Chapter 1: Work
Turning on the radio in my car, I drive to the grocery store. I need to stock up on groceries. New York traffic is a chore. I moved here a year ago, after graduation. Parking my car beside the store, I get out and walk inside.
I pick a cart from the row and I roll it down the vegetable aisle. I grab a bunch of bananas and put them in the cart. I'm planning on making banana pancakes for breakfast tomorrow. I should have a nice breakfast on my twenty-fourth birthday, don't you think so?
Yes, I am turning twenty four years old tomorrow.
I am getting old, I know.
But unlike most twenty four year olds, I will not be spending my birthday in the club living it up.
Nope.
I'll be spending it at my desk at work.
Sucks to be me, huh?
And I can't spend it with Riley and Tobias because they live in a completely different state. I would ask them to come celebrate with me, but they have a child to take care of and one on the way. And I don't want them trying to set me up with some guy from their church, so I think I'll pass on spending my birthday with them.
Don't get me wrong I love them to death, but ever since they got married they've been incessantly bugging me to get a boyfriend. And I give them the same answer every time "Just because love worked for you guys doesn't mean it works for me, I would know, I have tried."
New York is a big city, but it feels even bigger when you're alone. Well, at least I'm not all alone, I have my parents. They always remind me how proud they are of me. Probably because I took over the family business and made a name for myself. When I did that, they told me it was always their plan for my life, but they didn't want to push me into it. Well, they didn't have to. I came into it on my own.
Checking out my items, I walk out of the store. I am immediately met with flashing cameras in my face.
Not this shit again.
This is the second time I'm getting paparazzied today.
It's exhausting.
"Miss Stone, a moment of your time. What are your thoughts on the people that say you slept your way to the top?" A lady asks me, shoving a recorder towards me.
These people get on my last nerve.
I push her out of my way and I start walking to my car. They follow me and click their cameras.
"Why were you having dinner with Aaron Wang? Is he your boyfriend?" The woman says standing in front of my car door.
"Move bitch." I say, pushing her again.
I get into my car and they start chasing me. From my rear view mirror, I see the photographers get into their cars and follow me.
Ever since I took over the family business, I've kind of built quite a reputation for myself.
"If by kind of you mean, single handedly starting your own business and got featured on the self made millionaires list all in the same year." My subconscious chimes in.
Okay fine, I made it big in New York.
After my parents abandoned the family business. I took it upon myself to revive it and turn it into something bigger. So, after graduation, I moved here and re-opened Stone Construction. I have over five hundred staff and I made fifty million dollars last year, just by building two hotels. It's really hard work, but I love doing it. And I love being in charge.
Or so I thought, until these pests started following me around. If this is the price of fame, I'm not paying, I want my money back. Maybe then my life will return to normalcy.
I arrive at my house and I grab the groceries and get out of my car. I see reporters at the front entrance and I take the back entrance, I'm not getting swarmed again.
I see my housekeeper throwing trash in the trash chute.
"Hey Dinah." I say, adjusting the bag in my hand.
"Hey Val. You're back." She says, wiping her hands with the towel beside her.
"Yeah. Just got some groceries." I tell her.
"Should I take those up?" She asks, approaching me.
"No, I'll do it myself. You work too much." I say, swatting her arm away from the brown bag.
"I'm just doing my job, Miss Stone." She says and I scowl at her.
"Valarie. I know." She says rolling her eyes and I chuckle. "I just forget sometimes." She tells me and I nod.
"You can have the rest of the week off. Go spend some time with your family." I tell her, she smiles as she plays with the towel in her hands.
"Thank you." She says.
"Don't thank me. You've earned it." I tell her before I press the button for the elevator.
Stepping inside the elevator, I press the '10' button and lean against the warm velvet interior. Shortly, the elevator dings and the doors open. I trudge to the kitchen and place groceries on the marble island.
Taking my shoes off, I walk to my bedroom and turn on the TV.
The news is on.
I take my trench coat off and light a candle. It's 'Midnight Jasmine' by Yankee Candle. It smells absolutely divine. I place my car keys on top of my dresser as I turn up the volume.
"High end investor and multi-millionaire, Baron Lopez has been found dead in his fourteen million dollar home. He was discovered by his butler who found him hanging from the ceiling. Mr. Lopez shot himself in the head. The Lopez family asks for privacy during this trying time as they grieve." The news reporter says and I freeze in place.
What?
There's no way.
