February 2011 – Miami, Grayson Villa

"Mrs Grayson, allow me to introduce Ashley Davenport."

Nerves almost overwhelmed Ashley, as the raven-haired woman stretched her hand forward. "It's a pleasure, Miss Davenport."

"Please, call me Ashley," she swallowed the lump in her throat, when Victoria failed to return the sentiment. Whatever it was about the woman before her, who had been heralded as the ice queen of the Hampton's, Ashley felt wholeheartedly intimidated. She wondered, for a second, exactly what she had let herself in for. Many had forewarned her that Victoria Grayson was the devil incarnate and a tyrant to be employed by.

"Welcome to our home." Victoria flashed a smile that Ashley almost believed to be sincere. "I trust Heather's given you the grand tour." The blonde beside Ashley enthusiastically nodded her head, and Ashley wondered what feat Heather had accomplished to have been on a first-name basis with the matriarch. "I must say, your resumè is an impressive one, Miss Davenport." Truthfully, Victoria had shown little interest in the new recruit. "I'll be sorry to lose Heather," she affectionately brushed Heather's bare arm, somewhat envious of the blonde who had relinquished her position for the lifetime of marital bliss ahead of her. "But I'm certain you'll prove to be a more than satisfactory replacement." Victoria searched Ashley's dark, almond eyes and wondered what was hidden behind her pretty exterior. "I understand you're from London. You're quite a ways from home."

"Croydon, to be specific, and the further, the better." Ashley candidly replied, her smile as charismatic as her pretentious British accent.

The three women were interrupted by Conrad's arrival, "Ah, what do we have here?"

"This is Miss Davenport, Heather's replacement for the summer." Victoria introduced Ashley, who had already been pre-informed of who's-who within the Grayson family by Heather, but did her best to pretend otherwise. "My husband, Conrad Grayson." A vital piece of information Heather had bestowed upon Ashley was that Conrad and Victoria Grayson's marriage of almost twenty-five years was anything but conventional. The environment was malevolent and Heather suspected both husband and wife had committed adultery, possibly for the majority of their relationship.

"It's an honour to meet you, Mr Grayson."

"Likewise, Miss Davenport." As Conrad admired the exotic beauty, he wondered why each one of Victoria's personal assistants seemed to become more and more attractive each time she fired and re-hired. Perhaps, it was some attempt to test his loyalty to her. Little did she know of the affair he had continued with Lydia for almost a decade. "My dear, may I speak with you in private?" Impressively, Ashley and Heather both made a quick exit, in order to allow husband and wife the privacy they desired, and Conrad motioned to the door they had exited. "Well..." he exhaled, his displeasure in the situation clear. Their relationship had threatened to hit the brink, their unhappiness a little too much to bear, and Conrad had lost the will to make any effort but a retreat to their villa on Fisher Island had been her idea. Stupidly, he had believed she hoped to keep their family solvent. "A weekend away, she said. Just the two of us?" It was supposed to be an early Valentine's celebration but Conrad should have known it was another hoax. Still, at least, their brief vacation made use of their Miami residence, which Daniel often exploited for spring break; a performance he would not be permitted to repeat, after his faux-pas in the summer.

"Oh, Conrad, don't be so dramatic." Victoria diminished his sense of disillusionment, "Heather handed me her notice before Christmas. It's out of pure kindness that she stayed until we found a suitable replacement." The tone of her voice alluded that the matter had been out of her control but Conrad knew her distinct need for control, which meant she had no intention of the weekend to be an act of reconciliation.

"Victoria, after what happened with Daniel last summer, we promised to make more of an effort." He reminded her, of the various promises they had made in the family therapy sessions he had reluctantly attended. It had been part of the deal, which prevented Daniel from penal punishment for his D.U.I..

"And we will," his wife lied.

Unconvinced, Conrad belittled the matter in his mind and reached for his cell. "Speaking of Daniel, have you heard the latest?" Somewhat ashamed, Victoria avoided her husband's eye and shook her head. After the accident, and his parents' effort to protect him from jail, Daniel had returned early to Harvard and done his best to avoid his mother. Victoria was certain he blamed her for his decision to drive drunk, so much so that she partially blamed herself, too. Nearly six months had passed, and mother and son had barely shared a conversation beyond the essential. Even the holiday season had been sombre for Victoria and Daniel. It was unpleasant to witness for Conrad, who recognised how much the rejection stung Victoria. "I spoke with him earlier. He said he's applied for a four-month summer internship with a company based in Beijing and he thinks there's every chance they'll employ him."

"Well, I hope you told him how proud we are of him." Defeated, Victoria sensed Daniel's decision had been more of an opportunity to ensure he would not be forced to endure another summer with her. It only drew them further apart. She wondered, if they would ever reconcile their relationship.

"I did," Conrad confirmed, to ease her maternal instinct. If he ever doubted his love for Victoria, it was only confirmed by how affected he became whenever his wife expressed her sadness and Conrad found himself moved to protect her. Unquestionably, the opportunity would be one rich in culture and marketable in business for Daniel, but Conrad decided, in that moment, to solely ensure Daniel would not receive the internship. Rejected, Daniel would have little choice to confront the hitch in his relationship with Victoria and, selfishly, Conrad would have Daniel as his stand-in at Grayson Global.

His wife composed herself and forced a pleasant smile. "Heather, Ashley?" Immediately, the ladies appeared at her command. "Ashley, I don't think it's too early to start preparations for your first project." The ingénue clasped her hands and nodded her head, keen to prove herself. The annual Memorial Day party was the first event of the summer season in Southampton and Ashley's head became dizzy with inspiration. "Why don't you join me in the conservatory, once you've shown Heather to the door?" Her cool dismissal sent Ashley and Heather from the room and Victoria retreated to the conservatory, which overlooked the bay to the North Atlantic ocean. In the blink of an eye, she would find herself back in the Hampton's for another summer. She could only hope it would be less of a disaster than the previous summer her family had endured.

"Good luck." Heather wished Ashley all the best, before she sped away in the luxury Mercedes her husband-to-be had purchased for her. Hers was the kind of success story Ashley desired, in her conquest of the uber-wealthy socialites that collected in the Hampton's every summer.

Alone on the driveway, Ashley admired the flamboyant Grayson residence with triumph; if Heather was to be believed, it paled in comparison to the size of Grayson Manor. Without hesitation, Ashley reached for her cell and searched for the contact she had in mind. On the fourth buzz, the sweet voice of Emily Thorne answered her call. "Ashley, hey, how are you?"

"Thank God you answered," Ashley hurriedly replied, aware she had little time until Victoria would beckon her. "Ems, you won't believe where I am."

"Where are you?"

"Fisher Island, Miami." The squeal in her tone confirmed what Emily had already discovered for herself. "She hired me, Emily. You are currently on the phone with Victoria Grayson's P.A.," she proudly announced. They hadn't known one another for more than a few months, since they volunteered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but Emily had befriend her instantly and Ashley loved her like a sister. It was the reason Ashley had called Emily first, ahead of her mother, who would only openly disapprove of her new found employment.

"Didn't I tell you she would?" Emily positively reminded, "Well done, Ash. I'm happy for you!"

"I still can't believe it." Ashley confessed, one step closer to what she lusted after. The lifestyle she would dabble in was far from the one she had been raised in back in Croydon. "Get yourself ready for an unforgettable summer in the Hampton's, Emily Thorne!"

As Ashley ended the call, Emily slyly smiled to herself, "Looking forward to it."