Ashes Of Hate, Flames Of Love

ELARA

The power of a single phone call is unsettling.

A loved one's unexpected call can make you happy, but one about them can make you sad or even regret it.

I was gazing at my phone every other minute with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, even though no one would want to sit by one and wait for it to ring.

The morning was sunny and bright. As I sat in my office hut, waiting for this specific call, I watched out the window as people strolled around the streets, enjoying the warmth of the sun before winter arrived.

I took a sip of the cappuccino that was sitting next to my laptop after checking my phone for the sixth time in the last five minutes.

My secretary, Sarah, had become very skilled at her work. She'd been making me the same cappuccino for the three years I'd been here, since I couldn't exchange my coffee for English tea.

My phone started ringing before I had finished my coffee. I picked it up and quickly cleaned my face.

I was done waiting.

I replied with a smile, "Hello? "Good morning, Dad!"

He was swamped as the CEO of Drake Enterprises, a telecom business that, under his father's guidance, grew into a tech behemoth.

I couldn't remember the last time my father called me to check on me or answered the phone at the first ring. His secretary usually planned our calls, and today was no exception.

Dad stated, "Bring your team to the meeting room with your latest project...and I have something to tell you."

I grinned as though he could see me from the other end of the line. "Sure, I'll be right there," I said.

I missed him, but I would never tell him because our relationship had soured, especially in the last few years.

I retied my shoulder-length brown hair in a high ponytail, pushed my chair back, and walked out of my cabin and up to the elevator.

I said hello to Eric, the leader of my HR department and one of the two friends I had made here, as I was leaving.

"How was the date?" In an effort to avoid drawing attention to this very contentious subject, he muttered.

"Do not!" "I can't believe you," I told him. You and your brother are going on a blind date? You've lost it.

"Umm... What went wrong?"

"The answer to what went right would be shorter," I said, rolling my eyes.

I had met his brother a few times, but after just five minutes of our date, I realized that we would be better off as friends.

"I was only trying to help you find a boyfriend."

"Why are you more desperate than I am?"

"Because if you find a nice distraction, maybe you'd let us breathe too, just saying," Eric laughed.

"There is nothing that can distract me from what I want, and if someone does, that's not the right person to be with," I responded with candor.

"If I were in your dad's place, I'd make you the CEO right now for just saying that."

I smiled wistfully at him.

If only it were that simple.

Then I said, "Dad called me."

He scowled and asked, "Everything alright?"

Talking to my dad implied that anything had to be serious, which was funny.

Before becoming my father, he was my boss.

"It is just a project report, but he did say he had to tell me something important," I said, "I'll tell you about it at lunch."

He gave a nod and walked away.

I approached those involved in the next project and summoned them to the conference room. I used my laptop to make a video call to my father as one of them turned on the projector.

"Good morning, sir!" I grinned. I would want to give you an update on the project that my team is working on here, Vinera, with Ashford & Co.

In order to have experience if I were to take over as CEO, I had been managing all of Dad's important initiatives, particularly in Europe.

"Elara, you are delivering the presentation, I believe," Dad said after the team leader had completed outlining the concept we were putting forward and the execution we had planned.

"Yes, I am. The day after, I'm taking a plane to New York. I intend to remain for three days.

This was something that worried me.

I wanted a new beginning when I departed three years ago. I had no desire to interact with that location or the individuals I had left behind. Even though I had a different outlook on the world, I wasn't prepared to deal with the fallout.

"I need to speak to you alone, Elara," Dad replied.

I signaled the other folks to get out. I turned back to Dad when the final person in the room had shut the door.

"Alright, you may go on now."

"There is a slight problem back here," he said, sitting up straight and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What happened?" I scowled.

"I'll tell you when you get here. You might think about prolonging your trip as well.

"Are you alright?" I inquired, my anxiety growing.

"I'm not the one. "It's something else," he said, his gaze fading.

"How long am I supposed to stay over?"

"Two weeks, at least."

"Two weeks!" I almost let out a yell.

He said casually, "You should look for a temporary replacement for your position," when asked.

I said softly, "I will see you tomorrow," even though a storm had begun to build inside of me.

Was he unaware that he was phoning me at home? Is that a place where I'd be welcome? Would they let me in at all?

His eyebrows rose as he said, "After three long years, I will finally see you in person."

I was scared it might be the latter, so I didn't try to figure out if he was happy or tired about it.

"Love you, Dad," I said with a smile.

The call terminated before I could hear the response to that. His haste must have been the reason, I told myself. I shouldn't be concerned because he appeared so tense and stressed.

Naturally, Dad loved me because he was my father.

Correct?

With a sigh, I returned to my work, half of my thoughts still focused on what my father had said.

Two weeks?

At home-at home?

Home.

