Song for this chapter (WARRIOR, Demi Lovato)
Genevieve
I love my life. At 26, I have enough money to retire, buy an island and live the rest of my life in peace and harmony. But I love to work. I must say, living in a huge house all by myself was not how I pictured my life when I was a kid, playing with dolls and having tea parties.
I always pictured myself as successful, rich, happy, and living in a huge house, but not all by myself, and once in a while the staff, nope. I pictured all that and more. Like having family dinners and parties. Having lots of friends I couldn't even keep count of. Having a night out and coming back home wasted that I ended up sleeping in the garden. Having to make stupid decisions and laughing it off the next day with my friends. Having to not worry about whom I was seeing, or fucking or engaging with.
Life has a funny way of always giving you what you didn't ask for. That's why I am here. Sleeping in a king-sized bed, and wondering where my life took this turn to loneliness. Oh yeah, when my mum died.
Growing up, my family was the envy of my neighborhood. I was the envy of my school. Everyone wanted to have my life. My parents were always seen on TV. They were the "IT" couple. Happy marriage, happy life, and a happy family.
My mum met my dad when she was just 17 and they hit it off. They got married a year later. Both were from rich families so it was just perfect. Their marriage brought a merger between two great companies. The great EmmaLand & Laurent Group of Companies. Dealers in rare gems and jewelry all around the globe.
I learned to be poised even when I was still in diapers. I felt a great connection between my parents and I wished I would have that kind of love when I grew up.
My parents showered me with an undying love. I was just the happiest kid in the world. To top it off, my mum was expecting. My dad loved me dearly as he made me believe, but he wanted a son. Someone who would take over the huge company he was overseeing.
He always said I was too weak all because I was a girl. I couldn't handle the harsh conditions that came with running a multi-billion company. So he wanted a son. A son he could groom to be ruthless when the need arises and calm and stoic at the same time. He wanted a son who would rule the world. A son who would take the reins of the company and ride it through the stratosphere.
He got it. My mum had complications during her pregnancy. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. But never had the chance to hold him. She died shortly after. I had a brother, I was so happy I was never going to be alone. I would have a sibling who would play with me. Have tea parties with me and I would protect and be the best big sister he could ask for.
My dad was sad he lost the love of his life, but he was happy his lifelong dream had come true. I was 6 years old when my mum died. My dad always said I was too smart and mature for my age, but love would make me weak. So he still couldn't leave the company to me.
He said I had to help him groom my little baby brother to be like him. I agreed. I protected him no matter what. We had fun while it lasted. My dad didn't waste time with his grooming. When my brother turned 10, every fiber of his being was coursing with the business gene. He could make deals salesmen thrice his age couldn't.
My dad was proud. I was proud.
I was sixteen then. I wanted so much to get the same attention from my dad as well. But no matter what I did I couldn't get it. No matter the number of A's I brought home, no matter the number of trophies I brought home, I just wasn't enough. I was weak. Love would make me weak.
My brother and I drifted apart, my dad was constantly shipping him off to business seminars, business schools, anything that would make him the business tycoon he wanted him to be, he did it.
I got three letters from three universities. Harvard, Princeton, and Brown. I didn't know which to choose. I called my brother and I was told he wasn't allowed to receive calls from anyone, especially me.
My dad said constant communication with me would make him weak. He said the love between us would blind him, and make him take decisions that won't benefit any of us. I went to Brown for a year, went to Harvard for a year, and Princeton for two. I got my degrees. What can I say, I was smart. I tried hard to prove to my dad that I was as strong as my brother if not more. I was 21 years old and my brother was 15.
He had been fully groomed and wanted to come home. His private jet landed at exactly 9:06 am and I was there to welcome him. I had missed him so much. It had been 5 years since I last saw him. That was the first time after my mum's death that I saw a genuine smile on my dad's face.
We had a family dinner, we spoke for hours. My dad was growing old. He was 62 but he was still strong. He left for bed early. My brother and I spent hours talking, laughing, and just enjoying the evening.
All was not to last. A week later, we went, for the first time, into the famous EmmaLand & Laurent Group Of Companies. We had seen the massive building on TV a lot of times but we had never stepped foot in there. My dad said we were not ready. Now, the feeling I felt when I entered the doors of this building was pure euphoria. I knew I had to be part of this.
We had a tour, met some business associates and other staff. It had exactly 170 floors. With the production team occupying the first quarter of the building, the marketing team the second, and the management on the last part.
It had over 700 people working there including the cleaning, cooking, driving, and security staff. I was amazed. I wanted to also hold the reins of this company one day but well I was dubbed "weak" even before I could prove my strength. So that thought was thrown into the deep blue sea in my head.
I had to leave immediately after our tour, my best friend from childhood was graduating from college. I had the opportunity to go to university when I was 16, she didn't. I told my brother I would meet them at home later in the evening.
