I woke up to the annoying sound of Laya,my maid’s voice.Another day of bullcrap.Another day where I have to be ‘the head of the family’.
“I’m up.”I yelled,even though I knew she was standing right next to me.I took off my sleeping mask and I got out of the covers,yawning.
“Come on,miss Monique.Today is the day.”Laya hurried me in my wardrobe.
“Remind me again why am I doing this?”I asked rolling my eyes,and sitting down on a stool as she fished through my clothes.
“Today is your ‘coronation’ day.”She exclaimed happily as I rolled my eyes again.
“Where’s Nate?”I asked sighing.
“Mister Nathaniel phoned last night.He spent the night at a friend.He said he’ll bring him tonight at the party.”She was barely audible,because of the amount of clothes in her arms.
“Of course he will.”I muttered,rolling my eyes the third time in five minutes.”Do I really have to go to this thing?I’m not in the mood.”I whined as she glared at me once more.
“You have to,miss Monique.Mrs. Juliet wants you there,you know that.”She said and I sighed.
My mom,Juliet Anne Shafai has stage III lung cancer.She is a fashion designer and a fashion critic,and she’s also the leader of Shafai Designs and Shafai X’O.
We found out about her disease a year ago,when she blacked out while on a vacation in UK.We all know she’s going to die,but one of her ‘death-wishes’ was that both me and my brother Nate will act completely normal.Tonight is my ‘coronation’ day,as Laya likes to call it,which means tonight I’ll officially be the head of the Shafai companies.I’ve always been the hard-working one,while Nate,my brother,was and still is the usual college bad boy,who sleeps with every girl he meets and goes to frat parties.
He didn’t argue when my mother told us I’ll be in charge of the companies,because the deal was:I get the companies and the power and the fame that comes from it,and he gets money.I agreed to that because I don’t wanna babysit him for the rest of our lives so as long as he gets the money,he’s happy.My mom didn’t like it that much though,because she said,and I quote,that “He’s a young boy now.He doesn’t know what he wants from life and he won’t go to parties for the rest of his live.I truly believe that one day he’s going to wake up and settle down with his life.”So,I get 60% and he gets 30% of the actions.The other 10% will go to aunt Eva Coupeau,my mom’s sister.She told me that whenever Nate is ready to work,I’ll give him his part of the actions,and that until then I’m leading 90% of it.I bet you noticed that most of our names have French influence.Well,except Laya’s.She’s Russian.When my family first ‘landed’ in this city,just like New Orleans,New York had it’s own ‘French Quarter’,now known as the Upper East Side.
“That’s it.”Laya interrupted my thoughts,shoving in my face a black,very delicate,Chanel dress.”And it goes with these shoes,and those cute tights.”She said referring to one of the prettiest YSL shoes and a pair of the many tights I own.
“I’m hungry.”I stated bored.It looks like I’m so excited about tonight,all I’m asking for is food.
“Breakfast is ready.Your mom is waiting for you to go downstairs.”I nodded,taking my dressing gown and going downstairs.
“Good morning,mother.”I said kissing her cheek as she smiled and let the papers she was reading down.
“Good morning,Monique.How are you today?”She asked smiling as I sat down in front of her.
“I’m fine,you?”I asked simply,filling my mouth with food.
“You know what I mean.Are you excited about tonight?”She teased.
