Till Love Do us Part

Charlotte

I can never tell you how my dreams are set to begin but for me the endings are always the same. It ends with me panting and screaming at the top of my lungs and while my mother lay in a pool of her own blood.

Her beady eyes staring back at me as my dad whispers back that it was my fault that she was dead and telling me that I killed her.

..

I was pulled out of my dream when I heard the sound of loud knocking on my door. "Wake up Char. No one has time for you to sleep in." I heard my sister yell from the other side.

I mentally cursed myself as I slowly pulled my eyes and I sighed as I looked around my closet sized room and turned to my alarm clock as I noticed that it was only 6 in the morning. I stood up slowly from my old mattress before making my way over to open up the door to see Ashley standing on the other side as she stared at me with a deep frown on her features. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow as I questioned what she was doing there.

"Can I help you?" I asked as I took in the sight of her silky night gown and had fuzzy slippers. There were times like these when I envied her and the level of attention and care that our parents gave her. It reminded me of the fact that they were never going to give it to me.

"Why are you still here? breakfast isn't going to cook itself." she said to me in a hissing and as I looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean? Don't you have a chef for that. Oh, mighty princess." I asked sarcastically with a raised eyebrow. I watched as she shrugged her shoulders before a smirk made its way onto her feature. "Well I gave him as well as the maids the day off. I thought they deserved it and so you are going to be doing the cooking. "she said and I knew that it would have sounded shocking to some people but my sister had done much worse.

"Now get up and make breakfast before mum and Andrew wake up. You know how much she hates her late breakfast. "she said as i tried my best to block her out of my thoughts. It was too early for me to go through this.

"Okay how about you take a step back and I will get back to you in a minute. "I said to her and the gullible flop that she was, I watched as she took several steps back. I immediately slammed the door in her face as I raised my hand to lock it.

I heard her let out a high-pitched scream and I chuckled at the sight of her despair. "I am going to tell mum you did that and don't even think that she will let you get away with this." I heard her call out from the other side of the door. I only rolled my eyes at her in response as I decided to start getting ready for the day.

It was nothing new to have her throwing a tantrum at my door as Ashley did that often just to upset me. She knew that dad would be angry if I were to get to work late. He valued his reputation more than anything and since I was his assistant it meant that I had to get in there before him.

I decided that I would go and make breakfast first before I would come back and start getting ready for work. It would ensure I got ready in time without getting in trouble. I changed into my old sweat pants and loose t-shirt and decided to make my way up the stairs.

My room was located on the ground floor and it had been a closet before my mum died. After my dad married Nicole, Ashley's mum he had moved me into the room as he thought that she was more deserving of my old one. I didn't mind much as It meant that I could stay as far away from them and all them as I possibly could.

I made my way into the kitchen as I realized that I wouldn't have any time to shower today. I decided to make some pancakes and hash browns which were my dad's favorite as I got to work while humming a tune under my breath.

I was actually a lover of cooking , although I was aware that they did this to undermine me, I didn't care. It was a form of escape for me and I rushed to finish plaiting up the food before I arranged them around the table and I knew that they would come down at exactly 7:40 and it was 7:35 now. I waited patiently and soon enough I heard my parent's door open before they began making their way inside the kitchen. I tried to make myself invisible as they sat down on the table and began to eat their meal.

I hummed a tune as I tried to distract myself and it was only when they had started eating that I came to sit at the table and join them. I waited for them as I heard Ashley come in. She was late as usual and she sat next to dad. "Good morning sweetie." I heard him say and I felt a pang in my chest at the loving glance that he gave her but I ignored it.

I heard a shriek and ,poked up to see Ashley with a look of disgust on her face. "Why is the food cold?" She muttered. I found myself confused as to why she would ask that. "You came late, that is why. "I said to her simply.

"Well you should have warmed it. Now I can't eat this garbage. Daddy told her to make me something else. "She squealed and I turned towards my dad to see if he would argue worth her or at least defend me but as always he took her side. "You should make her another. " He said to me and I knew that he was well aware of the fact that it would make me late.

Just as I was leaving the room I heard him say, "You know I would do anything for you." And I felt my heart sink and I realized he would never say those words to me.

By the time that I finally made my way to the office I was panting and breathing heavily. I had rushed to get ready as Ashley had forced me to warm her plate for her again. I didn't have time to eat or take a shower and I had to hurry to get to the bus station. By the time that I got there, the bus had already left and I had to wait for the next one. I knew that my father would be furious when I finally walked in as he had always prided himself on punctuality.

