Beautiful Bliss

It is a very bright morning. The sun shone from the sky into the well-decorated room through the opened curtains. The birds chirped happily as they flew about in the sky.

I kept turning around on my bed until I fell off. I groaned painfully as I stood up. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched and yawned lazily.

I looked at the clock beside my lamp and realized how long I had slept. I was tidying up my bed when I heard a loud voice yelling my name.

"Argh" I groaned, stamping my feet on the floor.

"I'm coming" I answered back to whoever it is that was calling me.

I finished arranging my room and then went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. After I was done, I rinsed my face and went to meet whoever it is that was shouting my name.

I descended the stairs and saw my stepmother and sister sitting at the dining table. I greeted both of them and sat down opposite my stepmother.

"What took you so long to get out of bed?" My stepmother asked.

"I was arranging my room......" I was cut short by my stepmother who shouted at me.

"Who told you to answer me and how dare you look into my eyes while talking?"

"She's such a spoiled brat. She thinks because dad's around you won't be able to do anything to her" my sister interfered.

I rolled my eyes at them and proceeded to dish out my food. They were about to say something but were stopped because of my father's appearance.

He cleared his throat, looked at everyone and sat down. I smiled and gave him a side hug while he patted my head.

My sister rolled her eyes at our act but didn't say anything. I'm close to my dad since he's the only one who acknowledges my presence in the house, and I'm a little bit close to my sister, but she also acts like her mother once in a while.

"If you keep doing this, she'd get too spoiled." My stepmother remarked.

"I'd know what to do by then" my father retorted.

I laughed inwardly because my dad has a way of shutting my stepmom up. He still doesn't know what they do to me whenever he's not at home, but I've made a tough resolution which might be tough to carry out, but I'm not going back on that resolution.

We all started eating after the morning drama had finished. After eating, my sis and I cleared the plates and took them to the kitchen.

There are times when I think my sister loves me but acts that way towards me because of her mum and just when I am about to start liking her, she starts acting possessed.

To avoid issues, I just make sure to stay out of her way. I dropped the plates, and I was about to leave when she dragged me back.

"I need that black Porsche Dad bought for you. I'm going out with my friends and I need it." she explained

"You can take your own or is it not the same Porsche??" I asked her

"Please just lend me for today." she pleaded nicely

"I'm also going out today and that's the car I'm taking out." I informed her

"Give me the keys while I'm being nice." She demanded

You see what I'm talking about. She just switches from being nice to being wicked, I wonder how it's easy for her to do that.

I just walked out on her because I don't have the strength to argue this beautiful morning.

I went up to my room and pulled off my clothes. I dropped them into the laundry basket and went into the bathroom to take my bath.

I opened the tap and poured my soap into the bathtub and went to wash my hair till the water filled up.

After I finished washing my hair, I entered the bathtub and loved the way the warm water made my body relax. I closed my eyes to feel the water and enjoy the moment. Then I heard the door knob of the bathroom click.

I sprang out of the tub and tried to open the door, but it was locked, and before I could say, Jack, the lights went off.

Fear gripped me. I felt suffocated and couldn't breathe. I kept hitting my fist on the door in case anybody heard or if the person was still there but nobody responded.

As I continued hitting the door, my eyelids became heavy and my chest tightened. I couldn't breathe, my lungs felt twisted and compressed.

Memories of what happened 12 years ago started flowing back into my head and I couldn't help but fear again.

*************

12 YEARS AGO

Little Avina just came back from school and was happy to be back home not knowing what awaited her.

She ran inside the house and met her stepmom watching TV. She ran up to her stepmom and hugged her.

"How are you my darling" her stepmom carried her on her lap.

Little Avina was shocked because every day she came back from school and ran to hug her, she'd either push Avina away or scream at her to get her filthy self away from her.

She felt happy for the first time because she thought her mom has changed for good. She then came down from her mother's lap and ran up to her room to get changed as per her mom's instruction.

She freshened up then came back down to eat, did her assignment and was about to start playing games when her mom stood in front of her furious.

She pulled her ears and made her kneel in front of her while she sat.

"How dare you pack all the chocolate I kept in the fridge?" she queried, furious

"I didn't take any since you instructed me not to touch it." Little Avina answered, sobbing

"So now I'm the liar, huh?" The stepmother implored

She stood up and dragged Avina away despite her pleas and cries. The stepmom didn't listen and took Avina to the old storage room in the house and locked her up there.

The storage room was dark and dusty. Avina kept crying and begging but her stepmom already left. As she kept inhaling the dust and crying, she started coughing. As she was crying and coughing, she kept looking around and got very scared.

She was locked up in there for a very long time. Her stepmother only remembered she locked Avina in there when her sister asked of her and her mother explained everything to her.

Then the sister said she was the one who took it in the morning when they were about to leave for school. Still, she didn't release Avina after knowing the truth rather she said.

