The fantasy of authority

Chapter 5

Chapter Title The Fantasy of authority 

If I had known that Chelsea was up to something, I sure wouldn't have honoured such invitation to get humiliated..

I stood at the corner of the door feeling completely lost, with the shameful dress I wore to this club..

"I wish I can just run away from here". I muttered to myself in shiver of shame and discomfort.

As I looked, the people present in the party all stood laughing and chatting so loudly, I couldn’t help but feel the uncomfortable knot of tense in my stomach. 

"I don't belong here. I'm not like this people—i need to leave here before I get drifted apart by shame and disgrace". I thought to myself loudly.

“Vianne, darling!” Chelsea’s voice slid through the noise, sharp and sugary like sweet honey. I turned, forcing a smile as Chelsea drew closer, her every step a statement of authority.

Chelsea was captivating, as always. Her dress, a sparkling gold that sticked to her every curve, made her look like an idol that came down from the heavens. Her long, blonde hair flowed down her back in perfect waves, and her lips, painted a deep red, curled into a smile that didn’t get to her eyes.

“You’re not drinking?” She asked, lifting an eyebrow as she handed me a glass of liquor. “Come on, it’s a party! Free yourself.”

I hesitated, looking at the glass. “I… I’m not so much in the mood, Chelsea.”

Chelsea’s smile stalled, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Not in the mood? This isn’t about your mood, Vianne. You’re here to have fun, remember?”

"Fun". I bit back the reply that rose in my throat. Fun was the last thing Chelsea wanted me to have tonight. This was a game to Chelsea, and I was the unresponsive instrument.

I knew i couldn’t refuse. Not without facing Chelsea’s anger. So, I took the glass and sipped the liquor, I just had to be ready for what was to come

Chelsea’s eyes was filled with satisfaction as she watched me adhere. “That’s better,” she said with a wicked smile, twisting her arm through mine and leading me towards a group of people standing by the bar. “Now, let me introduce you to some friends.”

"Friends?". Another lie. I knew what was coming—Chelsea acted this way before. She would introduce me to her “friends,” and then go ahead to degrade me, to make jest of me in front of them all while putting on that perfect, heavenly smile that hid the poison beneath.

And there they were, gathered at the bar, a group of Chelsea’s wealthy friends, all taking a sip of their drinks, laughing at some personal joke. As they noticed Chelsea coming close, their laughter stopped and their eyes turned towards me with slight covered disdain.

“Look up everyone, this is Vianne,” Chelsea announced, her voice drizzle with false warmth. “She’s an old friend of mine. Isn’t she just beautiful?”

 The word "adorable" made my skin crawl. I forced another smile, feeling my cheeks burn with disgrace as the group stared at me from head to toe, I could hear their thoughts from the decorum in their midst..

"I---urrm". I couldn't complete what I wanted to say, even though I knew I had nothing meaningful to say, I looked into Chelsea's eyes almost in tears and made to leave, only to be held back by one of the men sitted in their midst...

I turned, thinking I had seen a helper that could save me from such shame, but their next action shocked me.

One by one, they emptied their glasses of drinks on me all cheering and laughing loudly...

"She's such a clown!" One of them had voiced out loudly from behind..

The others laughed, and my heart sank. “She’s got potential,” another woman chipped in, her tone patronizing. “But that dress… it’s so outdated, don’t you think?”

I swallowed hard, wishing i could vanish . I didn’t know why i had let myself trust Chelsea out of blindness.

Chelsea, of course, didn’t come to my defense. She never did. Instead, she played along, a wicked smile roundingher lips. “Oh, Vianne’s always been a bit of a late flower. But she’s got such a sweetheart, don’t you think Adrian?”

The elderly but young man nodded in agreement with a smirk.. 

"Adrian? The notorious CEO?" I muttered to myself softly, hiding my shock expression..

"Is she the one you spoke to me about?" He asked looking stern and focused.. 

"Yes, Adrian.. she'll be the perfect match for that contract to be signed.. ha-ha-ha". Chelsea laughed and walked away leaving me and the so called Adrain together while her friends followed suit.

"Contract? What does she mean by the word contract... I'm I to sign a contract with this wild animal in form of a human?". I kept thinking aloud when he suddenly pulled his hand round my waist and drew me closer to himself..

"W-what are you doing?" I stuttered pushing my face away from his stinking mouth that reeked of alcohol...

"Now sign this contract miss, immediately!". He brought out a pen so expensive that it could buy the whole thing I was putting on that night..

"What contract? What are you talking about?" I asked anxiously..

"Listen, I heard your story of how you've been threatened by loan sharks because you failed to pay their money on time, this is a marriage contract you need to sign in order to pay your debts and in order for me to be able to sign a business contract.. it's that simple"

This is a life changing contract I am not supposed to miss, but the fact that I'd be signing it with Adrian remained my pain.. I stared at the white filed document and swiped up to stare at Adrain.. 

"Sorry, I'm not interested..." I turned vigorously and walked out of the club to my house..

I got home and started regretting my action in tears.. if I had known, I would have signed the contract notwithstanding the attitude Chelsea and Adrain would put out to bring me shame and disgrace..

I was only protecting my dignity because I know the news of me rejecting the contract offer would add to more ridicule.. 

I walked upstairs to my room and opened my bag to take out my phone, only for me to find a little written note in it ...

"Call me when you change your mind". With a number written afterwards. I smiled because I knew luck was on my side, but at the same time I wasn't ready to comply with him because I knew what the outcome would be..

*****************

The next day...

A knock was heard at my door that Scorching afternoon as I sat on the couch seeing a thriller on N*****x..

I panicked at first and immediately started thinking of where to hide if it turns out it is the loan sharks again...

The knock was quietly persistent unlike when the loan sharks knock with anger, almost wanting to break the door...

"Who is it??" I asked from a distance, raising my right ear to get the voice". 

"Derek". The voice replied calmly, but deep

The voice is unfamiliar to me, but I opened the door regardless.. "Yes, how may I help you??" I asked holding the door with a stern look of guidance...

"Your dad sent me to you.. he's sick and currently in the hospital.. he needs you now... St vitname hospital.. he left afterwards and I was left speechless..

My dad? he never cared to know my whereabouts, his hatred for me is second to none.. how come he needs me now he's sick? He must have drunk to sickness..

I slammed the door, and the rain of thoughts drenched me at a stand.. where will I get the money to pay for his medical bills and what do I do raise the money?

This thoughts brought tears to my eyes leaving me to no other option than go back to Adrain