Chapter 6 The Start of Plans

The major reason I changed my accounts is because, having been my mother's next of kin and heiress, I had inherited her XS shares and I was paid in form of stock dividends.

However, from my 21st birthday, the payment would be arriving in the form of cash dividends.

In my past life...

'It sounds so weird to say 'past life'. I should get another adjective for it. Previous? Does the previous work?'

Anyways, my Father was ecstatic to see such a huge amount of money coming in monthly and began using the money, taking it without my knowledge nor permission.

When I got to know, Stupid me felt it was okay since he said he only used it on the business ensuring that I'll be inheriting a graceful thing at the end of the day.

Going forward, he kept the unending cash supply in his hands, influencing an engagement between me and Mylelore 's useless son.

I also didn't help with my previous track record.

Now, that I have moved the accounts where the funds would be entering, I wonder how much will change.

Rubbing my right index finger on my left elbow, my face morphs into a frown.

'I have a lot to do.'

Grabbing the packed sandwich, I raise a finger and wave at the Chef whose name I don't still know.

.....

"It is not advisable to switch departments at this time, Miss Koore." The Dean of the School of Management says to me.

I look at the woman who looks to be in her forties, her hair already showing hints of greying, my file in front of her.

Putting in a request to move departments had been the second major thing on my list and I'd been prepared for the level of its difficulty, after all, I was not only changing departments but also faculty.

I steady my gaze on her, "I was hoping that it is doable. I checked and asked around and I was able to know of other people that changed their departments later on in school."

"Really? Humor me then." She says, removing her glasses to place it on the table.

"Emily , who graduated in 2016, switched from Exercise Science to Finance.

Ralph transferred from Health Education to Arts.

The recent one is of Calvin who graduated last year, moved from Chemistry to Business Administration."

I reply avoiding the mention that Emily had a medical condition that caused her to move or that Calvin was a stain on the Dean's tenure and I move in my seat when I see her tense up at the mention of Calvin.

"Miss Koore. The case of Calvin was one this reputable department should have never accepted if not for the conditions which surrounded it." Her bright eyes dig into me.

'A woman who faces her negatives head on. Whoa.'

However I'm no pushover either, "Calvin was required to switch departments because he could no longer cope in the Sciences, while that might have gotten anyone else expelled, he was given another chance because he had been drafted by the NFL."

Her eyebrows raise in surprise at me and I inwardly smile.

Don't ask me how I know these things, I just do.

"Calvin is ---." She pauses, clearing her throat.

"I will not take any other students that will jeopardize the view of this Faculty. It is on tenterhooks already."

" I took business courses as elective courses and you can see from my file that I passed them all, even better than the Art I registered for." I gesture to the file in front of her and watch as she ruffles through the files again.

"Indeed, Miss Koore. While I am of the opinion that it is not advisable to transfer departments at this time, the second semester of your third year in the university, I would like to know why you want to transfer departments."

She smiles at me and I feel relaxed.

'At least, she's considering it now, right?'

'Art was my mother's dream. Basically design, but she believed in getting the foundations from ART and the Inspiration for her designs from her mind.

As you may or may not know, my mother passed away when I was little and my time with her was unexpectedly cut short.

So, from when I was younger, I'd always envied my mates who had a mum, which is crazy because it was practically all of them who had mum's." I let out a short, sharp laugh, swallowing to offset the tightness in my chest.

"Not so many could say it to my face because of – you know--- stay on good terms with the money bag.

There were rumors and whenever something happened, it'd be said that it's because I did not have a mum.

I got frustrated and began acting up.

Perhaps words finally got to my Father or something happened and he remarried." I run my fingers around the edges of the wooden desk.

" Let me guess, your stepmother's tough?"

I gave a pained smile to the Dean, noticing the change in her position - her elbows on the table and her upper body slightly tilted forward towards me.

'Not time to dispose of Caroline. She must suffer with her daughter.' I think.

"Quite the contrary." I say.

"She moved in with her daughter and I felt blessed to have a stepmother who was not the common 'evil stepmother'.

As much as nice she was to me, I saw her relationship with her daughter and grew continually missing my mum.

Caroline – my stepmom discussed my mum with me regularly.

I wanted to be close to her, so under Caroline's judgement, I chose ART and this school as well, being my mother's Alumnus.

However, I'm done chasing my mother's dreams, now I want to chase mine and if she's still the mother I knew, she'd love that for me."

Sniffing sounds grasp my attention and I stiffen, my eyes turning to see the Dean grabbing tissues off a Kleenex box in a drawer attached to her desk.

'Well, I guess I'd always been pitiful. What if I had now told her as it were?

What if I told her that Caroline kept comparing me with my mother, telling me I fell short in a lot of areas and my past and younger self believed she was nice to tell me about her despite never feeling enough and coming to depend even more on Caroline? What if I had said even more?'

"I'm fine. There are a lot of people with their issues but I don't undermine any amount of problems. It is how the mud stains you and not just the depth." She wipes her eyes and bunches the used tissues in a ball, tossing it into the basket by the wall and I'm forced to bite my tongue to prevent myself from yelling excitedly.

Ruffling through the documents present in the file, she grabs a pen and signs on it, stamping it also.

"I have accepted your transfer. Welcome to the Management school." She says with a smile.

I returned her smile happily, "Thanks. I appreciate it."

"An electronic copy will be sent to you. Once you receive that, you can begin your classes in Business Administration."

I nod and stand, "I appreciate your consideration."

"Who was your mum again? You mentioned that she was an Alumni of our great school." She asks, her voice halting my hand on the door handle.

" Isabella Ricci."

"What?"

Pens clatter to the floor causing me to jump towards them.

"It's okay." She dissuades me with a wave of her arm.

"Did you say Isabella Ricci?"

"Yes, what's the matter?" I ask.

"Nothing, Grace. You may leave now."

I nod my head and leave the office, closing the door gently behind me but not persuaded by her words.

A wide open eyes that contrasts the words of her mouth?

Something is definitely up