Disclaimer: SM owns them. I just write what I like.
So this is the story for DLS. I know I said I might not be able to update for a while but I was inspired today & I couldn't wait to share this with you guys. Sorry for the typos. I don't have a beta & I make do with what I got. Also, I had to change the rating to M cause I'm paranoid. Enjoy reading! xo
MEGALOMANIAC
CHAPTER 1
BPOV
The sound of my bedroom door slamming shut woke me up from my tranquil slumber. I huffed and buried myself deep under the covers. Just as I was about to drift off back to sleep, the alarm went off and I cracked an eye open in time to see Alice, my best friend, launch herself unto my bed.
"Good Morning, Bellaaa!" She sang loudly. "Today's a big day. Come on, get up and go shower while I pick out your clothes for you. Then we need to do your makeup and hair and we only have an hour left to do that. Chop chop!"
I groaned, rolled over, but got up and headed for the bathroom. As much as I wanted to catch up on sleep, I knew she was right. Today was not a day for slacking off. Today would be the day I, Isabella Marie Swan, faced the media about my "skyrocket to success", as what they liked to call it. Believe it or not, I wasn't this hot with the press months ago. At that time, I was just a plain girl from a small town nobody's ever heard of. Now though, things have changed greatly for me and I thank my lucky stars every single night before bed. After my shower, I wrapped myself in my comfy terrycloth robe before stepping into my room and taking a seat near the windows. As I waited for Alice to prep me for the day, I let my thoughts drift.
Growing up in Forks, Washington (population zero) with my eccentric mother, Renee, and Chief of Police father, Charlie, had me fending for myself at a young age. My mom read tarot cards with her head in the clouds 90% of the time and my dad usually worked 24-hour shifts at the station (though I don't know how a town that small could have such active crime activity).
Despite this situation however, I was pretty sheltered. My parents were protective, seeing as I was their only child, and it didn't help matters that my father was the chief. I was a loner for as long as I could remember, save for a few friends who'd actually stuck around with me. In high school, I was considered one of the geeks because I didn't go out and party, I liked to read (you'd always find me with my nose buried in a book), and I had excellent grades (4.0 GPA and an exceptional record to match). It was later that I learned how much incentive I'd gotten from being responsible so early on. I was accepted into the University of Washington on a full scholarship grant where I took my Bachelor then Master's Degree in Management, graduating suma cum laude in both. I decided to just settle in the city after graduation and now at 24, I run the most lucrative business in Seattle, focusing mainly on software services and whatnot.
I was brought out of my musing when Alice stepped in the room with my change of clothes and some supplies. She and I met way back in our first year at UDub and just hit it off. Alice is a little ball of energy. Her enthusiasm is infectious and so are her laughs. We always end up laughing like 5year-olds when we're together, and she's like the sister I've never had. Alice now works as a stylist for some major bigwigs here and there. She's all about fashion and makeup and always uses me as her personal Barbie doll. I let her because she's Alice and I trust her and also because a few new nice things in my wardrobe never hurt anybody.
I turned in the swivel chair to face her and smiled, "Just something simple please, Ali. I'm really not in the mood for caked-on makeup right now."
She gasped, as if I'd just slapped her then narrowed her scary little pixie eyes at me. Now if it was anyone else in my place right now, they'd probably be shaking in fear but I've known my best friend for years and this was something I'd gotten used to.
"I would never-" I cut her off with a raised hand. "I know. I'm sorry. You can do whatever. I don't care. I've had like 3 hours of sleep, Ali, and I'm so fucking tired. I wish I could take a break."
I rubbed a hand over my face and closed my eyes. I could hear her walking around the room, getting supplies, and then felt her stand in front of me again. I opened my eyes and looked up at her before I was enveloped in a tight hug.
"You work too much," She said softly in my ear. I could feel myself nodding back. "You do need to chill for a while, you know. Not now, maybe, but soon. We could take a few days off and fly out wherever. That'd be cool, wouldn't it?"
I smiled and squeezed her. "Thanks. Better start booking those tickets before I change my mind." I said jokingly and she laughed before pulling out of the hug.
We talked about lighter things after that while she started with my hair and makeup. I had to admit, I had been working myself too hard lately and a break was just what I needed. I just hadn't found the time, what with all the existing competitors Swan Enterprises had, and my need to stay on top of everyone. At 7:30, Alice happily announced that she was done and skipped out the door as I hurriedly dressed, gathered my things, and got in the car. I had to be at the office at 8 a.m. today before I had the interviews and such at 10. Traffic wasn't that bad, thank God, and I got in with a few minutes to spare. The elevators opened up to my floor and as I stepped inside, the chattering of employees immediately stopped. They all scrambled around to get back to their desks as I passed them. I nodded my head in greeting to some but didn't slow my pace until I reached my office. I'd just collapsed on my comfy leather chair when the intercom beeped.
