Changes

A new dawn came with big changes. Sun rays from the window stroked Allegra's face as she opened her eyes. She sat up and yawned lazily, whilst observing the maids in her room, moving her things out.

 She blinked repeatedly, still disoriented. "What's going on?" She asked.

 "We are moving your things to the mistress' bedroom, madam." One of the maids answered.

 "Under whose instructions?" Allegra enquired.

 She got an answer she did not expect. "Ms. Flora's."

 Allegra quickly cleaned up, dressed and went downstairs. She would ask Flora why she had to move out of her current room. It was large and tastefully furnished, with a wonderful view.

 She found Flora sitting in the kitchen, looking through some journals. "Hey Flora."

 "Good morning Mrs Greyworth." Flora greeted without looking up from her journals.

 "I just found out you requested that my things be moved to a different room without my permission. Might I ask why?" Allegra queried.

 "You are now the mistress of the mansion. By right, your room should be the second largest and positioned on the other side of the mansion." Flora explained without pausing for a breath. "That is the order of things."

 "Farther from Nicholas..." Allegra noticed that her new room was much farther from her husband's. Their rooms were basically at opposite ends of the mansion and she wondered why it was so.

 "Madam, that is the way it has been for as long as this mansion has stood. From Elias Greyworth, Nicholas Greyworth's grandfather, down to your husband and all his previous wives."

 Allegra frowned at the mention of her husband's ex-wives. "I understand. Just keep me informed and seek my consent before making any big decisions that involve me." 

 "Understood."

 Allegra decided to take a look at her new room. She knew she had no choice but to accept Flora's decision.

 She climbed the stairs, dreading what she was about to behold. The moment she opened the door to her new room, she understood why it was called the mistress' room. It was thrice the size of the one she had previously slept in, with exquisite looking furniture and interiors.

 There were maids inside, moving clothes, shoes and bags out of her closets and replacing them with brand new ones. Allegra felt like she was living in a dream. She had never even seen that type of luxury before, talk less experienced it.

 Soon, her phone rang in her hand. It was her mother. "Hey, mum."

 Winnie went straight to the point. "Allegra, tell me why your brother's school just got an email, offering him a fully sponsored scholarship to any Ivy League of his choice from Greyworth Consolidated."

 Allegra shrugged. "Is that a problem?"

 Winnie continued. "And I got an invitation from John Hopkins hospital to get treatment for cancer, all expenses paid for by Nicholas Greyworth, even my flight is covered!"

 "I still don't see how that is a problem." Allegra said as she settled on her bed. "I mean money for Nathan's education and treatment for your cancer. Sounds like pretty good news to me."

 "What have you done?" Winnie asked her daughter. She was no fool, she knew all that generosity would come with a price.

 Allegra did not know how to break the news to her mother. How would she tell her that she had gotten married to a man she barely knew just because of money? She finally broke the silence. "I kind of got married."

 Winnie gasped. "Allegra! To who, Nicholas Greyworth's first son?"

 "The man himself." Allegra corrected quickly.

 "What?" Winnie almost screamed. "The man is like fifty and you're just twenty seven!"

 "He's forty two, mum---"

 Winnie would notley Allegra finish. "Baby, no, no, no. You've made a horrible yet completely reversible mistake. Since it's still so new, it can be easily annulled---"

 Allegra wouldn't let her mother complete a sentence either. "I've made my decision mum. You can't change my mind." She hung up before her mother could continue the argument.

 Later in the day, Nicholas' daughter, Ivory came home. Allegra was sitting in the living room, reading a novel she found in her new room. She wondered which one of Nicholas' exes was a reader. She doubted it was Samantha.

 "You." Ivory said as she walked into the living room.

 "Hello." Allegra smiled politely at the young woman.

 Ivory switched on the massive television which Allegra was hoping to learn how to use soon. "I doubt you've lived in a house like this before." Ivory sneered.

 "Not many people have." Allegra replied honestly, not taking the girl's sass to heart.

 "You're right. But my dad is of the habit of marrying broke women." Ivory remarked. "My mum being the only exception of course. She's the only daughter of an oil mogul. Perhaps that's why she is the ire of Samantha's existence."

 Allegra chuckled. "Samantha is quite the character."

 "Don't sugarcoat it, she's a bitch." Ivory stated. "Quinn's no angel either."

 "I haven't met her." Allegra admitted. She only knew Quinn Greyworth by reputation.

 "Pray you never do. That one's a politician."

 "I love politics." Allegra said excitedly, almost missing the point.

 Ivory frowned at her new stepmother before calling for help. "Can I get some lemonade?"

 Allegra and Ivory sat in silence for several moments, observing each other. Ivory was everything Allegra imagined a billionaire's only daughter would look like. Pretty, flippant but smart, sassy but observant, covered in designers. Allegra knew there was a thin line between bluntness and rudeness that Ivory hadn't crossed yet.

 A maid walked up to Ivory but without the lemonade she asked for. "Sorry miss, we've run out of lemons. I can make you another drink if you want."

 "How did we run out of lemons when Flora's here?" Ivory asked.

 "We used the lemons to make the lemon cakes Ms Samantha requested." The maid explained.

 Allegra and Ivory exchanged confused looks. "Samantha?" Allegra tensed. "Is she here?"

 "No ma'am, not yet. She has a meeting with a few shareholders so she insists we cook special meals." The maid stated.

 "Does she host meetings here often?" Allegra asked.

 "Only when she wants to impress." Ivory replied then got up and left.

 "Mrs Greyworth." Flora called as she joined Allegra in the living area minutes after Ivory left. "The boss called. He needs your attention in the office."

 Allegra wondered why Nicholas hadn't just called her himself. There really was no reason to be so formal about everything especially since they were now married, not minding that the marriage was only real legally.

 She changed into one of the new dresses in her closet. A simple black designer dress to match her persona and her new status.

 One of the available guards drove Allegra to Greyworth Consolidated in one of the many luxury cars Nicholas owned.

 Allegra stepped into Greyworth Consolidated as a new woman. She turned heads at every corner. Sure enough, Nicholas had not officially announced their marriage, but she was certain there were rumours going around.

 On her way to Nicholas' office which also used to be her workplace mere days ago, a brunette woman walked up to her.

 "Hello, you're Ms. Allegra, correct?" The woman asked.

 Not many people knew she was now married to Nicholas, it seemed. Allegra wasn't about to correct her. "Yes."

 "This way, please." The woman led Allegra to an elevator.

 When the elevator doors closed in on them, Allegra decided to ask why they weren't going to Nicholas' office. "His office is on the floor we're leaving now, is it not?" She spoke, confused.

 "It is, miss. But I was directed to bring you here." The lady said politely but firmly.

 Allegra simply nodded. Nicholas was not a predictable man, so perhaps he wanted to show her something.

 The brunette woman ushered Allegra into a large office, then shut the door behind her.

 Instead of Nicholas, a middle aged woman was seated at the desk, with a palm on her cheek. Allegra immediately recognized the woman whose image was greatly associated with Greyworth Consolidated.

 "Sit." The woman said.

 Allegra rolled her eyes. Quinn Greyworth had tricked her into coming to her office with Flora's help. She suspected Flora did not like her from the start, but she never imagined that the older housekeeper was working with Quinn, Nicholas' first ex-wife and the second most powerful person in Greyworth Consolidated.

 Allegra sat, silent and expressionless. They both sat in silence for a while, merely staring at each other and it seemed to Allegra that Nicholas' ex was studying everything about her body.

 Quinn's thin lips remained in a permanent line. "Allegra O'Connell." She started. "I have a deal for you. One you cannot refuse, for your own good."