Billionaire's Cinderella

CHAPTER 2 -- ACTIVE VOLCANO

“Open the damn door, Chris.” Chris woke up from his deep slumber when he heard loud banging on his door.

“Chris, open it. Hurry up!” the loud voice came again followed by another series of loud banging.

He groaned in annoyance because he was extremely tired since he was not sleeping properly for the past two weeks. So much was on his mind. His business, meetings and most importantly his Cinderella. He came back home and did some work before sleeping.

He looked at the clock, it was 10pm. He wanted to sleep without interruptions, but it seemed as if he was not going to have any peace anytime soon.

He got up from the bed and dressed in a t-shirt and pyjama before opening the door. Ashlyn, his feisty and stubborn sister stood there with raised hand, ready to pound on his door again but stopped just on time otherwise her fist would be hitting his face.

Behind her was shy Crystal who was standing calmly as if there was nothing wrong.

“What took you so long? I swear I was going to break that door if you didn’t open it.”

She took Crystal’s hand and dragged her inside without waiting for Chris’s reply. Ashlyn stood on his bed facing him, hands on her hips.

He sighed and went inside closing the door.

“What is wrong Ash? I was asleep.” He asked her standing near the bed. They both were on almost eye level, thanks to his 6’4’’ height. Meanwhile, Crystal just plopped on his bed clearly entertained at their childish antics.

“Asleep? How could you sleep when your sister is super stressed out?”

“Now you are over exaggerating.”

“No, I’m not. There is big problem. And when I will tell you, you’ll be pacing non-stop, sleep long forgotten.”

“Okay, miss drama queen, stop beating around the bush. Just come to the point, will you?”

“Why did you sign Stella the super annoying b***h? I can’t tolerate her anymore.”

“What did she do now?” he sighed. When she mentioned Stella, he knew there was something serious.

“She is demotivating my team. The way she behaves with others, everyone feels low. They can’t say anything because she is the star model in fashion industry, and your close friend. They are tolerating her presence because of us because we are the bosses. They don’t want to upset us. But, honestly this fashion show is going to be a big disaster. There is so much negativity Chris. This is not going to work. You don’t come to the rehearsals, but trust me, they are disaster.” Ashlyn finished in one angry breath and sat down on the bed, near Crystal, fuming like a volcano.

Chris groaned in annoyance.

“Hey! Don’t groan Mr. Grumpy. It is serious matter and I have all the rights to be mad when the fashion show is just a week away.”

He also sat down Indian style across his sisters.

“Okay, I’m here to help. Now tell me what actually happened?”

“Listen, Stella is ordering everyone around. She interferes when make up artists work on other models. Sometimes she passes snarky and insulting comments about theirs’ looks, skin or clothes. But when it is her turn to walk on the ramp, she suddenly feels tired and goes to her trailer for nap.

“And now, she is demanding to change her dress for the fashion show. Apparently, she doesn’t like the colour of the dress. Chris, I can’t take it anymore. I’m one day away from snapping at her and firing her.” She summed up the experience of working with Stella Evans, one the top models in United States.

The only reason Chris signed her was that she was his client’s daughter and they met each other on various gatherings, and also her father practically begged him to sign his daughter as the show stopper. He couldn’t say no to the old man. This is why he ended up signing her as the face of his new brand.

He also understood Ashlyn’s anger because Stella’s behaviour would definitely cause problems. Once she became the face of the brand, brand would be linked to her. This is how fashion industry works. Media would love to tear his company apart, and any negative publicity was harmful especially for the new brand, which they were going to launch next week. He couldn’t take the chance. He had to do something. Fashion show was just a week away, and he had to act fast.

“Okay. Tell me, kiddo. What should I do?” he turned to Crystal. She became altered upon hearing her name, and sat straight.

Ashlyn also turned to her, waiting for her answer.

This was too much for Crystal, she didn’t know why her brother asked for her advice. She was just doing fine listening to both of them.

“Well, I don’t know about her behaviour. I mean I can’t pin-point one thing. She might be jealous of others, I mean there are prettier models on the team. And she might feel threatened. Or she could be trying to show others that how successful and untouchable she is since everyone knows that you both know each other prior to this assignment. Or maybe, she is little crack. Summing it up, I think she loves attention and she is getting it by doing so.” Crystal gave her input on the matter in her sweet shy voice.

“Hmm.. Interesting, I think you are right.”

“Aww..!! My little Crystal is so smart.” Ashlyn cooed at her sister. “Thanks baby, for understanding my feelings. Now tell big brother what should he do now,” she snapped at him angerly.

Crystal was the youngest among them, and she was the most loved child in the family because of her introvert nature. Everybody was protective of her. She was very intelligent and good at reading people and their behaviour. It was like a sixth sense. It came to her naturally. She could tell when someone was being over clever, sarcastic or mean. And in this situation, she understood the problem.

“Actually there is something else as well which you don’t know,” she said in low tone.

Both Ashlyn and Chris had their full attention on her.

“What is it?” both Chris and Ashlyn asked at the same time.

“Actually, yesterday Stella tried her dress and when she came out of changing room, perhaps she saw my expressions because the dress didn’t look good on her. I just felt as if that dress was not made for her. And I couldn’t sugar coat my words. So, when she didn’t fish any compliments out of me, she understood that something was off. And I’m hundred percent sure, this is the reason she’s demanding to change her dress” Crystal explained in one breath. Crystal often went to rehearsals, one of the perks of being the bosses’ sister.

