Chapter 1 The Reveal

Laura's POV

I sit anxiously in my Mercedes, the type of luxury for which I have worked so hard. But right now, what interests me the most is the cool air coming from the car's rolled-down window. It tickles my skin, flickers my lashes, and brushes my eyebrows. This is how I like it; it kind of prepares me for what I am about to do.

What am I about to do? I am about to intrude on a coronation party and steal the queen's crown. Vanessa, my step-sister, the queen, is going to be the CEO of the company. Her crown is now mine, and I am going to claim it.

"Did you, as I requested, pay the paparazzi?" I say to my assistant sitting beside me.

"Absolutely, ma'am. I gave them instructions and also called the media. The inauguration ceremony will be just how you want it," she responds, her face buried in her iPad.

I brace myself for what's about to happen. This is the moment I had been waiting for my entire life. The look on their faces is so gonna make my day. I am going to relish every second of it.

I hear the buzzing sound emanating from the building as the car comes to a sudden stop. Lifting my head, I see the name in big bold letters: "Whitehood Enterprise." My spine tingles at the name. I signal to the driver, and he gets down to open the door.

"Thanks, Austin," I say to him, patting his shoulder. As I take a step down and straighten my silk dress, numerous paparazzi start to focus on me. Whoa, this will be entertaining.

I catwalk into the building holding a microphone. As I enter the hall, I make my way straight to the stage.

"Madam, ma'am, who are you? You were not supposed to be here," I hear the security personnel muttering under their breath. "Hey, do not stop there!" another security staff protests. He makes no effort to stop me. Monica did an excellent job. She had greased their palms before now. They practised a little protest and resistance.

I see Vanessa standing there, giving her speech, holding a bunch of flowers in her arms. Oh, how I want to swipe her face with it. As soon as she notices me, her face is filled with confusion. Her puzzled look is soon replaced with a frightened one. Looks like she knew who I was. I am a step away from her now, and she is shaking with terror. It is as if she saw a ghost or met death. My demeanour alone is enough to raise her blood pressure.

"I will take it from here," I say to her in a low tone. I take over the podium, pushing her nub figure to the side.

"Good day, everyone. Sorry for the minor commotion over here, but I need to convey some critical information. My name is Laura Whitehood, the daughter of Leonard Whitehood. I'm indeed the first daughter and the heiress to the Whitehood firm and enterprise," I say and give a pause, loving the disgust on Lucy's face. "My apologies for the sudden disruption, but I must bring to your notice that I'm the legal benefactor of this great firm. As the first daughter of the Whitehood clan, my grandmother and the legal owner of these properties willed them to me. I have been met by unfair treatment given to me by my father, stepmother, and sister. I only seek that this matter will be reinvestigated and the rightful heiress given the inheritance. I will take legal action against whoever tried to deprive me of my well-deserving rights." I say the last words loudly. I smile as the continuous buzzing from the crowd seems to serenade me. I notice an obvious cheer from my grandma. Right now, she seems to be the only person who has my back.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing, Laura? I dare you to ruin this for me," Vanessa snaps, causing the smirk on my face to expand.

"Shush, baby sis, see you in court," I snap back at her as I grab the bouquet from her arm. I walk down the stage feeling like Beyonce. The paparazzi and media staff flock around me, hitting my face with the flashes of light from their cameras.

"Ma'am, are you really a Whitehood? Where have you been all this while? Why did the family keep you hidden?" The paparazzi throw questions at me, not giving me a chance to reply. I keep a stern face and say loudly, "I'm the first daughter of Leonard Whitehood and the legal benefactor to his properties. I was kept hidden because I'm his illegitimate daughter." The crowd's loud chatter turns into whispers. I motion to my bodyguard, Pablo, and he paves the way. Walking past the crowd, I run into him. The man that started it all, Leonard Whitehood.

"Laura, I..." he says and stops midway, noticing my already agitated face.

"I'm sorry things have to be like this. I'm sorry you and your sister aren't seeing eye to eye. But this is not the way to go about it, Laura. What will the media and people say?"

I kiss my teeth as he speaks, thinking of ways to make him feel the same pain he put my mother through.

"You don't dictate how I act, Mr. Leonard. I'm not like you. I have never really cared about what people say. I mean, they're always going to talk. I just gave them something fun to talk about," I say, trying to curtail my anger. He tries to reach for my arm, and I move a step back.

"Why are you trying so hard? Is it because of Lucy and her daughter? Save your strength; I'm gonna make sure they get nothing," I snarl, looking straight into his eyes. I walk right past him and head towards my car.

I step into my car and breathe out in relief.

"Where to, ma'am?" Austin asks, looking at me from the rearview mirror.

"The Whitehood mansion. There's someone I need to see," I say as I place a warm towel on my neck.