"What the heck?!"
"You'll have to come with us to the police station."
"No way, I didn't steal it. How could you accuse me of such? I can't steal!" Isabella yelled at them.
They grabbed her roughly and handcuffed her.
"No way! You can't just take me! You can't just arrest me!" They were outside the mall and passersby were staring. Some social media bloggers were also around, recording the scene.
All eyes were on a car that pulled to a halt right before the scene.
A staff alighted from the front seat and opened the back seat door. Stepped out, a smoking hot Latina beauty.
She was wearing a yellow tube dress, sashaying and swaying her evident curves. Her sun hat was designed with sunflowers and her embellished wedge heels was an indication that she was one of the most fashionable ladies around.
She also had an expensive sunglasses on.
Looked familiar, though.
If it isn't Miss. Gabriela Flores.
The heiress of the Flores' family.
"What is going on here? Why is my friend in cuffs? Someone explain to me." She spoke casually.
Isabella swallowed before talking. Tears had welled up in her eyes.
"I came here for shopping, and when I was leaving, she asked if she could check my purse and she found this Cartier bracelet."
"Her minions joined in, embarrassing me. Everyone was watching!"
"I didn't steal it." Isabella sobbed.
"Its okay, Isabella. How much does the bracelet cost?" She asked the mall attendants, maintaining her cool, casual tone.
"$10,000 only." Gabriela took off her sunglasses in shock and anger.
"That's too cheap to harass anyone outside your mall. Did you check your CCTV footage if she stole it? Someone could have set her up -"
"Set up? Our security is too tight for any setup to happen in here." The mall attendant cut in.
"Nah, boring old story. I watch them in movies all the time." They stared at her with a blank expression.
"I think I should handle this, my own way."
"Speed dial." People murmured. Her fingers were flying on her phone screen and she called someone.
"Hello?"
"I want to have Shopping Haven closed for harassing and embarrassing shoppers, laying false accusations and untrue claims." They were shocked at how calmly she made the order. Isabella felt like a damsel rescued by her knight in shining armor in the nick of time.
She hung up.
"Who the hell are you, huh? Who do you think you are to close down our mall?" The mall attendants ran their mouths.
The manager walked towards them.
"What's going on here? Miss. Flores, you're welcome to Shopping Haven. Is there anything you need?"
"Your attendants brought my friend to the open, accusing her of shoplifting. Is that what you do here?" Gabriela raised her voice.
"We are so sorry, Mrs. Flores." The mall attendants exchanged weird glances, watching the manager apologize.
"Please don't take any drastic action."
"I have already taken the action. If there is ever a next time for Shopping Haven, it'll choose better attendants." Saying that, she wore her dark sunglasses and looked around.
"Why are you all hanging around? Is there a ballet show or a street dance going on? I suppose, not. You should buzz off."
"Let's go, Isabella." She led the way, Isabella followed with a spring in her step. The staff opened the car door, and they all got in. The engine was ignited and the car zoomed off.
"Woah, that was savage."
"How could she do that to Shopping Haven?"
"How am I gonna get the dress I've been saving for?"
"Poor mall. What a gutsy little girl."
"Who is she, mom? What right did she have to close down the mall like that? Is she the President's daughter?" A girl asked her mom, who was the street sweeper.
"Gabriela Flores has every right to do whatever she wants to any building or infrastructure around here. Who knows, her name might be written on the property's papers, somehow? Her father is the third richest man in the country, which makes her the most influential and most powerful teenager. She's the family's heiress, which means when she's handed the properties, she'll be the richest businesswoman around, with countless houses, fleets of cars and lots more!" She explained to her daughter.
"But, Mom, if I was her, I wouldn't be so proud about it. I wouldn't be making a fuss about my money, or my properties. I would give it to charity."
"I don't see anything wrong in the decision she took. It was so wrong for a well-known mall like Shopping Haven to embarrass her best friend. And they should pay for it. They feel too high of themselves, thinking they can just harass anyone." Her mom added.
"I envy her though. She's so beautiful. Like a telenovela actress."
~~~~ 10PM, FLORES MANSION ~~~~
The Flores' sisters relaxed on their luxury bunk-bed, with stairs and a mini storage.
Daniela was on the top bunk, listening to slow, emotional music in her headphones and reading a novel. Gabriela was on the bottom bunk, eating chips and reading a novel too.
The room screamed luxury, power and at the same time teen cool vibes.
There were portraits of themselves as kids, portraits of some of their achievements, Daniela's elementary school graduation and Gabriela's high school graduation. They had lots of novels around....
The wall was the only place kept clean, though.
They weren't the organizing type.
They tried to organize, actually, didn't turn out too well.