As I made my way through the front door of the office I could feel several states that were trained on me and I could hear multiple whispers. I wasn't known as the ceo's daughter any more I was just his mule. By the time I had managed to reach the top floor it was already thirty minutes after nine and I feared how my dad would react as I gently knocked my fist against his door before opening it. I rushed to make my way inside and closed the door behind me. I didn't even turn to look up at him as he said, "You are late." I didn't know what to say to him in response as I felt my throat dry, I knew that I was late because of Ashley but I couldn't say that. "Well we have several meetings to attend and now because of you we have to rush to them before you further ruin my image. ``he spoke in an accusing tone. I let out a sigh before I followed behind him. We had two morning meetings with our stock investors and we had taken on a new partner. He was a young man by the name of Richard Rosewood. He was a risky buy but he had great potential and so we had made the decision to give him a try. After the meetings were over I was allowed to return to my desk outside my father's office so that I could work on my minutes as well as the other various projects that I had lined up on my table. I had been working hard when I heard someone clear their throat above me. I was startled at first when I looked up and saw that it was actually Mr. Rosewood. I gave him a small smile and I had to admit that he was quite handsome with his curly brown hair and tan skin. "Good morning. " He said to them and I nodded my head at him and watched as he took a seat from the corner of my desk and sat down. "I noticed you in the meeting and I don't normally do this but I think you are pretty attractive and I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me." He said with an edge of confidence and I felt a frown form on my face as I realized that he was one of 'those' types of men. "Sorry sir but I have some level of common decency and I am not going to go out with a random stranger. "I said to him and he seemed slightly taken aback by my words and I watched as he cleared his throat at me. "Well I am sorry for assuming. I thought it was a typical secretary banging the boss relationship. "He said with a smirk on his face and I knew that he was simply there to piss me off and I simply didn't have that level of patience. "Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not sleeping with my boss." I said to him through gritted teeth and I watched as his eyes widened before he let out a boisterous laugh. "I like you and that was actually a test. You seem closed off like a present I want to unwrap. I believe we are going to have a lot of fun together. "he said as he stood up from the seat and offered me a wink. "Actually I don't think that is going to work out. I think it would be best if we never see each other again." I said to him firmly. I watched as his face fell slightly. "Well, I can assure you that this isn't going to be the last time that we meet. "he said and although I was about to open my mouth and retort, I watched as he slipped the card onto my table. "See you later Miss. I will be having a party at my club 'Starlight' and I would love for you to come tonight. "he said as he walked away. "I don't go to clubs. "I shouted back at him. "Well maybe you should. "he said as I watched as he stepped into the elevator and it slowly began to close. I grinned at him, shaking my head from side to side and I was about to say something back to him when I heard a voice coming from behind me that caused my body to stiffen. "Charlotte. "I heard my father speak and I immediately straightened in my seat. "I need you in my office right now," He said to me in a cold tone and without warning I jumped out of my seat before I made my way inside. I was quick as I closed the door behind me and I couldn't help but feel slightly scared at the thought of what it was that he wanted to tell me. "Have a seat. "he said suddenly as he pointed towards the chair in front of him. I gulped before sitting down and he let it a sigh. "I don't want to waste any further time. But the thing is I want you to give me the family ring." He spoke and I felt my heart break into a million pieces.

I found myself as I felt uneasiness in my chest. "I want you to give me your mother's ring. It was initially meant for the eldest daughter and so I want to give it to Ashley." He explained and made it seem as though it was the easiest thing that he could have ever done. "Well it isn't as if you are going to use it. Ashley will be getting married soon enough and I believe it is just about time that I gave it to her. It is a family heirloom and she has been wanting it for a long-time for it." He explained. "And what about me?" I found myself saying back to him. "What do you mean you? "He asked.

"Why won't I get to keep it, am I not part of the family? You don't deserve to take hold of one of the heirlooms." I said to him and I watched as he balled his hand up into a fist and I watched as he furrowed his eyebrow at my word. "That is the thing. I stopped considering you a part of my family when you killed the love of my life. So excuse me if I want to give it to someone else." He spoke with a hiss .I gulped as I tried to remain firm. I couldn't allow him to continue to use this against me. I hadn't been the one responsible and it was time for him to accept that and move on. "I didn't kill mum, it was a car accident and I was ten. You can't keep blaming me for you being a bad father. You know what mum would think of you if she sees you now?" I started and I watched as he stood up in his seat and made his way over towards me. I took a hesitant step back. I knew that he would never hit me and so I had decided that I was either very brave or very stupid. "Finish the rest of that sentence. I dare you." He said in a warning tone. "She would be disappointed in the man that you have become and in the way that you continue to treat me as though I am not your daughter but some second hand- "I didn't get to finish my sentence as I felt a sharp stinging pain on my cheek. I clutched it as I realized that he had slapped me. "Don't you ever talk about her like that. You are the biggest mistake I have ever made. I need you to return that ring before I report you to the police for theft. If you think your current room is terrible, wait till you try prison." He hissed and I felt my body shudder at the thought. I looked up at him with teary eyes as I tried to figure out what it was that I had done to him to make him hate me so much. 'Why was he so hellbent on breaking me?' "Are you going to give it to me or am I going to have to take it?" he hissed and I gulped didn't want to give it to Ashley as she didn't even deserve it but I knew that I had no choice as I took in a deep breath and reached for the chain around my neck where the ring rested before I slowly unclasped it. I sighed, taking it off before I placed it in his hands. I was left feeling cold without it and watched as he stared at me with a smirk. "Now this makes much more sense. I will give it to the daughter who deserves this. The one who actually makes me proud. "He hissed and I watched as he pulled open one of his drawers and put the ring inside. I didn't know why but in that moment I had felt as though something deep inside me had finally snapped. I didn't say anything else as I made my way out of the office and I spent the rest of the day lost in my own thoughts and I tried to make sense of what had happened. Ashley and her mum had taken everything from me and I had nothing left. As usual I was the last person to leave and as I was packing up my things my eyes dotted towards the card that Richard Rosewood had given me and as I contemplated it I realized that I might just go to his club after all. I was done trying to be a good sister and trying to please everyone else. It was time for me to actually start focusing on myself. I was going to go out and have some fun even if it meant that I would be breaking all the rules that were set in place for me. I wouldn't think about that now. I had the right to live and I would have to worry about the consequences later. With that thought in mind I made my way out of the office. I didn't know it then, but I was about to change my life forever and nothing was ever going to be the same again. ... Jacob I had everything: the wealth, the girl and every luxury that my heart desired but the only thing that I didn't have was love and as far as I was concerned I didn't need it. To me women were only interested in your pockets and I was forced to learn that the hard way a very long time ago. I had already been fooled by a woman once already and I would be damned if I would be fooled again. My current girlfriend had the looks that all of the other girls wished to have but that was it. She wasn't an intellectual person that I could hold a conversation with. She looked good as a trophy wife but that was just about it. I needed to step away from her even if it was just for one night. What I didn't know was that one night would change my world forever.