The meeting had dragged on longer than I expected. As soon as the last applause faded, I practically bolted from the conference room, desperate to get away. My heart was pounding not from the presentation, but from the weight of what awaited me.
Sliding into the driver's seat of my car, I reached for my phone, the device I always switched off during meetings to shield myself from distractions. But today, I couldn't avoid it. The moment I powered it back on, my screen lit up with over a hundred unread messages. Most were from Aryan how does one person call fifty times in five minutes? I wondered, exasperated but not surprised. My brother had a way of demanding attention, especially when it involved me.
I pulled out of the underground parking garage, the city blurring past me like a dream I wasn't part of. The tall buildings, the impatient horns, the chaos none of it touched me. I was untouchable. Aishwariya Jones: singer, model, Chanel's global face. I wore elegance like armor and walked red carpets like battlefields. But today, none of that mattered.
I was going home.
To the mansion that never felt like one.
As I approached the estate gates, that familiar, sick feeling rose in my throat. The sprawling stone facade loomed ahead, all cold perfection and architectural pride. A place that looked like it belonged in magazines but to me, it was a memory trap.
Maybe, just maybe, it would've felt like home... if Mom were still alive
The gates creaked open. I parked in front of the main steps, hand frozen on the gearshift. My fingers trembled before I could stop them.
"Princess?"
The voice pulled me back. I turned.
"Aryan!" I basically squealed seeing him after so long
He stood on the front steps, looking exactly the same but older, somehow tired around the eyes, but smiling wide. I slammed the car door and ran into his arms, burying my face in his shoulder. His cologne was different now, sharper. But the warmth was the same.
We stayed like that, silently suspended in time.
"You're gonna get us both killed," he murmured as he pulled away, grinning.
"When does he not want to kill me?" I tried to joke, but the words tasted bitter. Aryan laughed, dry and knowing. He understood. He always had.
And then I saw him.
Standing slightly behind Aryan, in the shadow of the grand pillars, was a man I hadn't noticed before. Tall, sharply dressed in a charcoal suit, with dark hair brushed back and an expression I couldn't quite read. His eyes met mine piercing, unreadable, and oddly... familiar?
"Oh," Aryan said, as if remembering, "This is Noah. Noah Rodriguez, my best friend from college."
I blinked. I had heard the name, of course. Aryan mentioned him often. But I had never expected him to be so attractive .
Noah stepped forward, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you."
I took it, momentarily distracted by how firm and warm his grip was. "Nice to meet you too. Noah, right?"
"Yes. And you are?"
"Aishwariya," I replied, even though I knew he already knew.
He nodded with the faintest hint of a smile. Not flirtatious. Just... thoughtful. Measured.
Aryan groaned dramatically. " Are you guys done with your formalities I am freezing out here " he says as he dramatically shivers
We both laughed, stepping in through the tall oak doors.
Inside, the air was cool but heavy. The walls lined with gold-framed oil paintings, the floors marble white and spotless. Perfect. Lifeless.
"Come on," Aryan whispered beside me. "I have a surprise for you, Princess."
And before I could ask what it was, he darted off down the hall, already texting someone on his phone.
I stood there, in the entryway which I always hated coming back to , and felt a strange mix of comfort and dread settle in my chest.
What surprise?
Why now?
Beside me, Noah was quiet. Watching me, maybe. Or just the house.
"Is this your first time here?" I asked, more to fill the silence.
He nodded. "Aryan's always talked about it, but... yeah. First time in the infamous Jones mansion."
Infamous. He had no idea how accurate that was.
"You're not missing much," I muttered. "It's prettier from the outside."
He looked at me, really looked, and said, "I'm not so sure."
There was something about the way he said it. Soft, but sharp. Like he saw something I didn't want seen.
I turned away before he could see the blush rising to my cheeks
The moment I entered, a shiver ran down my spine.
Most people feel nostalgic returning to their childhood home. The smell, the creak of the floorboards ,it all brings back warmth. But for me? Every shadow held a memory I wished I could burn.
"Finally, you're here," a cold voice snapped from the hallway.
I turned stiffly. Of course. "Father," I said dryly.
