Princezone (TRS #1)

Amanda Estelle:

I looked out the window to see the gloomy sky knowing that a heavy rain will come sooner or later. My father called me and I quickly walked into the living room to see what he's up to.

"Mandy, do you need to buy school supplies?" my dad asked as he put his brush down to the ground.

"No, I don't need anything." I smiled at him as I took a chair and sat beside him looking at his beautiful painting.

"So...what's the meaning of this?" I asked. He painted a little girl holding a sunflower on her hands and she was looking at the sky full of stars.

"It's you...” He turned to me, smiling widely as he touched my nose.

"Me?" I pointed at myself and he nodded.

"It was you when you were 4, before your mom passed away." It's true. My mom passed away because of cancer and my dad had to raise me alone. He always told me that I'm the best thing in his life besides my mom. He loves my mom so dearly that he swore that he wouldn’t get married again.

"All of your paintings are all about me, Father." I chuckled and he smiled nodding.

"Are you sure that you don't need anything?"

"No, I'm okay."

"Are you excited for tomorrow? This will be your last year though," he said as he took his new brush from the ground.

"Yeah, I need to think about what I want to do in the future too," I said with no energy. He chuckled and he turned to me fully.

"You don't need to rush, Amanda. Take it slow...and besides, as long as you're happy, it's enough." My dad actually came from a really rich family. His family was one of the richest families in the UK, but his father disowned him for not wanting to take the family business.

My father has always loved painting and he decided to pursue his dream by leaving his wealth. Two years after that, he met mom and they got married right away. My mom was a ballerina and she was the one who taught me ballet. I love dancing and painting. I got those skills from my parents, but not only that, I'm also interested in the business world.

I never told my dad about it because I was so scared that he will get sad remembering his past. I also have been saving up so much money to go to college by working as a math tutor in my neighborhood. I'm quite smart, to be honest, and I love teaching children because they're so cute.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day, not only it's my first day as a senior, but I can't wait to see my crush, Jason.

"Here...go buy your favorite bread." Suddenly my father gave me ten pounds. I looked at him confused, but I took the money.

"Do you want anything?" I asked.

"The usual," he said and I nodded. I took my phone and walked out from the house. I was walking towards the bakery two blocks away from my house as I looked up to the gloomy sky.

"Ms. Estelle." I stopped and I looked down to see two bodyguards standing in front of me. I gulped nervously and they gestured me to get into the car.

"I'm sorry, I think you got the wrong person," I said politely and before I get to walk pass them, an old man got out of the car and my eyes widened. He gestured to me to get into the car and I obeyed him right away.

It's my grandfather, Elliot Estelle.

"Hello Amanda, how are you?" he asked as the door closed. I didn’t dare to look at him; I kept looking at the ground.

"I'm doing okay and my father is doing okay as well, Mr. Estelle. I hope you're not trying to—”

"I'm not here to see Victor. I'm here to see you," he said and that made me turn to him.

"Why? Why do you want to see me?" I asked nervously.

"Where are you planning to go after you finish high school?" he asked in a serious tone. I guess this is what my father experienced back in the day.

"Why do you want to know? I'm pretty sure you won't like it like you did to my father," I said completely not scared of him after what he did to my father.

"I'm not getting any younger, Amanda. I need to know what your future will be," he said and I sighed.

"I don't know. I still need time to think about it," I lied because I don't want him to know what I want to do in the future.

"I know you're looking for a scholarship to go to CASS or London Business School." My eyes widened and I was mad knowing that he's spying on me now. My hand reached for the door, but he stopped me.

"Let me help you," he said and I turned to him.

"I don't need your help. You disowned my father, so it means you disowned me too. I know that I have Estelle as my last name, but it doesn't mean that I'm your granddaughter," I said coldly and he sighed.

"I understand how you feel about me, but I'm not getting any younger, Amanda. I want to pay for your college and then you can work at the company," he said as he held my hand, but I shook my hand.

"I don't need your money or your company, Mr. Estelle. I will find my own way to get into that school," I said and he let my hand go.

"Very well. Tell me what you want so you can let me help you."

"I hope you can fix your relationship with my father. If you do, maybe I'll reconsider your offer," I said and his eyes widened. I know he wouldn’t reconcile with my father soon or later. Elliot Estelle is stubborn and he has a hard time forgiving his son.

"I hope you won't spy on me again. You're making our relationship worse," I said and I got out of the car.

I walked towards the bakery to buy some bread and went straight back home.

