One

“No, please don't do that!” I screamed but my screams fell on deaf ears.

The five bullies backed me into a corner until there was nowhere to run and then laughing maniacally they began to make a video of me.

A video of me dressed in my underwear which was stained with blood. It was my first menstrual period and I didn't know, I had gotten stained in the girl's bathroom and I didn't know.

The girls had taken my clothes and I had to walk to the hallway looking for my uniforms where they waited to make a video of me.

“This video will be a constant reminder, Davina,” the worst among them chuckled.

“No, please stop it!” I cried.

It was embarrassing to say the least but I was also half-naked and I had nowhere else to hide.

That was when the worst of it happened. He walked up to me and smeared pig’s blood on my face then in a low voice he said, “That’s what you'll always be known for.”

***

“Ms. Landon!”

I blinked and stared at the shrink in front of me. My dad had suggested this therapy nine years ago else I wouldn't be sitting down in this comfy seat.

“Yes?” I prompted.

“I’ve been calling you for two minutes now,” My therapist, Mrs. Linda Martin said.

I shrugged, “I’ve got a lot of things on my mind, Doctor.”

“Do those things involve certain events that occurred nine years ago?” she asked.

I thought about my dream last night and then I shook my head.

“No, doctor.”

“You’ve been my patient for nine years, don't you think I would know when you're lying?” she pointed out.

I sighed. “Okay fine. I may have had a thirty seconds dream but that was it and I didn't wake up screaming like others years.”

She smiled. “That’s progress, I must say. But do you think this reminder has anything to do with your father’s news?”

I smiled politely. “I wasn't thinking about it, Doc, but now that you do mention it I seem to recall that I have a flight to catch in an hour's time if I must be in New York before nightfall.”

“Well deflected then, Davina. Commendable,” she smiled, “Have a safe trip and I do hope you face your fears and slay your dragons.”

“Of course, Linda, I do intend to slay all my dragons,” I smiled, “Besides, chances are a hundred percent that I might not run into either of them.”

“Just keep an open eye, Davina, so you won't be surprised by anything,” she said.

“Thanks, Doc,” I nodded before leaving.

The flight from London to New York took around eight hours plus and so far it's been my longest trip in nine years since I left New York.

Normally I wouldn't be caught dead returning to New York, especially after the incident but my father had summoned me and I felt like I owed him so I had to go.

He's been there for me all my life and he protected me when I needed him most so I guess it was only proper for me to answer his distress call besides I needed to discuss things with him; the company in London needed funds from New York headquarters but still nothing so it wasn't doing so well.

A few more hours later I landed in the airport where my dad’s chauffeur driver was waiting to pick me up.

“Hello, Steve,” I greeted with a small smile.

I've always liked this chauffeur especially since he stood up for me against the bullies and the press but that was a story for another day.

“Welcome back home, Ms. Landon,” he replied with a small bow.

I nodded and entered the limousine before he shut the door. A short ride later and we were pulling into the parking lot of my family’s mansion.

I stepped out of the car and rushed into my mother’s outstretched arms.

“My baby, I missed you,” she said, kissing my forehead.

I chuckled, “Mom, I'm not a baby again. I'm twenty-one years old.”

“You’ll still be my baby,” my mom cooed.

I smiled and my dad pulled me in for a hug.

“Welcome back home, mi amor,” he kissed my forehead.

I snuggled into my dad’s arms. Despite the wealth of my family, we've always been an affectionate family that's why I would always be at the beck and call of my family in a heartbeat.

“Alright, enough of all this mushy stuff. Why did you call me here, dad?” I quizzed.

I noticed the way the temperature dropped in my home. Then my mom ushered me inside, her blonde curls swaying to the breeze as her green eyes faded a little.

I noticed the tense look on my father’s dark eyes, his pink lips pulled into a frown, his brows were knitted in worry and he ran his hands through his mass of dark hair.

My stomach twisted itself and I felt the sudden need to throw up from nervousness. I couldn't take the suspense any longer so I stopped.

I knew they were taking me into the study which was where all important decisions were taken. I could still vividly recall the decision that was made nine years ago, it was made inside that study.

I stopped in my tracks causing my mom to bump into me.

“What the hell, Davina?!” She eyed me curiously.

“I’m sorry mom but this suspense is killing me. What did you and daddy do?” I asked.

My mom glanced at my father and she nodded.

“We’re sorry, mi amor, but we had no other choice,” my father apologized.

“I want to know right now!” I ordered.

“Your father has gotten you engaged to someone,” my mother blurted out.

“Engaged? Is this a joke?” I asked, laughing.

“Your father got you engaged to settle off his debts. Our company is broke and we're owing them bigtime,” my mom further explained.

I blinked, fuck she was serious!

“It's not going to be permanent, just enough time for me to raise up funds and pay them off, mi amor,” my father said.

I sighed, what's the harm in it? I guess I could help my father out this one time.

“Fine. Who am I getting married to?” I asked.

Then I saw the dread in their eyes and they mentioned a name, the single name that I’d dreaded for nine years.

“Jason Sinclair,” my father whispered.

The room spun and the ground gave way beneath my feet as I felt myself free-falling into darkness.