The Toy Empress

Eden sat at the work desk sewing the last button into her prototype. She had worked late into the night to finish it going hours to create a product that would be sure to please her father.

Everything was custom made, hand stitched to perfection all to deliver the perfect prototype that would do her father proud.

"Finally," Eden said hoarsely, she swallowed, trying to moisten her throat. It had been a while since a glass of water had found its way down her throat.

Her exhaustion didn't deter her, nor did her rumbling stomach. Her large frame stood, backing out of the chair.

She lifted the teddy bear in the air, her eyes shining with pride as she looked upon the brown plush bear. Eden stroked the soft fur smiling to herself.

At twenty years old, she was on track to inherit her father's company Marshall Toys, a small company rapidly losing money due to her father's ways. He would spoil his favorite daughter Lily with gifts, often taking out of the company's bank accounts.

Lily had expressed numerous times that she had no interest in running the company so with a huff, Fredrick Marshall had no choice but to begrudgingly promise Eden the failing company.

Eden hugged the toy to his chest, containing her excitement. She could see a bright future for her company all they needed to do was go back to the basics. Plush toys were universally beloved right? Then they needed new suppliers and craftsmen.

The company didn't need to fail.

She walked over to her vision board, glancing at the plans she had for Marshall Toys, everything was outlined in the images glued to her board, she would make the types of toys that could be passed down through families for ages.

Eden nodded her head before exhaustion hit her like a ton of bricks. She barely had enough time to change out of her overalls before she collapsed on the fluffy bed in the corner of her room that doubled as a workshop.

"I can't wait to show this to Dad, he'll see he can trust me with this. I'll make him proud I swear it," She said drifting off.

----------

"Rinnnnnggggg" The sound of the alarm forced Eden out of bed with a start. She yelped, frantically searching for the clock before tapping the top of the alarm to stop it from defining her any further.

"Huh! What?" She muttered, wiping the drool from her mouth and tossing the blankets over herself to rush and shower.

It was six am, the only time she would be able to catch her father before he left for work.

Fredrick Marshall rarely spent any time home unless it was to see his favourite daughter, Eden couldn't remember the last time the man sat down for dinner with her and her sister.

Not that Lily was any better. Eden couldn't remember the last time the brunette had spoken to her. Lily never had a kind word to say to her.

Eden heard the sound of the car starting, knowing that Ben the chauffeur was already anticipating her father's arrival.

"I have to hurry," Eden said, grabbing the bear as gently as she could and running out of the door in her overalls.

Her feet drummed down the stairs as she raced to meet her father just as the maid opened the door.

"Dad wait,"

"Eden I haven't the time for any nonsense this morning," he said without looking back at her, a maid handed him his hat which he placed swiftly at the top of his head.

"I-I have a new prototype to show you, it's a spin on a classic," Eden said with a weak smile, "You always say how we sometimes have to go back to our roots,"

Eden took a hesitant step forward as she noticed the man was in less of a hurry. She held the bear close to her heart and approached him.

"Hand stitched with fabric imported for Atresia to give the look of real fur but without the itchiness so many children complain about, I added a touch of buttons but of course those could be-"

Eden didn't get to finish before her father spun around and grabbed the bear out of her hands.

"Imported from Atresia? Are you stupid? Do you think Marshall Toys has that kind of money?"

"That's the thing Father, we have so much access to this fabric because it's cheap, no need to worry about the cost, and with the small quantity for our pocket sized-"

Mr. Marshall threw the bear in her face, blind siding her as the fabric bumped against her nose painfully, she scrambled to catch it.

"Now you've gone and made me late with your idiotic ideas, you'll get your turn to run the place soon! Let's hope you don't run it to the ground," he said.

"Yes Dad," Eden said fighting back the tears welling up in her eyes.

Her father looked her up and down scoffing.

"You look like a pig, why can't you be more like your sister? Trim, elegant, such a shame she doesn't want to run the company, she might have better ideas too," Frederick Marshall said shaking his head and storming out the door.

It closed with a slam, the maids stared awkwardly at her unable to speak on the situation they had just witnessed.

"May we offer you breakfast Miss Marshall?" one of the kinder maids asked in a gentle tone.

"Of course, that piggy could probably eat as much as ten men right now," A voice said behind them. The sound of expensive heels clicking down the aged wooden stairs told Eden all she needed to know about the newcomer.

She faced Lily with teary eyes, her father's precious angel.

Lily was tall and slender with the body of a model and a full head of luscious brunette locks that fell to her back in soft waves. She was dressed in a flattering yellow top and brand name pencil skirt that hugged her figure just right.

Eden exhaled sadly.

"Good Morning Lily,"