ELEVATOR CHAPTER SIX: MEET THE SHAULS
I wonder how evil somebody had to be that there was such a desperate need to keep their identity a secret from the public, how many people's toes have they stepped on, how many people are planning to kill them for them to need such secret service and MI6 treatment, one only sees situations like this in the movies, or at least so I thought.
I went from not wanting to be in the presence of these people arriving my father's house to bid for my head like a slave auction in 1864 in the name of marriage- to being eager to see what this person looks like, I don't know if I want to justify my hatred for them by looking at their face or getting the satisfaction of staring him dead in the eyes and saying no to marrying him or I just wanted to spit at his face, I hadn't made up my mind when I almost slipped and fell.
This has to be the most uncomfortable pair of shoes to be ever made, I was just a taking on the stair away from snapping my ankle to the back of my Achilles, as if the irritation I was being forced to endure was not enough.
I already feel handicapped by the decision to give my hand in marriage away without my permission, to a stranger I don't know and have never met.
I manage to get down the stairs and the living room is packed with about a dozen strange faces, and another dozen of my father's business partners who frequent the house, the ladies who helped me get dress walk carefully behind me like they were instructed to make I don't run, even if I wanted to I could not now as I almost sprained an ankle a few minutes ago.
"There she is, the beautiful bride to be, isn't she lovely?" my father said aloud letting his voice echo all over the big living room. When my father wants to impress his clients and business partners, typically in situations like this where he needs a deal closed or in the middle of a negotiation, he slips into an alter ego that is not really him, rather a tailor made one for the public eye, my cruel father in these situations becomes the most charming courtesan to ever exist, he spots the widest smile in the world, an innocence in his eyes and a high pitched tone in his voice to communicate friendliness.
This always drove me crazy as the public always gets fooled by that fake demeanor, but I and my mum who have lived with him for years know the real monster under that friendly mask made for the public eye and camera flashes.
I scan through the clapping crowd who have been fooled by my father's alter ego selling a happy daughter and father relationship between us to them, I finally lay my eyes on what I am looking for.
My fists clench almost on their own Accord as my nails sink dip into the helm of the dress I was holding, as I recognize the same blonde, slightly messy head of hair, toned skin and bright green eyes from the elevator at the hospital.
He is the youngest of the company of people in the room, surely he is the one they call Lucas Shaul, he looks nothing like a ruthless person but at this point I am praying they shouldn't spring another surprise on me and say Lucas Shaul is one of the older men in the room, my situation is heartbreaking enough.
The spark mister messy hair, green pea eyes had in his eyes on the elevator is gone now, he looks like one on a mission as opposed to the charmer he was on our first meeting.
So mom was right after all, he was trying to tell me that he wants to marry me, this realization just took all the romance out of the elevator experience in my head.
Lucas Shaul is trying hard not to look at me, I, on the other hand I'm also avoiding our eyes meeting, we both act like we've not met before but I still find it offensive that he is doing that although I am doing exactly the same.
"Watch as the beautiful black Swan makes her way to the pond, gliding gracefully in all elegance, her natural blonde crown swaying side to side, ladies and gentlemen the beauty runs in the family," my father strikes a mock model pose as he incorrectly alludes my beauty to his genes and praises my beauty as if he was describing the specs of a gadget to potential buyers.
"Smile dear, it takes more muscles to frown, you wouldn't want to scare our guests away would you?" the old man keeps prodding as if he did not leave his palm print on my cheeks barely an hour ago, my hatred for him burns hotter than ever before and I just wish I could yank his head off his shoulders right now.
He pulls out a seat for me to sit right next to mister bright green eyes, like the gentleman he is not.
Speaking of mister green eyes, I feel like those peas have been trailing my every movement, it feels like invisible staggers hacking at my skin as I turn to look at him his iris seems to see right through me.
I really wish I could talk to mom right now she would know what to do in this situation, she always does. At the same time I wouldn't want her to worry while still in critical condition.
What would mom do I begin to ponder, then I try to look at the bright side, searching for a silver lining around this dark cloud.
At least I'm not getting married to an ugly stranger, a stranger nonetheless but at least I can bear to look at his face when I wake up in the morning.
My father is being unusually chatty, I wonder how much he is getting paid to sell out his only daughter, it must be a humongous amount or a lot of power for him to be so eager to please these people, the Shauls are the richest and most powerful family in the whole state after all it makes perfect capitalist sense.
"Hi, do you want a drink?" Lucas Shaul says with a nod, the question sounds more like an order than a question, it doesn't even help matters that he pours the wine on the table into an empty glass and hands it to me.
I am shocked at the audacity, he didn't even wait for my response, why impose a choice of drink on me, I am so shocked as I stretch out my hands to get the glass of wine from him our fingers touch and I don't realize when I tremble.
His cold expression remains unfazed as my fingers tremble and let the glass free fall from them and the crash echoes all over the room, the maids rush to get the broken pieces cleaned up as my eyes meets my father's.
Even though I did not drop the glass on purpose I am happy I did, seeing my father upset is the one good thing that has happened all night, my skin is crawling and I feel like commodity about to be sold.
With this satisfaction comes sacrifice as I notice a piece of the broken glass had pierced my index finger and my thumb, the spilled wine mixed with blood on my dress and on the table.
The whole crowd had stopped to watch me intensely as if someone had stopped the music in the room, Lucas got up when the glass fell to avoid ruining his suit which I guess is expensive from him murmuring about me almost ruining it under his breath.
Assholes like this only care about their material possessions. I don't know what my father will do to me once the guests leave but for now I will enjoy the anger and embarrassment on his flushed face, if I have to suffer he has to suffer a bit too.