009 The Scorned Heiress (1)

A silence passed between them, Eden bit her lip watching Rose's face to see what the woman would say or do. Only after a moment, the biggest smile she had ever seen split Rose's face.

"That's the kind of audacity I love to see," Rose said. "When? How? Have you told your father?"

"Uhhh, no not yet and I don't think I intend to tell him, he'll just have to watch me do it without him. Besides I don't need that kind of negativity in my ear," Eden said.

Rose had a look of pride on her face.

"I believe in you Eden. When you're ready to be incorporated, just let me know," Rose said.

"I'm going to start how my Great Grand father started, all by himself, all hand made," Eden explained. "I wanted to initiate a budget for the company's advertising but seems I can't do that now,"

"Well there is a bright side to all this you know," Rose said.

"Yeah? What's that?"

"You get to make it on your own and keep all your ideas, we all know Frederick would have taken credit for all those ideas,"

"You're right, Rose and we both know he would never have approved anything,"

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After seeing the remaining guests off, Eden tumbled her heels off and stumbled up to her bedroom. Her feet was sore and right now she needed to sleep and think up a plan for the next day and for the rest of her life.

"Good job everyone, the retirement party was spectacular," Eden said to the staff, who waited for her. The Marshall Estate had four young maids, head Maid Gertrude, William the butler, Ben the chauffeur, Agnes the gardener.

"It was our pleasure, Miss Eden," one of the young maids said. They exchanged looks with each other before speaking. "We are so sorry you didn't get your wish. We know you must be devastated,"

Eden nodded and gave them a tired smile.

"Where there is a will there is a way my friend, and I intend to make a way," She said, her eyes sparkled with determination. "Don't worry about me,"

"We trust you, Miss Eden," William said with a bow. "Success is your birthright,"

"Thank you William, thank you all for believing in me,"

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Now that her life long ambition of owning Marshall Toys was suddenly crushed, it was up to her to make her own dreams a success.

"To believe this happened all in one night I feel like it's been a week," Eden said walking into her room with her heels in her hand.

She closed the door to her room, then turned around only to find Lily standing at her vision board just behind her work shop. Eden squinted, unsure if the wine and champagne were getting to her. But she had only had a glass or two.

Lily had always refused to step foot in her sister's room, calling it dirty and beneath her, what could have possibly brought her in here now?

"Lily?" Eden called, placing her shoes in a nearby rack as she walked up to meet her sister by the vision board.

"Are you alright?"

"You put a lot of thought into this didn't you?" Lily said contemplatively, manicured nails traced the outline of a teddy bear Eden had taped to the board after looking for inspiration on her latest prototype.

Eden didn't understand what had her sister so serious, the girl's green eyes were focused on Eden's plans for the company, plans that would never come to fruition now that Lily was at the top.

Eden shrugged and headed over to her bed to rest, her feet were killing her.

"I mean yes, this had been my dream for years Lily," Eden said sitting on her bed to massage her feet.

Lily shrugged.

"Well since you don't need it anymore I'll be taking it right?" The brunette smiled.

"Uhhh when did I say you could do that?" Eden rebutted, uncrossing her legs in sudden annoyance. She honestly didn't have the time to deal with Lily so soon this evening and the other girl had no capacity for a shred of self awareness.

"I mean you don't own the company, I do so…" Lily said still smiling.

"Do you even understand what's on that board? Do you even know what it is," Eden's voice was calm but underneath it was an edge.

Lily paused, seeing Eden eyebrows had risen in inquiry. No she didn't understand the plans, they were just pictures and words Eden had taped to a cork board. But she didn't want to admit that.

Seeing Eden happy for her made her fume, it was only right that she took some more from her elder sister since she didn't mind.

"What's your problem, dad said Marshall Toy's was mine now,"

Eden only smiled at Lily's whiny voice. Lily was only a year younger but had the emotional maturity of a teenager.

"Yes it is, so why don't you come up with your own vision? Why do you need my ideas? The same ideas he said weren't good enough," Eden maintained her calm tone, knowing even if the girl took the cork board off the wall all she would do was copy the ideas of other toy makers potentially opening Marshall Toys up to a law suit.

Eden knew her plans by heart and could remake her vision board at any time, but that didn't mean she would let her take the visual aid she had used all while planning.

She had hoped Lily would have an iota of sense in her little head, but it seemed that wouldn't be the case.

"I don't have to do that when you've already done that though," Lily said taking out her brand new smartphone to post something on social media about her inheritance.

Eden gave a sad smile and shook her head.

'What does dad even see in you?' Eden thought, shaking her head in utter defeat as she continued to rub her aching feet.

"What's wrong with you? You said you were going to help me weren't you?" Lily said. "I'm no good at this stuff,"

"Then ask yourself what you're doing running a company?"

"I knew it you're just jealous of me," Lily said in a triumphant voice.

"There would have to be something to be jealous of in that regard," Eden said looking her sister up and down whilst wondering what she had ever compared herself to.