she devil

Prologue

The car is black and sleek. Just like the name jaguar. The speed resembles the animal too. It's cold inside, the cool air trickles my bare skin like a light breeze does to a dry leaf. Why dry leaf? I'll get to it later. The seats are quite comfortable but I still prefer my Aston martin DB11. The windows are closed which is good. I hate busking in the breeze. The "DEVIL DEVIL" by MILCK is playing, the sound of it filling the space in the car. I can smell the leather around me. Must've cost a fortune. And it's brand new. The driver must be sweating, my mother becomes a monster when it comes to her cars. I get that from her, too. I love my cars too much. The keyword being cars. But why am I observing all that? Firstly, that's what dead silence makes you do. Observe. Alert. Secondly, always being on guard has become my nature the past year. Can't take a chance to relax in this world. Extreme fear turns a person into a numb and emotionless state. Everyone, at some point in their life, experiences this briefly. Only a few suffer the aftermath of this mental disturbance and I am one of them.

I am fifteen minutes away from facing the reality I've been hiding from. But no more hiding. There is a strong feeling that I might regret ever coming back, but that's the old me. This time, I will face it. I will fight for it. I will not be chased off. Not that I was chased off by anyone, to begin with. It was myself that I couldn't bear. But now, I am stronger, fiercer, and more the person that will never give up on.

The roads are long, covered with thick forest on both sides, bringing back memories that I wish to avoid. I can see the town's entrance board coming up on the right side. I straighten my back and adjust myself in the seat. Putting on a fake smile, I am ready to face my reality.

***

In front of me is the three-level massive mansion that I call home. The circular pathway for cars with the fountain in the middle is common but the statue isn't. It is a giant statue of a demon and fairy in a loving embrace. Someone definitely had a sense of humor. Considering I've had this piece of rock in front of my home for more than 18 years, I have never really observed it. Now that I am looking at it specifically, it does seem eerie. Justifiably so. The huge cast iron double gates in the front of our driveway close behind me, leaving me no choice but go around the fountain and towards the entrance of the mansion. The new oak door in the front was installed exactly 11 months ago. Right at my father's funeral. My mother's into baroque-style furniture. So, the door was imported from Europe and was designed by Ingrid Garcia. She's supposed to be some new and talented furniture designer. Details like this are usually unnoticeable for outsiders but not to me. Every penny that's being spent by the Akhtar industries is my business. A year ago, people didn't understand why a 16-year-old would take responsibility for a company that's worth billions. When an heir turns eighteen, he will slowly learn to take over the business. It's because the elders don't want us to explore any other career options beyond that. Getting a degree in business management is just an additional requirement because they'll already be halfway through with home tutoring. But it's the heiress that has it tough, trying to meet up the expectations of the narrow-minded businessmen. That is the reason many people have been against me becoming the company's spearhead. I agree with them. I won't be the front. That would potentially make me scapegoat and I... am a wolf.

"Ms. Akhtar, Mrs. Akhtar is waiting for you in the study." our butler, Mr. Jha says, pulling me out of my daze. He has been our butler for the past decade. He's seen too many things in this household for us to let him leave and yet, surprisingly, he stayed professional. I respect him for that. I move inside the house and go straight to the study. After all, mother dearest is waiting.

As soon as I enter the study, I smell that unusually heavy Italian perfume of my mother's. She doesn't like change. I guess that's why she never got a divorce when she apparently hated her married life.