sss Guild Princess

Anything for the Guild

Responsibility sucks.

Sure it has sparks when it comes to guiding others and making sure the woman that was like a mother to her could expand her business empire. She knew she would eventually agree to anything older woman said. But did it make her any less annoyed?

Absolutely not.

If anything she was ready to throw objects at live targets.

Alessa was staring at her mentor in disbelief.

"You must be joking! You know I can't stand these snobby gatherings!"

Elena looked at the agitated woman who was now pacing the floor, processing the news. She sighed and responded,

"Alessa, you surely are aware how significant the Ball is to the Guild. The funds alone ensure the safe future of our association and all the acquaintances we get at the—"

"Acquaintances!", Alessa interrupted, "You mean those stuck-up morons salivating over our members, thinking they could buy their way to our beds!" she grimaced with disgust.

"Those stuck-up morons, as you so eloquently put it, are also our source of funds," she sighed. "As for the second part, all of you are able to use your brains and follow the rules of the Guild."

Alessa rolled her eyes and groaned. She couldn't argue with that and she knew her attendance at the Ball was more than beneficial to the Guild. She was very protective of the association, called sss Guild due to its extraordinary members.

It consisted only of strong, beautiful women either with great potential or already excelling in their careers. Elena was the leader, always looking immaculate and calm. She turned heads of many men despite her 40th birthday taking place a few years ago. However, it was Alessa that raised curiosity in social circles. People called her icy princess as she avoided attending formal events outside the Guild. She would nevertheless frequently attend business meetings with Elena and prove to be skilled in creating and delivering presentations, leading negotiations and coming up with innovative strategies. She was the most trusted advisor to the Guild Leader, even though she was barely 26. Her true beauty also attracted a lot of influential suitors that tried to break her icy barrier by making business deals with Elena, hoping to receive some gratitude from the icy princess.

Which just made Alessa more disgusted.

"Fine!" said Alessa in defeat, "But don't expect me to act calm when another Mr. I-Inferited-A-Fortune tries to blow my mind with his Oh-So-Expensive car while not showing any sign of a single braincell possession."

Elena smiled in response, "Suit yourself. Just be there. There is going to be an old friend of mine I expect to see."

***

Evan was watching his father, barely paying attention to older man's tirade.

His mind was somewhere between next business deal in Europe and another nameless blonde he had in his bed last night.

"...So just dress up and be there at 8 o'clock in the evening," his father was saying, "and again, Evan, 3 hours late is not 'fashionably late'." he finished exasperated.

Evan smiled broadly remembering last time he attended some elegant event right after he had fun with a certain redhead. Or was it blonde again? He couldn't recall correctly. One look at his father though, made him wake up from daydreaming. He almost asked where was it that his father wanted him at 8 in the evening and dressed up but it would just prove that he wasn't quite listening to what the older gentleman was saying for the past half an hour. Fortunately for him, in that very moment, father handed him invitation with the details.

"Of course, dad, I will be there on time and ready to make some new friends," he grinned.

"The hell you are!" older man warned, "there is going to be an old friend of mine with, what I believe is, her advisor. It's a young beautiful woman, if I remember correctly, but surprisingly quite a business shark. I don't want you to do anything foolish that would impact my friendship with Elena Dunes."

Evan's demeanour changed in an instant, "Investments' queen is your friend?" he asked, thinking about all the potential deals he could make, hearing about a young woman being her advisor. Sure, he has been travelling for years and settled for a few years in Europe to expand the company but he wasn't all secluded from gossip about his rivals and top people in the industry. He chose to ignore the part of investment's queen's advisor being immune to male charms, confident he could wrap her around his little finger after one night with him. Evan didn't mind mixing business with pleasure if it was to benefit him in any way. Women he slept with didn't seem to mind it either.

So he didn't realize how his way of doing things was exactly what disgusted Alessa.

He was in for a ride with the icy princess.

***

Alessa glanced at the invitation again. The Ball was in three days. Three days!

She sighed knowing Elena gave her such short notice on purpose. Just enough time to get a dress, not that she was lacking in number of glamorous gowns from previous events she was forced, ekhem, encouraged to attend, but not nearly enough time to find a solid excuse to skip the tedious gathering. She struggled deciding whether she should be using company card to shop for a new dress and shoes to show that she cared and take advantage of the corporate funds or just wear the first thing she found in her closet, when her assistant walked in to her office and interrupted her thoughts,

"Your ten o'clock has arrived and is waiting in the conference room," the young redhead said staring at her tablet and furrowing her eyebrows, "Also Elena said she will be skipping this one so you will be attending it on your own."

Alessa rolled her eyes. This was definitely not her day. Elena just threw her under the bus with the Ball and now she had to remain calm and composed through the meeting with one of the most sexist pricks. Also known as co-owner of one of the biggest shopping mall chain in the country.

"Great," she muttered and got up. There was no use of delaying the inevitable.

She straightened her back and headed to the conference room with redhead following behind. It took her a moment to put her professional face on before opening the door with a polite but reserved expression. The things she did for the Guild and Elena...

"Are we waiting for Mrs Dunes?" the man spoke upon Alessa's entrance. Alessa held back a snort. Not even 'hello' from the rude jerk.

"Good morning, Mr Parvo," she addressed the middle-aged balding man who was currently ogling her up and down. Such a cliché, she thought. "Elena won't be joining us today so I suggest we go ahead and start."

"Oh," he said, "We can postpone this then. The new agreement that I received is quite detailed so it would be good to discuss it with the person that suggested changes."

Alessa could almost feel pain from stopping her eyes from rolling. What a condescending prick, she thought.

"That is marvelous of you to say this, Mr Parvo," she replied casually, "as you are now looking at the very person who introduced the new version of the agreement and worked on every detailed change. So shall we start at the top?" Slight smirk appeared on her face for just a friction of second and she sat down, placing the documents in front of her.

The man was taken aback by Alessa's attitude but quickly regained his composure, pleased with what he thought was going to be a quick and easy meeting.

The meeting ended an hour later and it was safe to say it was anything but easy. Alessa didn't budge on Parvo's attempts at renegotiating the changes. She even found some loopholes in the old agreement that turned out to be even less beneficial for the guy when he thought he can disregard her knowledge and experience and finish the meeting with introducing the draft that was created by one of his general managers. He cursed under his breath when he was exiting the conference room. It definitely didn't go how he planned it. Meanwhile Alessa watched him with indifferent, almost bored expression. After all, most of them are all bark and no bite. He couldn't even keep up with technicalities once she went on explaining the new contract additions. She forced herself to form somewhat polite smile without smirking at the man and bid him goodbye.

"Alessa!", redhead appeared in front of her, ,"you might wanna see this."

"What now?" Alessa groaned.

"There was a change of plans. Big one. You might wanna have a chat with Elena."