I no longer call Drake Estate home.

A knock on my door almost made me jump since I was so tense.

"Elara, lunch!" As she arrived, Sarah gestured to a dish she was holding.

I had lost my appetite after talking to my dad.

If the smell of mac and cheese hadn't been in the air, I would have skipped lunch.

My second buddy here was Sarah, who also served as my secretary.

Eric came in with two more gifts after she sat down.

"You know that I am not a fan of eating at my office desk." I squinted.

"Compensation for wasting my efforts to set you up with my brother.", Eric grinned.

I grinned and shook my head while eating from my bowl.

I don't think I could have recovered from the incident that forced me to leave my family if it weren't for the bond between Sarah and Eric, who have supported me for the past three years.

I loved them unconditionally, and guess what? I was able to set these two up by playing my cards well. I even had the opportunity to serve as their maid of honor, and they have been blissfully married for a few months.

After I informed them of what my father had said, we started making plans for every scenario that might arise while I was in New York.

I wasn't prepared to return. I doubt that I ever would be.

Not after that evening.

However, I was less credulous than I had been at the time. After three years of living alone, I had developed the independence, cunning, and even manipulative qualities I would need to return home.

ELARA

I had only allowed three hours between the time of my flight's arrival and the meeting, accounting for potential delays and traffic, because I had been so busy finishing up before I departed for New York.

But I knew I was doomed when my flight landed two and a half hours late because of a mechanical issue with the landing gear.

In the industry, Matthew Ashford, the former CEO of Ashford & Co., was a bit of a celebrity.

He acquired Ashford & Co., a real estate company, from his father, much like any other corporation with a hierarchical structure, but his strategy of branching out and subsequently assuming control of several economic sectors made him a remarkable success. Everyone was taken aback when he decided to retire early and hand the reins over to his son.

To discover what it was about this young man that caused the renowned Matthew Ashford to resign, I had been anticipating our encounter with his son, Dante, today.

I was already fifteen minutes late when I picked up my bags, called a cab, and made my way through the gridlock in New York to Ashford & Co.'s main office.

I prayed that Dante wouldn't think poorly of me.

The conference room was supposed to be on the eleventh floor, so I went there. It included a lot of woodwork and glass paneling and was well-lit. A woman in her early forties was carrying a few folders when I saw her.

"Excuse me, miss?" I said.

"How may I help you?" She pushed her eyeglasses up her nose bridge.

"I was looking for the meeting room..."

"You, you are the one presenting from Drake Enterprises?"

"Yes," I said with a nod.

"I wouldn't do this if I were you," she muttered, loud enough for me to hear.

"Huh?" I inquired.

Wasn't Dante going to be furious?

"Nothing... She said, "Please follow me," and ushered them into the meeting room.

This wasn't at all concerning...

When I carefully opened the door, eleven sets of eyes were fixed on me.

I fumbled an apology, "Um...I-I apologize for the delay, and I appreciate the fact that you all have waited so patiently."

I quickly glanced around the well-lit room, which was drenched in sunlight from the glass panels covering one wall. There was a massive table in the middle with a big screen behind it.

I approached the man at the head of the table, who, for the two years he had been his father's successor, had been a mystery to many.

I was only aware that he had been called a "ladies' man" and "the heartless playboy," but I was wise enough not to believe the tabloids, which dramatized any news they could find to boost their audience.

However, it wasn't too difficult to believe that the blue-eyed man with a powerful jaw, sitting in a grey two-piece suit with his dark hair gelled in place, could be popular with women.

I was startled out of my reverie by the impatient tapping of his fingers on the table.

"Good morning, everyone, I am Elara-" I said as I hurriedly put down my folder containing Vinera's contract.

Dante Ashford cut in, saying, "We know who you are...just skip the introduction and get to the point," instead.

His actions annoyed me, and I gritted my teeth.

Was this the man Matthew Ashford had selected to lead his business?

I inhaled deeply and tried to continue as gently as possible.

I now understand why appearances may be deceiving!

I scowled when he requested that I end my presentation after fifteen minutes.

Speaking to the others, he stood up and said, "As much as I would like to hear what she has to offer, I am required to be somewhere else now."

I stopped him as he tried to walk away, saying, "Mr. Ashford, I still have half an hour left with you. Everyone in the room was aware that I wasn't finished.

He narrowed his eyes and glanced at me before saying, "Well, I am!"

I tried not to show how annoyed I was when I said, "I don't understand..."

"What do you not comprehend? Your presentation almost bored me to death, or the bit when you were late for the meeting. Never in my life have I been so unimpressed.

Not impressed?

I could have described him in the same way.

He didn't even allow me to explain the project's concept, so how was he expecting me to impress him?

