by Kailin Gow
Beautiful
Girl
Modern Beauty and Beast
kailin gow
A Contemporary Adult Novel
Beautiful Girl
Published by Sparklesoup.com
Sparklesoup Inc.
Copyright © 2016 Kailin Gow
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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Note from Author
Beautiful Girl contains some social issues which symbolize the ugliness of humankind. Hatred rears its ugly “beast” head in this novel in a form that is hurtful and offensive. However, if you will, escape into a world open with possibilities, in Beautiful Girl, you might find there might be a cure against hate, and that is love.
Happy Reading Ever After!
Love,
Kailin
Prologue
Mason Beast
My eyes traveled the entire glittering floor of Beast’s Department Stores in admiration of how all my hard work had come together tonight, as well as to ensure that every detail was in order. This event was the hallmark of my career and my opportunity to show that I was the future of Beast’s Department Stores. And this new store was a flagship store, in our family’s own city and community - one that showed just how distinct and high end we were. It was where the headquarters of our billion-dollars conglomerate had moved. Beast’s Newport was my “baby” which I built from concept to opening…my first store my father, whose father founded Beast’s, put me in charge of. And I was the over protective but proud parent.
Quickly glancing at one of the many mirrors that were present, I was pleased to see that my new black Armani tux was impeccable, along with platinum cufflinks and studs with the small B engraved in them for Beast. My dark hair was in place, my smile bright and white, and my eyes sparkling with just the proper amount of charm to draw in the guests. I was ready.
“Mason, this has come together well,” my father said. He’d come up next to me and was looking around with a critical, but satisfied eye. I worked hard to earn those looks and aside from me being satisfied with my efforts, it meant something to have Theodore Beast III satisfied with them, too. And before him, my grandfather had been the exact same way—a dynasty that started in the early 1900s, surviving depressions, recessions, and a few aggressions from angry competitors. The Beast’s Department Stores were one of the grand department stores which offered the most refined and high-end luxury brands since the 1900s and served clientele such as the Vanderbilts, European royalties, movie stars, and Asian dignitaries.
“I haven’t left any stone unturned,” I said.
“I can tell, but you should certainly relax and enjoy yourself now. You’ve done well,” he said.
“I appreciate that, Father,” I replied. Before I could say anything else, he turned to talk with a friend and fellow investor in various adventures through their venture capital firm, and I went back to my assessment.
Thirty-two. I was twenty-five years old and this opening was the thirty-second department store that I had attended in my life, from the age of fifteen on, when I really took an interest in business. However, this was the very first one that I’d been in control of—revealing the new look of Beast’s to our vendors and the faces of the top lines that we carried.
Breathing in, I grabbed a glass of champagne from the waiter who paused in front of me. “Thank you,” I said, nodding at him. He nodded and moved on, eloquently navigating his way through the small pockets of people in deep conversation, laughter echoing in the air.
Laughter was good, because people who had fun would remember and then they’d shop. I noticed how the models that were walking around with some of the newest products that would be offered at the Newport store before all others brought an air of eloquence and beauty to the environment. Scents of sweet orange and vanilla wafted through the air from the strategically placed candles. The scents were chosen because of their qualities to bring about good thoughts in a subtle and indirect manner to those who were around them. I couldn’t argue that it worked, because I was feeling good.
Over to the right, the “young and hip” crowd lingered, laughing and showing that Beast’s was a place for all ages—the elderly wealthy crowd and also the children and grandchildren of that crowd, too. It was a place where people with inherited money were glad to spend it freely and those who were working their way up the ladder of success made it a goal to spend their money at. My goal was to take as much money in as I could from all these people.
It was strange looking at this younger Abercrombie inspired crowd. Many were my age, but in many ways, I felt like an old man next to them. They talked differently than me and had different priorities, too. I couldn’t recall ever having a dilemma about what party or club to go to in a given night. For me, it was what line would maximize the potential of something or better use my time so I could take another class or two. Yes, I was considered fairly dull by most, I imagined.
Then I stopped breathing.
On the outskirts of the crowd was a woman who stood out, even among all the “beautiful people” that were at the event. Her eyes flickered with excitement, shooting out sparks of amber and gold. Was it the candles or something that came from within her? I couldn’t tell, but I was drawn to her. And her hair, it was long and thick, shimmering like a caramel gold. Her exotic looks were complimented nicely by a friendly smile, making her even more unique.
“Who is she?” Father asked me, leaning in.
“I have no idea, but…”
“Wow,” he finished for me. “She stands out like star in a sky.”
