End of an era

1. Abigail

I've never had full control of my life. Before I was born, it was already planned.

I come from an old and noble British family, the De Roses, who were once aristocrats. Now my father owns a construction firm called De Ros, which is known throughout Europe. The face of Richard De Ros is definitely all over England. My mother comes from a less noble family. She's had very little part in my life. When I was young, she was addicted to alcohol. Even the media said 10 years ago, "Rosaline De Ros and alcohol addiction." I was raised by a maid and my father. But in public and in the media we are a perfect and friendly family.

When I was born it was already decided what school I would go to, what university I would graduate from and that I would head a construction empire right after my father. When I was five, I found the perfect groom.

Mason Carbone. His father's a big investor in my father's firm. Mason and I have been friends since we were kids, 9 years old to be exact. Our parents always told us how nice it would be if we were a couple and got married someday. It would help business, a mutually beneficial union. So it was no surprise that when we turned 15, we started dating. We understood each other well and could support each other, it's more of a friendship rather than a relationship, we don't have that spark between us. We date more to keep our families happy.

My life is one big business. All I do is work for the public. Family outings, interviews, CEO meetings and so on. The only time I take a break from it is during school hours. My father cares so much about me studying that he has cut all business activities in half. But I rather only pretend to study. After all, it has long been known that my diploma has been bought.

And I attend one of the most prestigious schools in the United Kingdom. Bowermore. Sounds proud, doesn't it? In reality, it's just a collection of the children of the cream of society. Married and illegitimate children of the English nobility study here. Although only a few come for the knowledge. The more money you have, the more you're valued at Bowermore. Everyone at this school is a hypocrite. If your status is lower than others, life can be unpredictable. One day you and your classmates seem like friends, the next day your secrets are known by the whole school. The real ones are hard to find. That's why I don't have many close friends. One of them is Leslie Black. Her parents are diplomats, so Leslie is very well liked at my house. "Connections like that can come in handy in the future," my dad says.

Well, the best part of my rich life is the constant partying. Rich offspring are very good at organizing parties and you can't argue with that. Sometimes when things get rough at home, it's a good time to go out and party, drink and smoke. Lassley and Mason go to almost everything with me. People call me the party queen at this school. It's not a real party without me. This hobby helps take my mind off my dad's lectures about how I have to be perfect and not embarrass the family, and my constantly drunk mother who sometimes forgets she has a daughter. I'm happy my dad hasn't banned me from parties yet. He's not very happy if I come home drunk or not come at all, but he's happy for me to socialize with the children of the most respected people in London.

At home, my only distraction is talking to our cook, Madame Betty. She doesn't like to be addressed by her surname, she prefers to be simply Betty. She's an older woman with a lot of life experience. Also, no one cooks better than she does. I love to listen to her stories from life, from the life of an ordinary person. A lot of her stories I don't know because I was never an ordinary teenager.

I also love our Sunday games of chess with my father after church. He becomes less serious during the game and I love him more in those moments.Even though he's been nagging me since I was a little kid, I love and respect him. At least he cares about me. I'm his only daughter and heir. My mother and I have never even had a heart-to-heart, our conversations are insanely superficial and most of them she definitely doesn't remember. I used to wish I had a mom like everyone else, and then I just got over it.

I guess that's my whole life. A lot of people wish they had what I have. I'm just used to it. My life has a plan and I've been following it all my 17 years. Next year, for example, I'm supposed to go to Oxford. I'm sure I'll have no problem getting in, just not me. Everything comes very easily to me, all I need is my desire....

"Abigail Camilla De Ros", came my father's voice, pulling me from my thoughts, "are you listening to me? When will the speech for the firm meeting be ready?"

I was a little confused because I had been dangling in my thoughts for a couple minutes before. While my father was very serious. And he called me by my full name, which means he's in a bad mood.

"The speech is almost ready. I need a couple more days", I said a little uncertainly; I hadn't actually sat down for the speech yet.

"You have two days," my father said in a stern tone. "Don't forget that grandmother is coming to this meeting, so everything must be perfect".

The meeting is next week. Everyone is preparing for it more diligently than usual, because Camilla De Ros, my grandmother, is coming from France. It was in honor of her that my middle name became Camilla. My grandmother was at the helm of the company before my father. Now she's retired and lives in Paris. I've never seen my grandfather. When Grandma gets bored, she raids the company. Next week is no exception. Camilla is probably the only person who scares me more with her temper than my father.

I didn't continue the conversation with my father, he decided to shut that topic down as well. For now. That's how our dinner went. Dad was mentally planning the meeting. Mother sat with a glass of wine and tried to explain to the servants the difference between the two bottles of wine she had drunk today. And me, I sat waiting for everyone to finally eat dinner so I could leave the house. Tonight, Mason and I had arranged to go to the Rosefield brothers' party.

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Caroline:

Hey! My name is Caroline and it's my first story ever. Hope you'll enjoy it. I'm so sorry if I have some mistakes (english is my second language).
Well, it was the first chapter. It was pretty short. I promise that next chapters will be bigger. Now I just wanna show a little part of Abigails life. If you have some questions write them. I hope you'll support me and my story. Love u sooo much💋