A flurry of people tried to manoeuvre their way to catch a glimpse of the heiress as she left the memorial, pushing and shoving mindlessly. Her black dress was long and fitted, with matching woven silk elbow-length gloves, a dark contrast to her tanned skin. Her heels clicked on the marble, loud and resounding as she walked, ignoring the people clamouring for her attention.

Her long brown hair was neatly pulled back into a chignon, shimmering pearl earrings dangling from her ears. A picture of class and elegance. Behind her, attentive, were multiple men, dressed in black suits with the tell-tale earpiece signalling their job.

She walked down the walkway from the memorial to the awaiting limousine, tinted sunglasses covering her eyes as she looked on straight ahead.

"Akira, can we get a statement?" A young man dressed in black called out, pushing past other reporters eagerly. He was wearing the funeral colours but didn't seem to carry the silence that those colours represented. Akira turned her head slightly, looking down at him in disdain. She noted with annoyance that he called her by her first name, not with a title of respect like he would have done if she was a man. He grinned and nudged his colleague upon noticing her gaze, believing he would be getting an answer and thus the scoop of the century.

Akira gestured to her guard Sergio and whispered something to him, covering the bottom half of her face with her silk gloves.

"Young man, the mistress would like to know your name".

A deathly silence fell over the crowd as they looked on with jealousy. It was well known that Akira Astely was as talkative as a mute person. She was apathetic and gave little of her time to anyone so catching an interview was every reporter's dream and it seemed this man would be getting one.

Grinning, he ran his hands through his hair, tousling it to emphasise his rugged appeal and to draw attention to his face. Akira scrutinised him head to toe critically. He did have some sort of rough charm but his cockiness was more annoying than attractive. A swinging lanyard identified him as Joshua Perez, a reporter from the Daily Report.

Akira sighed. The Daily Report was the most distasteful newspaper she had ever heard of. They had no limits as to how far they would go just to sniff out some new headlines.

Joshua looked on with excitement feeling his ego being stoked by all the other reporters who clearly didn't have the same looks he did. He would write that, he decided. 'Akira Astley, Shallow and Vain?' and the article would consist of how Akira chose him solely based on looks which meant she was some sort of dense, airheaded princess. The public would eat it up and his article would sell like hotcakes.

Her hand stretched out almost in slow motion, making some sort of gesture in front of him. Taking a deep inhale of her rich musky perfume, he reached his hand out and bravely kissed the back of her gloves.

Akira watched in concealed horror as his lips brushed the back of her silk gloves. Her guards look a collective breath in shock at his stupidity.

"That was..." She commented, breaking the charged silence. "Repulsive".

"Excuse me?!" Joshua said, feeling shocked. Hadn't she given her hand out for a kiss? Did he accidentally give her a wet kiss instead? He glanced at her glove but there didn't appear to be any wet marks. Looking around quizzically, he decided to press on. "Sorry, I think we misheard you?!"

"You did not mishear me", she replied calmly but with a dangerous note. "Sergio, what did I say?"

"The mistress said your touch was repulsive", Sergio repeated, straight-faced and serious.

"But- But you put your hands out", Joshua said angrily, feeling the snickers from the once admiring crowd. "You asked for this!"

Akira scoffed at him and delicately slipped off the glove that Joshua had dared to kiss. Another guard pulled out a handkerchief and she placed it on there in disgust and at the same time, a short frizzy-haired woman ran to her and presented another identical glove that Akira put on immediately.

"The mistress was gesturing for you to move. You had crossed the boundary and were too close".

"Wh-" He stuttered, feeling his face go up in flames from embarrassment. He could feel everyone watching and laughing at him, pointing fingers in mockery.

"Now, that will be hilarious", a reporter whispered. "Put this on our headlines, frontpage and upload this footage to Twitter before any other company does".

Akira gave him one last once over with irritation written on her face and turned, walking down towards the black limousine that waited for her. There was an almost hypnotic sway of her hips which only emphasised the sheen on her toned legs as she walked to the tinted vehicle.

Joshua tried to shrink back into the crowd, fuming from the humiliation. He could feel all the internet trolls that would mock him and God forbid the video went viral. He felt a large hand tug his arm and he spun around, ready to swing. It was that reporter he overheard earlier, sporting a very smug smile.