“Hardly adequate, but still the best choice,” I said, my voice low and my eyes not losing sight of the exquisite prize they’d landed upon.
“You should go greet our guest, Mason.”
“There’s too much to attend to.” My words were weak and my argument pretty lame.
“Well, you can’t stop staring at her and she is at your party. You should find out who she is. And maybe—just maybe—you will be the son who provides me a grandchild before I die. God knows Callum is too busy chasing every skirt around to ever settle down—at least not for a long time.”
“And I’m too busy with work to entertain getting serious about a girl. She’s beautiful, but if she doesn’t have brains, I’m not interested. And from the looks of it, very few people here are known for their brains.”
“Really?” my father said, leaning in. “I know you’re the more steady one of my two boys, but I also know, you have been on dates before. Remember, I was a young man long ago, too. I know what young men like you and Callum are all about when it comes to ladies. Go talk to this girl. You haven’t even looked at me while I’ve been talking to you. See what it’s all about, Mason.”<
br />
I thought about what Dad said. It was correct, of course, and if I didn’t make my way over there, Callum probably would. Well, at least it would answer my curiosity about brains—Callum didn’t like brainy women at all. As for me, I liked smart women, especially if they were smarter than me. She would be an asset, if she was. Unfortunately or fortunately it was a small number of women that were, to the best of my knowledge.
Callum’s loud laugh erupted from the room, taking my eyes away from the mysterious woman. There was Callum, charming his groupies who were eager to be associated with him, hoping that they’d maybe end up in a photograph near him—their brush with fame. Where I looked for the Warren Buffet’s of the world, these people looked for underwear models, which was basically Callum’s role in our family’s business building empire.
“By the way,” Father added. It was only when he spoke that I realized he was still there. “How’s the latest ad campaign going?”
“Good, I suppose. He’s wearing nothing and covered up with a strategically placed flag,” I snickered.
“Please tell me he’s not exposing himself,” Father mumbled.
“No,” I said. I didn’t bother mentioning the Facebook picture where the flag was a bit too low, showing a bit too much, and certain parts of his body on the verge of saluting. Women had loved it, which definitely made Callum become more of an exhibitionist with each passing week, it seemed. He loved the attention. And as for me, I loved the money that the attention my big brother got brought into the store.
It’s time to go meet this guest, I thought. I handed over an empty champagne glass to a waiter and grabbed two new glasses and made my way over there. My ears were alert, trying to tune in and hear her voice, but I couldn’t. Then, almost in slow motion despite my purpose and quick stride, I was there.
The young woman was standing there, looking sophisticated and understated in a simple black dress that was tight and hugged her obviously well worked out curves. She was talking with an attractive Asian woman, in a long silk red gown and lots of jewelry on. She looked to be in her late 40s in my opinion—and without any work done. I felt anticipation about the introduction and it was hard to ignore. “Hi, excuse me,” I said. “I don’t believe that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting either of you before. I’m Mason Beast, the organizer of this event. I hope you’re enjoying this party. Champagne?” I offered the two glasses and each woman took one, both glancing at each other and wearing a very similar smile on their faces.
“It’s a pleasure to meet the man behind this beautiful store,” the older woman began. “I’m Helen Chu of Chu Cosmetics. And this is my daughter Charisma.”
“Thank you,” I said, “for both the compliment and in the introduction. I fear none should have been needed, as you are quite well known and respected.”
“You’re too kind,” Helen said, but my eyes were on Charisma, again. It felt like part of my soul would be yanked out of my chest if I turned away. Those amber eyes—so alluring. Yes, she was distinct and beautiful—a different type of beauty than others that were given that term. Hers was real and authentic, outward and inward, too.
“I bet this took a while to plan,” Charisma said. “What inspire the look of this store versus others?”
“Well, the flagship stores need to be…”
I was cut off by an unwelcomed, deep voice behind me. “The ocean, sweetheart. That’s where the inspiration comes from…” I turned around and saw Callum there, which instantly irritated me. His arrogance had no place in my conversation. Then he leaned in and touched Charisma, which irritated me, but I quickly grew more amused by her reaction. She flinched and pulled back. Apparently someone was immune to the charms of Callum Beast. It added even more to her appeal.
Callum had a quick flicker of disappointment on his face, but it was replaced with a snide arrogance in a nanosecond. “Oh, don’t worry sweetheart, I won’t touch you. I don’t need you. I’ve got plenty of girls who would faint from just my touch. Pretty girls, classy girls, and certainly girls much younger than this woman here,” he said, pulling Helen toward him and scanning her in a highly inappropriate way. “And they sure as hell have bigger, rounder eyes than yours,” he said.
