I had been sitting in my second class of the day, taking note, actually, when I got a phone call from my mom.

Since I couldn't answer it in the middle of class, I figured that if it was important enough, she'd either call back again or text me. She knew I was in class, after all.

When she called back almost right after the phone stopped vibrating, I knew it must've been important...

'I've got that feeling again...'

And that that pit in my stomach came back.

I grabbed up my things, shoving them into my backpack before I made a hasty retreat out the door and immediately called her back.

The first thing I noticed when she answered was that her voice was shaky as if she was crying.

"Mom, what's wrong," I asked, feeling pinpricks along my hairline.

This was the bad feeling I was having. Whatever she was about to say, this was why my anxiety had been at an all-time high today.

"Genny, it's your grandmother," she barely got the words out, "They found her this morning. She's passed away, Gen."

'I told you something was wrong...'

It sounded like my subconscious was a million miles away though.

I've never been one to make a scene in public but I almost hyperventilated in the hallway, tears streaming down my face as I raced out to my car.

***

"No, Genevieve! You know she would be so upset and disappointed if she knew you were dropping out of college for this," my mother tried to reason with me the next morning.

But I had already made up my mind.

'You know she's speaking the truth.'

I don't care.

"I have to go pack her things and sell her house, mom. I have to go to Dallas and who knows how long all of that will take. It's easier this way. And when all is said and done, maybe I'll go to some college there," I said as I was packing a suitcase.

"You need to really think this through, Genevieve. Don't make any rash decisions before you potentially mess up your future," she said quietly.

And I stopped what I was doing, halted everything and turned to look at her, "A future I wouldn't have been able to have without her help. You forget that she was the one that paid for me to go to college in the first place. I can very well drop out if I want. And I can and probably will enroll in a college in Dallas while I get the house ready to sell."

She was quiet for a while before she spoke again, "If you think that what's best. You are old enough to make your own decisions... Doesn't mean I don't want to give my two sense every now and again," she whispered, "You sure you don't want any help?"

I turned and finished packing, "I'm sure. She and I were closest so it's up to me. I appreciate your trying to help, but I got this."

Zipping up the suitcase and putting it on the floor before pulling up the handle, I sighed and looked up at my mom who already had tears running down her cheeks.

"I always knew you'd be moving out, I just never expected it to be this soon or on these circumstances," she sniffled.

"I know, but it'll be okay. We'll only be a phone call away from each other," I replied and gave her a hug.

"You'll call me when you get there," she asked and kissed my forehead.

"Yeah, mom. I promise," I smiled and watched as she walked out of the room, probably going to tell my father that I was ready to go.

As I looked around my childhood room, a room decked out in all pink, it didn't feel like me anymore.

It felt like the room belonged to someone else.

I hated the reason why I was finally going to Dallas, but maybe this would be for the best.

Maybe because of this, I would finish college in Dallas and maybe because of this, I would find a great job in the city.

And it might sound cheesy, but maybe this was the first day of the rest of my life.

***

Driving into downtown Dallas was a nightmare.

There was traffic and almost all the radio stations were playing commercials at the moment.

Finally giving up and leaving it on whatever it scanned to, a program for a gossip station came on.

"...planning to get into modeling and tv like your younger brother is?"

The person he was talking to chuckled darkly and then a man's deep voice came through the speakers, "No. My first priority is the company. If Preston wants to spend his time becoming famous...so be it."

"So, no desire to be famous? You do know you're a bit of celebrity here in Dallas, right? Everyone knows who you are, Dominic—"

"—Not I," I chuckled.

"—You're one of the richest men in the city and I hear Blackstone Incorporated is doing very well right now. Maybe all of that is thanks to Preston getting a bit of publicity?"

The other man sighed deeply, "Maybe, Mark, and if it is then I thank him for that, but we were doing just fine before he decided to pose shirtless for various magazines. Blackstone Incorporated has done well from basically day 1...and that was around 80 years ago when my grandfather started the company out of his house at just 25."

"That young, huh?"

"Yeah, and it was a success when he passed the business to my father when he was 30, and it was still successful when my father passed it to Preston and me when I was 30 and now it's even more successful than it's ever been. I'm very fortunate, but despite what people may assume, it hasn't always been 'easy street' for me or my siblings."

I scoffed, "Yeah, I bet you haven't eaten from silver spoons your entire life. What I'd give to have been born into a rich family and lived in the lap of luxury since birth," I said with a sigh.

It didn't matter circumstances, even though I had to drop out of college, as soon as I was able to, I'd either find a job in or around the field I want or I'd go back to college.

Simple as that.

Not all of us are born into an empire like that guy and his model brother.