"That'd teach her never to take things she's told not to take."

Her phone rang interrupting her talk with her daughter and the caller was her husband.

"Hey sweetie," Mr Walker said from the other end.

"Hey honey, how was your trip?" She asked.

"It was good, and I'm on my way home now. What about Avina and Elena?" Mr Walker asked.

"Ohh, Avina. She's asleep in her room" She lied.

"And Elena is with me."

After she ended the call, she ran to the storage room to release Avina before her father arrive home.

She was shocked to see little Avina sprawled out on the floor, lifeless. With trembling hands, she hurriedly carried the little girl to her room and called their family doctor.

Luckily for her, the man arrived before her husband could reach home. He told Mrs Walker that Avina passed out due to shock and it would take some time for her to wake up, that she need adequate rest.

She thanked the doctor and saw him out. When Mr Walker got home, she cooked up a believable lie but he didn't believe it because he wanted to see his daughter since he was out of town for a week.

He went up to her room and saw her sleeping peacefully, he didn't want to disturb her so he left clueless not knowing what happened to his daughter.

*************

PRESENT TIME

Could it be that her stepmom is trying to endanger her life again?? But she hasn't done anything to provoke her this morning.

As her breath shortened, she prayed silently for someone to save her before it was too late.

I was hearing muffled, inaudible voices. A thought popped up in my head, "Am I dead??", so I tried opening my eyes and I was welcomed by the white colour of the room that almost blinded my eye. Then I thought again, "Am I in heaven??"

Still thinking, I shook my head vigorously saying it isn't possible. While in my trance, I felt a hand on my shoulders, shaking me, trying to get me out of my thoughts. Then those voices again called out to me and this time it was loud and clear.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and the smell of antiseptic and drugs hit my nose. That was when I realised I was in the hospital.

"Thank God, she's awake" I heard my dad saying

"Let me check her vitals" The doctor said while my dad made way for him to do his job

"Can you hear me Miss Walker?" the doctor asked

I didn't answer.

"If you can hear me, move your eyes to the left" he instructed.

I did as he instructed.

He gave me a few more instructions which I did. Satisfied by my response, he smiled then turned to my dad and said.

"She's alright. Her brain just needs to register and get familiar with her current environment" The doctor told my dad.

My dad heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the doctor. It wasn't until my dad sat down that I noticed my stepmom and my sister.

Then I thought again, who would do that to me?? I don't think my stepmom would do that because she was with my dad after we finished having breakfast.

Then was it my sister?? I doubt that because she wasn't aware of what happened to me back then or was she?? I couldn't wrap my head around those thoughts and it made me develop a slight migraine.

I winced at the pain that accompanied the migraine. My dad moved closer to me and touched my forehead.

"Are you alright sweetheart?" he asked worriedly

"Yes Dad, it's just a slight migraine. I'd be fine" I smiled at him to ease his worries.

"But what happened to you Vina" my dad asked.

"I also don't know Dad. I was in the tub about to take my bath when I heard the knob of the door lock. I tried opening it but it has been locked from the outside" I explained to my dad.

"Who would have done something like that to you?? No outsider was with us in the house so it's definitely between the rest of us at home" her father thought and turned to look at his wife and then his daughter.

"Don't tell me it is what I'm thinking??" Mrs Walker questioned.

"Whatever it is you are thinking. I don't know but when we get home we would settle this properly" Mr Walker replied and turned back to face Avina.

The doctor came back a few minutes later, checked her condition and discharged her from the hospital saying she just needed to rest.

"I'm fine. I have somewhere to be." Avina protested

"You are not going anywhere. Postpone whatever meeting it is you have, we have a lot to do at home" Mr Walker strictly said, eyeing his wife.

Her father thanked the doctor and they all left the hospital. It was a silent drive back home with only the music playing.

They all got home and everyone got out of the car. They all walked into the living room and took their spots on the chair.

Mr Walker was silent for a while. After what seemed like hours, he spoke.

"I need whoever it is that did that to Vina to speak up because if I later find out myself the consequences won't be good. How can we live in peace amongst ourselves when we can't even look out for one another?" He stated.

It's funny how my dad is acting this way. If only he knew what his wife has done to me, he wouldn't be saying these. I wasn't even bothered about knowing the truth because these people has never treated me as one of them before, especially my stepmom.

They only act nice whenever my dad's present or they need me to do something for them. I just chuckled dryly thinking about everything.

I just sat there unbothered and wanted this so-called meeting to end quickly.

"It can't be your mother because she was with me in the room after breakfast so that leaves me to question you, Elena. What do you know about what happened" he questioned.

I turned to face my sister because I was shocked. I'd never expected her to do that. She might be unwelcoming and kind of wicked but she'd never go this extreme. I looked at her waiting for her to give the reason why she did that to me or did she know about what her mother did to me and decided to try that too?? I just can't wrap my head around this situation.