“What?”

“OMG”

They said in union.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that,” she said apologetically.

Chris scooted over to his sister and engulfed her in a bear hug. He rested his chin on her head.

“Hey! Don’t feel bad. We don’t blame you. Your expressions didn’t shift anything in Stella’s behaviour. Anyway, thinking about past is not going to help. Think about the future.” He said in surprisingly calm tone, rubbing her arm in brotherly manner.

Ashlyn looked in disbelief at her brother.

“Wow!! Who are you and what did you do to my brother?” Ashlyn said in pure shock.

“What do you want to say, Ash?” he asked.

“No offense, but your calm and collected front is so not like you. You are not yelling or throwing any tantrum over this serious matter. I mean your office tells another story. All employees are so afraid as if they are working near an active volcano.” Ashlyn said in disbelief.

“No, that’s not…” he trailed off. “Wait, did you just call me a volcano?”

“Yes I did, and it is true. You have fired your secretary, again.” She said rolling her eyes.

“Really?” asked Crystal, turning to him who was still holding her.

Ash hummed in response.

“There is something wrong with you, Chris. Why are you acting so weird?” Crystal asked in worried tone.

“Nothing is wrong with me. And if your interrogation has finished, shall we start figuring out some solution for actual and bigger problem?” He tried to change the subject.

“I think you should hire someone else.” Crystal gave her input.

“It is not easy, doll. Stella has signed the contract. If we fire her, she will surely sue us.” Ash voiced her thoughts.

“I understand, but I also know you guys. There must be some clause regarding her way of behaviour which can nullify this contract. You are not new to this industry, and you know it very well how difficult models can be.”

“I’m impressed. You will be a great business women someday,” Chris was in awe of Crystal.

“Thank you,” she giggled shyly leaning against her brother.

“Nice suggestion, but where we’d find new model at such a short notice, and if this goes out, media will start spreading the rumours. We can’t afford negative press at this point.

“Still, if we bring some new model, what is the guarantee that she’ll be not the same.” Ashlyn expressed her concerns and she was right.

“Then we have to do this hiring in secrecy. We will not contact any famous models, they will go to press, for sure. We should hire a new girl. New face. New brand. This way, there won’t be any speculations.” Chris had a great point, and both sisters agreed to him.

“Zoey can help us. She knows some of the girls who are trying to get gigs in this industry. I call her now,” Ashlyn was thinking of ways of finding new model for their new brand, Regal.

Ashlyn called her friend Zoey. Meanwhile, Crystal laid on the bed, and Chris was sitting on the couch deep in thoughts. Thinking about mystery his girl. At this moment he sincerely whished his Cinderella to be the new face of his brand. He wished her to be an aspiring model. He just wanted to find her.

“Come out of the dreamland, Mr. Romeo,” Ashlyn threw a pillow at Chris when she saw him deep in thoughts.

Pillow hit his head and he glared at his sister who was becoming a giant pain in his ass.

“Zoey said she will help, and most probably there will be some girls in the office for interview and audition. And just hope we find our new girl otherwise we’ll be doomed.”

Ashlyn said sitting on the bed.

“Okay great, the problem is solved. Can I go to sleep now, it almost midnight and I’m tired.” Crystal said getting up from the bed.

“One thing before you go,” Chris stood up from the couch and came close to the girls, “Get up at 4 tomorrow, we have a long week ahead.” He smirked while being his usual bossy self.

“I hate you.” Ashlyn whined.

“By the way, where are mom and dad? They weren’t home when I came back.” Chris asked.

“Oh! They are on date,” Ashlyn replied with goofy grin. Despite the age, Mr. and Mrs. Jones were still so much in love. They went on dates, and always had time for their partner.

And their children also dreamt the same love with their partner. Ashlyn hooked her arm Crystal’s and to door.

As she reached the door, she turned to her brother who was staring into space, “speaking of date, is it true Chris?” Ashlyn enquired curiously.

“What?” he jerked back to reality and narrowed his eyes on her question.

“That you are head over heels with some unknown girl, and rumours say she doesn’t exist.”

“Who told you that?” Chris was suddenly alerted, he didn’t tell this anybody except Nicholas. Crystal was also clearly shocked.

“Ammm… No one, just a grapevine. Is there some truth to these stories?” She tried again to get some information.

“I deny all the rumours. Now just go and sleep. We have to start early in the morning,” he walked to them and practically shoved them out of his room.

“I will find this out, big bro,” he heard Ashlyn’s laughter filled voice.

He went to his nightstand and picked his phone before calling Nicholas. He pick after sometime.

“What the f**k, man! Just go to sleep, I’m not your girlfriend whom you are calling at this time. And I’m in the middle of something.” Nicholas groaned in the phone.

“You told Ashlyn. Now go f**k as many p*****s as you want to f**k, because when I lay my hands on you, I’ll f*****g cut your d**k off.” He seethed angerly and hung up the phone without hearing his reply.

Chris groaned in frustration. He was becoming more and more frustrated. He laid down on the bed, and took out the anklet from his bedside drawer. He rubbed the metal softly, and his mind drifted off to his Cinderella, who was clearly unimpressed by his charms. Her brown eyes were making him mad, he wanted to see those eyes again.

He sighed, “I’m going to find you, Cinderella,” he fisted the anklet in his right hand and put his fist on his heart. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes.