Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Marietta P.O.V

There was silence, pure silence, and no one to be seen either. I wonder where everyone left. Wait...How did I come here? I was standing at the entrance of the castle, in the crystal world.

The weather was not pleasant at all. Dark-reddish clouds were covering the sky and looked like there was going to be a storm soon. Without any reason, my heart started to pump fast, with every step I took towards the castle.

I stepped inside and looked at my reflection in the glass mirror wall. I was wearing a white shimmering long gown and there was a crystal tiara on my head. I touched the tiara when suddenly all the lights went off and a sharp spark of light lightened up my surroundings followed by a loud sound of thunder. I quivered.

I look around scarcely when in the light of thunder, I saw a girl with a horn on her forehead unconsciously lying on the floor, near her the guy who bought me here last time, was unconscious. I looked at them with widen eyes, too perplexed to understand anything.

I stepped in their direction when my eyes met the rest of the unconscious figures lying on the floor.

"Mike! Snow! Lilly! Peter! Open your eyes. What happened here?" I found myself saying these words. While tears were streaming down my cheeks. Their unconscious bodies were making my body cold and the darkness of that place was enough to make me shivered.

The only sought of light was the light coming from clouds, the light of thunder. I hardly controlled my panicking state.

I heard a loud laugh of someone, a pure wicked laugh followed by these words, "Now it's your turn."

A wicked voice reached my eardrums and without thinking anything, I ran out of the castle. But ended up in darkness.

The darkness, whom I used to afraid since as far as I remembered. I ran and ran but again reached nowhere. I panicked and fastened my speed.

"No! No! No! No! I can't lose hope. I'm the light. I am hope." I mumbled to myself, running madly in the darkness.

I stumbled on my foot and was crushed on the cold floor. A sharp pain aroused under my chin. Suddenly, I heard a sound. That mysterious sound of that magical rhythm. I froze at my spot and for the first time, I found it relaxing. It replaced my panic into calmness.

In the darkness, I close my eyes and nothing particular changed. It was still dark, but I felt an anonymous calmness in the rhythm. I was about to lose myself in the calmness when I heard a loud and painful feminine screamed.

I shot my eyes open only to found myself in my room. I immediately shifted in a sitting position.

Was it....... Was it a NIGHTMARE????

It was a lot different than what I used to see. I touched my face, it was as cold as ice and covered in cold sweat drops. My eyes shifted towards the clock and it showed 7:00 am. It was a damn scary nightmare. My heart was beating so hard as if, it would come out of my rib cage.

I sat there for a moment to calm myself then went to the washroom, opened the tap, and splashed water on my face. The water didn't feel on my skin first but after some time, it started to feel. I continuously splashed water on my face.

Why? Why did these strange things were happening to me? Now, I knew one thing for sure...

I closed the tap and looked at my reflection in the mirror. It showed a face with confused-wide blue eyes, confused face expression and skin look pale with terror but still pretty beautiful. I smiled at myself.

I would eventually find out about every mystery, every meaning behind my dreams. Yes, they were not nightmares but more than a dream. It felt like a kind of vision or a hidden message to me. But what it could be? Or was I overthinking?

'Someday everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.'

Once I read it on Pinterest. But now I truly understood its original meaning. This was all happening for a reason and I had to wait to let that reason find me. And I knew when I will find it, all the scattered pieces will come to their right place telling the tale on their own.

I just had to wait...

'But who knows.......

That wait is going to be end soon.'

***********

I looked at myself for the last time in the mirror before trudging out of my room towards the garage. I had worn a business casual dress consisted of a white button-down shirt with a black blazer and skin-colored jeans while matching colored neck-wear with it. My brown shoulder-length hairs were falling freely on my shoulders in their naturals waves.

I had already asked Anna to get my car ready. So, I trudged straight towards my car; a black BMW, and hopped inside it. I revived the engine and began the journey towards the biggest change in my life.

Today was going to be a big day. Because for the first time and of course, officially, I was going to enter the Amino business. Well, I didn't talk with Daddy about it.

I decided to directly talk with him in the office because in that way, maybe he won't have any other option but to listen to me and accept it. But still, he could do anything, after all, he was Max Amino.

Last night, when I went back to my room. Liam was already sitting there. Why? Because he wanted to talk with me and indirectly, he threatened me. So that I could vanish the thought of joining business and company and reconsider my decision.

I wondered how could he know about what was I up to? When I did not even clearly talk with Mom about this...

He actually managed to emotionally blackmailed me like... if I joined the company maybe Caro didn't like that and then it would become more difficult to settle my relation with her. He had a point but I didn't have any other option. I had to interfere in work to get the power, and right now this was my first priority, to give my brother and the other innocent souls justice. I sighed.

I stopped at the entrance of the huge white twisted interior building. I hopped out of the car with nervousness and excitement, actually kind of mix-up feelings. A guard came to me and greeted, "Good morning Ma'am."

I passed him a smile. He took the car keys from me and left to park the car in the ground floor parking area. I came here once or twice before, being a major shareholder (once I was) everyone knew me.

I inhaled deeply, remembering that once upon a time I was a shareholder and I never appreciate it. Now, I didn't have any share but I wanted them back. How could time change so quickly changing our thoughts, priorities, and preferences?

