the big city.
They took their seats; she was in the far right corner near the door. When the server went in and got their orders, then the laughter resumed. Victoria just sat in silence for a while before a middle-aged man with a kind face asked her.
"Young lady, you are from St. Claire academy? You came here after the classes ended?"
Victoria nodded her head. "Yes, sir. My name is Victoria Greene, my brother fetch me from school, there won't be anyone in the house so, he thought I could just drop by and have my dinner, then we will go home together after."
The middle-aged man smiled. He was impressed with the young man in front of him; He was like his father. He was now assured that his investment will be in safe hands. "My bad, I haven't told you who I am?"
Victoria smiled charmingly. Her older brother pointed to this middle-aged man before they sat a while ago, and she already knows. "I know, Mr. Stevens. It would be rude not to know who I'm having dinner with. It's my pleasure." She said. Her voice is gentle and charming.
The man called Mr. Stevens nodded. Very well, even the adopted daughter was well taught. She speaks eloquently.
When the other dishes came in Mr. Stevens talked with Victoria more and inquire about her daughter Charlotte, that introverted girl was a constant worry to him, that moment Victoria felt jealous, this is a fatherly love, a kind of love that she will never experience the rest of her life…
After that, she was left in the corner eating. She no longer understood what they were talking about and so she just busies herself eating while maintaining her table etiquette.
Soon, the guest was leaving one by one until a father and son, plus she and her brother were left in the spacious room, with few dishes left. Victoria was relieved that the dinner was ending. God knows how long she is enduring wearing her uniform. She wanted to remove it and change to a pair of comfy house clothes.
The guy who she dubbed as the no.1 playboy was the son of this old man beside him. After a while, the old man also left and only the three of them remains.
"Brother, I should go now. I'll just take a taxi home."
"What's the hurry? It's only 9 pm. Stay here for a while." The guy said with a smile on his handsome face.
She felt disgusted by him.
She waited for her brother's response so she can hurry and go home.
However...
"Let's go home together. You're already here, anyway. Let's stay for a moment." Her brother said indifferently. Victoria was now annoyed. She wants to get out fast because she does not like the way the guy stares at her. She knew that her brother was doing this intentionally. Is he trying to match-make him with her? That's ridiculous. She just pursed her red lips and stayed quiet while the men were drinking and talking. Then another wine was served. She can't help but sigh irritably. How much wine will these two drink before they call it a day?
"Here, have some, don't worry, I ordered you a fruit wine with low alcohol content." Said the guy gently. He sound so gentle like he was treating her like a child. However, she was hesitant to reach out.
Her brother placed the wine glass near her impatiently. “What are you so worried about? Are we going to poison you?"
She was startled, though it was only in her mind. It was embarrassing when her brother says it aloud. The guy next to them laughs out loud.
"Don't worry, there's no drug in there either."
She has been drinking while eating a while ago, so what's the harm? She reached out and take a sip and concentrated on drinking the wine. Well, this wine has a unique taste to it. Though it was fruity, you can tell that there was alcohol content in it. When she was done drinking the wine, she put down the glass. When she raised her head, she saw a pair of gorgeous eyes intently staring at her. She won't know what to feel, but at that moment she felt herself blush. There was hot energy that was slowly consuming her. This guy doesn't look bad if only…
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