Scarlett's POV.
My reflection in the golden gates mocked me; puffy eyes, tangled hair, and a bruise blooming like a curse across my arm. I stood there, crying my eyes out till my throat was parched and sore, till my breath grew laboured and weary,
My legs gave way from the force of my sobs and I fell to my knees, clutching my certificate on my palms like a lifeline.
I knew my parents had been growing increasingly greedy over the years, becoming as shallow as the Los Angeles new money community, but I never thought they would stoop so low. So low as to sell off their only daughter like a piece of jewelry.
I couldn't help but wonder what they had expected of me? Would they truly be okay with me marrying a man that was the same age as my father.
My father who I'd called Dad as a little girl. Who used to pick me up and dance to my old Disney princess songs. I couldn't help but reminisce about the man who would read me bedtime stories every night, and remind me that some other boy could come and love me later, but he loved me first.
Where had that man gone? Swept away by the currents of wealth?
I had begun this day with excitement, having succeeded in graduating from one of the best Universities in the country, with a dazzling degree in business. I had thought today would be a day to celebrate, but I was wrong.
It was a nightmare, one I still struggled to believe was real but as the night grew colder, a shiver running down my spine, it became more apparent that this was indeed my reality.
I picked out my phone from my purse, dialing my best friend's number. She picked up on the first ring.
"Hey, girl. Did you finally decide to join me at the club?" Her voice sounded too excited for my situation, and my heart sank, realizing that as my world caved in, everybody's life was still on track. I felt…irrelevant.
"Lay…" My voice sounded foreign to my own ears, like the rustling of dried leaves.
"Scarlett? Are you okay?" Her tone had pitched higher now, worry evident in her voice.
A strangled sob slipped through my lips and I could almost hear the frantic beating of her heart from the other end of the line.
"Scarlett! Speak to me. What's happening? Are you in danger? Did you get into an accident?" She rushed through her words, her breathing growing laboured with each word.
"Where are you? I'll come get you."
"No need." I stopped her, finally rising up with wobbly knees.
"I'll get an Uber."
"Are you sure? You don't sound good at all. Just tell me, it's no bother at all." I could hear the clinking of her car keys but I tried my best to ease her worries, even though I sounded like a dying kitten.
"I'll be fine, I promise. See you soon." I ended the call before she could bombard me with more questions. I needed time to myself. To actually come to terms with what had happened to me, the sudden plunge the direction of my life had taken.
By the time the Uber had arrived, my tear stained cheeks had dried and I'd pinched my cheeks enough to bring back some of its colour.
The drive to Layla's apartment was a blur of trees and towering buildings. I was so lost in the recesses of my mind that I didn't realize the car had stopped until the driver called out to me, an annoyed look on the elderly man's face.
I quickly apologized, paid him and stepped out, making my way to the building elevator and ringing the golden doorbell of her executive suite.
Not a second longer than the doorbell had sounded, Layla swung the door open, eyes wide and alert.
Her expression softened as she took in my appearance. She pulled me by my arm into her embrace, offering indecipherable words of comfort but I felt numb, like if I cried again it would be blood flowing down my cheeks.
"Gosh, what happened? " She asked as she closed the door behind us softly, leading me to her beige cushioned sofa.
"I've been worried sick."
I tried to speak but the voice came out like the sound of a toad so she rushed to the kitchen, returning with a glass of water which I gratefully gulped down.
"My parents…" I began, though unsure where to go from there. But somehow I found my words.
"I got home and I was so excited to present my certificate to them." I clutched it tightly, as if it could still mean something.
"Go on." She encouraged me while I took a shaky breath.
"I went up to meet them in the wine room and there was a man there. He was so creepy. You had to see how he stared at me like… I don't even know but it was so uncomfortable. And then…" My words strayed off and she clasped her hands over mine, peppering them with soft kisses. A broken smile took up my lips as I watched her.
"They said he was to be my future husband." The words came out in a whisper, the air suddenly growing thick and enveloping me in shame. I knew it wasn't my fault, but admitting that my parents wanted to ship me off to some old creep just to up their status was quite disgraceful.
"What!" Her movements halted, her spine rigid as she reeled over my words.
"That's not all. I told them I won't ever marry him. I screamed it at the top of my lungs. The old creep tried to touch me, he even grabbed me so I kneed him in the groin."
"That's my girl." Layla commented under her breath and I laughed despite my sorrowful predicament.
"After that it just went downhill. My mom slapped me, then they threw me out. I think the only way they'll let me go back is if I agree to marry him."
The room fell into momentary silence, Layla deep in thought like she couldn't believe the scene I'd set out for her.
"I know your parents are…"
"Shallow?" I filled in for her and she nodded with a grimace.
"But I don't believe they'll actually disown you over something like this."
"I don't want to believe it either. But their reputation is everything to them. It gets worse day by day. I don't know how far gone they are so I can't know what to expect."
She let out a huff.
"Well, you can stay here as long as you like. It gets lonely sometimes anyways."
"Why wouldn't it? You're in a 3 bedroom apartment by yourself." I muttered, rolling my eyes and she let out a laugh.
"Glad to see you're coming back to being your feisty self. But you know what will help even more?"
I side-eyed her, already knowing what she was going to say.
"Please don't say-"
"A nightclub."
I let out an exasperated gasp.
"You can't be serious. I'm going through a major traumatic situation here and you want me to go to a club?" I asked and she nodded with an innocent smile.
"All I want to do is sleep till I wake up from this nightmare."
"How can you sleep with no alcohol in your veins? And your parents obviously think you'll be out there moping somewhere. Maybe if they realize you don't actually need them as much as they think you do, they'll reach out and apologize for their ratty behavior."
I couldn't deny it. The thought of trying to sleep with no distractions seemed impossible. Surely, I would be up all night replaying the traumatic events that had unexpectedly unfolded.
I turned to her, eyes glazing with hope and expectancy and I sighed in defeat.
"Yes! You will not regret this, I promise. I know a great place. I can't wait! C'mon." She pulled my dead weight up, dragging me to her closet to pick out a dress for us both.
She went with a golden simmering dress, dazzling like the sun, while I went with an alluring red dress that perfectly accentuated my curves.
She worked on doing my makeup first since I was completely unskilled in that department, before working on hers. By the time we were done getting dressed it was almost 10pm.
We both looked fantastic.
"You really have a gift. You've completely covered up my misery." I joked and she laughed.
"You're welcome. What are best friends for?"
We reached for our purses just as her phone dinged.
"The Uber's here. Are you ready to have some fun?"
I responded with a grimace but that didn't deter her. With interlocked elbows we made our way down and even though I looked good, I felt sick to my stomach. My parents' words played in a loop over and over again and no matter how hard I tried to shut it down, it stayed, stuck like mould on bread.
I couldn't wait to get wasted.