What a beautiful experience to end my week with" I thought

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A white Lexus pulled up at the garage. The car door opened revealing a tall and well-built man with shades on. He adjusted his black suit, took his suitcase and walked into the company.

Workers whose job was to gossip before the day's work started, felt the presence of their boss. They scurried off to the nearest place they could find, straightened up and pretended to be busy.

The moment he was amid his workers, even those who weren't looking at the entrance or those busy with their work, oblivious of their environment, felt that the boss was around.

His aura is always felt wherever he goes or steps into it. The aura surrounding him is so majestic and filled with elegance. The environment becomes chilly whenever he's present because he's the BOSS.

"Good morning sir" Greetings echoed and sounded from every corner of the building.

He simply smiled and walked into the elevator. Inside the elevator, he unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt and sighed.

Ding! The elevator sounded notifying him of his stop. He got out and walked to his office.

A few minutes after he was seated and relaxed, a knock sounded on the door.

"Good morning sir" His secretary entered and greeted.

"Good morning Clinton. Where's my coffee??" He inquired.

"Oh, I'm so sorry sir. I thought you wouldn't need to take it since you resumed late today" Clinton explained.

"Don't think. Just do your job. Can't your sixth sense figure out what I want and what I don't?? If you are tired of the job, you can always tender your resignation letter" He said, infuriated.

"I'm so sorry sir. I'd get it for you immediately" The secretary apologised.

He hurried out of the office to get Carter his coffee. While he was awaiting his coffee, he logged into his desktop and began some unfinished work.

He was already midway through his work when the secretary walked back in with his coffee. He placed it on the table and stepped back awaiting further instructions.

Carter sipped the coffee, scrunched his face but didn't say anything.

"You can sit" he instructed.

He continued his work and sips his coffee at intervals. It took a few minutes but he eventually finished. He shut down his desktop and looked at his secretary.

"So what's on my schedule today?" he asked relaxing back into his chair

"You need to meet with the CEO of CJ Corporations, Have dinner with Mr and Mrs Hemington, go to see the estate manager, go to check out the new resort and your parents asked to see you" He summarized.

"That's a lot. Well, we'd cancel the visit to the resort, I'd see my parents by next week. You can send them a text. The meeting and seeing the estate manager shouldn't take much of my time."

"Tell my driver to prepare the car. I'd be down in 2 minutes" He authorized.

"Alright, sir. Lest I forget sir, your sister came by the office before you arrived" Clinton added.

"Ohh, thanks. I'd call her on my way." Carter acknowledged.

The secretary left. Carter entered the bathroom, rinsed his face and fixed his shirt. He went back into the office, picked up his jacket and suitcase, and exited the office.

He got to the garage and the car was ready. He entered and the driver started the journey according to the instructions given by the secretary.

Carter then remembered that he needed to call his sister. He pulled out his phone from his inner pocket and dialled his sister's number.

It rang thrice and then connected.

"Hey, baby sis. I was told you came by my office today."

"Yes, but you weren't around so I decided to leave." She explained.

"I'm sorry. I had a lot to do before coming to the office. I'd make it up to you when I come to visit Mom and Dad next week and I'd get you something too" Carter promised.

"Thanks, big bro. You are the best" she giggled from the other end.

"Alright munchkin" he said and hung up.

The moment he hung up, a car collided with his car making him and the driver jerk forward and then backwards, slamming their head into their seats.

WALKER'S RESIDENCE

This family and drama. Dad should have allowed sleeping dogs lie, now I'm developing an headache.

"Enough!!!" I screamed turning everyone's attention to me

"Dad, I appreciate all you're trying to do but I'd rather let sleeping dogs lie. The deed has been done and can't be rectified so let's just end it here." I begged my dad

He looked at me in a way I didn't like; with pity, pain and another feeling I can't fathom. I know he thinks it's all his fault but I'm not even in the mood to assure him that he has nothing to do with what happened.

I stood up, looked at everyone and went up to my room. When I got up, I made sure to lock my door and leave the bathroom door open.

I took my bath and then came out of the bathroom. I dried my body, applied my body cream and went to pick my clothes.

I wasn't in the mood to dress up so I picked a white hoodie and shorts then I wore white sneakers, picked a black bag and shades.

I went back to brush my hair and packed it up in a ponytail style. I picked up my bag, shades and car keys then stepped out of my room and locked it.

I got to the living room and they were still seated the way I left them. I walked up to my dad and pecked him.

"Where to" he questioned with a raised brow

"I need to meet Kate. We need to work on some designs" I explained

"The doctor said you needed to rest and you weren't unconscious when he said that." my stepmom butted in

I turned to look at her and said nothing.

