Blood and Roses

Elise POV "Wake up Elise" my nanny, Nina wakes me up for the fifth time. She opens the curtains letting the sunlight fall on my face. Groaning, I sit up rubbing my eyes before looking over to her "Good morning Nina". "Morning, mia cara. Get up and prepare yourself, your father wants to speak to you" she says before smiling softly at me. Those tender eyes that watched me grow up filled with so much love. Feeling emotional, I stand up making my way to her before wrapping my hands around her and say " I'll be there Nina". She turns around and begins to walk to the door before I call out to her"Nina?" she turns to look at me before I continue " I love you". Her eyes immediately starts to glimmer as she walks over to me and wraps her arms around before whispering into my ear " I love you too, Mia cara".She says before kissing my head and walking out. I make my way to the bathroom, then strip before making my getting in the bath tub. After a couple of minutes in the tub, I brush my teeth before walking in my closet. I scan through rows and rows and more rows of clothes before deciding on a sleeveless white fitted kneel- length dress with a slit that runs a few inches up my thigh. I grab a pair of louboutin black heels. I grab a black Hermès bag. I move over to the vanity mirror, and lo and behold......a bird's nest right on top my head. Sighing, I make quick work of it, detangling the knots and combing through it. I move to my face, I apply light foundation, eyeliner, mascara, blush and then lipstick. I throw on the dress and shoes, then put on some jewellery. Feeling satisfied I pick up my phone and purse, take one more look I the mirror. Pausing to admire my self. I've always known I had a pretty face. Long wavy silver-blonde hair, olive skin, round green eyes and rosy lips. But those things don't really get you anywhere. I make my way down the stairs before checking the time again to realise I was over an hour late but then again, that's one of the perks of being the boss. I make my way to the dining room and immediately five pairs of eyes connect with mine. Looking round the table I suddenly feel an urge to get this breakfast done as soon as possible ."Morning" I mumble making my way to seat between my cousin Louis and my twin brother Elliott. "What crawled up your ass?" Maurice, my older brother is the first to speak. I turn to him ready to give him a bitchy reply but mother beats me to it "Watch your mouth young man" then she faces me and I brace myself for her first snarky comment. "And is.....that you are wearing". she spits while looking at me with utmost disgust. "I don't see a problem with it, aunt" Louis says. Mother shoots a glare his way before looking over to me and ans saying " at least have some dignityand put on something that make you look less like a pig". Ouch..... that hurts....alot. "ENOUGH" dad snaps, his deep voice is enough to make the room go silent. Mom looks like she's about to say something but immediately decides otherwise. Good choice. Dad looks over to me before me before continuing Be at my office at noon" He narrows his eyes at me before continuing "Do not be late". I don't dignify him with a reply as I grab a knife and fork and dignify into my pancake and he snarls at me " Élise-" but this time, I cut him off " I heard you dad, but can't it wait. I have an important meeting with some clients tomorrow." He shoots me a look that tells me it's not up for discussion. I sigh before getting up, I turn to dad" I'll be there". I look at the guys again and find them all looking at me with sad smiles on their faces. I give them a small smile and look at mom again and ...... yupp still glaring at me. They know how it feels, the guys... They've had their fair share of our parents drama. Maurice, my older brother, was forced to take over dad's company 2years ago when he was 23. He had always wanted to be an architect but that turns out to be a dream for him. Then my cousin, Louis. Louis parents died when he was 18 and began living with us since then. Lucky for him, he already had a thing for sculpting before his parents died and they had already made provision for him. But dad still tries to get him to work in the company. Elliott, my twin brother, did get lucky. He began working in dad's company. But me, my body has always been the problem Turns out having wide hips doesn't fit into the European beauty standard and mother dearest has not let me have a break since the discovery. she taunts me and tries to make feel bad about my body and its hurt It's hurts....alot but I've learnt to deal with it. I make my way over to my white porche unlocking it. I start the engine, sit back relaxing before moving. ÉLISE, YOU CAN DO IT Here goes nothing! An hour later, I got to the company, my company. When I turned twenty and dad started pressuring me to work under him, I begged him to let me run a business on my own. Surprisingly, he let me and help me start a publishing company. Over the years, it has become my source of pride, years of sweat, pain and hardwork and here stand my pride in all it glory. I love my company and I'll never give it up for any reason. "Good day, miss" my secretary, Isobel says as she walks in my office. "Hello Isobel, and how many times do you need me to tell you to call me Élise. We're practically the same age". She gives a timid nod and a hint of pink stains her cheeks. She drops a file on my desk and a cup of coffee I also just noticed. She turns to leave but i call her back"Isobel, one more thing, cancel my appointments for tomorrow noon. I have somewhere to be". Isobel look at me like I just grew an extra head"Elise....those clients are-" I cut her off "Yes, yes I know, and trust i don't want to disappoint them either but this is something beyond my control. I'll try to make it up to them." "Alright, I'll handle it " she says before she closes the door behind her. Blocking out all forms of distractions I drown my self in loads of paper work.