Out For My Ex.

A Sister

She was…trapped. But this time, she liked it.

Then her life felt like a toy ball, glued to the floor while being caged by hot rods of steel.

It was insufferable.

The orders of her parents, especially Genevieve, her mother was suffocating. The mere presence and sight of her parents took her breath away.

Their eyes, constantly pinned on her gleamed with expectations. Heavy ones centered on molding her into a perfect CEO of Château Garnier.

It pressed against her lungs, making it harder to breathe and life.

Aveline Garnier, for the past 22 years of her life, felt trapped. But this time, she enjoyed it.

Like, who wouldn't enjoy being smoldered with bodyguards, trying their best in keeping Aveline Russel, the Co founder of Lumière Couture, the second-biggest fashion brand in all of France from hungry paparazzi and love struck fans?

As the tires of the sedan, sleek under the sun halted, she drifted her gaze out of the tinted window.

“Nice” A smile crawled up her lips, and thrill did too on her spine, her orbs of green shimmering at the sight of a skyscraper.

It sat poised, the morning sun dancing across the towering building that housed Lumière Couture. It was her home — a home she and Pierre built together.

Aveline huffed as the memories of her parents’ degrading words replayed in her mind. Genevieve, her mother especially, could never believe she–

“We love you, Madame Russel!” A sharp shriek laced with immense excitement sliced through Aveline's thoughts, and her smirk widened.

“Madame, are you ready?” Without sparing the chauffeur a glance, she nodded, wearing a pair of shades that concealed her eyes.

“When is the next collection coming, Madame Russel?”

“Can we please get a sneak peek?”

“Your designs are always so edgy! Please, an interview with us would be much appreciated!”

“You're my role model, Madame!”

As Aveline navigated the crowded sidewalk, her bodyguards expertly shielding her from the throngs of fans and paparazzi.

Cameras flashed, microphones were thrust in her direction, but she smiled graciously, waving through the sea of faces.

“Christ. They increase with each passing day” Eventually, her pair of dark heels kissed the well polished floor of Lumière Couture.

The mixed sounds and squeals instantly got replaced by hum of efficient machinery and soft hums of conversations.

“Welcome, Madame!”

Again, and again, words of appraisal or welcome seeped into her ears as Aveline strolled through, each step laced with grace.

Her long red hair, as silk as honey flowed like a molten lava down her back as she entered the lobby.

“Good morning Madame. You do have a busy day ahead” Her PA, Lea fell into step beside her, the much shorter lady's gaze running on her tablet.

A nod was her initial response as Aveline's eyes scanned the lobby's opulent decor.

“What's the schedule looking like?”

“Uh… Uh…” Unlike Lea's fast response, something grasped her tongue, causing her to hesitate and Aveline to spare her a glance.

“What is it?” She questioned, removing her shades as an eyebrow arched.

“Uh… Madame, Monsieur Pierre, he's…he has been in talks with Tsar Noir. He's considering signing Lumière Couture under their umbrella” Lea uttered, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“He's been meeting with their representatives in secret. I only found out because I stumbled upon an email accidentally” she chipped in, the addition clouding Aveline's face with darkness as her jaw tightened.

She has always been adamant about maintaining Lumière Couture's independence, refusing to sacrifice their creative freedom to the multinational conglomerate.

Asides, wasn't her husband aware?

Tsar Noir, apart from being a living embodiment of wealth, was an enshrinement of evil.

Sure, it was all rumors, but their ruthlessness speaks volumes.

They dictated everything each brand signed under them did — even from design direction to marketing strategy.

She would not be treated as a puppet by anyone anymore!

Not by her parents — or Tsar Noir.

“Madame Russel!” Lea called once Aveline spun then marched towards the elevator.

She tried to trail after her, but she already stepped in, and she could only watch the door close with Aveline's orbs blazing with rage.

•~

As the elevator rode up, so did Aveline's rage. The leather strap of her purse was fisted in one hand, the other, rubbing the fingertip of her thumb on the index.

She was pissed with chest rising and falling as she sucked in breaths, trying to calm her thudding heart.