"I'd be fine Dad. I promise to stay safe and out of trouble." I told him and walked out

I got to the garage and entered into my car. I ignited the engine and drove out of the compound. While I was driving, I connected my phone to the speaker, played "Intentions by Justin Bieber" and increased the volume.

I was so engaged and vibing to the song already that I didn't know that the traffic light already changed to red and a car was driving towards the route I was driving out of.

Before I could process everything, my car already collided with the other car. After the accident happened, I unhooked my seatbelt and stepped out of the car.

"Oh my Goodness, I'm so sorry" I placed my hands over my mouth with my eyes wide in shock.

I kept apologising even though it was just a small dent in the car. The older man just stood there and didn't say anything so I assumed there was someone else in the car.

A few seconds later, a man stepped out of the car looking all dapper and dashing in his outfit but due to the damage I'd caused, I didn't have the luxury to access him well.

He moved closer to us and checked his car, he turned to me after breathing in and out more times than I can count.

"Why weren't you focused?? You were on the highway and you were not paying attention to the traffic lights. What if it's more than this?" he asked, rushing his words

I just stood there and didn't even say a word. That got him more furious then he started again.

"Would you just stand there and say nothing? You need to be more careful next time" he added

"Now listen, I already apologised to your driver since it took you long to get down from your car. What else do you need to hear after the apology?? I know you don't need my money because you look rich to me." I said

Then I went back to my car, picked up one of my business cards and walked back to where he was. I stuffed the business card in his pocket and added

"You can call me if there's any contribution I can make. I'd be glad to help and I'm so sorry once again." I smiled at him and left

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CARTER'S POV

Okay, this is the height of it all. Why would someone just choose to be careless on the highway?

I stepped out of my car to see who caused this little accident and delay. On getting out, I saw a smooth-skinned girl looking so sorry and apologetic but this wasn't the time to access her.

I started speaking and rushing my words but she said nothing but kept on staring at me. Long story short, she dipped her business card in my pocket and told me to call her if her attention is needed.

That got and left me stupefied because what's that?? Who said I'd need her contribution or attention?? Why would I want to meet up with an absent-minded and clumsy person??

I stood there shocked until my phone rang to jolt me out of my reverie. It was the man I was supposed to meet.

I ignored it and entered the car while the driver followed suit. We got to the place three minutes later

"My apologies, Mr Martins. I had a little problem on my way " I apologised as I shaked the estate manager

"It's alright sir" he smiled back

We got down to business and after 20 minutes we were done. We shook hands and I left his office

On checking my watch, the time was 4 pm. I still had 3 hours to prepare for the dinner with the Hemingtons

I brought out my phone and dialled my secretary's number

"Clinton, I need you to cancel my meeting with the CEO of CJ Corporations " I instructed the moment he picked up

"On it sir" he replied and hung up

I went home afterwards to shower and dress up. The Hemingtons' house was an hour's drive from my house so after I finished dressing up, I went down to the garage and drove out.

I got there earlier than expected but I liked it that way. I pressed the doorbell and their youngest child, Declan, came to open the door.

He smiled at me and stretched his hand for an handshake.

"Hy Carter" he greeted

"How have you been little champ" I asked, ruffling his hair

"I'm not little, Carter. I'm now grown." he grumbled

I chuckled and made my way to the dining table where the Hemington were seated and then I saw her

Memories then made their way back into my head and that caused me to stagger. I held my head with my hand and had to breathe in and out repeatedly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VINA'S POV

I got to the coffee shop and I parked my car. I entered the shop and spotted Kate sitting at our spot.

I tiptoed to where she was sitting and ticked her. She giggled loudly causing the customers to look at her.

"You are late, Vina." she pouted

"I'm sorry sweetheart. A lot happened this past few hours." I told to her

She looked at me and read my face. She didn't probe me further.

"So now, we have a lot to do. We need to finish Cassie's wedding dress before Wednesday and that of her bridesmaids too." Kate stated

Well, I'm a fashion designer and interior decorator, I also own a boutique while Kate majored in business management. It's funny how we both own the company and its thriving well.

Since we've been working together, she can now do simple designs and sketch designs too but I do most of the work.

"Yeah, about that. I already finished sketching. I just need to start working on it." I answered

"Ohhhh that's nice. Show me and I've also finished the bridesmaids' cloth design"

We both brought out our sketch pads and exchanged them then smiled with satisfaction after seeing the work we've both done.

"This is soo nice and beautiful Kate. I'm glad you're improving." I applauded her

"Yeah, I've got a cool and amazing teacher." she smiled, flipping her hair

I laughed at her words. We talked more about other things and left the coffee shop after we finished.

We walked out of the coffee shop, hand in hand, gisting and giggling. We got to where I parked my car, we hugged each other and said we'd meet in the office on Monday

"I'd call you when I get home" Kate said

She waved at me and walked to her car while I entered mine and drove off.