The Manipulators

Chapter 1 - Steele's P.o.V

Yet another day among these people, why must I? Why can't my father wise up? Why? I know my grandparents didn't want this life for me, but they were left with no other choice. If left in the hands of my father Sean Ashton, that witch of a mother would destroy our legacy and fortune in less than a year. Ugh! The struggle of an only child. As I drive from my family estate located in the Cascade Hills all I could do is brood over my disappointing parents.

"Good morning Steele! I hope you're prepared for today?", says my P.A. Aarielle over the car phone. This woman! How many times have I told her to address me as Mr. Ashton? "Aarielle, must you disobey me this early in the morning?", I snarled. "My apologies MR. ASHTON", she sighed. "And why must I be prepared? Don't I pay you to prepare for me? Or is it that you are tired of this job and wish to be relieved of your duties?", I spat into the phone. Silence. She's about to snap, that's why I liked her enough to hire her as my P.A. she's the only dosage of 'real' in my life. Nobody would dare make eye contact with me, let alone address me as casually as she did every time we spoke.

"Well excuse me! Then that means I'm fired?! We'll see who you get to work for you with that disagreeable personality and uncontrollable temper of yours!", she retorted. She was right; I was so unpleasant even my patrons winced away from me in fear of being mistreated when they unknowingly ran into me at the hotels. One time I was actually reported to a CSR stating that I was just too 'unpleasant looking'.

I'd known Aarielle from my college days, she'd been in the same faculty as me, and she often volunteered to be my partner for several assignments. It was this way for six years two Bachelor's Degrees later. She saw me as a 'friend' while I just saw her as the unlucky classmate. I'd been lost in thought for a few minutes before recognizing Aarielle's concerned voice beckoning me back to earth, "Steele, you know I don't mean that, I was just being me" she cooed. "Aarielle! What did I just say?!", I barked. "Ugh, enough of this", she responded sounding somewhat relieved.

"Is that all Aarielle?", I asked. "Oh no! I was referring to the issue of the mole at our head office in WoodBrook I mentioned to you last week", she stated. "I got an update from my trusty gossip monger laundry lady clan", she laughed, "Jake's planning to steal today's development presentation and proposal for the new hotel in Tobago", she explained. "What! How is that even going to benefit him? I've got the Tobago deal in the bag".

Jake you fucktard! And he had great potential, he was sure to be the manager of the Paris branch. Well, I'll have to show him what's what. "Based on my investigations I've uncovered that Palm's Inn is also interested in the Tobago location", "And get this, Jake's new wife is the first cousin of Palm's Inn C.E.O. Tristan Baine", she continued. "FUCK ME!", I growled.

"Steele you forceful brute, I'm not that type of girl", she fake chided. "Anything else I should be aware of?", I questioned. "Nope not yet, I'll keep you posted. Don't worry Steele we'll get this jackass", she confirmed. "Is that all Aarielle? If so please continue the preparations for this morning's presentation", I ordered. "Sigh, a little 'Thank you Aarielle' or even a 'good work Ms. Keel you're the best P.A. I've ever had'", she rambled on to herself. "Alright then I'll see you in twenty-five", she ended the call.

The drive to work hadn't gotten any better. If it wasn't scheming family members, it was incompetent, disloyal worker drama. Jake you bastard, when did you marry that Baine bitch? Jake was one of the few executive staff interested in improvement, he was a team player. I even started considering him as trustworthy. But people are the same everywhere; deceitful and only seeking personal gain.

Approaching the parking lot of the Port of Spain BonIs Hotel the garbage truck suddenly slowed down, no, it stopped right in front of the parking lot entrance.