The thuds echoed throughout her soul, nearly deafening her as a grunt broke from her lips.

“Sign under them? Never! Never! I'll rather chew a tyre than be a f*****g puppet!” Aveline swore, chomping hard on her lower lips to prevent it from trembling.

The bite was intense, almost drawing out blood from the succulent flesh, and the halting of the elevator stopped that.

Once the metallic doors parted, rapid clicks of Aveline's heels rented the air.

"Pierre!" She called, nearly pelting as she advanced into his lavish office.

The strong smell of Kopi Luwak, musky and smokey, slapped filled her nose — it hinted at Pierre's presence.

Beams of sunlight streamed into the amble office through the transparent window as Aveline roamed her eyes around.

Where was he?

“Pierre, what is wrong with you!?” A scream pierced the air. It entailed fright — so much of it and also… Familiarity.

“Eveline!” Aveline's mind registered the owner of the voice instantly, her eyes widened as she spun around.

Knowing the scream erupted from the door leading to the lobby, she dashed towards it, her quick pace nearly leading to her fall.

But the scream, belonging to her twin sister, gave her strength and soon, Aveline yanked the doorknob.

A sight…cursed her.

“Aveline! Ave! Help! Your husband's gone crazed!” Not only was Eveline's body pinned to the glass wall but also a gun to her forehead.

And grasping the lethal weapon was…

“Pi… Pierre?” The unexpected sight knocked out the life from Aveline's soul as she became motionless, her purse free-falling.

The world began blurring, leaving Pierre's face, painted with such a menacing expression clear.

“Aveline!” Eveline shrieked, her trembling body visible as fat balls of tears glided down her eyes.

The cold metal, being pressed against her skin, sent uncomfortable shivers down her spine.

“Those documents on the table” Pierre spoke, his tone low, eyes locking strongly with a lifeless Aveline.

Those orbs of brown which usually glimmered with warmth were… dull. Darkness veiled them, oozing profusely from the man she loved.

“Baby…”

“Sign those f*****g documents, Aveline!” Followed by his bark, Pierre grasped Eveline's neck, hindering air from her lungs as her feet departed from the ground.

“Pierre please!” Aveline yelled, her voice shaky as she watched him choke her sister.

Eveline's face was as reddened as a tomato, her mouth parted, desperately trying to suck in air.

“Stop! Stop! I'll do it! I'll f*****g do it!” again, and again disbelief rippled through Aveline's body, yet that didn't stop her from running towards the coffee table.

On it were two documents, and a pen, but tears blurred her vision.

She reached quickly for the pen, uncovering it then unhesitatingly drawing her signatures on the blaring spaces.

“H-here! I've done it!” Swiping the documents off the table, she turned to Pierre, her steps slow and breath heavy as she gawked at him.

Yet, his chokehold on Eveline remained, but his attention flickered to his wife.

“Out the window. Throw one of it out of the goddamn window” He seethed, and the sight of his grip gingerly loosen fueled Aveline to do so swiftly.

Without breaking eye contact, she flung it out the skyscraper's window, gripping tightly to the other.

“Let her go. Let her g–” Aveline's words dropped to nothingness once Pierre loosened his hold, the gun plummeting to the floor.

A smile also broke from her lips but as Eveline's body slid down the wall, her arms surprisingly snaked to Pierre's frame.

"Wh–" Like a horror movie, she watched Pierre's arms coiling around Eveline's waist, bringing her closer as their bodies entwined in an.. embrace.

"I can't believe she fell for it!" Eveline's calckle, witchy and all so joyful, sent waves and waves of confusion down Aveline's soul.

“Told you..” with Eveline held tightly, Pierre turned, a triumphant smile playing on his lips, escalating Aveline's perplexity.

"Your sister is dense as hell" Once again, Eveline's calckle rented the air before being joined by Pierre's chuckle.

Tension died, birthing an insanely befuddled Aveline.

With her jaws dangling freely, green orbs dilating and body slightly shivering, Aveline's gaze dropped to the piece of pa

per - which she had signed in her hand.

They were.. divorce papers, and it stated her share of Lumière Couture now belongs to Pierre and Eveline Russel!