VALERIE

Chapter 40: New Beginning

~Rushed and Unedited (again)~

NOTE: This is the last chapter, so please take time to vote and comment. I beg you! I also ditched my parents' third wedding this afternoon just for this update. So please? :’)

Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2013

Valerie’s POV

“Gail,” My head turns halfway before my eyes shoot up to a blonde girl standing to my right side, her hip leaning against the side of my cubicle, her elbow on top of it. She’s in a neat office attire—white long sleeve polo shirt and dark blue pencil skirt—pretty much like mine. Only I am wearing a thick brown blazer over my shirt. “You’re needed in your father’s office.” Cherry, my father’s secretary, tells me.

“Okay, I’ll be right over.” I tell her, nodding my head a bit. Returning my gaze to my laptop, I add another file on a certain folder before I close the lid, making a mental note to continue later on.

It’s been two weeks that I’ve been back here in Glasgow. Nothing much has changed, except the fact that my father’s Law firm is continuously expanding. Our house is still the same as when I have left it.

Tears flooded the house as soon as I barge in our large door, the night I left London—the night I left Harry. It was a bittersweet moment being reunited with my parents, but bugged by the fact that I left someone very important behind. My father didn’t even allow me to apologize for running away. He said it was his fault for not telling me as soon as possible, that I’d have to find it sooner or later so he should’ve told me as early as I was seven—although it wasn’t the exact reason why I ran away in the first place.

But then I reminded him that it doesn’t matter anymore. I said that I think if he told me by then, I’d still be running away and it would have been worse because I would only be seven. By that, we cracked into fits of laughter.

I am really thankful about my parents. I think they are the greatest.  I am just so fortunate that I got adopted by them because aside from them being wealthy enough to provide for all my needs and wants—reason why I became a spoiled brat—, they’re so sweet. Despite their busy schedules, especially my Dad’s, they managed to be hands-on with nurturing me and Vitaly. It’s too bad they weren’t blessed with just one biological child.

As for Vitaly, he’s still in New York, working his butt off to finish his second year in Law. I called him as soon as I jumped on my childhood bed in my room, patched things up with him. He said we couldn’t go back to the way we used to be when we were still kids. I felt so bad until he said that we should start a new beginning as siblings. Right then, I had no doubt we can do just that.

I’m on my fifth day working in my father’s office without any compensation since I’m still being trained—all this in preparation for Law School in New York next fall. My father didn’t force me this time. I made the decision. I don’t know what was running in my head at that time but I am willing to give it a try.

Genuine smiles from my officemates are given my way as I pass by their cubicles on my way to my Dad’s office, reciprocating them with one of my own. I’d like to think that they’re so kind to me not just because I’m their boss’ daughter, but also they like me as an individual. I want to do away with the ‘spoiled brat’ image. Unfortunately, since I was back some still think I’m the same person from before I left. That’s one of the few reasons why I want to go to New York, so that I can come back here a totally changed person in front of them.

It’s still a funny thing that people realize that I look like the Valerie Scott they saw on TV, not realizing that Gail Epperson and Valerie Scott are one. My family knew about it. The whole time they knew but they didn’t bother me. They waited for the time that I’d get home. My father, who almost lost hope that I’d ever would, almost wanted to get to London and take me home, but then my mom reminded him to give me time. My mom has never lost her faith in me, and now here I am, back home in Scotland.