Chapter 6
729 Words
Quinn's POV
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"Make sure to say that to his parents, okay? I want you in a precise manner, Quinn. Act nicely!"
I held my head high and clenched my teeth, enduring the discomfort. It seemed as though the intangible leash around my neck was becoming more constricting daily. I could no longer breathe. I am slowly dying.
"Dominque will take you to the ballroom tonight to meet the investors. I want you to look beautiful, my dear. So I ordered the most stunning dress from CEVS."
My father's body shifted, ready to get out of the room. I paused when I saw his reflection in the mirror. Layla and Taylah, my two personal maids, politely polished my dress and gently combed my long, wavy hair.
"And by the way. I want you to wear those shoes," he said. His eyes pointed to the table beside the dressing table.
"You are the perfect Cinderella, my dearie," in my father's mischievous smile. My heart sank in both pains, shouting for freedom.
"Make sure to memorize the script, okay? Put your perfect smile too. And after tonight, you will visit your grandmother. She's asking for you."
My heart lit up, glowing again like a fire. I blinked my eyes as soon as my father evaporated the room, and I blew air out from my lungs that I kept for minutes. Finally, I heard Layla and Taylah sigh.
"That was intense. I felt like your father would kill us soon." Layla looked at me with fear.
"He will surely kill us if we don't do this right, Layla! So you better pay attention to every detail of Miss Quinn's clothes and hair." Taylah said to her and avoided eye contact with me. They went quiet, and the two of them kept going.
I composed myself and sighed silently. I looked at myself in the mirror and could no longer see the real me. I'm going to get married soon to Dominique. I have no choice. I have no escape.
I wish the heavens would shower fire of rain, and the arrows from hell would shoot and kill them all and burn this place. I want that to happen. But that's impossible. Things like that will only happen in a fairytale world. And I'm not living in a fairyland because I live in hell.
"All done, Miss Quinn," Tayla said and stood firmly behind me. I could see her reflection in the mirror in front. Her image was hard to digest. She's my father's pawn.
I nodded, and the two of them exited the room. My shoulder dropped as soon as the vast door shut. I am now on my own.
I recently noticed that I had been staring at myself in the mirror for a while. I struggle to smile genuinely from my heart and sometimes forget how it feels to be authentic with myself.
I looked at the glass shoes that my father bought me. They were glittering and shining, and they seemed very expensive. I put them on, and they perfectly fit.
It's a suffocating feeling when breathing comes at a fair price, like a diamond.
I looked at myself again, and I was no longer Quinn.
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THE lights were shimmering, and the gossip around from different people was like little bees in my surroundings. I took a deep breath and practiced my fake smile. I don't know what face I should put this time.
'Close your eyes, Quinn, and take a deep breath. Loosen up your mouth and your mood. Think about a joke from the movies that made you laugh. And try to say money instead of cheese.'
Okay, here I go. One, two, three.
"Hello, Miss Quinn? How are you today? You look so beautiful." Peta, the reporter, smiles widely at me, and the camera flashes beside her. She's together with her team.
"I'm pretty good. Thank you, Peta." I politely said and smiled a little bit for the camera.
"Oh, my God! You are wearing CEVS limited edition vogue. It looks so gold on you, sweetheart!"
Aunt Dashie, my father's cousin, gave me a fake smile and kissed my cheeks.
All the cameras flashed at us as she stood beside me, feeling mighty. I did the same. I did a little pose and didn't move my head or even blink my eyes.
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c.m. louden
- Writer
