Chapter 3 In the past

"Mom, I'm getting late, Lara will be here any minute." Sylvia was getting late for her class. This was her last year at the university. She had been acing her studies since the beginning. She was the topper of her class and assisted her Marketing Professor.

Although it was not her first day at the university. Catherine had a habit of buying a new dress every first day of the university throughout her graduation. However, Catherine was unable to find the one she had bought.

"Darling, can you not wait a few more minutes? I'm looking for it in my closet. Why don't you check your closet, I might have kept it there?" For a moment, Sylvia hesitated, "Mom, it's okay to not follow your favorite tradition once in a blue moon." Sylvia kissed her mom and retrieved her mustard crossbody bag from her room, ready to leave.

"Okay Okay. But take this coat with you, I'll look great with that turquoise top, trust me."

Meanwhile, Lara rang the bell. She quickly grabbed the coat and ran towards the door. "Hi, best friend. Hey Aunt Catherine. Sylvia told me you were leaving for Calistoga tonight. I hope you remember my birthday then." Lara giggled.

Catherine laughed. "Don't worry sweetheart. I'll get you the best wine from there on your birthday. I'm going to spend some time with Sylvia's grandma there.

"Enjoy your visit Aunt. And don't worry about Sylvia, I'll get her to live at my apartment most of the time so she's not alone here."

"Lara it's already ten past 8. We need to hurry, or we'll miss the class."

Sylvia kissed her mom goodbye and promised to be back before her flight at the night.

Sylvia was the only daughter of Catherine and Garry. She was born after 10 years of their marriage and hence had grown up being pampered a lot. Before her father's sudden demise, the small family used to live with Garry's parents in Grey's villa. But after Garry died due to the car accident, Catherine could not live there anymore. Garry's brother Michael had attempted on Catherine at least thrice after she was widowed.

So, she moved to the apartment that Garry gifted her on their 25th anniversary. Ever since they shifted, nobody from the Grey family contacted Catherine or Sylvia.

After around 40 minutes, Lara parked her car in the student parking plot of the university.

Jamie was waiting for them in the corridor of the 1st floor. "Jamie, I missed you!". Sylvia gave him a quick hug. Sylvia and Jamie knew each other from college and had fallen in love. Their love life had no thorns while their friends called it as smooth as butter.

He grinned looking at Sylvia, "I'll drive you home tonight. This way I'll be able to say goodbye to mom." Sylvia's eyes twinkled and nodded with a smile.

"Let's get going you two love birds." Lara teased.

Sylvia had to attend a conference with her professor in the meeting room at 2 in noon about the latest research she was assisting him with. It was about the newest ways of marketing through revamping the old-school guerilla marketing techniques.

The time went by so quickly; it was almost time for the conference. It was a tiring day for Sylvia. She went to the restroom for a minor touch-up as she was about to face the country's wealthiest business tycoons at the conference.

Sylvia was petite but had an erect figure. Her blue eyes were as bright as sapphire with long thick lashes making her look oddly vulnerable. Her unfathomable beautiful eyes complemented her fair-toned skin.

She put a peachish pink lip color and combed her long brown hair. She gave a final glance at herself in the mirror before leaving for the conference.

The elevator door to the conference room opened. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulder walking towards the door. After entering the room, she kept her laptop and sat on the black leather chair. The board that was to attend the conference consisted of 8 biggest business tycoons from the utility industry of California.

Soon, the conference began.