Victor Estelle:

I put my brush down and walked towards the door. I opened the door hoping that it will be one of the neighbors, but it turned out to be my father, Elliot Estelle, who disowned me 24 years ago.

"What are you doing here?" I was completely not welcome to his sudden visit.

"We should talk inside. I don't want us to make a scene in this poor neighborhood." I let him and his two bodyguards in and prepared tea for them. I brought the teacups into the living room and put it on the table. My father looked at my paintings and then he proceeded to sit down.

"Do you know that your daughter was trying to apply for a scholarship in CASS and London Business School?" my father asked and that surprised me. Amanda wanted to go to a business school? I looked at my father coldly and he let out a dry laugh.

"I'm guessing she didn't tell you about it. I can say that...she has my blood, Victor," he said, smirking proudly.

"Even if she does go to one of the two, I bet she won't take over your business," I said confidently and his face darkens.

"I'm here not to have a debate with you, Victor."

"But it looks like you come here for it."

"I'm willing to pay her school fees so she doesn't need to work or go crazy to get a scholarship."

"Why don't you tell her about it yourself?" I raised my eyebrows and he leaned forward to reach for his cup of tea.

"I did, but you know that she got your temper, so that's why I decided to go straight to you. I want you to cooperate. I know you want to send her to the best school but...” He looked around the house, "you've got not money."

"It's for her own future, but she has to take over the Estelle company once she graduates," he added and I shook my head.

"No thanks...but I'm sure we can find another way to go into that school. I don't want my daughter to be involved in your games," I hissed coldly and he sighed. He sat up straight and he looked at me seriously.

"I'm not getting any younger, Victor. I'm not as healthy as you think I am. Ever since you decided to pursue your stupid dreams, I'm still busy working hard to continue that company."

"And now you want to use my daughter to continue your legacy?"

"She's been living like this and she doesn't deserve it. She can have anything in life if she comes back to where she originally belonged." He smiled and I looked down to the ground thinking about it. She does deserve to be happy instead of stuck being with me in this small and old house.

"She will inherit all of my money, property, company and even houses all over Europe as long as she comes back to where she belongs."

"She's turning 18 and it's not my choice to decide for her. Let her decide for herself," I said because at the end of the day, it's her life and I can't decide everything for her.

"Well...I guess we have to wait for her then."

"She will come back from school in an hour," I said as I checked the time.

"So...we'll wait," he said and I nodded. I got up from my seat and decided to go painting again. I don't care if my father is watching me paint; I love painting because it makes me happy. I love to express my feelings through it.

"You can comeback too...if you want," my father suddenly said out of the blue. I turned to him and I saw him giving me a check on the table.

"I don't need that," I said and he turned to me.

"I have cancer, Victor. I'm dying...” I dropped my brush and my heart was pounding to fast. I never hated my father, I just hate his character. He's not the best father figure either. That's why I don't want to be like him to Amanda.

"The doctor said that I only have 2-3 years to live and I don't want to waste any of it. I started to find Amanda first and that's when my PI told me that she was looking for a scholarship." I got up from my seat and sat back on the sofa facing him.

"I know it's selfish to say this, but I want you and Amanda back home. Come back and let's just forget everything that happened in the past," he said, and I can clearly see the pain and sadness in his eyes. That explains why he's turning bald; I bet he went to a lot of chemo to heal his cancer.

I still love my dad even though I hate him for disowning me. He was just disappointed at me because I was his only child and I can't even continue what he had work hard on for decades.

"Instead of us going there, how about you live here with us," I said and his eyes widened.

"This is an old house...you can live in the mansion. We have maids and Amanda can have the—”

"Live with us. I'll take care of you," I said and my father turned silent.

"Father, I'm back and I brought y—” Amanda stopped whatever she was trying to say when she saw her grandfather.

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me t—”

"Starting from tomorrow, he will live with us," I said and Amanda's eyes widened. She dropped her plastic bag and she looked at her grandfather suspiciously.

"Why? You lost all your money now?"

"Amanda!" I burst and she turned to me.

"What? He disowned you and he tried to take you away from me. Why are you taking his side?"

"Your grandfather has cancer." I told her the truth and her face changed that second.

"What?" She didn't see that coming.

"And you're going to CASS or London Business School too," I said and she turned to me in horror.

"He told you that? Father, I can expla—”

"At least, your grandfather will die happily knowing you will take over that company," I said cutting her again.

"Father...”

"Thank you," I heard my father say and I turned to him. He smiled to me and then he turned to Amanda.

"You'll be a great businesswoman, Amanda."