This is a battle.

ASHER.

"Oh gosh, were you waiting for me? Sorry for taking so long, I'm so flattered." She gushed as she took her seat, right by my grandfather's side. Sparing me a small glance for the first time in a long while she nodded softly and turned back to kiss my families ass. I couldn't understand her at first but I see it now her plan, to win over my family first. Tch… I will never agree to the marriage, at least even though I might have to marry the woman grandmother chooses I still have the choice in picking right?

My thoughts a disrupted by a loud noise and the sound of breaking and clashing cutlery and sliver. Before I even wrap my mind around what has happened a piercing erupts right by my side, right where she sits.

"Oh my goodness!" She exclaims getting up from her seat. "How-!" She pauses and I catch it, her subtle glance around the room. It happens for the shortest time but I notice it and then she turns around back to the screaming, begging, and kneeling maid. This reminds me of a historical movie, the way the maid begs it pains me to say that things like this are normal in this house. People begging like this it's foolish and inhumane.

But one thing surprises us all, Isabelle kneels before the maid and takes her face in both her hands lifting her head. "Don't beg me as if I have the power to cut off your head. You are making me look like some mean bitch." She says.

"Why are you kneeling?!" My grandmother yells "she should be scared for her head because I do have the power to remove it" really? Grandma? "and I will probably be doing that, how dare you do that to our guest?!"

"Oh my grandmother, it's no problem at all really" Isabelle insists.

"I don't care, she is getting paid she should have been more careful, are you going to disagree with me because of some useless servant?" Grandmother replies and the room goes silent, it seems it is not only I that is curious to see how she handles this.

Standing straight Isabelle faces my grandmother and bows, "going against your wishes is the last thing I would want to do grandmother." I knew it, she can't go against grandmother, no way. She truly is just one of those rich and materialistic women, at the end of the day she would sacrifice someone else to save herself.

"But… I need you to let me handle this time of my matters on my own. I came here today because you want to join both families, and I will be the wife of the Quing heir. If I don't handle these matters by myself won't I be considered a joke?" Isabelle states "she has made a serious mistake and had I been in your shoe grandmother I would have done the exact same thing. How dare a mere maid to deface my guest like this? But I am not a mere guest and I would prefer if she is forgiven today, hmm grandmother? Just this once for me?"

…

"What the hell are you still doing here? Go already" Isabelle says to the maid after helping her stand.

"Is… is it really okay to just walk away like this?" She asks glancing at my grandmother and stepmother. Assuming she received a go-ahead from my stepmother the maid dashes away. "I will go and wash off excuse me," Isabelle says as she follows after the maid.

"You should go after her Asher, even if she says she is fine it must still be a nuisance I'm sure that dress must have been expensive." My uncle's celebrity wife says to me.

"You are right Linn, It's a limited edition I have been trying to get my hands on it for so long now there was only one piece in the country I guess she was the one who finally bought it." My aunt adds.

Beyond confused I get up and follow her out, I need answers myself.

ISABELLE.

That was beyond close, this entire evening has been beyond close but somehow I have managed to wiggle my way out each time. Why did that grandmother have to speak up at that point? She almost ruined all my hard work, I didn't even know what I was saying anymore but it was the right thing as they all seemed to buy it. Walking past the bathroom I head to a familiar corner and meet with a familiar face.

"Were you too startled? I'm sorry about that," I say. "Here I'll add more money. I promise I'll make sure you don't lose your job but it's better if you don't appear before the old madam for a while okay?" The maid nods and walks off.

And I head back into the bathroom to try to at least rub off some of the stains. "Dammit" I curse, this plan has to work, it just has to. This was a limited edition dress I just ruined. For a moment I stop and stare at myself, placing both hands on the washbasin I prepare myself mentally. The entire afternoon I have exhausted myself kissing up to theQuing family and the next event is going to solidify me in their hearts. I know it's risky to get them to like me so much but for wealthy people to like you is one thing for them to like you enough to recommend you to someone else is a different matter. In my past life what would take place next was what destroyed any chances I had of marrying Asher and it was the beginning of my downfall in this city. My reputation had always been bad, but this night was one of the worst nights of my life. I plan to change that outcome this night, not that I intend on marrying Asher or anything but if this goes well I might be able to fix that reputation of mine. Of being an airheaded beauty who is shallow, selfish, naive and materialistic. Drawing in a butt load of air I exhale and walk out, this is battle and I intend on winning.