One Year Ago
Sky High, a premium seven star hotel, was hosting an award ceremony for the young entrepreneurs in the country. Every year new and upcoming entrepreneurs are recognized and are awarded in this ceremony.
Many business tycoons were present there as they were all excited about this ceremony but all eyes were on chairman Park Paul's granddaughter, who is the newly appointed CEO of the Park group of companies, Ashley Park.
Ashley Park, 27 years old, a Yale graduate, and the young CEO of the Park conglomerate who took over the responsibilities of her grandpa Paul after his retirement.
Since the age of 18 she had been actively involved in the family business and at the age of 21 she even started her own company, which got a huge success in a very short period of time.
She handles her own companies that she started and now after her grandpa's retirement she even took over the Park conglomerate.
Paul couldn't be any more proud of his responsible granddaughter, who was his pride.
She is a workaholic, ambitious woman who wants to reach the top of this world and therefore has no other interests in life except for building more companies and always coming up with new innovative solutions.
Therefore Ashley didn't have any friends and was never involved with anyone romantically, which worried Paul a bit as he wished to see his granddaughter being married to someone and having a happy family.
But Ashley always avoided the topic of marriage.
Right now, Paul was proudly sitting in the audience of the award ceremony as his granddaughter was the only female nominated for the Young Achievers Award and she was giving a tough competition to other competitors.
Chairman Paul was his granddaughter Ashley park would win the award. He was seated at a circular table with his granddaughter Ashley, secretary Kate along with a few important board members.
The business tycoons who have been nominated in various categories were a bit nervous but Ashley wasn't one of them.
Ashley was sitting there confidently without any worries. She was indifferent towards such awards ceremonies, she doesn't care even if she wins or loses it.
Ashley believes no one is good enough to judge her work and give her an award for it. No one but her is the only person who can judge her talents, is what she believed.
If not for her grandpa's insistence, she wouldn't even have cared about wasting her time to attend this kind of a ceremony.
Paul was the only person Ashley cares about, as she admired her grandpa since she was a child.
She was always inspired to be like him and he was her role model. Whatever she was today, it was all because of him.
Awards for different categories were being announced and every time someone gave a speech Ashley rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Ash, did you prepare your speech?" Paul excitedly asked his granddaughter.
"Speech?" Ashley was surprised and looked at her grandpa questioningly.
"Yes, you need to give a speech when you will win this award" Paul excitedly exclaimed as he was looking forward to seeing Ashley win the main award category - Young Achiever Award.
"Are you that confident I will win this award?" Ashley chuckled at her grandpa's childlike excitement.
"Of course you will win. No one is better than you" Paul proudly exclaimed.
Ashley had a bright smile on her face, "Until now, I didn't care about this award but if it makes grandpa happy, then I too hope to win it"
"You will." Paul confidently said.
Then later the last category announced was of Young Achiever Award and as expected by all, Ashley Park was the winner.
Paul loudly clapped and hugged his granddaughter. There was no end to his happiness. The board members and Kate, his ex secretary and now Ashley's current secretary too, were very happy.
"I am glad you are happy, grandpa" Ashley smiled at him and stood from her seat to walk towards the dais.
As soon as Ashley moved her sight away from her grandpa, her cheerful face turned cold and indifferent. Her smile was only reserved for her grandpa and she doesn't care about anyone else.
The beautiful woman, dressed in a golden gown, walked towards the dais and all eyes were on.
Some people were admiring her flawless beauty, while some others were cursing her with envy as at a young age she achieved more than them.
Ignoring all the gazes on her, Ashley graciously collected her award. She had no speech prepared, but since her grandpa was excitedly waiting for one, she decided to give one as she can never make her grandpa sad.
He was the most important person for Ashley.
"Thank you for believing I deserve this award. I believe the person who truly deserves it, is my grandpa, without whose support and confidence in me, I wouldn't have reached till here. I love you grandpa, and I hope you will keep supporting me" Ashley ensured to give a short and precise speech for Paul.
Then she walked away with the award.
As she was heading towards her table a few women were gossiping about her.