Preface

Queens, New York.

Aurora's POV

I forced my eyes to open to the sound of my stepsister crying and taking my name, and I rubbed my eyes and lifted my head from the table, and looked around me. My body shrieked in fear realizing I am in the kitchen and instead of cooking, I am sleeping.

"Aurora, where are you?" My stepmother stormed into the kitchen. I immediately stood and cleaned my dress. I don't understand how I fell asleep while cooking? And what is going on? Why does Mrs. Castro seem indignant and Maze's face is pale? Do they know I was sleeping? But how? They don't even step into the kitchen until they don't want food.

"So, here is you, relaxing like a queen," Mrs. Castro further said.

I lifted my face and twisted my lips. My eyes dilated seeing my stepsister tear-stained face and frantic face of Mrs. Castro.

"What happened, mom? And Maze, what is wrong with your face?" I asked with concern and some suspicion.

Without giving me any heed, Mrs. Castro grabbed my hand and twisted it.

"I am sorry. I don't know how my eyes got closed but don't worry, I will complete cooking within 15 minutes," I hissed in pain and, apologizing, looked at them thinking mom was angry because of my tardiness. But little did I know the matter was severe.

"Why did you do it?" Mrs. Castro said, throwing a torn red dress at my face. I attempted to recall whose dress is this and why this beautiful dress is in this condition.

"Maze, what happened to this dress? You brought this one yesterday only," I immediately said, recalling this is Maze's dress which she purchased yesterday. She was so happy with her choice that she kept flaunting before her.

"Why did you tear this?" Mrs. Castro screamed with disgruntled eyes. It shocked me when I heard her words.

"Mom, it wasn't me. Please, trust me. I wasn't even there," I stared at Mrs. Castro with moist eyes. She glared at me, then shifted her gaze to my sister who was there with innocence prevailed on her face and tears in her eyes.

"I have never seen a more shameless person than you. How could you spoil your sister's dress? Now tell me, what would she wear at her farewell party?" Mrs. Castro yelled, slapping me again. I stumbled across the wall and got hit in my forehead.

"You need to trust me. I didn't even go to her room, I was busy with my studies and once I finished it, I came to the kitchen to prepare breakfast," I stammered, touching my blood and crying between my hiccups but Mrs. Castro didn't even melt. Her eyes blazed a fire, I felt like burning in it. Now, I didn't even feel like saying anything in my defense as I know she will not trust me. As usual, she will choose her daughter, Maze.

"What do you mean by your fake statement? Do you mean to say my daughter is lying?" Mrs. Castro asked.

"Please Maze, be honest with mom. You know I don't even go to your room without your permission," I said and hopefully looked at Maze, but her words blew my mind and infuriated Mrs. Castro.

"Why are you lying, Aurora? I have seen you coming out of my room. You had scissors in your hand. And you were smirking inwardly. I couldn't understand anything at that moment but when I went inside my heart shattered," Maze said with teary glimmering eyes.

"If you liked that dress, I would have given it to you. What was the need to destroy that? Don't you know how much I liked it? And how much did it cost? It was worth 1800 dollars," Maze asked, sadly looking at Mrs. Castro.

I don't know what answer Mrs. Castro would give to Maze but I am sure that I am going to face her wrath.

I am sure my dream of attending college's farewell is over.

Boston, New York.

Asher's POV

I tapped my feet against the car's floorboard and gave a disdainful look to my driver while waiting impatiently in the car. But slowly my patience was breaking and a flame was burning in my chest. I felt like burning everything in the flame.

"How many more minutes?" I screamed, grimacing at my driver who stood outside with a tensed face.

He gulped his saliva and looked towards the mechanic and whispered something.

"Some more minutes," the driver said in a meek tone.

"Within 5 minutes, I want this car to move. If this didn't happen, you and that scoundrel mechanic would lose your job. Perhaps he would lose his life too," I screamed.

As it has been 15 minutes, my car didn't move an inch. So, I am getting aggravated. This all is my outsmart driver's fault. Neither he sent this car for servicing nor he brought another car.

And because of him, I am not only getting mad but also late for my board meeting. All the directors might be waiting for me.

Above this, my outsmart assistant is not even picking my call. Aghh! I don't know what I should do with these idiots? Where should I bang these fools' heads?

No! I am neither worried about them nor those directors but I am getting furious because I have a press conference later. And there I can't be late as I have to clear something there.

I again glanced at my watch and then at the driver who was standing near the machinist. I thought to go outside and check out what was going on but before I could have done anything, my driver came towards me with a calm face.

"Sir, it's finished," my driver said.

"Woah! So soon," I sarcastically said, taking out my purse and extending some dollars to him further saying, "Give it to him, and from now onwards, I won't like to have such a slow mechanic around my car."

He hummed and moved from there. I relaxed my head in the car's passenger seat and closed my eyes to calm myself. So, I couldn't burst on anyone.

But it seemed someone wanted to bring fire on himself. My mobile rang, I looked at the screen and clenched my jaws seeing Alex's name flashing over the screen. Alex is one of the board member's subordinates.

Well, not someone but he is the assistant of Mrs. Janet Deanna. Janet was my assistant and girlfriend but she ditched me and married some old guy who was more successful than me at that time. Not only this, she even sold some of my company shares. Such a pathetic person.

But now her husband is struggling to save his company whereas I am enjoying the success. So, it's always nice to see her frustrated face.

But yes, I get irked with her voice as she tries to seduce me and get me on her bed. I guess now she understood who the real man was and along with her I also understood she is not more than a sex doll. Indeed, she was good. However, I don't touch a married woman, it's against my ethics.

Yeah, I might be casanova but I also have some ideology.

"Sir, we reached," my driver said, breaking my trances. I hummed and disembarked the car.

But recalling something, I turned towards my car and found my driver's havoc sighing in relief. I walked towards him and extended my hand saying, "Keys."

His face got pale, and he immediately fell to his knees.

Yes, I am a typical CEO of the Dash company who doesn't forget or forgive anything or anyone.

To be continued.