Troy's phone buzzed on her dresser, displaying an unknown number. She knew it was probably one of her family members calling to check in. She ignored the call and headed to her walk-in closet to choose an outfit for the day. After selecting a sleek black pantsuit, she grabbed her phone and put on her glasses.
As she left her house and walked to her car, the morning sunlight reflected off the sleek black surface. She slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, feeling a sense of calm wash over her as she pulled out of her driveway.
Twenty minutes later, Troy arrived at her company's headquarters, a towering glass skyscraper in the heart of the city. As she stepped into the lobby, her staff members looked up, their faces a mixture of respect and apprehension. They quickly stood up, greeting her with a chorus of "Good morning, Miss Troy."
Troy walked swiftly through the lobby, her heels clicking on the marble floor. She nodded curtly at her staff, her eyes scanning the room as she made her way to her office.
As she entered her office, the room fell silent. Maya, a senior staff member, leaned in to whisper to Miguel, the new intern, "Be careful around her. She's not someone to be trifled with."
Miguel looked confused, and Mr. Kevin, a veteran employee, jumped into the conversation. "It's a long story, but I'll try to give you the short version," he said, motioning for everyone to gather around.
As they sat down in a circle, Mr. Kevin began, "You see, Miss Troy has always been...different. Even as a child, she had an aura about her that commanded attention."
The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Mr. Kevin as he paused, studying their reactions.
Miguel leaned forward, his curiosity evident on his face. "What do you mean by strange?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Kevin's expression turned serious, and he glanced around the room before responding. "Like she died and resurrected," Mr. Kevin said, his words dropping like a bombshell.
The room erupted into a collective gasp of shock. "What do you mean she died and resurrected?" someone asked, their voice trembling.
Mr. Kevin took a deep breath before continuing. "Troy and her mom were involved in a horrific accident 22 years ago. They were rushed to the hospital, but the doctors declared them dead on arrival after conducting all the necessary tests."
Mr. Kevin paused again, surveying the room before dropping another bombshell. "But just as they were about to dispose of the bodies, the little girl miraculously came back to life. Even the doctors couldn't believe it, especially since her backbone had been severely damaged in the accident."
The room fell silent once more, with all eyes fixed on Mr. Kevin as they struggled to process the shocking revelation.
Mr. Kevin continued, gaining attention again. "Mr. Williams, Troy's father, was consumed by grief and agony over losing his dear wife. He made the mistake of his life when he impregnated his secretary."
The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Mr. Kevin as he dropped another bombshell.
"And I have reason to believe that the secretary drugged him," Mr. Kevin added, his voice low and serious.
Everyone was shocked, their faces reflecting their disbelief and horror.
Mr. Kevin continued, his voice unwavering. "The deed had already been done, so Mr. Williams brought his mistress back home and married her – the woman who Troy suspects killed her mother."
The room erupted into a mixture of gasps, whispers, and shocked murmurs, with all eyes fixed on Mr. Kevin as he revealed the dark secrets surrounding Troy's family.
Troy refused to accept the mistress, Mrs. Eva, as her mother, and that's when the beautiful family of Mr. Williams began to crumble. The tension and resentment between Troy and her father grew, until it became unbearable.
Coming of age, Troy made the difficult decision to leave home and start anew. With determination and hard work, she built her company from the ground up, all on her own. She poured her heart and soul into the business, using it as a distraction from the pain and anger she felt towards her father and Mrs. Eva.
As she stood in her office, surrounded by the trappings of her success, Troy's eyes seemed to gleam with a fierce inner light. She had come a long way from the broken and angry teenager she once was, but the scars of her past still lingered, waiting to be uncovered.