Tell Me A Secret

Chapter 1: Unveiling Truths

"AVERY get up I have a meeting this morning and you have to be there"

I open my eyes to my dad ripping open the blackout blinds and my pink fuzzy blanket missing off my body. I look over to my nightstand at my alarm clock to read 4:00 am. I turn over to my back to slap my hand on my head and stare at my dad coming over to grab my hand.

"Dad why do you need me to go with you?" I say while hanging on to my sheets for dear life.

"You are going to start working there very soon, you need to understand the works of my business" he says while he pulls me up out of my bed. I slowly get up to my feet and hug him as he is my only parent left.

"I made you breakfast downstairs hunny, be ready in an hour" He says while giving me a kiss on my forehead and heading for the door.

"Thank you Dad" I say out of kindness.

Why does he have to take me to this stupid meeting at work, I get that I have to work and take over the business at some point in my life but why now, when I am only 18 years old. My family is one of the most respected in this town. My dad's father started our publishing business in 1976, to have a new start in this town. Crawford City used to be a no good bum town. That soon changed when my family moved here in 1970 and decided to create one of the most successful businesses in this country, Highland Industries.

My grandpa has stories about when he first started our business because there was a gang that wanted to be apart of our industry. My grandpa wanted to turn this town into something big, he had so many ideas. He soon settled on a publishing business so the town can read about what's going on in the world and in the town. He started to construct a skyscaper and no matter the cost he wanted it to be huge. While my grandpa was hiring people the leader of the gang wanted to share an ownership with him. My grandpa refused to help them and let them help us and so they got infuriated. They started destroying our town and causing ruckus just so my grandpa could come to terms with the gang. The gang was called the Dragons and they are still around today, but my grandpa made a deal that we never speak of that drove them to darkness. Since then the town is at peace and we haven't heard from them since then. The town is a gated and guarded city because of the gang. My dad has been a stickler for protection for this town because what if the gang came back. Also because my dad was in all of that trouble when he was little and had no protection.

Ever since my dad has been paranoid of the gang and all dangers. So he decided to hire some body guards for our family and the business. At my house alone we have about 4 body guards at different points in my house. I can barely go anywhere without someone with me. I usually only go to school by myself and that's all.

My grandpa later died when I was little and my dad took over the business. My mom never supported my dad going into the business but it is what he had to do. It is a family business and every business has its downside. My mom was a strong woman and she believed in me and my father. She was the best mom that I could ever have but she died a couple years ago due to sickness. It has been awful not having my mom with me, she was my best friend. My dad struggled with the loss of my mother, and the business shut down for a couple months, causing us to loose some money. My dad has been a great "mother" to me and he is super protective of me. But it isn't the same without my mom.

My mom worked at a local magazine publishing company in our town, but later hated it because they would not let her write what she wanted to write about. So my dad decided to let her work in a special department in Highland Industries. She was hesitant at first but soon she loved every bit about her job. I started in home school because of my dad, he didn't want me to get hurt while he wasn't there. So I always had a nanny with me age 5 all the way up to 12. My mom wanted me to get out and not live under a rock so she and my dad decided that I would attend Crawford Private School. It was a small school that consisted of about 500 kids and they typically were rich because their parents paid for everything. My parents never flaunted their money and my dad still till this day doesn't. I still attend this school and I have made a lot of friends because of it.