Chapter 1
1080 Words
The silence in Matilda’s bedroom was always the loudest part of her mornings.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, unmoving, as if waiting for something in her face to change—but it never did.
Perfect hair.
Perfect skin.
Perfect room behind her.
To anyone else, it looked like perfection.
To her, it looked like a life she didn’t belong to.
“I’m tired of this life,” she whispered under her breath.
A life where everything was available… except happiness.
A soft knock came at the door.
“Miss Matilda, dinner is served,” the maid said politely.
Matilda blinked, as if pulled back into reality.
“I’m coming,” she replied softly.
She changed into her black silk nightwear and made her way downstairs.
The dining room was already set.
Her father sat at the head of the table, eyes fixed on documents.
Her mother sat beside him, typing on her tablet.
No one looked up when she entered.
Matilda paused for a second.
Then quietly, she sat down.
“Good evening, Dad,” she greeted softly.
Her voice disappeared into the room before it could reach him.
“Hm,” he responded without lifting his head.
Her mother didn’t respond at all.
Only the sound of typing and cutlery filled the space between them.
They had always provided everything money could buy.
Everything except attention.
Everything except warmth.
Everything except a place where she felt like she truly existed.
Matilda finished her meal in silence.
Then she stood up.
“Good night, Dad,” she said softly.
Still, no one responded.
She didn’t wait this time.
She left the dining room quietly, as if she had mastered the art of being invisible.
Back in her room, she pressed her forehead against the cold glass window.
Outside, rain slid down the city like slow tears.
The lights of Lagos shimmered beneath the storm, alive and distant at the same time.
Somehow, the rain understood her better than the people inside that house ever did.
It didn’t ask questions.
It didn’t ignore her.
It just fell… gently, endlessly.
That night, she fell asleep faster than usual.
And for once, her dreams were quiet.
The next morning, the alarm rang at 5:30 a.m.
Matilda reached over and turned it off before it could ring again.
Another morning.
Another meeting.
Another version of yesterday.
She had grown used to it.
For a few seconds, she stayed in bed, listening to the faint sounds of the waking city outside her window.
Then she sighed and got up.
Minutes later, she stepped into the car waiting outside.
The driver opened the door for her, and she slid into the back seat.
As the city moved past tinted windows, Matilda rested her head lightly against the seat.
People walked freely outside—laughing, talking, living.
She watched them like they belonged to a different world.
Her phone rang.
Elena.
Her personal assistant… and the closest person she had.
“Hello, Miss Matilda,” Elena greeted.
Matilda sighed immediately.
“Elena… how many times have I told you? No ‘Miss.’ No ‘Ma’am.’ Just Matilda.”
Elena laughed softly.
“It’s difficult. You’re still my boss.”
“There you go again.”
“So,” Matilda said, “what are you disturbing me for this morning?”
“You mean my job?” Elena teased. “You have a meeting with top investors at ten.”
Matilda groaned. “Again?”
“Yes. Again.”
“I swear I’m becoming forgetful.”
“You’ve always been like that.”
“Wow. Encouraging.”
They both laughed.
Matilda leaned back in her seat, a small smile forming on her lips.
Elena was the only person who made her feel like life wasn’t entirely heavy.
“Good morning, Miss Matilda,” employees greeted as she entered the company.
She smiled automatically.
“Good morning, Mr. James.”
“Morning, Sarah.”
Everyone liked her.
She was kind. Polite. Warm.
Everything a perfect daughter and CEO’s heir was supposed to be.
But no one saw the truth.
Her smile was becoming harder to wear every day.
No one noticed.
Except Elena.
In her office, she sat down and exhaled slowly.
A knock came at the door.
“It’s me,” Elena’s voice said.
“Come in.”
Elena entered with a file in her hand.
“Good morning, Ma’am.”
Matilda raised a brow immediately.
“Elena.”
Elena paused. “What?”
“You did it again.”
“I didn’t—”
“Ma’am.”
Elena sighed. “It’s habit.”
“I’m not your boss right now. I’m Matilda.”
“And I’m your employee.”
“And your friend.”
Elena smiled. “Fine… Matilda.”
She placed the file on the desk.
“You’ve been invited to a business event tomorrow evening. Most of the major investors will be there.”
Matilda leaned back.
“Another event…”
“Yes.”
“I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Nope.”
She sighed. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not staying long.”
Elena raised a brow.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Matilda smirked faintly. “You know I don’t like crowded places full of people I don’t know.”
“We’ll see,” Elena said quietly.
Matilda frowned slightly. “We’ll see what?”
Elena only smiled.
“Nothing.”
But something in her tone lingered.
As if she knew something Matilda didn’t.
Matilda shook her head lightly and turned back to her desk.
“Nothing interesting ever happens anyway,” she said under her breath.
She focused back on the file, though her mind wasn’t fully there anymore.
A business event.
Another night of smiling at strangers who didn’t know her.
She leaned back in her chair and exhaled slowly.
“I wonder if this is all my life will ever be…” she thought silently.
Work. Meetings. Empty conversations. Silence at home.
Her phone lit up briefly beside her, but she didn’t reach for it.
Instead, she stared out the window, where the city moved endlessly… like it had somewhere to go.
Somewhere she didn’t.
After a few seconds, she straightened up, pushing the thought away.
“Just another event,” she whispered to herself.
Nothing would change.
Nothing ever did.
Little did she know…
that single invitation was the beginning of everything she thought she understood about love, control, and loneliness.
- Writer
