Life and fate can be really cruel at times.
She was at the highest pedestal one could imagine. People would grovel at her feet just to curry her favour. She lived at the heights of riches, one tap of her finger; someone would be at her beck and call. She climbs at the top with blood, sweat and tears that no one would believe her if she will ever tell her tale. She was the epitome of beauty and of authority- everyone feared her at the same time, bewitched by her charms.
But all has fallen and crumbled into pieces.
***
Belle Yang grew up in a household where blood ties came in last in the list whereas, money and power is at top. Growing up with bodyguards, with an imminent danger lurking just around the corner, she learned how to protect herself from all of these. Everyday was a battle and she had triumph that ordeal.
She grew up where her step-mother doesn't care for her a bit. Where, everything she did was all tip-toed or either eating her own pride and honor. All her sibling would try to kill her directly and indirectly thus she had learned to borrow ones' hand to kill someone.
Who said that rich people were all happy?
Who said that all prominent families in China were all loving?
Who said that she's a pampered little princess?
Who said that what she had achieved over the years handed over to her in a silver platter?
***
All was fantasy - a mere illusion, a façade for everyone to see. What common people knew was only a tip of an iceberg which never in their dreams that a woman in their dreams were a pitiful, motherless, un-loved child.
Who will ever believe that the one they call an Empress was just a puppet controlled by money and greed of her peers? That everything she did was just to protect herself?
Will they believe that her own father wanted to murder her?
Who will ever believe that she was all a victim of a cruel life? Where all she believed were not all truth but also half lies?
Who will believe that it was not what she wanted? That all of these would not matter over simple things but how can an Empress say that?
Life is really a balance. She lacks all the things in the world but money and power.
***
<6 months prior>
Belle Yang could not rest even just for one day. She had multiple of meetings each day and would last up to five hours in the least. She had been in constant battle with the investors, shareholders and even with her family.
"What really happened?" she asked coldly at Mr. Tao. She suddenly felt her head ached. All the more, she wanted to listen his report. She really did not know where could have gone wrong. All this time, things were running smoothly and now, it was nowhere to be seen.
"Almost half of the ships were sabotage and the smuggled items were discovered by the authorities. And there has been a raid with our shops in V country. The women and children were rescued. Also our stocks are rapidly going down. The investors are pulling out and demanding to return their investments with an interest. Also, your mother said that you should vacate the seat before they will strike a protest with the employees that were terminated illegally. She has been colluding with local workers union. They said that they will sue you if you will not gave up your seat soon."
She slammed down her hands on the wood table that sent all papers on it, flying off the floor. She scoffed at the thought that her stupid step mother has been making moves lately. She did not care though, it's her company and she will run it they way she wanted to. Those employees that had been fired were incompetent ones, she did not need any incompetent people in her empire.
"Let them try then! I want to see who sabotaged the ships and who tipped off the authority in V country. I want results fast!" she said with authority. Mr. Tao bowed down as an obeisance to her order and withdrawn his presence from her office. She wanted to see who dared to challenge her authority and entire being.
Her entire being screamed bloodlust. She did not care hows as long as she can release the pent up stress in her. She sat back on her chair and rested her head on the head board. She wanted to take a nap even just a couple of minutes when her office phone rang.
She picked it up and closed her eyes.
She thought that it was one from the department heads seeking her approval or something.
She waited for the other line to speak but it was utter silence which made her open her eyes. The silence made her more annoyed than she is.
'Is this a prank call?" she thought.
"I'll be your knight in shining armor if you want to, my damsel." said the voice on the other line.
Belle: "..."