Mia

The alarm blared like a siren in my ears as I gently opened my eyes and groaned. I saw the time on the clock, it read 6 am to be precise. I sighed and laid back down on my soft bed. I was exhausted but I had to get up early today as I had an important meeting to attend to. Being the new CEO of the Young empire was no joke. I, Mia Varenna Young only took over the largest technology, networking and security company a year ago when I was just 27 and yet there were still plenty of things for me to catch up on and learn.

As I tried to get up from my bed something was blocking my way, actually two things were blocking me; a huge fat ball of golden fur and tiny brown and white fur. Shvan my golden retriever and Toffeenut my corgi were known to sneak onto my bed when I was fast asleep.

"Guys you have got to move," I said as I tried to push them off and got down from my bed, but obviously they didn't budge at all. "You guys really need to sleep on your own bed." I pointed towards their plush blue coloured dog beds and they just stared at me for a bit and then continued sleeping. I just sighed at them and walked towards my bathroom where I brushed my teeth while staring at my rather exhausted face in the mirror. " I need to go for my usual facial session."

Once I was done with my morning routine, I changed into my sports bra and leggings, walked out to my balcony and rolled out my yoga mat to do some meditation. This is how I always start my day. The cool morning air greeted me first when I stepped outside. The sky is painted with the soft hues of dawn, a blend of pink, orange, and gold, heralding the start of a new day.

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp morning air, and slowly exhaled, letting go of the remnants of sleep and the lingering traces of yesterday's worries. I sit cross-legged on the mat, straightening my spine and resting my hands gently on my knees. Closing my eyes, I began to focus on my breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. The rhythmic rise and fall of my chest become my anchor, grounding me in the present moment.

An hour later, I felt so much more elevated and calm. I got up from my mat and went back inside my room and I noticed my boys were still sleeping on my bed. I shook my head and left them to be, my efforts to try and discipline them went down the drain a long time ago.

I quickly took a warm shower and tried to dress up as fast as I could. I stepped into my huge walk in closet and ran through my office clothes neatly arranged on the racks. My eyes landed on my signature Ferragamo black suit dress. I put it on and sat in front of my makeup table.

I once again stared at my tired face in the mirror and wondered about how I can make myself look more decent and less like a ghoul who just crawled out from the grave. I could see the dark circles forming underneath my eyes and they looked hideous. "I need to stop staying up so late." I mumbled to myself. I styled my beach wave curly highlighted hair and let my hair down. I wore some concealer under my eyes, some blush and applied a dash of pink lipstick to my lips.

Once I was satisfied with my look I walked down to the kitchen where an amazing smell of spices filled my nostrils. What a way to start the day.

The kitchen is spacious and elegant, with marble countertops, high-end appliances, and a cozy breakfast nook. The aroma of fresh coffee and Indian spices fills the air. Nina, my caretaker, a kind, elderly woman with a warm smile, is bustling around the kitchen, setting out breakfast.

"Good morning love." Nina chirped when she saw me.

"Good morning Nina smells amazing." I said as I scanned the table. She had made idli with chicken curry and her signature coconut and tomato chutney.

"Here let me help you." She filled up my plate with 3 idlis and placed some chicken curry and chutney at the side.

"I'm going to get fat because of you someday." I said with my mouthful. God the idli with the chutney and chicken curry is too damn good. I always appreciated a good breakfast, because then I would definitely be able to start my day with a brighter mood.

"I'm glad you would, you need the extra weight you have lost so much ever since you became a CEO." She said while staring at me with pity in her eyes. Nina always thought I was underweight but I blame my small frame for it. I can't help it, I'm only 5 '0 feet tall but at the same time another reason why I probably might be underweight is because I don't have time to eat at all.

Ever since becoming a new CEO meant I had to learn the ropes quickly and with my father breathing down on me like a dragon all the time, I was stressed out 24/7.

It is a stressful role but my dad only passed it down to me because he knew I was capable of managing this huge responsibility and I can't let him down or I will never hear the end of it.