"Joshua... Perez?" The reporter said, squinting at his tag. "Ah, you're from the Daily Report - that explains it. Can you make a comment about what just happened between yourself and Miss Astley?"

"Oh, get out of my way", he swore as he pushed that reporter. Fighting through the crowd, smarting, he muttered under his breath, promising revenge.

The door slammed shut as Akira got in the car, sighing relief. She hated crowds of people and preferred to avoid public appearances to avoid headaches. It really was a nuisance.

"Harrison".

"Yes, Miss?"

"Please, remind me of the itinerary today", she said, massaging her temples.

"It would be my pleasure, Miss", he responded calmly, flicking through his iPad. "Scheduled next is the reading of the will by an executor chosen by the Lord and Lady Astley. At eighteen O'clock is a press conference about the contents of the will. Twenty O'clock is dinner at Conrad with the family and then you may retire for the night".

"Thank you, Harrison", she said thoughtfully. Harrison had been her parent's personal assistant for as long as she could remember and although he was growing older, she would never fire him. He had kind eyes with crinkles in the corner and neatly combed greying hair finished with his trademark fitted suit and a two-toned tie. She remembered asking him when she was younger why he always wore the same clothes, embarrassingly. He had chuckled and told her that he had many of the same outfits because if he wore new clothes, he was scared that she would forget who he was. She now understood that he just liked to be a uniformed person.

"Harrison", she said, smiling fondly. "Get Martha to be my spokesperson for the press conference, she is skilled enough. Also, cancel dinner at the Conrad's and tell the head chef to prepare dinner for the family".

"Oh, Miss. You do cause my hair to grey faster but it shall be done". He picked up the phone, winking at her as he changed the plans much to the chagrin of her press team.

Akira frowned. She would have to fire some staff. She wasn't paying them to defy her. She gave the orders to them, not them to her.

Watching the landscape roll by as they headed to their family home, she felt her eyes gloss over sightly. Her parents were her lifeline, one of the only people she felt affection for and the only people she would listen to. And now they were gone, leaving a huge gaping hole behind.

For the first time, Akira Astley did not know what to do. Their whole future was gone. They wouldn't be able to meet her children, her husband in the future. The grandchildren that her mother has spoken about endlessly would no longer have a grandmother. She had no siblings so she and her parents had a really close bond and until now, they had always been there for her. The feeling began to hit her like a train. The hopeless despair was slowly overwhelming her as she began to realise that they were really and truly gone.

The first tear welled up and fell before she could realise it, making a cooling wet trail down her left cheek before falling onto her lap. It blended in with the black of her dress and before she realised it, another fell and then another. The tears fell before they could be formed and she clenched her hands in wordless pain. Placing her gloved hand on the side of her face to wipe her tears, the smell of the crushed hyacinths overwhelmed her sensory system and the tears seemed to flow out faster.

She felt a small item drop on her lap and looked down to see a tissue placed there by Harrison who was looking at her with sadness in his eyes.

"Pardon me if I cross a line here", he said, kindly as he rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. "It may feel like this sorrow is endless and you will never recover, but you will one day. It may take one day or a year but eventually, you will see their passing and think of the pleasant memories rather than feel the painful emptiness. Your parents would want you to stay strong and fight through this, Miss. Nevertheless, do express your emotions and give yourself time to mourn".

"Thank you, Harrison", she whispered as she dabbed at the tears under her eyes and wiped her nose. "I will keep your words in mind".

He smiled at her and let go of her shoulder, leaving her to silently watch out of the window.

Her chauffeur pulled up outside the large sprawling grounds of her family home. There was a large electric gate that opened upon identification and the great mansion emboldened with the Astley family crest lay ahead with neatly manicured grounds and a marble fountain with its clear water sparkling under the sun. Attendants worked in the garden, clearing mess that was not visible to the untrained eye.

The car came to a stop in front of the large double door of her family home and Akira straightened up, ignoring the growing unease she felt.

"Harrison, call Inayah in to fix my rather swollen face before I go in. There are too many around to see me in such a state and she is the only person I can bear to be around right now".