“Callum,” I said in a low, irritated voice. What the hell was he doing?
He ignored me and snapped his fingers instead. Like loyal dogs, two girls came over to him and draped their arms around him like he was some sort of god. He looked at the two and then to Helen and Charisma and said, “Girls, never dress yourself like some cheap kung fu fighting nail technician like this woman here. Who let this second rate wannabe in the store?”
“Callum, that’s enough,” I cautioned. I wished he’d just leave. Not only was he was being such a prick, he was showing a really ugly side to him that was embarrassing and unforgivable. I didn’t know I had such a hateful brother. His model black hair and infamous green eyes didn’t impress me, and neither did his decorum. He was being ugly.
I put my hand on his arm and tried to pull him away, but I was met with resistance. Helen Chu was grabbing his other arm and pulling him toward her. And her eyes may be small according to Callum, but they were shooting out intense sparks that looked like she was ready to light him up. It made me curious, I’ll admit, but I hoped that no one would cause a scene. The soiree didn’t need that.
“Son, you better be drunk so you have a good excuse on why you said all those nasty things to me. Otherwise, you’re a hateful person and I pity you.”
Callum laughed, trying to blow it off, but his arm candy was completely paying attention to Helen Chu, and likely wearing her make-up line, too.
“You think you know it all just because you’re the son of a billionaire? You think you know what people are like? How to run a business? How to judge character? Guess again. First of all, you don’t know what beauty is if you call those sleazy girls flanking your side beautiful.”
Now the girls went from smug curiosity to feigned insult.
“Second, you just insulted a whole lot of people when you called my eyes small and assume all people like me are kung fu fighting nail technicians. Besides, you got the wrong nationality. I’m Chinese, and many of us do not work at a nail salon. Kung fu originated by the Chinese, and not all Asians know it. And you wouldn’t know what is cheap or classy any day since you have never had any real life experience picking out your own clothes or knowing how hard those nail technicians worked. And underwear is hardly classy. So…despite being a Beast, you’re insignificant, certainly more than any nail technician out there, or even a bum on the street. Your superiority complex may be accepted in some circles, but not in this one,” Helen said, making a circle with her hand.
I felt heat rise up my neck and I knew that the tension in this small circle was quite obvious. Callum’s behavior was inexcusable, too, and potentially costly.
“Whatever. You look like you should be serving cocktails at a cabaret show, not here,” Callum said. He waved his hand dismissively and quickly found out what a bad mistake that was.
“You can swat your hand like a princess, but let me tell you, you don’t know who I am and your lack of class may just cost your family big.”
Again, Callum snorted. I felt I should step in, but truthfully, my big brother needed this type of interaction with a woman who didn’t look at him as the end-all of masculine perfection.
“I’m Helen Chu and the owner of the company that makes your newest cosmetics brand. Your father just made a deal with me to carry a full line of my products in every store. We’ve partnered up, but I may need to reconsider that. I don’t do business with people who have no ethics or moral compass—which clearly seems to be you.”
Now I wanted to panic. “Callum, you owe Helen an apology. This is uncalled for,” I said.
“Never,” he said, glaring at me.
“An apology is hardly a judge of heart. So, Mr. Hotshot, here’s an ugly little truth for you to dwell on. I’m the big investor on that little film you want to
make—the one where I am the Executive Producer, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of me and…”
Callum cut her off, his voice escalating an octave. “Oh hell no. You will not be an Executive Producer. I don’t associate with new money for what…being a nail technician?”
“You signed the deal and unlike you, I’m the one heading this film. You can be replaced more quickly than I can,” Helen said.
“I’ll pay you your money back,” Callum said, shrugging his shoulders. I could tell that he wasn’t sure how to take this. Business was not his forte, it was mine. And I had no problems believing that Helen Chu was masterful at business, understanding the value of her time, money, and efforts.
“I don’t buy it. You wouldn’t have had to have a Kickstarter campaign for your movie if it had any real merit from the get-go. The first Kickstarter, you failed to bring in even a $1000 for your $20 million film. Then you tried again with an IndieGoGo campaign and failed halfway through. Your father came to me to see if I wanted to invest as one of the investors. Being generous and having good relations with my business partners, I said I’ll fund the entire thing. Even you—billionaire playboy—couldn’t get your family to back it. There’s a reason for that and I certainly know that it isn’t because you wanted to do things the hard way and earn it.”