Page 2 of The Hellcat Barbies: Saskia
To the left of the middle dress was a long-sleeved lace ball gown that had a partial corset at the waist, made of silk, and puffed out slightly less than the middle dress. It was also astonishing but not quite my taste. I’d never wear lace on my wedding day, even though you couldn’t see through the fabric. Nicole and Felicia was the brand of the dress, and I’d hate it that whoever had taken the time to design it because I wouldn’t be wearing it.
The last dress caught my eye. Curated by Dodona Avdiu, it was one of those dresses where you couldn’t even have a single piece of cake on your wedding day, or it wouldn’t fit. The mermaid style flowed into a cloud-like tulle at the bottom and was covered in beading on the upper part. It also had a sweetheart neckline. All the dresses had matching veils hanging on the wall behind them, and I hadn’t even taken the time to look at them.
As extravagant as they were, I hated them all. It might have been because I didn't want to do this, or because my father wouldn't be there to walk me down the aisle. Panic, like I’d never felt before, welled in my throat, and I felt the vomit that had been threatening to come up. Turning, I ran out of the suite, nearly shoving a florist aside and sprinting out the door. I ran without stopping, even after I felt one of the hair clips scrape my face — the one used to lock in the curls. The glam team hadn’t even had a chance to undo the pin curls.
This man, whoever he was, had already picked out my dresses, even from across the room; there were reception dresses to choose from, and in the in-suite bathroom, lingerie was also displayed on mannequins for me to select. How fucking controlling and sick was that? He had everything chosen for me, right down to the fucking negligee he’d rape me in? Because it definitely wouldn’t be consensual.
Finally reaching my destination, I had my hands on my knees and my stomach was caved in, my heart racing as I threw up what felt like my entire body. Tears streamed down my face. Because of the flow and the loose curls that fell along with the lashes, I could barely see anything, but I could hear my breakfast splashing into the water. I don’t know what the fuck my father was thinking, but still, I yearned for him deeply. My wedding day, as much as I dreaded it, I needed him present for it. It was always supposed to be that way.
Feeling the urge to scream but swallowing it down along with the spit, I stood. I felt eyes on me but didn’t bother to investigate. Since the night my father was killed, guards had been posted outside our home. It wasn’t the first time my father used security. He’d hire a team whenever he took on a high-profile client and went to trial. Seeing them outside our house didn’t bother me much until I was summoned to the lawyer's office and handed my father’s last will and testament. I felt safe with guards, but the police still didn’t know who had killed my dad, which kept me on edge around everyone. For all I knew, his client who owed him a favor could have done it. Why? To marry me? I was just a graduate. I didn’t have any influence beyond being a lawyer’s daughter and having a few degrees. It just didn’t make sense.
Using the back of my hoodie, I dabbed at my eyes and mouth. I didn’t know why I cared, but I didn’t want to ruin the makeup. Fish surfaced and ate my vomit, clearing the water as if I hadn’t just done the disgusting act. That sight made my empty stomach churn, and I mentally crossed off whatever type of fish they were from my list.In the navy water, my reflection stared back at me. Besides a loose curl and the rest of my hair still pinned up, I looked pretty. The team had done their job well. My makeup hadnever looked like this, and with all the crying I’d done, it hadn’t moved. It was like witchcraft.
“Either that nigga cheated last night or you were bought off the black market.”
Startled, I jumped and nearly fell backward into the lake when a hand grabbed my hoodie and pulled me forward. The voice didn’t match that of a burly male guard, and as I caught my breath and recovered from my life flashing before my eyes—because I’d never swum in a lake—I saw that she wasn’t a guard, nor was she alone.
“Move away from that damn water, cuz ima be mad as hell if me and my baby gotta go in there and save you.”
The baby referenced was on her hip and staring at me with wondering eyes.
Moving as far away from the lake as I could because even though I could swim, those fish were a little too eager to eat human waste for my liking.
“Thank you,” I pushed out. Still overwhelmed with emotion.
“Unh hun,” the gorgeous lady eyed me curiously while shifting the child on her pointy hips.
Gorgeous was putting it mildly. Just glancing at the girl made me feel insecure. I was wearing a white Lululemon leggings set with a matching hoodie. It was simple, but I’d been told to dress comfortably. Cloud shoes were on my feet before the pedicure, but now I was in white Versace flip-flops.I wasn’t dressed like a bum at all. Still, next to this lady, who had to be her child because they shared many features, the most distinctive one being their Asian eyes, I was basic as fuck.
Even though I was the one getting married, you might think she was. The white silk halter romper that hugged her calves was one I’d seen on the runway during NY Fashion Week. It was made by MIU MIU and was said to be the only one of its kind. I knew because I’d wanted it for graduation, and even my father’sconnections couldn’t or wouldn’t get it from the brand’s hands. Yet, this gorgeous girl was in it, and it had to have been tailored to her body because the model was a size two, while this girl was at least a size seven.
Her long hair was pressed and hung to her waist, and her bangs made her look even more Asian, but I also saw some African American features in her. Her baby was dressed in white, but she wore a small jacket with her short set. Both were wearing Chanel sneakers, and both had Chanel bags slung across their bodies. The ring on her finger made the one I’d been given look like moissanite, and if I had to choose, that ring was my favorite part of the scene, though I wasn’t too fond of that either. The dresses, the wedding location, décor, and ring would all make a woman’s dreams come true—just not mine. He’d gotten it right for someone, but not me. The only thing I loved was the pink theme. The glam team was one I would have chosen too. Still, her ring topped mine. It should have come with its own security.
“Now, why in the fuck are you out here throwing up and scaring off my glam team and shit? With this bad as a wedding that has been stressing my sister the fuck out, you posed to be around this bitch twirling. So what that nigga do?”
Tugging at the sleeve of my hoodie, my cheeks warmed. I hadn’t interacted much with anyone outside of the guards, the lawyer, and my teachers who checked in on me daily. I’d never made time for friends because my dad was more than enough, and I spent most of my time studying. The glam team was the first real interaction I’d had in a while outside of the people I knew or had come to know, and now, I felt bad for how I’d treated them since she pointed it out.
“Wait, your glam team?”
“Unh hun,” she smacked. If I weren’t so distraught, I’d be cracking up at the way she and her baby were giving me the samelook right now, looking like twins. I could tell another person’s genes were involved, though, because while they looked alike, her daughter also resembled someone else.
“Bruna, Chimo, and Lunar been glamming me and my girls for the last few years. My sister is the wedding planner,” she informed.
Great! The wedding planner he had hired witnessed me falling apart out here, and now I was really embarrassed.
“You’ve been crying and moping around this bitch all day. What that nigga do?”
“Nigga do?” Her daughter repeated.
“What you said, Mafia.”
“Who?”
“Mafia. That’s her name. Well, middle name.”
She kissed the side of her daughter’s face, who still hadn’t taken her eyes off me. That was an odd name, but at the same time, it was kind of cute. My name wasn’t common, so I wasn’t one to judge. Since her sister was the wedding planner, I didn’t know if they were connected to the groom, but I didn’t have anything to lose at this point. I needed to talk to someone, and since she was here, her and Mafia were about to get an earful.
“This may sound strange.”
