The Grand Mistress

When Feather's mother left her room, she thought she could have the room for herself. After their recent conversation, she decided to rest the whole day and planned well how she could tame Hawk Monsanto. However, her expectation blew off when she heard a series of knocks on her door again.

"Miss Feather, it's me Ami," Her assistant's voice can be heard from the other side of the door. ​​

"Ami, I'm sick and I want to be alone! Didn't I tell you to cancel all my meetings for the day?" She lashed out at her.

"Miss I have something for you," Ami answered with excitement, not minding Feather's mood. She knew then it would completely change the moment she knew what she brought her.

"For Christ sake Ami, can it not wait for tomorro—"

"It's a gift," Ami cut her knowing she wasn't up for it. She had to divulge the surprise since Feather wasn't giving it a chance, "Probably from your fiance,"

The word fiancee tingled around Feather's ears and her mood changed completely. Her face brightened as she hurried to the door. The door wasn't locked actually, she just couldn't contain her excitement.

"What is it?" She gasped as the door flew open. She saw her assistance with a large mystery box that she instantly grabbed away. She brought the box to her bed and adored its beauty.

"It was beautifully packaged Miss, I wonder what's inside," Ami flashed a more exciting look on it. Hawk's presents for Feather were always thought of and far more valuable than anything she has. They were not only expensive but also very rare, something only a person like Hawk Monsanto can have access to.

"The last thing he gave you was jewelry previously owned by a princess," Ami recalled with adoration. "What could it be this time,"

"I don't know," Feather looked at Ami thrilled. Hawk's previous gift was envied by many of the socialites in their circle and she took pride in it. For sure this new gift was something far greater than that. "I'll open it!"

"He must have felt pretty bad about your injury and decided to cheer you up with a gift." God! Hawk Monsanto is a very thoughtful fiancee. You are so lucky Miss," Ami consoled her while Feather was on her way to open the box. "You've done a great job Miss at making him feel guilty,"

"You think so?" Feather felt some relief hearing Ami's words. Then she shifted her focus in opening the gift. It was such a large beautifully ornamented box that she had never seen before. Whoever wrapped it for sure had all the talent for it. When feather untied the ribbon and lifted the covering, what welcomed her was a bouquet of white flowers. It was beautifully done that she can't help but adore it. "It's beautiful Ami,"

"Miss isn't that lilies?" Ami's voice faltered a bit as if she was frustrated to see it.

"I'm not sure but they are beautiful. Far more beautifully done than any bouquet's I've seen," Feather continued adoring. The bouquet didn't frustrate her in any way especially because she knew it was only an opening gift, she could still see another small box inside the large gift. "My Hawk surely knew how to please me so much? Don't you think? I suddenly like kind of flower already,"

"But Miss didn't you know?"

"Didn't know what?" Feather turned to look at her.

"Miss..in my hometown...lilies are for...for a funeral," Ami almost didn't want to say it.

Feather chilled at what she heard. She put the bouquet down and looked at Ami for a moment as her words brought some kind of uneasiness on her.

Seeing how Feather reacted, Ami quickly withdrew her words, "But that was just for my hometown Miss. Seeing how beautiful these lilies are, I know for sure they aren't the type that is being used for funerals. Besides, it's from President Hawk, right? This must cost a fortune,"

Feather chose not to comment on that anymore. She was annoyed that Ami ruined the mood but she was more interested in opening the small box than lingering on Ami's hometown stories. She let loose another set of ribbons and opened the box only to be welcomed by a much dreadful thing than lilies for a funeral!

"Ahhh!" Feather's screams were all over the place. Even Ami herself got lost for a minute and screamed with her.

"O my God!" Ami screamed again at the scene of two bloodied rings intertwined together with a scarlet ribbon. "Is that real blood?"

"You told me it's from President Hawk. This looks nothing like any of President Hawk's gifts," Feather turned to Ami shaking in fear. She knew those rings. She immediately recognized them the moment she saw it and the person who last had them was someone she didn't want to remember ever, especially then.

"I really thought it was from him. Miss, I'm so sorry...I didn't expect it to be—"

"Get out! " Feather screamed, shaking. She cupped her head with her two hands trying to wipe out a memory she doesn't want to remember, "Out now Ami! Out of my room before I can fire you out!"

Ami immediately ran out of the room before Feather could say anything further. Feather was left all alone trembling and in paranoia. She was crying hysterically when Fara found her. She heard all the screams and saw Feather's assistant running away so she went on to check what happened.

"Feather, what happened?" Fara saw all the mess in Feather's bed and saw the bloodied rings. "Who sent you this?" She asked Feather right away as she too understood what the gift meant. "Tell me Feather, who dared to send you these gifts?" Her last question was almost like a scream. She too was immediately bothered by the fact that someone was trying to threaten them.

"I thought it was from President Hawk's mother. Ami brought it in saying it's from Hawk," That's all that Feather was able to tell. She had no more strength to say anything more as her fear consumed her.