Page 35 of Take My Crown

“Yes, Dad.”

“Excellent. Now in the absence of a list of things you wanted for your birthday, I’ve decided to let you go shopping with Isabella. She assures me that teenage girls enjoy the shopping experience and since you have a ball to go to tonight, she’ll also take you for a manicure and pedicure while you’re out so you look your very best. Choose an outfit which will make the other houses sit up and take notice.”

“Yes, Dad.”

His lips tighten at my reply, but he doesn’t push on it. I will never be the obedient daughter he is looking for.

I will always be waiting for a single chance to run. This is not my home and he will never be my family.

Shopping with Isabella is more fun than I thought it would be. She knows a lot of cool shops. Although I have promised myself I wasn’t going to take anything more from my father than the bare minimum, we somehow end up going home laden down with more bags than we can carry ourselves. We constantly call the driver to come and take them back to the car so we can buy more.

And I find the perfect outfit for my masked ball.

As I put it on, I finally find myself getting excited about my party. After everything that happened the past couple of weeks, it’s going to be good to let my hair down and just have fun. My father’s mansion has its own ballroom–of course it flipping does–and he has hired a party planner who’d spent the day decorating it in a moon and stars theme.

The theme is what inspired me to buy my dress. Isabella had taken me to a number of vintage clothing shops she knew and I found a designer dress which could have been made for me. A deep midnight blue, so dark it is almost black, the sleeveless bodice is incredibly figure hugging, pushing my breasts up to enhance my cleavage. Discrete sequins were added at carefully chosen intervals, so I sparkled when I moved. It enhanced my figure without being trashy or over the top. The skirt flared out at the waist, making me look like I had an hourglass figure, but without being stiff. I worried I wouldn’t be able to sit in the dress, but it is deceptively free flowing.

Isabella had made an appointment for me at a hairdresser’s at some point earlier in the week. Having already bought my dress, they are able to match the colour with streaks in my hair, which creates a subtle effect I absolutely love. Then they pile my hair on top of my head in curls upon curls upon curls which, combined with my dress, makes me look like an aristocrat from the French revolution. I love it.

My mask is white with tall feathers on one side. When I put it on, I barely recognise myself in the mirror. Maybe this party is going to be fun after all.

A loud noise comes from downstairs. The live band my dad hired are going through a last soundcheck. They start playing a song I recognise and my stomach tighten when I realise my dad hired Lost in Oblivion, my favourite band!

I wasn’t going to forgive him for kidnapping me–ever–but thisispretty cool. I have wanted to see Lost in Oblivion play live again ever since the time I snuck out from Katy’s and pretended I was 16 so I could get into a one-off gig they were playing in town. I was grounded for a month afterwards, but it was so worth it.

There is a knock on the door and Isabella comes in a moment later.

“By the look on your face, I take it you’ve guessed another one of your dad’s surprises?” she asks with a big smile.

“Lost in Oblivion!” I practically squeal. “I can’t believe it! How on earth did he manage to book them?”

“Your father knows people.” Isabella shrugs enigmatically.

“You must have figured out by now your father believes in rewarding good behaviour,” Isabella says. “Your eighteenth birthday is a chance for him to reassert Archaic authority. If things go as planned, he’ll be more than happy to arrange for you to spend more time with the band. You’ll like them a lot–they’re good lads.”

“Seriously?” I feel like I have died and gone to Heaven. “Wait, you’ve met them?”

“Someone had to make sure they knew where to set up. Their music isn’t really to my taste, but I can see why you like them. I can definitely hear their influence in your music.”

“You’ve been listening to my music?” I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I was supposed to have privacy in my room.

“Sound carries further than you think in this place,” Isabella tells me. “My office is just down the hall, so I hear you singing sometimes. You have a lovely voice. Maybe your father can set up a session with a recording studio so you can put together a demo. I’m sure he will support your music until the time comes for you to take over the family business. You should talk to him about it.”

“We’ll see.” If I make it in music, it will be despite my father, not because of him. Music is the one thing that is mine. I’m not going to taint my career with his influence.

“Anyway,” Isabella continues. “Your father sent me to get you. He wants the two of you to make an entrance together.”

Of course. I nod with a forced smile.

“Are you ready?”

I shrug. “As much as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

My father’s face lights up as I walk into his study. He is wearing a tuxedo, and I have to admit he looks good.

“There’s my beautiful girl,” he says. “Or rather, beautiful woman. You’re not a girl anymore. I wish your mother could be here to see you. She has to be so happy to know you are taking up the family business.”

I am not so sure she would, but I don’t bother to correct him.

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