It has been a month since The Book Hollow's 100th store grand opening and it has proven to be a great success. With the new store, quotas were reached much earlier than we expected. Profits have gone up by 27% in just a month. At this pace, the possibility of opening a branch outside the country grows.

A knock from my door was heard and Mindy came in with the papers I asked of her.

"Ms. Murray, this is the 100th sales report for this month. Also, your mother called to remind you of your Father's birthday this Friday," I completely forgot about Dad's birthday. I don't even have a gift yet. Much worse, I have a ton of pending work left to do.

"Don't even think of bringing those work with you," I looked up and saw Noelle by my door with coffee in hand. Bless her heart because I desperately need that coffee. She told Mindy to leave so we could talk privately.

"You've read my mind. The work and the coffee," I said, sipping on the steaming coffee, careful not to burn myself.

I looked over the amount of work left for me to do and I'll be lagging behind if I skip this few days of work. Although, I would only be gone for a day. Half of my weekend turns into a work day too just to finish a few of my pending work documents.

"You don't have to worry about the work you'd be leaving. I'll handle them while you're gone," Noelle said sitting on my office couch with her coffee.

"Take a break. You've been working nonstop for years. You deserve at least a little break," Noelle said after not hearing a reply from me. I was adamant to leave everything behind to her as I clearly knew how much load was left and I couldn't depend it all on her.

"I have a client meeting with Mr. Corbin on Friday at two in the afternoon. Can you handle that?" I asked. I knew that she hated that man's guts to the core. She knew Mr. Corbin even before he became a client of the company. I don't know how they met because she refused to tell me. All I knew is that they hated each other deeply.

"Yes. I'll handle it. Even if it means I would need to sit down calmly with that idiot for hours. So, don't worry about it. It won't end in a disaster," she assured me and quite frankly, I didn't believe every word after she said "calmly". That word is out of her and Mr. Corbin's vocabulary after seeing their actual encounter firsthand. It did not end great at all.

"I'm having a hard time believing that," she rolled her eyes at me and continued to drink her coffee.

"Don't you have work to do?" I asked.

"I finished everything I need to do for today so I'm staying here until the end of the day,"

"Good. Help me finish then," I guess good mood Noelle is here since she didn't argue about helping me with work.

It's actually nice to have some help around here. I couldn't barely eat at work with the stacks of work I have every day.

I let Noelle handle my work for a moment while I tried to settle everything for Friday including airline tickets and gifts for my parents. I didn't bother booking a place to stay since my mom insisted that I stay at home.

Noelle dropped me off at the airport and made her promise to call me if there's things she couldn't handle at work. I would have a whole week at Winthrop much to my parent's happiness.

"Are you sure you have everything?" Noelle asked when she was dropping me off at the airport.

"Yes. I'll call you when I land,"

The flight didn't take too long. It only took two hours and I found myself back to the place I ran away from ten years ago. A lot has obviously changed. The cab ride to my house was filled with mixed emotions. Am I glad? Scared? Or regretful that I even dared to step another foot in this place after I told myself that I wouldn't.

When my house came into view, it was still exactly how I remembered it. Along with it are the memories that I've thought I've erased but all came flashing back at the mere sight of this house.

It still looks as grand as it always is. The garden that my mother made sure is filled with a variety of flowers. She's proud of her garden as much as my father is proud of his car collection kept at our garage.

My parents have a lot to be proud of and I never once was enough for it. As their only child, everyone thought I would grow up spoiled, dependent and filled with attention. But I grew up quite the opposite. My parents weren't always around as both were busy making a name for themselves.

Murray

Written in big bold letters by the gate.

I couldn't make my feet move closer as I stared longer at the house remembering all the time, I felt lost and alone in it.

"You made it!" The big mahogany door opened and my mother came running with a wine glass in hand. My father was walking right behind her wearing his usual long sleeve button-down white shirt tucked in his black pants. They both engulfed me in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry I'm late. It was hard to book a ride here,"

"You should have called us so we could ask the driver to pick you up. But it's okay, darling as long as you make it," my mother said and called the maids to take my luggage inside.

"Happy Birthday, Daddy" I handed my gift to my father but he pulled me again in an even tighter hug. I couldn't help but wish that they would treat me this way when I used to live here with them.

Walking through the door, the familiar scent of roses filled the air. My mother liked having vases of roses all over the house. She adored pink roses the most. It was the flower that my father first gave to her when they first met.

Music blazing and cheers erupting. The party was already starting at the backyard. Invites were sent to close family and friends so I'm expecting more than a hundred people.

My parents left me to attend to their guests while I went upstairs to change into something that would fit the party. Since according to my mother, jeans and plaid shirts are not for parties.

