Bound By The Royal Brothers

"Someone requests to see you, ma," a tall man in a black jacket and shades stood at the door to an office. The office was exquisite, although it was merely just a small room, it spoke of high class and a rich taste. "Who is it?" Vera said without lifting her head from which she stared down at her table. "Why, hello to you my dear," a husky voice drawled, one which she could recognize anytime. It was the voice that gave her reasons to be disturbed every single time it spoke, because she never knew what to expect and how to quench whatever demands echoed from the voice. The figure of a lady, much older than the one who sat at the table, allowed herself into the office, brushing the guard away. "What is it this time? It's still working hours, Mom, " Vera said immediately as her mother had gotten to the seat in front of her. She didn't lift her head, and her tone was a bit cold. "Why so feisty? You haven't even asked about my health," her mother said, acting shocked. She sank into the seat, "Anyway, you can keep those pleasantries to your arrogant self. Not like I care as much, as long you give me respect as due. So uptight, I do believe I did not raise you like this," she said, glaring at Vera. "I'm sorry Mother, but it's working hours," she finally lifted her head. "And is that your excuse for forwarding my calls? Well, I see you've lost the very core of your insanity. Next time you ignore my calls, I'll make sure your life isn't less ignored." "I apologize, mom. I really do, but the workload has been so great the past few days. Why did you drive all the way here? You could've called for me and I'll be home." "I did call, but you obviously chose to ignore it. Pleasantries aside, as I said, the income this year has gone down. Vera, explain yourself," Mrs Elwell's voice took a commanding tone towards the end of the sentence. Vera sighed in comfort in the luxury of her large office seat. She brightened up with a fake smile that immediately diminished and then, she smacked her glossy cherry lips. She pushed back the sides of her auburn hair and adjusted her wine red jacket which she wore over a black shirt. "How did you know about that?" She asked. Her doe brown eyes fell on the already furious eyes of her mother. Vera was a walking beauty, with her beautiful doe brown eyes, a button nose above cherry-red lips, and pale white skin as if seemingly stricken with albinism yet perfectly cared for, it radiated an otherworldly beauty. Vera Elwell is an epitome of beauty, a walking goddess on earth, and which goddess wasn't blessed with riches? None. Vera had been born into it all — power, beauty, and wealth — she was a goddess with beauty and riches; Venus trapped in a mortar shell, the dream woman of any man. The news that had just arrived was like she was on the losing side, and it was awkward to see a goddess lose. "The charts aren't always kept private, are they? For the past few months, Emerald House has been below the top five. Isn't that so?" She asked wittingly. Her fierce eyes still pierced into Vera's eyes. "It's not much to worry about," she said casually. "There's really nothing there to explain. You know, it's just business. Sometimes it's gain and other times, loss," Vera's voice carried a trace of nervousness and a little mix of cold rage. As always, she didn't know if she had satisfied the demanding inquisitiveness of her mother, and it annoyed her that she was always at her mercy, but it was her mother — the queen of the Elwell family. "Other times, loss," her mother mimicked, "You've been losing for a long time now. Listen and listen well, Vera, I know it's business. Hence, that's why I'm here, your business is my business, and I refuse to stay out of it. Now, explain yourself," her mother demanded coldly, unaffected by the barely hidden little rage in Vera's voice. Her tone was frigid and more domineering. Vera took a deep breath that made her already busty chest all the more pronounced, and took a few more, to not lose her calm. "Time is ticking, Vera. So speak, now." "Well..." she paused for seconds of thought before she continued, "There has been a huge drag for promotions on the fashion magazine covers. Most of the other companies are doing dirty stuff to get in, and I'm just not ready to soil my hands in those. Also, the expenses..." "What expenses? Have you been squandering money on worthless luxuries?" "No. It's just... You" "Me?" Her mother chuckled, "I brought the figures down? What an insult," she said, banging her palms on the table. "You always call, saying you need this and that, with an endless list of infinite needs every month... You caused it, it's your fault, yours!" Vera fired at her mother like a bomb that had gone off. She breathed heavily, it took a lot of courage to roar back at the lioness and it sure would backfire. Her mother remained silent, but her countenance had grown sour with rage. "You keep pushing and pushing me beyond limits, why won't you let me be?" Vera continued as she questioned, her voice almost breaking into a cry. She leaned back on her chair, blinking hard to push back the tears that almost escaped her eyes. "Girl, never raise your voice at me again, do you understand?" Her mother cautioned, with her forefinger pointed dangerously at Vera. After a short pause, she continued, "Good, you ask what I want from you. Get married, Vera. Liam fancies you, take this dance, and make me proud for once in your lifetime. You always let me down on every single thing, you never do anything completely right. I mean look at what you did to the family business, and now you blame me? I barely even ask for much, it's your duty to take care of me. It's just that you have poor management skills, and look see," She threw her hands in the air and scanned around the office, "You have crumbled the whole thing. What next? You should accept a good man. It's a guarantee he can help you find a solution to this mess you've made. He can get us out of this mess with his family’s wealth." "Then what, mother? What next will you have me do after I get married?" "The most natural thing in the world, dear child — bear kids," the woman replied. With a ghost of a laugh after that sentence, she stood up. "You do that, and maybe then, I'll let you be as you say," her mother said with a smile, “and get rid of that rag you call a man. I can’t stoop that low to accept him as my son-in-law. She walked out of the room, leaving a trace of a dominant aura behind her. Vera stared absentmindedly at the papers which lay in front of her. They were the recent volumes of the Daily Glow which featured some of her designs. She then peeked out of her window, a gloomy aura surrounded her being. For someone so strong, with assets enough to make or break men, she looked entirely vulnerable for a moment. The setting sun in the distance mirrored her sorrow as it slid behind the tall skyscrapers and over the horizon, plunging her and the world about her into near darkness.