The bedroom was like a total war zone! Clothes were scattered all over the floor like confetti, balled up in corners. The bed itself was unmade, sheets twisted like they've been wrestling in them. Books, phones, earbuds, and random tech stuff are littered on the desk, looking like a mini explosion went off. There was a faint smell of yesterday's meal hanging in the air. Papers, maybe assignments or notes, were crumpled up or flying around like they've been thrown in a fit. Shoes were kicked off everywhere – you'd think a shoe tornado swept through! Overall, it's like the room's saying
"I was havin' a wild day, oops!"
Not their faults, we should blame the maids around.
Daniela's phone beeped, breaking the pin drop silence. She checked the notification and her heart danced.
"Gabriela!"
"Yeah, what's the issue?"
"Um...Let me start here, what college do you plan to attend?" She asked.
"I didn't tell you about a college I liked, but they have no apartments. I can't feel like a college student without being alone in a room to study. I've made up my mind to forget the college issue for a bit and chill. Maybe go to Hawaii."
"Fuck your vacation!"
"What did I tell you about those derogatory remarks?" Daniela rolled her eyes.
"Baby, you've been admitted to The White's Academy!!" She squealed. Gabriela's eyes widened.
"The what? How..how..how did I get admitted? I didn't submit an application...I didn't take an exam so how..." Gabriela got off the bed, standing on one stair. She had a confused look.
"I had a little chat with their management, telling them how badly you needed to study Business Administration in their college, because you were their secret admirer...."
"SECRET - " Gabriela was furious.
"When I told them I was Gabriela Flores, they were so overboard... Without even asking about the qualifications, they granted permission for you to enroll right away. They knew the Flores' heiress was a genius."
"You bitch, I'm gonna kill you!"
Gabriela pounced on her, hitting a pillow hard on her face.
Daniela laughed hysterically.
"How could you, Daniela?" She sat.
"How could you do all that without my permission? You know how much I hate The White's Academy? It's a low standard college."
"Low standard? The White's Academy is the best and most prestigious school in the city. Every student who dreams it big attends The White's Academy." Daniela disagreed.
"It's too low for my standard. You know I'm higher than the highest. I have bigger dreams, and better places than The White's Academy. So count me out. There are bullies in that college. And you know how much I hate bullies." Gabriela continued.
"I know there are bullies. There are bullies in my school, too. Gabriela, you are the Flores' heiress. I'm sure you can deal with it. You might be the savior of other victims. That'll get you a really good reputation." Gabriela thought for a while.
"Saving the day in The White's Academy is actually a brilliant idea, Daniela. I'll have enough time to practice fighting bullies." She joked.
"No you don't... The first day is tomorrow." Gabriela rubbed her temples on hearing that.
"Oh, shit!"
"You said something about derogatory speech."
"Daniela, please be quiet."
"I envy you though. The college will be so enthusiastic about having you around. Very soon, you'll be fully entitled to Dad's property. Gabriela Flores, daughter of Alejandro Flores, and Daniela, nobody." Daniela's voice was dripping with sadness. Gabriela stared at her and pulled her into a hug.
"Don't say that, sis.." Her tears were uncontrollable.
"Why shouldn't I? After all, I'm not Flores. Mr. Alejandro is not my real dad. My real dad is a pauper." She cried.
"Lies! Lies! A big fat lie!"
"Why does your Dad hurt me if its a lie?"
"He must be saying that out of anger. You are my sister, Daniela. You are Daniela Flores. We are one big family. If Mom was here with us, do you think she'd bear to see you crying this way?"
"There's no pauper father. Its you, dad and I. Do you think I'm just gonna have all that money and leave you to fend for yourself? I would never!"
"Stop this, Daniela. You're making me wanna cry too." They sniffed simultaneously.
"Don't cry. You have no reason to." Daniela told Gabriela.
"You know what, I won't be mad at you anymore. You did the right thing. It'll be my first day in college tomorrow, and the start of your senior year in high school. The start of something new for the two of us."
In the depths of the ocean, a world of breathtaking beauty thrived. Schools of fish in every color of the rainbow darted through the coral reefs, their scales shimmering in the sunlight that filtered down from above. Among them, the mermaids glided effortlessly, their long hair flowing like seaweed in the currents. They were a peaceful and enchanting species, living in harmony with the sea creatures, ethereal beauties.At the heart of this underwater kingdom was the Queen of the Mermaids, a majestic creature with skin as pale as moonlight and hair as dark as the night sky. Her voice was like music, entrancing all who heard it, and her wisdom guided her people with kindness and justice.
The mermaids would often gather around her, singing and dancing in celebration of her rule.But not everyone in the ocean was a friend to the mermaids. Deep beneath the waves, a group of mermen lurked in the shadows, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy. Unbeknownst to the mermaids, these mermen were not what they seemed. They were actually powerful wizards, humans who had mastered the dark arts and taken on the form of mermen to infiltrate the underwater kingdom.
