Miriam’s POV
“I think I have heard about the PUJAABS,” I repeated again, my voice trembling slightly as the pieces of my past started to click into place.
“Really?” Ariel got interested, leaning closer to me.
I was about to say something more, to explain where I’d heard that name, when my name was suddenly called out across the entire hall.
“Mrs. Miriam Ashford!” the host announced loudly, his voice carrying across the bustling venue.
I turned and saw Victor standing with a smile on his face.
Applause soon erupted through the hall like thunder, wave after wave of it washing over me.
Everyone was looking in my direction, their eyes on me, their attention focused entirely on my presence.
“You are being recognized,” Ariel said excitedly, grabbing my arm and pulling me up.
This was not something I was expecting.
Being called out in front of such a huge, important crowd.
But regardless of my surprise, I stood up, putting on a professional smile as I waved at the crowd.
Victor offered his hand, and I accepted it, feeling the warmth of his palm against mine as we walked together to the podium.
Cameras flashed in our faces, blinding me with their brightness, creating a dizzying effect.
Just as we stood on the podium, his mother came in with her entourage and some people in expensive suits.
The shouts and applause increased dramatically, doubling in volume.
She waved at the crowd with the grace of someone completely accustomed to being the center of attention.
“This section here is awarding best contributors to CL Clothing and Accessories. But before that, Mrs. Charlotte has ordered us to present a new face. A new CEO of the Ashford family. We have prepared a special award for her, and she goes by the name Miriam Ashford,” the host said, dragging my name out with dramatic flair.
Claps and shouts erupted through the hall again as the media took different angles from various positions.
I smiled and stepped forward, bowing and waving to the crowd.
The recognition felt surreal, like I was watching it happen to someone else rather than experiencing it myself.
Mrs. Charlotte came forward with a radiant smile on her face.
She gave me a warm hug, pulling me close.
“Welcome to the Ashford family,” she said to my ear, her voice filled with genuine warmth.
I smiled, feeling the weight of her acceptance.
She collected the gold shining award that had writing engraved on it: “CEO OF ASHFORD INDUSTRIES.” Camera flashes erupted as I took pictures with her.
Other important people came up and took pictures with me.
They introduced themselves, shook my hands, congratulated me.
I could not explain what I was feeling in that moment, but this was official.
This was real.
I was recognized in a famous gala like this, in front of the most powerful people in the business world.
The host handed me the microphone, and I realized I was expected to say something.
My heart raced.
“I really appreciate this award,” I said, my voice steady despite my nervousness.
“I was not expecting to receive this, but this really made my day. Being among the Ashford family and being the new CEO of Ashford Industries is such a big blessing. Thank you very much, Mum. Mrs. Charlotte. Thank you, Ariel. Thank you, everyone here who is happy for this great success. And finally, to my husband,” I paused and looked at him.
He was smiling, his expression showing he was proud of me.
Genuinely proud.
“Thank you very much. I love this recognition. I hope this brand blooms even more and reaches greater heights.”
I ended my speech boldly, my voice ringing through the hall with confidence that I was only half-feeling.
Applause erupted again, thunderous and genuine.
The host took over the microphone, moving on to the next segment.
“I am proud of you,” he muttered, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
He interweaved his hands in mine, his grip firm and reassuring.
My heart fluttered.
This was a day I had almost been traumatized, almost been destroyed, and yet it was also a day I was given special recognition.
The contrast was almost too much to bear.
“Why did you not tell me about this?” I asked, squeezing his hand.
“I wanted it as a surprise. I had told Mom to make this special recognition for you. Something just for you to celebrate yourself,” he said softly.
Butterflies floated freely in my stomach.
He was being so nice to me, and this was going beyond control for me.
The gala finally ended after hours of various programs and recognitions of important high-class people.
Other brands who had worked under Charlotte were celebrated.
Different auction items were sold for astronomical prices.
It was a super fun and tiring event.
Even right after the official gala ended, I had to wait as different people came forward for my autographs, pictures together, posing on the red carpet.
Different photographers took shots from every angle, trying to capture the new CEO of Ashford Industries in the most flattering light possible.
“I promise we are gonna hang out more. Since I will be in New York for some months before going back to Japan,” Ariel said, holding my hands with genuine affection.
“Oh, I can really wait,” I smiled, and I meant it.
In just one evening, Ariel had become someone I felt genuinely close to.