As I silently ate my breakfast I felt sharp pain on my left chest. " Hmm that is odd." I gently rubbed on my chest and took some deep breaths. I've never had any chest pains before so why am I having this sensation? The pain lingered for a while but it quickly went away. I didn't have enough time to ponder on why it started hurting all of sudden because I had a million other things running in my head. I briefly checked my emails and messages on my phone while I had my breakfast and there were many messages from Karan reminding me about today's meetings and other agendas.

After breakfast, I left the kitchen, went back into my room to brush my teeth again. I checked myself one last time in the mirror and made my way down and out to the porch where my driver Ragnar was waiting for me. The bright morning sun was shining down on his dark sunglasses, giving him a more stern and serious look. I mean he basically looked like the calmer version of Hulk. Dark hair, smart look and he was at least 6 '5, so you can imagine how scary he may look at times. Sometimes people thought he was my bodyguard instead of my driver, either way it scared people off so I didn't mind at all.

" Good morning Ms.Young." His face lit up the moment he saw me and gave me a warm smile.

"Good morning Ragnar." He opened the car door for me and I sat inside my new Rolls Royce Ghost, it was true beauty indeed. I settled into the backseat of my car, the soft, hand stitched leather engulfed me in a cocoon of luxury. I leaned back, activating the seat's massage function with a discreet press of a button. I sighed as the gentle kneading motion began to relax my muscles. I never had time to go for a proper massage so this would do for now.

My family was always into cars and racing and that's why the notorious Darian Young, my dad, was known for his crazy car collections. My 2 younger brothers were also fanatics and that is how they influenced me to get the Rolls Royce. I also had other cars but I usually don't drive myself to work, especially in the morning.

I hated the morning rush hour and how I have to sit behind the steering wheel for hours and I wasn't fond of that, so that is why I prefer being driven to work. At least while someone is driving me I can actually get some other work done on my phone or laptop. It was already almost 8.30 am as I neared the office, I could see Young's building from a mile away, standing all mighty and tall and glistening under the sun. It was one of the biggest buildings in the bustling city centre. I feel proud to be part of this legacy.

Once I reached the office. I took the elevator up to the second highest floor where my office was located and the moment the elevator doors opened I was welcomed with the sight of my PA Karan Malhotra already waiting for me. He greeted me with the same stoic expression he had on his face everyday.

"Good morning Ms Young."

"Good morning Karan." I said while walking into my office. As I pushed the mahogany doors leading to my room it seemed a little heavier today than usual. The office room was cold and lifeless like the owner before me, my dad. Dark oakwood table, a single monitor and keypad on an expensive looking table, and an almost dying plant next to it. I made a mental note to water it more frequently. As I placed my Prada bag on the table and I turned on my iMac, I looked up at Karan who was ever so ready to brief me about my day.

"Okay so what's on the itinerary today."

"Today's agenda includes an overview of our current projects, sales performance, upcoming technology initiatives, operational efficiency, and finally, marketing strategies for the next quarter."

"Okay let's head to the meeting room then." I briefly glanced at my Omega watch and the time read 8.59a.m. We both walked out of my room and walked to the end of the hallway and entered the conference room. There was a large oval table surrounded by ergonomic chairs. The walls are adorned with sleek digital displays showing various metrics and presentations. My team was already waiting for me and Karan

"Good morning everyone." I gave them a warm smile and they all greeted me back. "Let's dive right in. John, let's start with you. How are we doing on sales?"

"Sales have been strong this quarter, up 15% compared to last year. However, we are facing increased competition in the networking solutions sector. We need to explore new markets and innovate our offerings." John, my Head of the Sales department, spoke up with confidence.

"Excellent growth, John. Exploring new markets sounds like a strategic move. Sophia, what new technologies are we working on that can give us a competitive edge?" I glanced at Sophia Lee, the Chief of the technology department.

"We're developing a new high-speed cabling system that promises to be faster and more efficient than anything currently available. We're also exploring AI-driven network management solutions to improve our service offerings." She answered me precisely.

"That's pretty impressive, Sophia. Let's make sure we stay ahead of the curve with these innovations. Karan please ensure my dad is also updated about this matter." I looked up at Karan and he was already taking notes.

"Next up, Mayura, what about operations? Any bottlenecks we need to address?" Mayura is the Head of operations.