For years, the wizards had tried to enchant the mermaids, to bend them to their will and harness their magical powers for their own gain. But every attempt had failed, and the mermaids remained free from their spell.
That was until the arrival of the Sea Prince, the most handsome and charming merman in the kingdom. He was not a wizard, but a royal member, with a heart full of kindness and a spirit that shone like the brightest pearl. He had the power to transform into any creature there was, but was cursed to wander around, swim, fly, changing forms, until he found a treasure - his true love.
The Sea Prince's eyes scanned the ocean floor, searching for the perfect one.
And then, he saw her – a beautiful mermaid with skin as fair as the sun and hair as golden as the sand.
But as he drew closer, he realized, she had shimmering scales too but was not like the others. She was human.
The Sea Prince was entranced, his heart beating with a love he had never felt before.The mermaid, whose name was Sophia, was equally captivated by the Sea Prince's charm and good looks. She lived in the water for so long, but she was different from the mermaids, and she knew it.
As the Sea Prince approached her, she felt a spark of connection that she couldn't ignore. Meanwhile, the wizard mermen watched the Sea Prince's infatuation with Sophia with great interest.
They saw an opportunity to finally capture a human and use her as a pawn in their plan to dominate the ocean. The wizards began to weave a spell, one that would bind Sophia to their will and grant them the power they had sought for so long.But the Sea Prince was unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.
All he knew was that he had found the love of his life, and he would do anything to protect her. As the wizards' spell began to take hold, the Sea Prince knew he had to act fast.
But of course, the one who cursed the Sea Prince had seen it all, and wouldn't let the curse break, especially when she knew her daughter was his true love.
She was the Sea Witch.
~~~~ NEXT DAY, FLORES MANSION~~~~
Gabriela's alarm clock woke her abruptly. She sat up and itched her eyes.
"This mythical dream...again. It's so intriguing, at the same time confusing. Why have I been dreaming about the same thing, every single day of my life?! I've never dreamed about being the richest girl ever, or the most powerful businesswoman, or invested in anything. All I've ever seen in my dreams are sea witches, fishes, stupid mermaids and water gods!"
"I've had enough of underwater novels. I should do more of contemporary romance. That's the primary cause of my dreams." Her phone beeped.
'Its your first day in college, woohoo! Get dressed and be here as soon as possible. Everyone is aware that you enrolled through the website.'
A text from Isabella.
"I thought Daniela would have some brains to conceal my fucking identity!"
"Argghhh!!!" She flew out of bed and walked to the bathroom.
"Isabella is a student there too? Sort of relief."
After brushing her teeth and bathing, she had a hard time picking out the perfect outfit for first day. And as usual, clothes were everywhere in the room.
As she was about to storm out, a maid came in.
"Good morning Miss. Flores." She bowed.
"What do you want?" She asked dryly.
"Your dad asked me to inform you that your special outfit for college is ready and other things have been packed for you to move into the most expensive apartment there, which will be your comfort zone. The apartment has also been furnished, a maid, cook and launderer has also been employed, so you can feel relaxed. The designs are sophisticated and the menu is to whet your appetite!" The maid explained with a cheerful smile on her face.
"Yeah, sounds great." A smile crept up Gabriela's face too.
"Thank you. Where's the outfit?"
"He wants you to come for it at his office."
~~~~ 9AM, FLORES CORP~~~~
Gabriela Flores stepped out of her car and into the crisp morning air, the door opening with a soft whoosh. She rushed towards the work building, her heels clicking on the pavement. As she entered, a chorus of greetings erupted from her colleagues, their voices warm and respectful.
"Good morning, Miss Flores," they chimed in unison.As she walked, everyone bowed their heads in respect, even the old-aged workers who had been with the company for decades. Gabriela's presence commanded reverence, and she was accustomed to the deference. She nodded curtly, acknowledging their greetings, her eyes fixed on the stairs ahead.
The elevator was packed, so Gabriela opted for the stairs, her urgency to get to her outfit driving her to move quickly. She placed a foot on the first step, but before she could take another, a girl around her age past her, taking the stairs two at a time. The girl's elbow hit Gabriela's arm roughly, sending her stumbling backward.
Gabriela's eyes narrowed, her face tightening in indignation. She felt a surge of anger at being overtaken, her mind screaming that the girl had disrespected her.
For a moment, she was ready to unleash a sharp rebuke, but something held her back.
She bit her lip, swallowing the words that threatened to spill out.
She ascended the stairs slowly and noticed the girl entered her dad's office.
"Why is she going there?"