Embracing myself, I took my first step towards the entrance. I was feeling goosebumps all over me and my heartbeat was very fast, the mix-up feeling of excitement and nervousness was doing something in my stomach.

I stepped inside and the environment had the strong essence of work and work. Everyone looked so busy and occupied with their work. Glancing around for a moment, I trudged towards the elevator.

The building was colored in whole white, from interior to furniture everything was white and neatly clean. The only color things were portraits, maps, and other masterpieces of arts.

My shoes were making the sound of click-clack on the clean white marble floor. Many unknown faces noticed me and glanced at me with the look 'What-the-hell-is-she-doing-here?'

Ignoring their stares and glances, I walked with pride towards my direction. I released a breath of relief once I was inside the elevator. Oh, God! This was not going to be easy.....

I took a deep breath at the same time the elevator door opened with a ding. At that moment, I forgot about everything and just remember why I was here?

I walked out as Lisa looked at me. She was standing near the receptionist's desk. This floor consisted of a Chairman cabin and main head cabins like Caro, Mom, Brett, and others. The interior of this floor was as same as the whole building.

Lisa was the manager of this whole building include all floors and departments. She was also Daddy's secretary.

I walked towards her and she looked at me confused, "Princess, what are you doing here?" She asked in a stern and professional cold voice.

'Your voice should be authoritative that no one dares to object at your opinion or command.' Bre's voice echoed in my head.

"Is Mr. Chairman inside? I want to meet him." I said in a cold tone with a straight face but I was shaking internally.

'Beware from that Lisa. Apparently, she is the one who maintains Sir meetings and appointment system but she is loyal to Caro too. And if she said 'No' to someone she never let that person meet Sir.' Bre told me that too.

"Sorry, but No! You can't meet him right now. And..... you are not a shareholder anymore. So, you are not supposed to meet him here." She said with a smirk. She had power now and I would have soon. Power actually gave people the guts to rule on other people's preferences. That damn power......

'Don't worry, Bre. I know she will refuse me but she doesn't know me. I am Marietta Amino.' That was what I said to Bre.

"Do you think I don't know that?" I passed her a smile and walked past her.

"Princess! Where are you going? Princess! Wait!" She marched behind me.

I knocked three times on the door before directly opened it, ignoring Lisa's questions and glares. I know I was rude but today I would not go empty-handed, I had to conclude.

Daddy was sitting on his head chair and engaged in reading a file with glasses on the bridge of his nose. The look and frowned on his face told me that he didn't appreciate my presence here at all.

Caro was also here, she was looking pretty and perfect as always in that green bodycon dress and her long brown hair tied in a tight ponytail. She looked at me with a threatening gaze and then at Lisa, who just entered inside.

"What are you doing here?" She asked to no one in particular.

"I'm sorry. I told her that you're busy but she......" Lisa said and I looked at her confused. When did she say Daddy was busy?

Alright. Alright, if that so then I will play along with them.

"I want to talk with you." I said, looking at Daddy.

He looked at me, closed the file, put the glasses off, leaned back on the chair, and spoke, "And...it can't wait?"

"No." I shrugged. When was the last time we talk with each other? It had been so long that I didn't even remember.

"Go ahead. I'm listening." He said. I looked at Lisa, who was observing my every move. Then at Caro, who was staring at me, and trust me if looks could kill I would be dead by now.

"Alone," I added. My word was hard but my voice was soft.

Daddy looked at Caro and Lisa, silently telling them to go. They both left not before praising me with glares. Then he gestured me to sit.

"What's the matter with you today?" He asked in a bit warm fatherly manner. But the look on his face was straight without any emotions.

I shifted in my position, gathered all courage, trying my best not to crack my voice when I said, "I want my shares back."

He looked at me in a way to continue whatever I want to say.

"I have equal rights in everything. I am Marietta Amino, the younger heir of this business, and as an Amino that is my right. I want to join the business. I want to do a fair competition for the chairman seat of Aminos." I said.

"Give me my shares back. Then wait and see who deserved to be the next chairman of Amino, Me or Caro." I said with a determined voice.

Well, I didn't mean to rule Amino, I just wanted to get my shares back but these words automatically came out of my mouth and the strange thing was, I mean them.

He looked lost in his own world. There were no signs of any emotions, the so-called business perfect face. I was unable to guess his reactions and internal thoughts but maybe he was shocked. Maybe he didn't expect something like that from me.

His nonstop silence made me internally shook while my heart was beating in the urge to jump out. But externally, I remained calm.

He came out of his trance, moved further towards the table and he rested both hands on it in a crisscrossed way, and finally spoke, "I have a condition."

I looked at him confused. CONDITION!!! Wait. Wait. Wait. Did that mean?

"If you complete it. Then I will think about it." He added. I looked at him with surprise and grinned. It was yes indirectly. I only had to complete his condition at any cost.

"What is it?" I asked, hiding my excitement and happiness.

He picked the file which he was reading before my arrival. He gestured it towards me and I took it.

"Darren Wilson. I want his signature on it." He said, smiling for the first time, and added, "You only have three days."

I creased my brows. I should have known it wouldn't go easy. That smile surely meant something. What kind of condition was that? An autograph?

I looked at the black file. Okay, I hope it would not happen to be much difficult. I mean....... Only his signature, right?

But...Who was this Darren Wilson?

I looked back at Daddy and nodded.

"Alright. It's a deal then."