Seeking Her Soul

Chapter One - The Announcement

Being rich is easy, it's the stereotypes that come with it that are hard. I was born into money, never having to worry whether or not I could afford to go on a school trip, whether or not I could afford tuition or when I would be able to buy my own house. My parents run a billion dollar company out of Toronto and my twin sister, Adeline, and I are fully expected to take it over when they retire, which will probably be in five, maybe ten years. We're twenty-six and fully capable of running a business together with the help of Adeline's lawyer wife Lia. They got married just after her and I graduated from the business program at the University of Toronto, and adopted their first child a year after that. Life just fell into place for her, she had the perfect family and the perfect career, and I'm happy for her of course, but I can't help but feel mediocre in comparison to her. She has the perfect family and is legitimately passionate about her work. Don't get me wrong, I like working at my parent's company, but it's not my passion. And as for love, I haven't found a girl yet that wants me for me and not my money and good looks. I've been cheated on more times that I care to admit, so I've kind of given up dating for the moment. I've been trying to throw myself into my work more, but it doesn't come as naturally to me as it does to Adeline. I've always stood a step behind her, let her do the talking. She has a natural charisma that's quite genuine. It's always been different with me, and Adeline knows this. I'm good at charming people, but it's all fake. No one but her knows the real me. So she protects me. I've never worked as hard as her, put in as many hours, but I've done as much as I could without breaking. She deserves more credit, but never takes it. We're seen as equals to everyone else, working as a team from day one. I'm just grateful that I have a twin, because without her I don't think I could have survived this life. My parents were planning to have more kids, but never did because my mom became infertile after an accident that left our baby brother dead when we were four. So we became their only hope to take over the company. It had been in our family for several generations, always proud to be Canadian, but more importantly, family owned and run. So as loving and kind as my parents are, there has always been that pressure, that expectation. It weighs on you. Speaking of weight, I just finished my last set at the gym and my phone starts ringing. Picking it up, I wipe my sweaty neck with the edge of my t-shirt.

"Hello?" I walk towards the change rooms slowly.

"You're needed back at the office, Adrien," I hear my sister say through the phone.

"I just finished anyway," I said, sighing.

"Okay, well, hurry up," she said excitedly. "Dad's making some huge announcement. They might have gotten the Berkstein deal." I roll my eyes silently. Only Dad would require full attendance to announce the seventh deal we've gotten this year.

"Yea yea, alright." I walked up and started spinning my combination lock. "I'll be there in twenty." With that, I hung up and pulled my lock off of the locker. I take off my sweaty shirt and grab a towel before heading over to the showers to rinse off.

"Come on Adrien, we're all waiting for you." Adeline was practically skipping towards the meeting room. I laughed.

"You get way too excited over these deals, Ada." I poke her in the ribs playfully. She giggles like a little kid and I smile at her. She's really grown up a lot, not that she was ever really a kid. She was always smart, with a keen eye for business.

"I can't help it!" She stops at the door, holding it open for me. I do her one better and open the other door. She rolls her eyes and smiles despite herself. I always do this. We then walk through the doors in step, ever the united front. I nod at my dad and shoot a smile at my mom, and they each return in kind. Adeline andI take our seats next to each other at the head of the table and she immediately starts bouncing her knee, bursting with excited energy. I smirk at her, knowing that she didn't even realize she was moving.

"Now that everyone is here," Dad starts the meeting. "I can make the announcement that you have all been waiting for." Adeline seems ready to implode from anticipation. She's particularly excited for this deal for some reason. "Drumroll please!" Adeline can't take it anymore and finally snaps.

"Dad please we are dying here!" She practically begs. My dad chuckles.

"Okay okay... Sherry and I have decided that it's time." I stop breathing. "We're officially retiring!"

a/n 

Hey guys! Thanks for checking out my book, sorry this chapter is so short! I'm just trying to get a feel for the story and want to take it slow. I'll be uploading a new chapter every Tuesday, so check back then for the next chapter!