"Yes, Miss", he said, calling before she had finished her sentence.

Moments later, another car pulled up with a woman sliding out just as it stopped. Inayah, as usual, was dressed perfectly in her blouse and flowy skirt with her scarf pinned back neatly and a large case in her hand. She rapped on the window smartly and got inside the car opposite Akira.

"Gosh, Akira, how are you really? When we spoke earlier, you seemed to be coping well", she asked, her eyebrows furrowed together in concern. "After your family dinner, give me a call and we can talk".

"Don't worry, Inayah", Akira sighed. "I am okay as I will ever be. I just need you to touch me up a little before I go in".

"Of course, that's what I'm here for. It's a good thing my parents live next to yours, isn't it?" Akira closed her eyes as Inayah got to work, smoothing a brush down her faces gently. "You just managed to catch me before I was going out. There are a hoard of journalists waiting outside our road. It's a good thing we live in a gated community".

Akira hummed in agreement, feeling more relaxed in the presence of her closest friend. Inayah and herself went back to when they were children, both new in primary school. Despite their initial differences, they formed a strong emotional bond that withstood the test of time and Inayah was one of the few people she trusted and cared for.

"All done".

She opened her eyes to see Inayah slotting brushes back into its cases and snapping the case shut with a loud click.

"You look beautiful, regardless but today, you look even more stunning. Don't let them catch you in your down moments because those journalists never have any moral limits. I have to go now, I have a lunch appointment with my fiance, but call me straight after the reading, promise?"

"I promise", she said, with a faint smile on her face. She leant forward and brushed a kiss on her cheek, Inayah doing the same to her in farewell. "Send my greetings to your fiance".

"Harrison", Inayah said, giving him a nod as a way of saying goodbye and after one tight squeeze of Akira's hand, she left the car and headed towards hers, her skirt swaying in the gentle breeze. Inayah's chauffeur seemed to say something to her as he opened the door for her, no doubt reprimanding her for getting out of the car before he could open it.

As Inayah's car left, she felt the worry crawling back and fussed over her hair to distract herself.

"Miss, do not fret. You have good people such as Miss Amir that will stand by you and help you through this tough time. Now, it is time for the reading of the will. Any longer and we will undoubtedly be late".

"You are correct, Harrison". She gestured for the doorman to open the door and got out with a concealed sense of anxiety. She wasn't worried about the contents of the will, rather, she was worried about all the sharks that would try to attack her wealth and disgrace her family name. Many would claim to be a close friend of her mothers or fathers or a long last relative and ask for a share of the inheritance. Harrison had already received such messages ever since the news of her parent's death hit global headlines.

Akira walked to the door, handing her coat and gloves to an assistant and headed towards the parlour where the executor stood impatiently. He was a short ruddy-faced man who seemed to be sweating a tad too much, almost appearing to look guilty with the fervent looks around the room.

"Oh, Miss Astley, you have finally arrived! Good to see you, good to see you! Mind my sweating, it's a little hot in here. A pleasure to meet you", he said as he shook her hand firmly.

"The pleasures all mine", she replied daintily, wishing she kept her gloves on.

"Now, your parents have entrusted the company I work for, P.R. Collins to secure and execute their will. Shall we proceed?"

Akira nodded in agreement. She already knew the contents of the will, she had been with her parents as they drew one up. She sat almost bored as she mentally recited what was on the will before the executor could. She would donate a portion to charity, she decided and would make sure her relatives got their fair share. Anyone claiming to deserve money, she would sue them in some form or the other. They didn't deserve a penny for trying to blackmail an orphaned girl as Harrison had said in anger earlier.

"-And the above mentioned can be received by Lady Astley on the condition that she spends a year with her paternal grandmother, Her Grace, the honourable Duchess Astley in the Astley country home and partake in her grandmother's wishes leaving within a week of the reading".

"What?!" Akira almost shouted, jerking back in surprise. She uncrossed her legs and stood in fury. "Please, repeat what you said", she asked in a calmer voice, regaining her composure.

"Well, you must spend time with your grandmother as it says here and live with her in the country house", he said nervously as he mopped his brow. "For a full year or you shall not inherit a penny".

Any thoughts?

Feel free to let me know :)

Xx