The morning sun spilled across the marble floor as Anaya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the hem of her long skirt. She wore a soft beige t-shirt tucked into a flowy navy skirt that danced around her ankles. Her hair was loosely braided over one shoulder, strands framing her gentle face. There was a nervous excitement in her chest. Anaya whispered herself, "today, I would be stepping into a new world."
Outside, she heard Jiya call, "Anaya! Let's go!"
With one last deep breath, Anaya grabbed her small sling bag and walked out of the house.
The moment she stepped into the driveway, her mouth dropped open. A sleek red Lamborghini sat gleaming in the sunlight, parked like it had rolled out of a dream.
Her eyes widened. "Sister…" she whispered, almost in disbelief, "are we seriously going to the company… in this?"
Jiya appeared from the other side of the car, putting on her sunglasses casually. "Yes," she replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Really… really?" Anaya's voice cracked with disbelief.
"Yes," Jiya repeated with a small laugh.
Anaya stared at the car, her heart pounding. Oh man… what did I step into? she thought to herself. How is this even real? Am I… am I walking into my fate? Seems like God made a way for me through this to reach Yu Chen."
Jiya unlocked the doors and smiled. "Come on. Hop in."
Anaya nodded quickly, sliding into the passenger seat as if stepping into a spaceship. As the engine purred to life, she turned to Jiya. "Sister… can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
Anaya hesitated and said.., "I want to learn how to drive. Will you teach me?"
Without a second's thought, Jiya replied, "Okay."
Anaya beamed. "Really? Ohh! That's great! Thank you, Sister!" Her joy spilled out into a wide grin. "Why are you helping me so much… really?"
Jiya smiled, eyes still on the road. "Nothing big. I just feel like… we're family. That's all."
Anaya's heart softened. She leaned in slightly, arms ready for a hug. "Thank you, sister."
But just then, Jiya said sharply, "Hey! We're in the car. Mind your manners. Can't you see I'm driving?"
Anaya pulled back, blushing. "Oops… right. Sorry." and put a long face.
Soon, the car pulled up in front of a towering glass building with a sleek black-and-gold sign that read:
"AUREA RECORDS"
Anaya's eyes lifted up slowly, reading the name. The font was stylish, and the building behind it seemed to stretch into the sky.
Jiya parked the car in the VIP section, stepped out, and walked with elegance only a true professional could carry. Anaya followed, blinking up at the building and clutching her bag nervously.
As they stepped away from the car, Anaya quickly moved beside Jiya and wrapped her arms around her, finishing the hug she'd started earlier.
"Now that we're out of the car," Anaya grinned while leave a soft smile.
Jiya laughed softly, a bit shy but warm. "Okay, okay. That's enough. Let's get inside."
"Hmm… okay," Anaya nodded, finally letting go.
The moment they entered the building, it was as if Jiya transformed.
The warm, happy and teasing Jiya, seems like no more.
In her place stood someone… powerful. Her steps were confident, her expression calm but unreadable. Her shoulders were straight, and her presence filled the entire hallway like a quiet storm.
Anaya blinked. Whoa… what just happened?
As they walked past rows of glass offices and workspaces, the staff stood up one by one, bowing slightly or greeting with polite smiles.
"Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning, Ms. Jiya."
"Morning, Director."
Jiya responded with just a slight nod or a glance from her sharp eyes.. silent, graceful, commanding.
Anaya walked beside her like a quiet shadow, her head turning left and right, drinking in the atmosphere.
Oh… my… god, Anaya thought to herself, sister is like one of those cold, elegant female CEOs from a novel! What is this?!
Jiya didn't say a word. Her heels clicked against the floor, echoing with quiet authority.
Anaya leaned toward her slightly and whispered, "Sister… are you really this high up in the company?"
Jiya glanced at her and smiled only with her eyes. "What do you think?"
Anaya gulped and looked ahead, half amused, half in awe.
She whispered again to herself, "I really stepped into something big…"
The door to the chamber opened with a quiet click, and Anaya stepped in behind Jiya. Her eyes widened as she read the golden letters on the board outside..,
"Chief Executive Officer – Private Office"
Inside, the room was spacious and elegant. The walls were lined with tall windows that bathed the room in soft light. A wide desk sat at the far end, surrounded by bookshelves, music awards, and a few potted plants that added a quiet charm.
To her surprise, Jiya walked straight to the main chair behind the desk and took a seat as if it belonged to her, because it did.
Anaya blinked, confused. "Sister… why are you sitting there?" she whispered. "Isn't this… the CEO's office?"
Jiya looked up with a subtle smile and raised her eyebrows slightly.
Anaya's breath hitched. "Don't tell me… You're the… the CEO?"
Jiya chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "What do you think?" she said calmly.
Anaya gasped, her hands lightly covering her mouth. "Sister… you're really… the CEO?!" Her voice trembled with awe.
Jiya nodded, then leaned forward, resting her arms on the desk. Her expression turned serious, but her eyes stayed kind.
"Anaya, I've got something important to discuss with you," she said.
Anaya stood quietly, still trying to absorb everything.
Jiya continued gently, "You're entering a new world now. A world where dreams and reality live side by side, but also where people watch everything your words, your face, your silence."
She paused for a moment, then said, "There are some things you might have to change about yourself, just a little."
Anaya looked puzzled.
"Sometimes, you have to be bright and happy, show people your warmth," Jiya explained, "but sometimes, especially when you're holding power or standing up for yourself… you need to be calm, even cold. Not because you're pretending, but to because you're protecting your worth."
She tapped a finger lightly on the desk. "If you're always too gentle, people might mistake it for weakness. And you're not weak, Anaya."
Anaya lowered her gaze, thinking deeply.
"But when you want to be happy, don't hold it back," Jiya added with a soft smile. "Laugh. Cry. Dream. You don't have to hide everything inside anymore."
Then she stood up, walked around the desk, and gently held Anaya's shoulders. "From now on, I'm with you. As your family, as your friend, and as your guide."
Anaya's eyes slowly welled up. No one had ever said something like that to her before.
She whispered, voice quivering, "Thank you… sister."
Jiya pulled her into a light hug and said with quiet certainty, "You're not alone anymore, Anaya."
Jiya continued, " and sometimes you have hide your feelings.., it might be your weaknesses or as for those things that are happened at a wrong time. You have to held back your emotions. Okk.."
Anaya nodded her head..
Jiya said, " and now, you want to enter into the entertainment buzz. You have to be careful with your all actions."
As that, suddenly a knock came from the outside..