Page 12 of Bittersweet Legacy

“Please whom?”

I frowned. He couldn’t expect - I mean his eyes, shining with challenge. He wanted to break me, what I wouldn't do to get my phone back. “Please, father.”

He beamed, but not with fatherly pride – he was just happy he’d won. “No”

I jerked back in my seat. “Excuse me?”

“You asked for your belongings, and I said no.”

“But –” I frowned; he couldn’t do that could he? He had to be joking right?

He sighed. “Those clothes are atrocious, I can’t have my child wear those rags – I couldn’t even give them to charity stores in this town. They have been discarded.”

I kept opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water. It was true that most of my clothes came from thrift stores but there was nothing wrong with that.

I could hear Sophia’s words in my head ‘pick your battles’. Clothes were only clothes and maybe I could sell them when I went to university, it would be some good money.

“What about my backpack? I want to call my friends and my fa-… Luke.”

“This is exactly the problem.” He extended his hand toward me as if it explained everything. “I think it will be easier for you to adapt to your new life if you don’t keep a connection with your old one.”

“But, but you can’t do that!” I shouted with indignation, jumping from my chair.

He chuckled as if I was an amusing domesticated animal. “I can assure you, Esmeralda, I can.”

“But,” I shook my head, it couldn’t be true. It had to be a nightmare. “You can’t keep me as a prisoner, I didn't do anything wrong.”

“I never said you did, but this –” he pointed to the chair on the floor and to me. “This is not acceptable behaviour in society, Esmeralda. Show me you can act with the decorum that is expected from you and I will reconsider the communication ban.”

“How long?” I asked, balling my hands into fists so tight I could feel my nails biting painfully into my palms.

“It will all depend on you. As soon as I believe you understand your role and your place in the world, I will give your computer and phone back.”

I was about to ask if what was expected from me was to be a broken robotic doll, but I was interrupted by my savior, and who I suspected would become an unlikely ally, my stepmother.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she apologized opening the door after only one knock, she took the scene, the toppled chair, my tight fists and sent me a quick warning look before looking at my father with her bright proper smile I now understood was no more than a facade. “Anika’s here to take the measurements and the sooner she’s done the sooner our Esmeralda will look like the Forbes she is.”

My father’s face lit up, and I realized she really knew how to talk to him. “Yes,” he said as he put his glasses back on. “Tell her I expect at least a minimal wardrobe by tomorrow.”

For the next 30 minutes I was measured and assessed and questioned by Anika, the woman who looked so much more like a punk groupie than a personal shopper, but I was sure she was legit. My father wouldn’t hire anyone who wasn’t the best.

“Do you have any preferences, Esmeralda?” Sophia interrupted as Anika took notes. “Colors? Types of clothes? Fabrics? It needs to please you too, honey.”

The woman turned toward her in surprise. “I’m the best there is! I know what will optimize her already tremendous beauty.”

“I know you will. But she is a teenager, Anika, and we know how they need their own marks.” She said that as if it was an inside joke, a way to pacify the woman, and as Anika relaxed, I realized how good Sophia was at navigating this life. Maybe I should take example from her.

“I like purple and blue the best and please, not anything too revealing.” I was not a fan of being leered at.

“But you have a shape to kill for!” Anika shot back. “Soft toned curves, full breasts and a small waist. You should accentuate this!”

I looked at Sophia for help, she had to understand. She gave me a quick wink, a conspiring gesture which warmed my heart. “Maybe we could keep the boys guessing, don’t you think, Anika? Less is more, we know that.”

Anika rested her forefinger on her lips, detailing me once more. “Umm, yes, I guess I can keep the more revealing outfits for the evening gowns.”

I threw Sophia a grateful smile which she returned.

Sophia clapped her hands together. “Perfect, can we expect some items tomorrow?” she asked Anika, a subtle way to let her know she had outstayed her welcome for today.

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