"We're running smoothly for the most part, but we've encountered some delays in our supply chain due to recent geopolitical issues. We need to diversify our suppliers to mitigate these risks." Mayura adjusted her glasses and gave me a stoic expression.

"You are right. Supply chain resilience is crucial. Start working on a plan to identify and onboard new suppliers. Krishna, how are we communicating our value to the market?"

"We've launched a new campaign highlighting our cutting-edge technology and superior customer service. Social media engagement is up 20%, and we're seeing more traffic on our website. However, I do believe we can still improve our brand visibility." Krishna answered me enthusiastically. He was my Marketing Director.

"That's amazing Krishna and lastly Amirah, how are we supporting our team during this period of growth?"

"We've implemented new training programs to help our employees stay updated with the latest technologies. We're also focusing on mental health initiatives to ensure our team remains motivated and healthy." Amirah smiled at me.

"That is a wonderful initiative, Amirah. Keep up the good job." I praised her.

"I'm impressed with the work you're all doing. Let's continue to push boundaries and innovate. Karan is there anything else we need to address before we wrap up?" I probed Karan and he checked his notes.

"That covers everything for today's meeting, Ms.Young."

"Great. Thanks again, everyone." I walked out of the conference room and came back to my room with Karan following me behind.

"We have a virtual meeting with one of our new clients in 20 minutes." Karan informed me while staring at his laptop.

"Great. Let me just send this email to my dad and then we can start the call." I updated my dad about my earlier meeting about how it went and highlighted some important details he needs to take note off.

"Alright done. Karan lets us get on the video call."

"Okay Ms. Young."

After 5 hours, 2 meetings and a painful visit from my dad I just wanted to go home, curl into a ball and hopefully sink into the bed and never come out. I replayed his words again and again...

"You're slacking and you seem unwell today"

"Did you go through the proposal with Russo Developers"

"Why do I have to keep hearing from your mom that you aren't eating again"

It was stressful to have a father like him and I get that he nags so that I will be better but sometimes I wished he would give it a break. It truly is tough being the eldest. All your life you only end up getting scolded for not being better or not being a good role model to your siblings, you had to stand out and be an example. I can still picture my mother's face every time she felt I disappointed her. She hated when I had different opinions from her and she always thought I was too cold, heartless and I wasn't kind or caring enough towards my siblings or anyone though that is far from the truth.

I used to be happy even though I grew up watching my parents fight very often. They used to trauma dump everything on me but as the years went on everything changed and I became colder and more heartless towards a lot of things. I even stopped believing in love or marriages because I had a pretty bad example at home. Pretty cliche but it is what it is. Sometimes, a small part of me craved to know what being treated right and to be loved properly felt like.

I sat there on my velvet chair just looking out the huge floor length window. It was late in the afternoon, I know it's boiling outside, it could probably match the temperature in hell. Asian countries and their burning weather. I could see many skyscrapers from miles away shining brightly under the sunlight. It's been a streak of extremely hot weather for the past 2 weeks and it was definitely catching up on me. Part of me wished I was in Europe or Australia right now.

As I sat there observing the weather and pondering about my rather loveless life, I once again felt a sharp pain in my chest. This time it was more noticeable. "Wow,fuck that is painful." I pressed on my chest and closed my eyes hoping the pain would go away, I could feel my heartbeat increasing for some reason. I tried to look for my water bottle but I guess I forgot to bring it with me today.

I got up from my chair and I felt a little dizzy and I grabbed on to the edge of the table and steadied myself, and walked down the long carpeted hallway to grab a cup of water from the dispenser and I felt the pain on my chest becoming more painful and intense.

"Fuck what is this?" I barely made it to the end of the hallway when I could no longer take the pain and I sank into the floor clutching my chest. The pain was unbearable and I started crying." This must be it, I am dying." I thought to myself. I was too young to die and yet the universe had different plans for me. I could feel the sweat forming around my forehead and chest. My breathing turned harsh and I could feel my heartbeat increasing and I could slowly feel myself shutting down and eventually I blacked out. The last thing I thought of was Shvan and Toffee, my babies.