Paige Fader, my wonderful friend. She has been with me since I was 4 and we've been friends ever since. She was the direct opposite of me. She was a wild, fun, crazy, kind, loving, carefree person. And by some divine interference, we matched.
After her graduation ceremony, we went out to have fun. We had dinner at one of my dad's five-star restaurants and continued to her house. We planned on getting wild the next day. Today was just the icing on the cake.
She lived in an apartment building in Los Angeles. We both lived in LA. I was just in Beverly Hills. We had a bottle of red wine in ice sitting on her living room table and half a glass full each in our hands. We were chit-chatting about what she wanted to do with her life when the breaking news came up.
I remember everything like it was just yesterday.
Good evening cherished viewers.
We are very sorry for interrupting the show with this breaking news.
The CEO of EmmaLand & Laurent Group Of Companies, Mr. George St. Laurent, and his 15-year-old son Gordin St. Laurent were involved in a fatal car accident on their way from a business meeting which took place in the said company. Their cars including the SUV's which usually had some of his security men were all crashed by a container on a twenty-four-wheeler truck, which fell on them as the driver was making a turn. According to the police, the straps holding the container in place weren't fastened tightly, thereby causing the unusual falling of the container.
The police are still looking for any survivors. We will bring you any updates as soon as we get more information from the police officers at the scene. Thank you.
I still don't remember how I made it to the hospital. The doctors told me there were no survivors except for the driver of the truck. The only family I had left was gone. And to think I just lost them wasn't enough, I had to take care of the company, and dad's numerous hotels and restaurants. Paige said I was in robot mode for three years. I never cried at their funeral. And after a week, I took over as sole proprietor of the company. Working my ass off.
I blinked back the tears that were trying to escape my eyes. It's been five years and I still wouldn't cry. I'll never break, I'm made of steel. I'm a St. Laurent, strength and courage run through my veins. I chanted the mantra over and over whiles fiddling with the charm bracelet my mom gave me when I was 3. I added some charms that reminded me of my dad and my brother.
Enough dwelling in the past. I had to go to work. I got up from my bed and went into my bathroom for a shower. I came out, called for my makeup and hair artist. She did her job and left without a word.
I wore the clothes that were picked up for me. It was a beige pants suit with a black lace turtleneck blouse, paired with black Jimmy Choo stilettos.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was ready for work. I grabbed my briefcase, my phone, and my Mac book and went downstairs.
Paul had breakfast ready. I ate, said my thank you, and left. Mary had already taken my stuff to the car.
I sat in the opened maroon Mercedes and started it. Bob and Nolan, my bodyguards since I was a kid were in the SUV in front. Gerald and Harper, the new ones I hired three years ago, were in the second SUV behind. We made our way to my company.
I changed the name of the company. Since my mum became a St. Laurent after she married my dad, I didn't see why her dad's name should still be on the company. I didn't know any living relatives from my mum's family too. So I took the EmmaLand out and made it Gems Of St. Laurent and Co. GoStLCo. for short. Oh by the way the 'L' is silent when you're saying it.
The security guard checked our cars just to make sure we were the right people entering and let us pass. I made sure the security was tight in my company. Everyone went through security checkpoints before entering.
I went into my private elevator which needed a retina scan, a five fingerprint scan, and a twelve-digit code before I could enter. Well, it led directly into my office and I couldn't let anyone just walk into it and get into my office, now, could I? Call me paranoid. But when you're in the gems business, you tend to have some unwanted enemies.
Only Paige could use my private elevator. She has an override ID and also a twelve-digit number she uses to get in. So even if someone steals the ID card, without the code the person still could not enter.
I get into my office. I have a floor to ceiling glass windows, a standard-sized oak desk. Two couches, and a bathroom with a closet. I stand by the windows every morning and look over the horizon, to see the sun rising up above the clouds surrounding the beautiful city of Los Angeles.
My personal assistant, Mike Nicholson, has his office on the same floor right outside my office. He uses the companies elevator. So does everyone who wanted to see me.
"Miss St. Laurent, your meeting with the head of marketing and production starts in 20 minutes. Your coffee is also ready ma'am", he said looking at his tablet.
"Okay, thank you, and please, stop calling me ma'am. I'm barely a year older than you".
"Yes ma'am...uh....sorry...I mean Miss St. Laurent".
He left for his office and I drank my coffee. I took a deep breath. Let work begin.
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HEY GUYS I MISS YOUUUUUUU!!!!!!
I'M BACK AGAIN LIKE CORNROWS.
THIS IS THE NEW ONE!!!
LTL LOVE TO LAST.
I WANT EVERYONE'S OPINION ON THIS OKAY??
THIS WOULD BE A BIT SLOW BUT NOT TOO SLOW.
AN UPDATE EVERY TWO DAYS OKAY.
THE MIND NEEDS A BIT OF REST RIGHT?
SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.
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LOVE Y'ALL!!!
♥♥♥
Jewel 💎💎
Peace out ✌ ✌