I never knew somebody like you, somebody
Falling just as hard
I'd rather lose somebody than use somebody
Maybe it's a blessing in disguise
I see my reflection in your eyes

Reflections- the neighborhood

CAMERA FLASHES LIT UP AS LIVIA
stepped out of the large building with her parents.
Her feet ached in the black heels she wore and her body seemed stiff, almost numb. The girl felt anything but comfortable in her skin.

Her mind wandered to the previous night, when it wasn't camera flashes that had blended her, but the blue light of an ambulance in which her brother had been lying.

She was brought back to reality when a hand placed itself on her shoulders and pushed her into the open door of a black car. The girl got in and her parents right next to her.

"It's better if you keep yourself out of social media for a while. Until everything has calmed down a bit."
The deep voice of her father drang into her ear but seemed miles away.
Liv looked forward out of the front window and saw the lights if the city that lighted up the road.
She saw the back of the driver's head, his eyes glued on the street and his face emotionless. Even though she wished that at least he would show the feelings a normal human being would have it this situation, she was also glad because it helped her to keep her breaths steady and her face to show total nonchalance.

"That doesn't get us anywhere either. My goodness.. the Beauforts were probably just waiting for an incident like this! You will not talk to that boy at school. The last thing we need is for them to get the upper hand in the situation!"
Her mother said in a way too high pitched voice, her head shaking dramatically.

"They already have the upper hand! This is only the result of your softness towards him!"
Her father scolded.
Liv closed hear eyes.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry!

•

James entered the breakfast table puffing heavily from his morning run. He heard his father's slight chuckle as Mr. Beaufort held the local newspaper in his hand.

"What do I always tell you James? He who lets the reins slip from his hand falls off the horse."
With a clap of the thin paper, he threw the newspaper into the middle of the table.

—

'TRAGIC DEATH OF YOUNG ASHWAND - DESTRUCTIVE PRESSURE IN THE COMPANY?'

—

James drew his brows together, staring at the big printed words in shock.
Theo Ashwand dead?

Then he looked into the scanning eyes of his father, the man searching for a reaction on his son's face.

"Was he a friend of yours?" His father asked.

"No, of course not." James answered gulping. Theo Ashwand had always been his rival. Be it the rugby team, the status in school or the business, in which he was supposed to lead the company of his family just like James will be the face of Beaufort.

"Who's gonna lead the company?" He then asked, his eye slightly twitching. Him and Theo never got along with each other and still he felt a bit sorry for his young life ending so suddenly.

"His sister, I suppose." He heard the response of his father.
James barely remembered the brown haired girl, standing in her brother's shadow.

"Do you know what this means James?" his father asked with a mischievous smile on his face. A rare sight that James had last seen when he was a child. The pure smile of happiness that meant nothing good.
The blonde boy stretched his chin to indicate that his father should answer his question himself.

"Remember when I told you, you don't have to be a genius to dominate the chessboard. You just have to give your opponent the chance to make mistakes and then you exploit them." James nodded.

"They did their mistake! The company is weak, especially that girl that's supposed to take her brothers place." Mr. Beaufort cleared his throat.

"You can use this to wipe out this whole business once.. and for all.." He looked his son deep into the eyes. His finger pressed on the newspaper.

"Make your opponent believe-.."

"..that they only have one course of action." James finished the sentence that had been printed in his mind for years.

A view minutes later, the black car with Percy driving stopped in front of him as James and his sister got in.
James felt the tiredness of Lydia while he was wide awake. The words of his father still in his ear. He turned his head towards his sister.

"What do you know about Livia Ashwand?"

—
Author's note:
Heyy!
I'm really excited for this story! Don't forget to vote and comment!