As he said, "Please leave your card at the table," I stood there in awe of this monstrous monster. Mr. Drake is interested in learning more about the caliber of workers his business is hiring.

And what would he say to my dad? To dismiss me?

Like!

I thought he was looking at his secretary, a gorgeous female with long red hair. He waved her away and left the room with the others, leaving me speechless and unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

Although there were others like him, I was hoping to meet a man deserving of respect rather than a vile jerk.

There was no way that ladies would fall in love with him, so I was now positive that the tabloids were lying.

I would rather strike him.

My cheeks began to flush, and I resolved to discipline him as soon as possible.

I couldn't allow someone to treat me that way, especially since this wasn't the last time I would have to deal with him. Otherwise, I would have ignored it.

Dante

Working on a presentation and reflecting on my recent argument with my father, I had been up since four in the morning.

Instead of forcing his company vision on me, he should have made an effort to understand my viewpoint.

My mind returned to the girl I had screamed at as I reclined in my chair.

Wanda? Vanya? ...Vivienne?

I could swear I had never met her before, but for some reason, she looked familiar.

I generally do fairly well with faces.

My secretary, Arabella, knocked on the door and said, "Good evening, sir! You are being visited by Mr. Conner.

"Send him in," I informed him.

Today, at least, things were improving.

Conner, Bryan.

On the first day of middle school, I sat next to him, and we began a conversation that led to our friendship.

We even attended the same college, and because he was such a genius, he was the first to get hired here at Ashford & Co., where he was currently serving as a project manager. However, I took a very different path to get to where I am now.

"Someone has a grievance against him. "Difficult day?" As he approached my table, he requested while stroking his untidy, honey-blond hair.

"Just worked up."

He sagged in the chair in front of me and arched an eyebrow, asking, "Just that?"

"Yes. "Why?"

"Because you yelled at the girl who came for the meeting."

"She was late."

"I know, but saying that the presentation was bad without even looking at it and then threatening to talk to Mr. Drake, too harsh, don't you think?"

"If she were my employee, I would fire her, so it's nothing."

"You mean fire? You and your father got into an argument."

"Wha-! When I'm angry, I don't always fire people.

"And I don't work here," he said, grinning wryly at me.

"All right. We got into a fight. I gave in to his customary attempts to force me to do what he believed was best. "Forget it."

"You both need to sit down and talk, but knowing you both, it's never going to happen," he said. "Anyways, where were you last night?"

"Arabella," with a sly smile.

"The secretary? This month's fifth girl?

"Fourth," he was told.

"You need to slow down."

"Of course you'd say that. When was the last time you were with a girl?"

"If your stupid blue eyes stop acting like magnets, I'll get one too," he rolled his eyes.

"Oh! Hurry up. What are you? 5"11. You look good with brown eyes and blond hair. "Skill is what you lack," I grinned.

"What ability? You only ever send the sexiest woman in a bar a drink and give her a smug, "I'm too good for you" grin, and she's yours."

"Perfecting that so-called self-obsessed smirk requires work, okay?"

"Yeah, you must stand in front of the mirror and practice it every morning, right?"

"Don't you have work?" I laughed.

"Yes, boss, I do. Bryan gave a false salute and departed to return to his cabin, saying, "See you later."

Returning my attention to the presentation, I grinned.

By this point, Bryan was more than simply a friend-he was family.

Later that night, I heard a knock on my door.

I raised my head from my laptop and said, "Come in."

Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, Arabella came in and said, "Um... I was curious if you had anything planned for the evening because..."

"We can't tonight."

She blushed and laughed, saying, "Don't be dumb, Dante. You said you would take me out tomorrow.

"I did?"

"Yes, when we were...last night, remember."

"Oh? All right. Right now, what do you want?

"Mr.Ashford wants you to return home early today."

Did he continue to shout at me?

"And why does he want me to do that?"

"He mentioned that there would be visitors. I will have to sit through a meal, acting as though I don't care what the guests have to say, and my dad and I are virtually hot bonded together, as if today wasn't exhausting enough.

Immediately after, I headed home. I recognized William Drake as I walked in. He was a friend of my dad's from college and a highly powerful figure in the IT sector.

The first person to notice me was Mom. "There you are, Dante," she said with a smile, lifting her gaze from the girl she was talking to. Meet our visitors. This is Elara, William's daughter, whom you have already met.

I froze in my tracks as the brunette turned to face me.

The female from today's meeting was the identical one!

She looked familiar for that reason. She is a prospective candidate for Drake Enterprises' CEO post and is William's daughter.

When she saw my look of amazement, a cunning smirk sprang on her face.

She approached me and extended her hand, saying, "Elara Juliet Drake."

I rapidly got better and reached for her hand, but she withdrew it before we could shake hands.

"It seems like you are regretting cutting my introduction short," she said with a sly smile.