Clip-Clop!
My heels went as I ascended the steps leading to the door of the Woods Mansion. I didn't have to stress about the paparazzi hauling questions at me and falling on top of each other because my hefty bodyguards was shoving them away from blocking my path while I waltzed up the steps, a smirk on my face.
I had to get myself macho bodyguards, one thing every member of the Woods had exempting myself. Since they weren't the only ones being ambushed by paparazzi and plagued with questions, I had to ensure my safety and sanity too.
“What are you doing here?!” Audrey exploded with bloodshot eyes the moment my frame came through the door. She looked bad; I would swear that she has not had her bath for the three days and nights that I wasn't around after the incident in the gala. I'd gone to perch at her hotel until the news reached every known place in the state and beyond before deciding to return to my bewildered family.
“Take it easy, Aud. The yelling can make the journalists call you unstable.” I cooed, fighting the urge to walk over and pay her head. She was tattered - puffy eyes and cheeks, torn lips from long hours of biting (she did that whenever she was panicking), her hair had a sweet wrap in it and our maids dressed better than she did at the moment.
“You need to have your bath, Audrey. Do you want to draw more attention to yourself? Everyone knows about how much of a whore you are, do not add “mentally unstable” to the infamous record.” I concluded with a chuckle as I began to make my way to the staircase. I needed the solace of my room and the fantastical childhood memories created in it.
“DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER STEP.” Audrey's mother bellowed at me, putting my little escape to a halt. She put a tubby arm around her daughter's shoulders. Sometimes I'm puzzled by the difference between their body shapes with the mother tubby and her daughter slender and petite.
Now, I'm not body shaming but the contrast amazed me plus it had always been that way since she was a baby. Their pictures could testify. Audrey always defended it with her semblance to my father but she didn't pick his hair or eyes and those weren't her mother's either…
Well, I had bigger problems to attend to than tracing someone's traits. I turned towards the staircase but a hefty bodyguard held me back.
“You don't get to call my daughter mad! You caused all of these. Now, she can't take a walk in her garden due to the harassment of the media. You have to fix this!” She spoke with a thick cloud of venom in her tone. I shook the bodyguard’s hand off and walked back to my initial position.
“Don't put the blame on me? A good mother would've advised her daughter not to whore around with her younger sister's man.” I titled my head and stood into a more relaxed position with my arms akimbo and my left hip slopping.
“What did you do instead? Encourage her! Teach her ways to seduce a man and keep him with her…” I shook my head to prevent tears, I couldn't be weak in front of these monsters. “I don't blame Audrey here so much. I pity her because she has a selfish woman like you for a mother. She must be starving of love enough to want to get it from any man that smiles at her.” I raised up my hands to count. “Dickson, Erik, Hillary, Col–” A palm whipped across my right cheek causing a loud slap. A maid gasped and darted away to hide.
Involuntarily, my right palm went up to feel my cheek. I winced.
“That's what you deserve for insulting my—” I returned the favor in greater measures because a bodyguard had to stop Audrey from falling. I chuckled lowly, enjoying the horrific looks on their faces.
Stepping back a little, I intoned “Your mother couldn't save you from falling even when you tried to defend her. Watch your back, honey! She doesn't love you that much.” Concluding with a stiff smile, I raced up the staircase not looking back for once and completely ignoring the threats they threw at me.
********************************************************
I woke up with a start. Eyes darting, head banging, heart racing. It took me a few minutes to come out of my blanket due to the trembling of my body with fear and the beads of perspire breaking out on my face.
After deep breaths and reassuring affirmations, I slipped out of my blanket when I heard it again.
A sharp, violent rap on my door.
I grunted in annoyance. I hated being awaken by noise because my everyday reaction will be what you just read few lines away.
“Sophia! Sophia! I know you're in there! You better get out here in 5 seconds or else I'll be forced to break this door.” My father thundered in fury still banging against the door.
“Good evening to you too, dad. I can see you're back from the office. How was your day?” I responded, demurely but he didn't buy it. Pfft, he never buys anything I sell, including my calm smile. He believes there's a determined, almost dangerous girl behind the facade and he was right.
My stepmother and sister have aroused her.
“I'm not buying that, you snitch. I'll giving you until number ten.” He swallowed loudly, why won't he? When he'd been yelling? His throat needed to be whetted. “1,2,3…”
“Interrupted him by opening up the door, “Be careful, the paparazzi are perched all around the house. I don't want to be associated with a family of crazy people.” I knotted my face. “Or how would you like a headline reading, “Lots of yelling in the Wood Mansion: Is there more to this family drama?” He opened his mouth to speak but I started going towards the staircase, I needed water.
One genuine fact about my father, he won't ever hit me no matter how mad he was and I'm grateful for that.
“You need to rectify whatever news you've fed to the media and pull your sister out such negative press.” He said, coolly as in a whisper but I knew my dad, he never whispers and I knew what was coming after…
“Or else…” His tone became menacing.
Whoops! There goes… I didn't know I could predict so well. Mind if I predict your future, reader?
I turned to face him and we locked gaze. His eyes were watery and it was as if there was a battle between the emotions, love and hate for which would dominate his eyes and entire features.
“Or else what, dad? You'll hit me? Disown me? What?!” I yelled, throwing caution to Hades. “You of all people should know that I didn't make all of that up. Tell me, dad. Tell me… do you not believe me? Do you support your wife and precious daughter to persecute me because of the truth?”
“Shut up!” He yelled in a blunt manner but fought to keep his eyes away from my gaze. “I don't know what you think you are but…” He swallowed. “Listen, you'll go on your knees and beg David to forgive you and take your sorry ass back and you'll do it publicly saying you're drunk and will never have done such.”
“Hmm…” I took two steps to where he stood, bringing us even closer. “What about the audio? What they had said? You do think the media won't question that?”
“Tell them that it was formulated then we can have an interview where you'll show them how such can be done. Tell them it was a prank gone wrong.”
“That's the dumbest idea I've gotten so far on how to rectify this! How about we do it this way? You stop covering up Audrey's cheating ass and make her accept that she'd been with my fiancé then I can start listening to you?”
“Don't act so defiantly, Sophia. I'll break you and I'm giving you 24 hours or else, you'll no longer be a Wood and I'll have you shipped to a far away country where you can't return for life while we figure out everything.”
I quickly covered up my shock, “24 hours is too long and the Wood name isn't pretty anymore.”
He shrugged as he watched me descend the staircase. I was still thirsty even thirsty after hearing that my father didn't believe me.
“Watch your back, Sophia and while at it, know that the 24-hours still stand. Wherever you hide, I'll find you.”
All right, Dad.
I'll be out of your faces soon.