He looked at me like he always did. Disappointed. Disgusted. Like I was something rotting on the side of the road.
"What took you so long? Don't you have any manners or respect?" he barked.
"I got held up in a meeting," I replied, forcing calm into my voice.
"You?" He sneered. "What meeting could a pop star possibly have? Talking about how to behave like a slut in front of the camera?"
And there it was. Right on cue. The usual venom. As casual as a greeting.
I swallowed hard. I wanted to scream. To cry. But I just stood there.
Before I could speak, Aryan stepped in between us.
"Dad."
His tone was firm but respectful. Protective. He'd always tried to be the buffer between me and our father, even when it meant taking the brunt of it himself.
"Son," Dad said, softening immediately. "Glad you're here."
And just like that, the warmth he denied me came flowing out—for Aryan.
"This is my friend and business partner," Aryan continued, gesturing to Noah.
"Nice to meet you, sir," Noah said, shaking my father's hand.
"And he's also our new collaborator for the NYC project," Aryan added proudly.
The two of them slipped into conversation about the business deal, the upcoming construction, contracts ,words that blurred into the background. I tuned out. My cue to disappear.
"Aish!?"
The voice made me spin around just in time to be crushed in a hug.
"El!" I laughed, finally relaxing.
Eloise Rivera. My best friend since eighth grade, CEO of Rose Cosmetics, and the only woman who could wear six-inch heels like they were sneakers.And although she owned a makeup brand she was a tech god who knew hacking like the ABC's.
"You look so good! Ugh, it's been forever!" she squealed, her blonde curls bouncing.
"I was fine until the usual round of slut-shaming from dear old Dad," I muttered.
She rolled her eyes. "Give me five minutes with him and a butter knife."
"You really think I'd let your hands get dirty?" came a deeper voice behind her.
"Dad," Eloise said, grinning.
Colin Rivera stepped forward, still as charismatic and fatherly as ever. He looked at me and smiled.
"You know what, princess? I'll send one of my men instead. Problem solved."
I laughed genuinely for the first time all day.
Colin had always treated me like his own. He was my dad's best friend, but you'd never guess it by how fiercely he defended me over the years.
"Aishwarya, how's the music going?" he asked.
"Good," I smiled. "And please call me Aish."
"Nah. I've known you too long to call you anything but family."
The warmth that spread through my chest made me want to cry. I nodded, grateful.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" My father's voice boomed suddenly over the crowd. Everyone turned.
"I have a special announcement to make. I'm retiring!"
The room exploded in chatter, shock, and murmurs. A few gasps. A few fake smiles.
"And yes, I've chosen a successor my one and only son!"
Everyone clapped. Some sincerely. Some out of habit.
Aryan stepped forward, flushed with pride. "Thank you, Dad. I promise I'll do my best not just for the company but for every single person who works in it."
The crowd laughed. Aryan always knew how to charm.
"But there's still a surprise," he added, grinning.
Even our father looked confused now.
"We've partnered with Rodriguez Co. one of the top architectural firms in the country for our NYC expansion. Now what the project is about is a surprise for another time "
" But since all good projects require a powerful , elegant and obviously iconic face "
My heart stopped.
"No," I whispered under my breath.
Aryan looked straight at me.
"And who better than the one and only Aishwarya Jones my very own baby sister."
What. The. Actual. Hell.
He didn't even warn me.
Applause thundered around me, but all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears. Eyes were on me. Every guest turned. My father looked like someone had spit in his food right in front of him .
I forced a smile and walked up to the stage.
Aryan was beaming.
Father looked like he wanted to strangle someone.
And Noah or whatever his name was was watching me with that unreadable expression again.
"Surprise, Princess," Aryan whispered as I reached him.
I leaned in and whispered back, "I'm gonna kill you."
But I was smiling.
And somehow... I meant it.
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The first chapter is finallyyy completed . Can you believe it took me 2 days to write it crying emoji anyways pls comment and vote so that I have motivation to write cause trust me I am the laziest person you'll ever meet but I promise to publish regularly after the 21st of this month cause I had some personal issues then festivals and then finally exams but as I said I promise to publish regularly. thank you for reading this is author elli signing off !!!!
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