5. Quinn

Quinn

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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 day by day. 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 polish my dress and gently comb 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 left the room. 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 Layla, trying to avoid eye contact with me. They went quiet, and the two 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. It's glittering and shining. It seems very expensive. I put it on, and it perfectly fit on me.

It's a suffocating feeling where breathing comes at a fair price, like a diamond.

I looked at myself again, and I was no longer Quinn.

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 faked smile and kissed my cheeks. All the camera 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.

During the press conference, only a few reporters asked me questions. I chose not to respond and have not given any official statement. Tonight, I have a message to share with Dominique and myself.

My Aunt Dashie spoke on my behalf, as she is better at handling these situations. She is here with me today because my father arranged everything.

I gave her a pleasant smile, and she nodded. I immediately stepped inside the ballroom's event.

Matilde intentionally hit my shoulder with hers when I entered the bathroom. I blinked when our eyes met, and she fired back with an intense gaze. She smirked as her eyes surveyed my dress. Her eyebrows raised as she looked back at me.

"And do you think Dominique loves you?" in her desperate tone.

"What do you think?" I answered with no expression.

Her jaw parted, and her eyes seethed with anger. I walked away, getting inside one of the cubicles. Luckily, there was no one around, and it was only us. I heard the door slammed as she exited the bathroom.

I quickly washed my hands and looked at myself in the mirror again. I can't wait for tonight to end and see Grandma. I miss her already.

Dominique found me as soon as I stepped back inside the ballroom. Everyone's attention was back on us again. Dominique strode towards me, smiling like a perfect prince. . . But the truth? He's a one-hell evil!

"Are we good?" in his threatening look. His hand held mine, wrapping it around his arm. My knees started to wobble. I felt nervous.

"Don't make it too obvious, Quinn. Try harder." He whispered while smiling like a pro. I held my chin up and plastered my faked smile.

People greeted us. I could only give the utmost smile I'd been practicing for years.

I saw my father on the corner, talking to Falcon, the boss of Falconsite Mafia class three. Beside him is his wife, who is fifteen years younger than him. I looked at my father again. He better keep his promise after tonight.

Dominique rubbed my hand, and my attention came back to him. He introduced me to all of his friends. They all laughed loud enough to get the other's attention.

"Now I understand why you keep such a beautiful swan, Amico! You got the best of the best around!"

My smile faded when Enriqueto smiled at me, licking his lips and showing off his golden teeth. He's the boss mafia of the class three Borrito clan. He looks like a killer to me. His eyes tell me that.

He offered his hand for a handshake while licking his lips. I just stared at his hand and didn't take it. Dominique cleared his throat.

"It's okay. A pure angel like her could probably smell the blood in me." Enriqueto winked, and I looked away. I want to keep us going, but Dominique stops me, giving me a demanding look. I swallowed hard and sighed in silence.

I can't remember when I last admired the taste of Bellini. I definitely need ten glasses of this tonight. I'm on my third, and Dominique grabs it out of me.

"You will get drunk, Quinn. Keep your posture, my lady."

I gritted my teeth as I looked at his eyes. And like my father, there was no mercy in how he looked at me.

"Good girl. Come here. The show just started for us."

He looped his arm around my waist and pulled my body to him. I was forced to walk in the same direction as him. I almost tripped over because he was walking too fast. He stopped and silently swore in my face.

"I told you not to drink, right?"

I didn't answer back and lifelessly looked at him.

What's the point? People are around us, and if I give him my opinion now, I will only suffer the consequences later.

Dominique held my wrist tightly, gripping it hard, stopping the blood flow in this part. I felt it. It's hurting me now. I walked with him, and he only let go of my wrist when we reached the center stage.

My father gave me a dangerous look with a fake smile. The camera flashed at us, and my heart started to palpitate.

It stung. The mark of Dominique's grip was visible on my wrist. My father noticed it.

"Put your fucking smile, Quinn," Dominique stated. And in an instant, my lips parted. And with a mechanical grip, a smile was created on my face.  

It's obvious... my mistake was pretty obvious tonight. 

"You are not going anywhere tonight after this. That's your punishment." My father silently said beside me, and I halted my smile. 

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C.M. LOUDEN