"Good morning, Miss Swan. The new guy from HR is here. Should I send him in?" Angela, my PA, said politely.
I suppressed a sigh. I hated dealing with new employees this early in the morning but it had to be done.
"Yes please."
I leaned back in my chair as the office door swung open to reveal a nerdy-looking kid with glasses and a face full of acne standing awkwardly in the doorway. This time, I did sigh and but squared my shoulders as I looked to him and snapped,
"Get in here, close the door, and park your ass on that chair." I gestured to the chair in front of me as he did as he was told, all the while looking at the floor. "What's your name, how old are you, where are you from, and what are you doing here?" I fired off. He started trembling and I swear to God I thought he would cry any minute now.
"M-my name's T-Tyler Cr-Crowley. I-I'm, I mean, I j-just turned 21 and I'm fr-from Oregon. I met wi-with Mr. N-Newton y-yesterday a-and he s-said I h-had the j-job." He managed to stutter out.
I blinked, surprised, and decided to ask why he was trembling. In the back of my mind, I already knew the answer to that but I wanted to be sure.
"Why so nervous, Mr. Crowley?" I smirked.
He swallowed noisily and shook his head.
"You're acting like you're on death row your first day on the job and you can't even look at me. How can I have you work here if you're…" I trailed off and gestured around with my hands.
He sat silently, didn't say anything, and continued to look at the floor. I was getting tired of this and I wanted some R&R before the reporters came in so I threw him a bone.
"Are you scared of me, Mr. Crowley? Is that it?" I hissed quietly.
He jumped in his chair. I laughed. I am one twisted bitch.
"Look, I know everyone's probably told you how much of a hardass I am but you've got nothing to worry about. The way I see it, you do your job to a T and you'll continue to have one till whenever. I may be a bitch," He flinched at that and I rolled my eyes. "but I'm fair. I don't go around busting people's asses just because I can. It's probably because I had to. I worked hard to get here, and so did you, I'm sure. Just do what you have to do, don't break company rules, and you'll be fine." He looked up then and smiled timidly at me.
"I didn't know you were aware of the… uh…" He said shakily.
"Believe me, Mr. Crowley, I know everything that goes on in my organization." I said to him, tapping my temple with my index finger. He nodded then opened his mouth again but hesitated, before shaking his head.
"I just- Doesn't it bother you?" He asked.
I shrugged my shoulders, feeling sorry for the kid. He seemed genuine and honest, and a little naïve.
"Let's just say I have more important things to worry about. Now go do your thing. I have a full day of interviews ahead." I dismissed him and he stood up and went to the door then warily looked back to me.
"I think you're an amazing woman, Ms. Swan. The things you've accomplished… not everyone can do that. It really is an honor to be working for you." I smiled, said my thanks, and he let himself out.
As soon as I was alone again, I took a deep breath and waited for the interviewers. I had to meet about five of them, answering the same old boring questions; like how I did it, started an immensely successful business by myself with not that much capital to begin with, how I continued staying on top despite the financial crises crumbling down almost every other businesses in the country nowadays, and what I had planned for the future. I was now in my last interview and I was exhausted.
"Ms. Swan, can you tell us how you deal with your competitors?"
I plastered on a smile for the writer from Entrepreneur magazine and said, "I try to focus on my own business and do whatever I can to improve it. Competitors will always be around, no matter what you do in the industry. The important thing is to stay ahead in the game."
He nodded, "What about new competitors? How would you cope with that?"
I thought for a while and said, "So far, there haven't been that many yet. We'll handle them when we cross them." I shrugged nonchalantly.
He then thanked me for my time and left the office. I noticed it was now close to 6 p.m. so I packed my stuff too and headed home.
That night, I had a bit of trouble sleeping. My mind wouldn't shut off and I didn't know why I was so restless. I had no reason to be. Sure, today had been interesting but it was just business as usual. Nothing was off and everything seemed the same at work. A feeling in my gut told me something else entirely different, though. I didn't know what was coming to me but I promised to prepare myself for it. I grabbed a couple of pills, downed them dry, and went to bed.
That's it for now. Lemme know what you think. Go on, make clicky-clicky on the review button. You know you wanna.. (: