Page 6 of Isabela

And then it happens… the phone rings and I have to force myself to keep my eyes open, instead of closing them in dread. Jabbing the green button and speaker button, I force myself to seem calm and collected. My uncle despises weakness.

“Hello?” I say clearly, pretending I don’t know who is calling me.

“Don’t you ‘hello’ me, girl,” Uncle Eli growls. “The mayor is asking for you. Where the fuck are you?”

“There was a problem with the dress, and the makeup team had to help me with it,” I say coolly. “I don’t know where you got this dress, but I’d suggest never shopping there again.”

“It’s a one of a kind dress!” my uncle sputters, making me shrug. It makes sense why the measurements are off now. He hasn’t seen me since the summer, and I was ten pounds lighter then. Most of it is muscle, but it still makes a difference.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Uncle,” I reply instead. My tone is even, even though he scares me. “I’m pulling in now into the valet. I’ll be right in. I’ll apologize to both you and the mayor in person soon.”

Uncle Eli grumbles about what a “stupid girl” I am, which makes me swallow hard before he hangs up.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, panting from the stress of that conversation. It seems silly to be this scared of him, but he holds my future and my life in his hands. He also has a lot of power behind his blows.

Pulling into the parking lot where the valet is parking cars, I sit up tall, praying my dress doesn’t tear.

“Hello, Miss,” the valet says as he opens the car door. I smile tightly back as I get out of the vehicle awkwardly. I really wish there was more give to this mermaid style dress because it’s so difficult to maneuver in.

It’s midnight blue with shots of green silk threads, has corset boning in the bodice, that is making it hard to breathe, and it’s strapless. It would be beautiful if it was the proper size, but as it isn't, I just want to burn it.

Before I can cash in on my revenge for this dress, I need to make it through tonight in one piece. That’s the best I can hope for.

“Hello,” I say almost breathlessly as I smooth down my dress. “Thank you for taking care of the car.”

“Of course, Miss,” he says almost amused as I stride away from him toward the beautiful double doors. The building is lit up in white and purple lights, but I don’t have a moment to spare to enjoy it before I’m inside the building, hurrying to find my uncle.

It’s this innate need to please him so the punishments will be less severe, my fear so ingrained from the last time he beat me years ago. I’ll do almost anything to keep from having to relive being a “broken doll”.

That’s what he called me when he walked away that night. Shuddering as I walk into the party hall, I find my uncle amid the glittering gowns and well-dressed men at this fundraiser.

I’ve never understood these things, though I’m sure my uncle cut a check to the foundation in my name from my bank account that I can’t touch outside of tuition.

The dress I’m wearing is a drop in the bucket compared to what I’m worth, but I’ve become so accustomed to wearing thrifted clothing that this is wasted upon me.

Pasting a smile on my face, I move to join my uncle, and funnily enough, the mayor as well.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here earlier, I had a fight with the zipper on my dress and it almost won,” I chuckle without mirth as I walk up to them.

The mayor’s eyes drag over my body in a way they never have before, and my stomach cramps uncomfortably. The way his gaze spends a little more time on my breasts, than the rest of my body before he adjusts himself, makes me glad I didn’t eat much today. My stomach lurches anyway, and I swallow back bile.

I really don’t like the way he’s looking at me. Not one bit.

“We need to discuss what you’re eating at school,” Uncle Eli grunts, tugging me to him for a hug. I’m not expecting it, and I practically fall into his arms. His lips are pressed against the shell of my ear when he whispers his next words.

“You’ll pay for being late, Isabela. Your supposed freedom is making you forget yourself. Do not embarrass me anymore.”

My shiver has nothing to do with the cool air in the room as I step away from my uncle with a nod, swallowing hard.

“Your uncle says you’re doing quite well at school, Isabela. What are you studying?” Mayor Markship asks. There’s a glass of whiskey in his hand I didn’t notice before, and I realize he’s showing all of the signs of being intoxicated.

Maybe it’ll be easier to get away from him while he’s drinking, since he’s clearly being lecherous, but I won’t count on it.

His wife is nowhere to be seen, another factor I dislike.

“I’m getting a bachelor's degree in mathematics, with minors in business and community,” I explain. I usually sound self-assured when I discuss my college aspirations, but I really can’t breathe in this damn dress. Fuck. Instead of sounding intelligent, I sound like a bimbo in an expensive dress.

“Wow, your uncle didn’t tell me this,” Mayor Markship says in surprise. My uncle knows my major and minors because he insists on being appraised of both my grades and any serious declarations through the admissions office.

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