The Billionaire’s Outcast Heiress

MILA The sweet scents of Lavender and Jasmine filled the glass house. Nature, vividly seen, as the handsome frame walked towards me with a bouquet of lilac in his hands, matching my purple flower flow dress. I could feel butterflies tumbling in my tummy as he moved closer to me. Mila! “Where’s that coming from?” I ignored the awkward familiar voice and focused on the frame before me. I was practically melting when he leaned in to kis… Milaaaa! I jumped out of bed when I heard the voice this time. It was a dream. Damn! Thank you so much for ruining my fairy tale, Witch. “Are you deaf? How could you be asleep by this time? What makes you think you could sleep till this hour of the day?!” Stella snapped I knew it would do me more well than harm to stay quiet rather than give her a response because Stella hates it when I talk back at her regardless of how polite I make it sound. She just loves being a b***h. “You know how much I hate it when I talk to you and you don't give me a response” she growled, this time, giving me the dirtiest look. I wore a casual expression more like being nonchalant because I know how much it annoys her; it's the only weapon I have against her knowing she can't do anything provided I don't alter a word. “You have just five minutes to do whatever and go meet mom in the kitchen and bring your a** to the rear yard when you are done” She added, before storming out of my room and slamming my door. “Arrrgghhh, this lady is just a damn witch. How could she interrupt such a delicate moment?” I groaned in my pillow trying to hide the volume of my voice. I played the scene repeatedly in my head, each time making me grin like a love struck child before I came to the realization that I actually did not see the face of the man in my dream, but it didn't matter so far I could hold onto the beautiful memory. “Mila, how could you sleep off on such a special day?” Mom questioned when I entered the kitchen. It's family Thanksgiving. It is a tradition to have guests stop by the house for a feast. I don't always look forward to it, but it wasn’t all that bad. I just hated the tasks attached to it. “I'm sorry, Maa... Mom”, I corrected. I don't feel intrigued calling her mom most times, but she warned me not to call her Ma'am anymore. She said she feels like a stranger to me when I say that, and that isn't a lie because we don't even have that mother-daughter relationship, I am an adoptee after all. “Go get some new cutlery from the store and get some disposable cups and plates too. Also get some Danish Blue Cheese for the Blue cheese pasta” she added. “Yes, Ma…Mom” I said while rolling my eyes because I knew I just wouldn't get used to it. The retail store is just down the street, so I grabbed my coat because it was a bit chilly out there and I picked mom's credit card before heading out. I got to the store in less than ten minutes. The bell above the door chimed as I stepped in. I moved along the aisles scanning through the store shelves for what I came for before heading to the counter to make my payments. “I heard he got some of his men to beat up the poor man for stepping on his shoes at the public park” I heard one of the workers at the store whisper to the other. “I wonder what would become of the Castro Company when Ryan Castro becomes the new CEO.” The other worker chipped in. At first, I wasn’t so interested in the conversation but suddenly got furious at the mention of his name, Ryan Castro. Ryan Castro must be the next a**hole on earth after ‘Stella the b***h’. He is the only heir to the Castro Family and for this reason, he acts like he rules the world. I made my payments at the counter and headed out of the store because I didn’t want to hear one more word about Ryan whatsoever. The thoughts of him sickens me to my core. **** Thanksgiving was going smoothly. Some of the guests are inside with mom, mostly the women. The men are out in the courtyard with Dad talking about only God knows what. Stella was out there being fake as usual in everyone’s faces. All I just wanted is to surrender to the stillness of my bed and let the world go quiet. Just as I walked past the kitchen trying to go through the back door to the basement, I heard Stella call out my name with sarcasm in her voice, “Mila dearie” I rolled my eyes at her fake tone. I knew what she was trying to do. It’s not her first. The big mouthed two-faced neighbour added “Hey Mila, come sit with us, It is thanksgiving, you should be happy like your sister. Or don’t you want us around?” I rolled my eyes and cursed under my breath, silent enough for only me to hear. “Hi Mrs Anne, it is really a pleasure having you around.” I lied. More like it is really a torture having you around. I went round the room to greet the other women, but my spirit was lifted when I saw Aunt Daisy. She really is the only person that treats me like I’m not invisible. “Hi Aunt Daisy, it's so good to see you!” I squealed like a child. “Oh, my pookie!” She gushed out happily, pulling me in for a hug. Mom and Stella looked at me unfazed because that is the only person that sometimes brings me out of my shell, not even dad has that effect on me. Hours later, the Guests were all gone except for this catty woman, Mrs Anne. Only Goddess knows what she is still doing here this late. “Good night, Mr and Mrs Smith, Stella my darling, take good care of yourself and try to do that too if you can, Mila” She ended her statement with a smug look plastered on her face. That b*tchy a** woman. “Finally,” I whispered, rolling my eyes. I was about to enter my room when I heard the dinner bell chime. That’s weird. We have all eaten dinner at Thanksgiving, so why are we being summoned for dinner again? These thoughts keep swamping my confused mind. I dragged myself down the stairs to the dinner hall. Surprisingly, it seems I am the only one that doesn't know about this supposed family dinner. It wasn't even a dinner because we were not eating a grain nor drinking water. It was a family meeting. Now, what the hell is going on? This was my thought, but I did not say a word. “The company is going through some rough phases at the moment” Dad began, with a stern look, his face hard with resolve yet tinged with a little bit of sadness. Again, I seem to be the only one just hearing about the latest news. Mom and Stella kept a straight emotionless face, like they already knew the problem and the solution to it. “So, in order to stay in business and not go bankrupt, we have to sign a deal with the Castro family.” Dad added, this time fixing his gaze on the fruit tray sitting at the centre of the dining table. I almost choked on my spit. The Castro Family?! Only if I could yell that out loud enough. It didn't make sense to me. Why Castro of all the billionaire families out there? If I didn't totally hate the Supposed Castro heir, Ryan Castro, maybe I could probably see from Dad's Point of View. I mean, the Castros are in the top five of the biggest fish in Manhattan when it comes to business. I finally, a million years later, summoned the courage to open my mouth to ask a question. I was extremely curious, that was the case. “S… so what type of deal are we signing with them?” I blurted out and couldn't stop having a fight with myself in my head. Why did you even ask? Stupid. After what felt like a century of silence, Dad broke it. “A contract marriage deal.” He announced.