AUDREY
A couple of weeks flew by while my head was stuck in work and the trial season was beginning today.
I entered through the familiar automatic glass doors. Nostalgic faces surrounded me, and names did come to mind but, I couldn't quite remember who they were.
"Good morning Miss Parkinson, I am your secretary Mariah Collins. You are beginning your trial season today, your father has told me to direct you to your temporary office where you will reside for the rest of this season." She was so perky and energetic, I didn't know my father hired such people.
"Temporary office?"
"Oh yes, until you take over the company. From then on you will work in the main office at the top of the building. You will get to see it on our way to your temporary office, I need to drop off a couple of files." I raised my eyebrows, I see my father is expecting this trial season to go well. Great. No pressure.
We entered the elevator an- holy moly! This building has seventeen floors? Since when?
Mariah giggled at my expression of shock, but then dropped it when the doors opened. I followed her into a giant room, it was clean and so empty. There was barely any furniture, everything was modern and plain, not a drop of colour was found in this room.
I'm getting Christian Grey vibes from this office.
"This is your father's office, well, when he's here anyway. He's currently on a business trip to Dubai right now," she clarified, setting the documents on his desk, throwing a stray end of her pale purple hijab over her shoulder. "Okay, now to your office."
We entered the elevator again and went down two floors. When the doors opened I was led to another room, similar to my fathers but I was able to...breathe? Yeah, I was able to breathe.
The walls were the same colour of white as my father's but there was a light blue couch with a black marble table that contrasted the pristine white carpet. The glass wall that overlooked the city had light grey curtains that let the sun shine through and illuminate my black glass desk. I took a seat in my office chair that matched the couch and spotted a family picture on the wall.
"Do you like it?" She squealed, clasping her hands together in excitement.
"I love it," I smiled and ran my hands across the desk in awe.
"Yay, I knew my interior decorating skills would come in handy," she beamed proudly, glancing around at her work.
"You did this? All by yourself?" I spluttered.
"Oh yeah! Well, of course there were the builders and painters and all but apart from that, yes, I did this myself. Anyway, your father has left a folder on your desk with your tasks, your computer info and everything else you'll need. If you need any help or need to ask any questions don't hesitate to call, just press number two on your phone and it'll direct you to my phone." She smiled before shutting the door.
I opened the folder and read through the documents.
Okay, I just need to send a couple emails. I went to find my computer details and I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face.
Username: Audrey_Parkinson
Password: Qu33n0fD34th
'The Queen of Death' was a story I loved as a child despite it being for teenagers. It was a story about a girl who had been held prisoner by a ruthless king and was to be fed to a group of starving lions. She waited for the lions to eat her but they never did. She pointed to the king and they charged at him and his court, killing them all. She went on to become the most dangerous assassin to walk the earth.
This story was how I became friends with Libby. She sat across from me on my bed during my sister's birthday party as I read it to her, she wouldn't stop complaining that the story was too scary and wasn't for kids.
I remember being brought here when I was younger for the bring-your-kid-to-work day. My father leaned down and told me that I had to choose a password. When I chose this he let loose one of his rare chuckles; it was strange to see but I shrugged it off.
I made it to about mid-day when the phone rang, I quickly picked it up after a couple rings.
"Hello?"
"Miss Parkinson, you need to go to your family's hospital on Royal Avenue, I just received a call from your mother." Mariah's voice was panicked and rushed.
"What happened?"
"It's your grandfather, he collapsed."
As soon as I heard those words, I bolted out the door and headed down to the underground parking lot. I found myself praying as I rushed to my car, cursing as I fumbled with my keys. I finally managed to get to the hospital in record time, sprinting to through the doors.
"Miss Parkinson, this way." One of the staff brought me to a luxurious seating area. Since it's one of our more extravagant hospitals, the entire hospital was basically a five-star medical hotel.
Upon seeing me my mother stood, "Audrey, you made it-"
"What happened?"
"Well, at lunchtime your grandfather and I-"
"Mother, just tell me what happened, " I demanded, my voice dripping with desperation.
Her expression visibly softened as she looked at me with sorrow. "They believe he had a stroke."
She nodded and sat back down, my father threw me a solemn glance, his mouth open to speak.
"He's ready to see you now." The nurse stepped out of the room, my father shutting his mouth and opting for the door instead.
We followed, holding our breaths and sending silent prayers. We filled the room, my mother going straight to my grandfather's side, my father taking a seat by the window and Margo and I stood and the end of his bed.
"Oh, hush! Stop worrying about me, I'm fine." My grandfather chuckled, his voice hoarse.
"A stroke is not okay father," my father commented, his expression too calm for this situation, even a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Shut up George, you're almost as bad as your mother, speaking of which no one told her right?"
"Daniel, for God's sake!" The shrill of my grandmother's voice cut the atmosphere like knife as she strode into the room.
My grandfather looked at each of us quickly before joking. "Okay, who snitched?"
"Daniel! This is not a laughing matter! I was sitting with my friends having tea and then I get a phone call saying you were in the hospital from a stroke. I honestly cannot leave you alone for an hour," she scolded, slapping his arm.
"Well, all seems to be okay. I'm gonna head back to work, Audrey I think you should head back to the company now." My father's voice was cold as he spoke, rising from the chair.
"Back to the company? You're putting her through the trial period now? She's only eighteen and she hasn't even graduated yet! That's not how we do things son." My grandfather protested, my grandmother holding him down.
"She can handle it," was my father's reply as he sauntered out.