Baron was my friend. He was the only reason Stone Construction became what it is today. He believed in my dream and he invested in it.
This can't be happening.
"Valarie, it's on the news. The man is dead." My subconscious tells me.
A lone tear escapes from my eyes as I sit on my bed, still shaken by the news.
That man was the only one that made my job a little bit easier. His jokes were the only thing that kept me entertained at the office and now he's gone.
Oh, his poor wife and his kids.
I can't take this.
My phone rings and I fish it out of the pocket of my trench coat.
It's my publicist, Sarah.
"Hey." She says in a low tone. "Have you heard?" She asks me.
"Yeah, I just saw it on the news. This is horrible." I tell her, as tears leak from my eye leads.
"It really is. I'm sorry, Val." She says and I just continue to cry.
"How could he kill himself? It doesn't make sense. He was so happy." I say, sniffling.
"The saddest people always seem the happiest." She tells me as I shake my head.
"No, not him." I say, wiping my nose with a tissue.
"I know it's hard to process right now, so I'll give you some time. I'll call you later." She tells me and I nod even though I know she can't see me. She hangs up and I place my phone on my dresser.
I need a drink.
I walk to my wine cellar and I grab a bottle of white wine. I place it back and grab a bottle of rum.
I need something stronger than wine.
Walking into the kitchen, I grab a glass and I pour the rum, filling the cup. I take a sip and I hiss as the liquid touches the back of my mouth.
After two full glasses of rum, my vision blurs and I hit the ground.
My eyes flutter open and I groan as my body aches. It feels like I was on the floor for just seconds, but when I stand up and look at my window, it's dark outside.
Did I...fall asleep?
Ugh.
That's what spending thirteen hours at the office does to you.
God, I need some rest.
Slowly walking to my bedroom, I get in my bed and I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
***
My blaring alarm wakes me up from my sweet slumber.
Oh God, why do I have to work?
Reluctantly, I get out of bed and I head to my shower. I take a quick bath and then I get dressed. I'm wearing a black and white Chanel skirt suit. I pair the outfit with a pair of white Louboutins. I go full glam on my makeup because it's my birthday, I'm tryna look good today.
Andrè, my chauffeur, texts me saying he is downstairs. I grab my purse and I head out the door.
I hired Andrè when I got to New York, I hadn't seen him since I went off to college five years ago. I needed a driver, so I called my mother and she gave me his number and now he drives me to work everyday.
"Good Morning, Miss Stone." He says and I roll my eyes at him.
"You just want to rile me up today, don't you." I tell him.
He lets out a laugh.
"Not really, I'm just teasing you." He says taking a box out of his jacket.
"Happy Birthday, Vee." He says, smiling at me as he hands me the pink box.
"Oh...you didn't have to-" I tell him, but he cuts me off.
"Shh, just take it." He says, cupping my cheek.
"Thank you." I say, touching his hand that's on my cheek.
"Wanna have dinner later?" He asks and I nod before I get into the car.
Okay, you're probably wondering why I'm flirting with my driver. It's because we may or may not have hooked up three times.
Don't judge me, okay.
I was horny, he was there.
Things happen.
And I'm a grown woman, I can do whatever I want.
We head to the office in silence as I type away on my phone. Andrè opens the door for me when we get there and I thank him. Walking towards the front door, the door man, Eric, opens the door.
"Good morning, Miss Stone." He says, tipping his hat.
"Morning Eric." I reply as I walk in.
"Miss Stone, you have a meeting at 9:30am with Mr. Lopez's wife." My assistant Naya, tells me as I walk into my office.
"I literally just got here, Naya." I tell her, placing my purse on my steel table.
"I know. I'm just informing you." She says, holding the binder to her chest.
I sit on my leather chair and I take my shoes off.
"Happy Birthday." She chirps.
"Thank you." I reply, giving her a forced smile.
I'm really tired.
"So, any birthday plans?" She asks me and I roll my eyes.
"Nope." I tell her. "Although, I'm having dinner with Andrè tonight." I tell her and she raises an eyebrow at me
"Ouu, are you guys finally going to make it official?" She asks and I share my head.
"No. I've told you before we're just hooking up. It's more of a friends with benefits type of thing." I tell her.
"Then why is he at your apartment seven days a week?" She asks, staring at me.
"Mind your business. Now please, can you leave me alone? I have work to do." I say, rolling my eyes at her.
"Okay, okay. I'll leave you to it." She tells me and I send her a tight smile.
She walks out of my office and I get to work.