Walking down the hallway, pictures of me growing up were plastered on the walls. I could see how genuine my smile was before it gradually faded through the years and all that was left was a faint forced smile.

By the end of the hallway, a white paneled door opens up to my bedroom. Everything is still the same. I guess despite the years that I left this place, my parents didn't change one bit about it. There was no dust of any kind, bedsheets, curtains, and pillows were clean too. They must have cleaned it before I arrived.

Before I went too deep with my thoughts, I pulled my luggage open and changed into something decent. One that would probably define me as someone meant to be their daughter. It was a white long sleeve dress that hugged my midsection tightly and flowed freely right above my knees.

A knock came from my door and it opened to reveal my former nanny, Nana Millie. Not minding that I haven't zipped my dress closed, I ran towards her and engulfed her in the tightest hug I could give. Nana Millie is the only best thing I had in this house.

"I missed you, Nana, so much," I whispered to her ear as tears started flowing one by one.

"My Annie still hasn't changed. Still a crybaby," I laughed at the nickname she used to call me. She's the only person who ever called me Annie. She broke away from our hug and wiped the tears from my cheeks and kissed me on the forehead like she used to.

"Come, I'll zip that dress close and your parents are looking for you,"

Nana Millie helped me fix my hair and make up before we went to the party together. Stepping into the backyard, tables and chairs were placed everywhere with waiters going around serving either drinks or food. One waiter offered me champagne and I took two glasses. Downing the first and taking the second as I walked closer to my parents.

"Ah there's my princess!" my father exclaimed, causing all eyes on me. I stood there frozen not until Nana Millie gave me a little push.

"Hi daddy, I'm sorry I took too long," I kissed my dad's cheek and I was introduced to a lot of people at the party. This was the first-time I met most of my parents' friends. The only friends of theirs that I met were Auntie Luna, my mom's best friend and Mr. Hawkins, our family lawyer and a friend of my Dad.

I kept hearing compliments from people I just met here about how great and successful I turned out to be with my company. Of how beautiful I am and that I look so much like my mother but with my father's chocolate brown eyes.

In all honesty, I felt like I was a trophy being shown off by my parents. These people don't seem like close friends because all they did was to boast around with their money. This is no party, it's a show off contest of who did better than anyone. It's a thing I hate among rich people. And I still couldn't believe that my parents worked hard to belong with those types of people.

"A refill, Ms. Murray?" a waiter said when he saw my empty glass.

"Yes please. Actually, leave the whole bottle to me. I think I'll need it," the waiter did leave me the half-filled bottle and brought me another full bottle of champagne.

The party went by for me as a blur. All I did after the introductions was sit in a corner with the bottle of champagne. I did get to talk with some of my cousins who live nearby. That is pretty much the eventful part of the party for me.

I was about to go to bed when my parents stopped me by the stairway.

"Is it okay if we talk to you for a while before you sleep?" my dad asked. I looked around and saw that everybody left. The maids had started cleaning and the waiters were removing the tables and chairs. I nodded and we all sat in the living room.

"I hope you understand that we did this for you, Aneara," my dad said while I looked at both of them confused.

"What is it?" I asked as suspension is slowly rising for me. I felt my heartbeat increase uncontrollably.

"Your father and I arranged a marriage for you with someone we know will be good for you," I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mind went blank and all I could hear in my thoughts was the words "marriage" and "arrange".

I stood up from the sofa and walked away from them despite them calling me repeatedly. I didn't want to hear any more of it. I tried blocking all the overthinking thoughts that are starting to form and locked my door and tried to calm my racing heart.

My first initial thought after I calmed down is that I need to get out of here. I pulled my luggage from under the bed and packed all the things I needed. I'm not staying for another day here.

I opened my door to see Nana Millie standing before it with a folded jacket in hand. My sudden leaving didn't surprise her at all. I guess, after all these years, my habit of running away never changed and Nana knew it.

"It's cold out there. I made this for you but I never got a chance to give it to you before you left," my heart breaks with what Nana said. When I left ten years ago, I cut all connections I have in this place. But my parents always found a way to reach me even when I was far away from them.

"I'm sorry, Nana, for leaving without saying goodbye. But I promise you, I'll be back to take you with me," Nana Millie helped me wear the knitted jacket she made with my initials embroidered at the front. I hugged Nana one last time before I climbed onto the Uber I booked.

Looking back at Nana by the gate smiling at me as I moved away, my heart breaks even more. I felt guilty leaving her when she was the only person who loved me more than anyone. But I had to go. I need to be away from this place until I find a way to never step in it again.