Page 60 of Explosive Prejudice

Not bothering to say a word, he walked around me, checking me carefully before looking up at Mr. Ross. “It’s half a size too big,” he said, his voice cold.

“He lost weight.”

“So why didn’t you adjust it to his new size?”

Mr. Ross frowned at my father’s words, then ran his fingers over his mustache. “I can see if I have a better suit—”

“It’s fine,” I tried to jump in.

“It’s not fine.” My dad touched my shoulder, softly feeling the fabric. “I pay Mr. Ross more than enough to make sure you wear a suit that perfectly matches your size.” The corner of his lips curved into a small smile that was erased once he looked back at the tailor. “Go and see what you can do so he looks no less than perfect.”

Mr. Ross couldn’t have moved faster while leaving the room.

After ensuring the door was closed, my father’s eyes returned to me as he tucked a lock of stray hair behind my ear. “Care to explain why you spent $120,000 last Thursday?”

I huffed, moving his hand away from me, and stepped down from the small podium Mr. Ross had brought with him. “I bought a motorcycle.”

“A motorcycle?” He scowled, obviously not pleased with my answer.

“Yeah, a really cool motorcycle.” I poured myself a glass of champagne from the bottle sitting on the desk and was ready to drink, but before the glass could even reach my lips, my father grabbed my wrist hard enough to make me writhe.

“When I ask a question, I expect it to be answered properly, Shay-Lee.” He took my glass away and put it back on the table. Still holding my wrist, his face was now so close I felt his breath on my skin.

Despite still being high from the coke I did earlier, my stomach flipped, and I braced myself before looking up to meet his eyes. “But I thought this was our agreement, Daddy.” I spat the last word, well aware of how much he hated it. “I can spend your money, no questions asked, and in return, I don’t tell people what you actually do to me.” Unable to stop myself, a sad laugh broke past my lips. “Aren’t you proud of your dad?” I repeated the interviewer’s question, making my voice higher to sound like her. “Oh yeah, of course I am.” I smirked and then laughed. “Especially when he beats the shit out of me. Even more so when he—” My dad yanked me off my feet before I could complete my sentence, twisting my wrist so hard I fell to my knees.

“Are you high?”

I grinned through the pain. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“For your own sake, you better be sober tonight, or I swear to God—”

“Why?” My brows pulled together as I looked up at him with malicious eyes. “I thought you liked it when I’m wasted. Makes it a hell of a lot more easy.” He knew exactly what I was talking about because the muscle in his jaw ticked before he twisted my wrist until I cried out in pain.

“Don’t make me break your hand,” he warned through gritted teeth.

“D-dad.”

“You continue to behave this way and I’ll lock you up in a mental hospital for the rest of your wretched life.” He let go of my hand and turned his back on me.

Finally free, I quickly brought my wrist close to my chest and rubbed it, but the pain didn’t go away. It never did. Even though he was no longer holding me, I still felt him on my skin, cuffing me with his invisible chains.

“Like you’d ever let me go.” I spoke the painful truth. “I’m locked with you forever,” I hissed at my father’s back, wishing I wasn’t doomed to be his and that I had the power to break these chains and run away.

“You’re goddamn right about this. I’ll never let you go.” It wasn’t a threat but the cruel reality I was molded into. “Be sure to behave tonight, or there will be consequences.” He fixed his suit and then left the room without glancing my way.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to burn this whole place to the ground.

“Okay, I think we have just enough time to fix the jacket so it would sit perfectly on you, young sir,” Mr. Ross said as he returned to the room, reminding me that no matter how badly I wanted to escape this world, I couldn’t.

I wasn’t strong enough.

Swallowing back all those emotions and thoughts, I cleared my throat.

“Okay.”

---