family dinner

The night wasn't going exactly as Adele had planned in her head. She had planned to sit as far as she could from Tristan but she was forced by her mother to sit right next to him. She wanted nothing more than to blend into the background at the grand dinner her foster parents had arranged, even planned her escape from it entirely, an early retreat back to her isolated corner of the family mansion but when her foster mom, Elena Reid, placed a hand on her shoulders and pointed it to the seat beside Tris, Adele knew her plans were shattered. Reluctantly, she had sat next to Tristan.

Throughout the entire dinner, she tried to keep her gaze downwards or on her plate, avoiding Tristan's presence and her parents penetrating stares. But it was impossible to ignore him entirely, all through the dinner, Tristan's hands kept finding it's way under the table. She could feel his hands trailing on her thighs in a way that made her stomach twist while she tried as much as she could to keep a straight face praying that no one that the table would notice. She desperately wanted to move away but even the slightest shift would earn her a suspicious glare from her mother, Elena and a icy comment from her foster father Zach. The Reid's expectations for her behavior was clear, she was to play her part, whatever that might mean.

Soon it was starting to get unbearable. Tristan's hands had reached too far up her thighs and Adele could not take it any longer. She mumbled an quiet excuse, something about wanting to use the restroom and pushed back her chair, standing up. Her heart pounded as she walked away from the table, feeling both relief and dread knowing her absence wouldn't go unnoticed for long.

Inside the washroom, she locked herself in and let out a shaky breath. She stepped up to the mirror and stared at her reflection, trying to calm her racing heart.

Her makeup perfectly applied by the family's hired artist that was designed to complement the fancy dress Elena had picked out for her was beginning to smudge.

Adele had grown up in a foster home, shuffled from one family to the next, never truly belonging anywhere until Zach and Elena Reid, the city's wealthiest real estate moguls had adopted her. The Reid family was a household name, one that demand respect and opened doors as the family owned half quarter of real estate properties in the city. They were powerful and influential and for the public, adopting Adele was a generous and charitable act.

Anyone would consider Adele lucky but it wasn't as it seemed.

Behind close doors, Adele was nothing more than an accessory, a pawn for her father's polished public image, photo ops and strategically placed news articles.

The family had one child, a son and Adele was just a charity case Zach Reid, her foster father used seek praise and high recognition from the public and promote his company. Adele was neglected by the family, they never acknowledged her as a member of the Reid except it was for the public show. Eventually, Adele learned to isolate herself from the family as much as she could. Living in the same house did not make it harder because Adele was given a room in the distant wing of the mansion, far removed from the family's main living quarters. To them she was just a duty fulfilled, a good deed they had taken for the benefits of their own reputation.

Her fingers grip the end of the sink as she tried to steady herself, it was suffocating, been in a family were everyone else was allowed to shine. She had to isolate herself, to disappear even when she was expected to be present. She'd built a shell to protect herself from the Reid's coldness, a shield to hide her pain and resentment. But tonight, the shield was beginning to crack.

The loud, impatient banging on the washroom door brought Adele consciousness back. She quickly splashed water on her and dabbled it with a towel before moving to open the door. Elena, Adele's foster mother was standing on the other side of the door, the frown on her face sharp enough to cut glass.

" What on earth do you think you're doing Adele?" Elena asked, her voice laced with irritation.

" I excused myself to use the..............." Adele started to say.

Elena's eyes narrowed as she examined Adele's face, noticing the smudged makeup

" What happened to your face? Why is your makeup ruined?" Elena yelled.

Ah, she had forgotten she had makeup on when she had splashed water on her face.

Adele felt a flush of shame but she resisted the urge to lower her head

" I'm sorry Mrs Reid." She apologized a bit exhausted as she tried not to sigh. She kept her expression as neutral as she could but inside, a part of her wanted to scream, to push back against the ends streams of judgement.

Elena quickly snapped her finger as two maidservants who were behind her. " Get her fixed and back to the dining area in two minutes." She said and stormed off without bothering to wait for a response.

In silence, the two women touched up Adele's makeup, their hands brisk and efficient. Adele had her makeup fixed and was ushered back to the dining area in no time where Tristan's eyes followed her every steps as she made her way back to her seat. She forced herself to sit, ignoring the glint in his eyes, a gaze that lingered a bit too long.

Tris picked up her hands, his fingers lightly caressing her hands in a way that made her skin crawl.

" What took you so long?" He asked in almost a whisper.

It took Adele all willpower not to push him away. He spoke so close to her ears that she could feel his lips almost brushing her ears as his hot disgusting breath fanned her neck. She tried not to cringe as she knew she was being watched. She detested the smell of garlic and wine from his breath that mingled into a sour nauseating odour that made her stomach turn, she detested the owner of the breath even more.

Adele clutched her jaw, fighting the impulse that told her to wrench her hands away. She wanted nothing more than to shove him back, tell him to stay far, far away from her and also to brush his mouth.

But Adele felt the eyes of her parents on her from across the table, watching, waiting and searching for any sign of rebellion. Adele swallowed hard, trying to mask her repulsion, knowing she had no choice but to endure Tristan's touch. She was well aware of her role here, be silent, compliant and unnoticeable.

" I asked you a question." She felt the grasp on her hand tighten.

" I ... I had to redo my makeup." Adele answered, feeling the pain from his grasp on her hand.

" Trying to look good for me uh?"

You wish.

Adele forced a smile as a reply.