“You were really cool back there,” she said, referring to my speech.
I laughed.
We both laughed, the sound of our laughter mixing with the ambient noise of the dispersing crowd.
“Come on, let’s take a picture. A picture with the latest CEO,” she said playfully.
I chuckled as we took cute videos together, posing dramatically and making silly faces.
She was such a jovial person, like we had known each other for years before today.
“What’s your handle on Instagram? Let’s follow each other,” she asked.
“I have an account, but I don’t really do Instagram,” I said naively, realizing how out of touch I sounded.
“Oh my God, really? You have to log in right away. I bet your account would have entered a million followers already. You are a celebrity already, Miriam,” she said excitedly.
I chuckled, the words sounding weird to my ears.
But I did as she suggested.
I had never been really interested in these social media apps.
I searched for trending news on some sites sometimes, but opening my Instagram now, everything came flooding in.
Follows that reached a million and more.
I was amazed by how people actually found my page.
It was surreal.
“You are right,” I admitted, staring at the numbers in disbelief.
“Just post any picture you took today and you would see wonders. The algorithm will make sure everyone sees it,” she said with the confidence of someone very familiar with how social media worked.
The world of social media is truly powerful, I thought, as Ariel had said.
Victor was discussing with some group of men, his assistant Karen standing beside him, ready to take notes or answer any questions.
Some ladies soon came to our side, their designer clothes and expensive jewelry marking them as people of wealth and status.
“Hello, Mrs. Miriam,” one of them said excitedly, her eyes gleaming with something that looked like malice masked as friendliness.
“Can we get a photo? My friend Nadia said she needed to see the face of her bitch sister,” another one said, and they all laughed together like they’d shared some inside joke at my expense. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
The girls looked young, around Nadia’s age maybe.
I smiled at the miscreant energy of these girls, recognizing the type immediately.
They were the kind of young women who thought cruelty was clever and meanness was fashionable.
“Who the hell are these girls? Don’t you have manners?” Ariel’s voice rose sharply as she raised her hand to hit the girl who had talked so rudely.
The girl immediately raised her phone.
“I am taking a video right now. If you hit me, I am putting this on social media,” the girl threatened, her voice suddenly confident because she had a camera.
“Tsk, these spoilt brats,” Ariel scoffed.
I stopped Ariel with a gentle touch on her arm.
Girls like my sister were something that could not be handled with aggression.
They thrived on drama and conflict.
Instead, I took the girl’s phone before she could protest and took a selfie of us with her face caught completely unaware, her expression shifting from defiance to shock.
“Tell Nadia it’s a shame I did not see her here,” I said sweetly, handing her back her phone.
The girl snatched her phone as she and her friends scrambled off, muttering insults under their breath.
“Nadia is your sister, right? I could sense some sibling hatred in this setting,” Ariel said, her protective instincts on high alert.
I nodded my head.
“Well, it is just as it is,” I said, giving no room for explanation.
To my relief, she did not pester on with more questions.
“Ohh, I have a meeting to attend to,” Ariel said, checking her phone.
“But I want that punk to finish up.” She gestured toward where Victor was still deep in discussion with the group of men.
We looked over at the side where they were still talking intensely.
What were they really discussing?
I wondered, my mind spinning with possibilities.
Business deals?
The My phone suddenly started ringing.
The caller ID showed a name I have always thought was a safe place – Lily.
My ex-best friend.
Someone I had known from high school, through university times.
We were like two halves of a whole- we literally told each other everything.
Even when I was about to get married to Williams, she knew everything about me.
But she was just deceiving me all along.
The three people I once loved had all deceived me- Nadia, Williams, and Lily.
But Lily’s betrayal hurt the most because it had been the deepest.
The call ended, and I lowered my phone, not ready to speak to her.
She continued calling, persistence in her attempts to reach me.
“I think you should pick up whoever is calling persistently. They might need something from you,” Ariel said, looking up from her own phone with concern in her eyes.
I stared at the phone as I slowly swiped left to accept the call.
There was a few seconds of background noise before she finally spoke.
“Why the hell did you put people here to stop us from seeing Williams?” she asked, her voice sharp and accusatory, cutting through any possibility of a gentle greeting.
My blood ran cold.
The special recognition !!!
I felt it in my soul , it was such a cute way of Victor telling her indirectly on how much he cares for her.
I can’t wait for what She is going to say next to Lily, see that in the next chapter.