Times are hard, and so is living. We do the best we can, but a majority of my money gets sent to my sister so she can live. Living with my mom isn’t easy for her. She’s a junkie who spends most of her money on drugs and alcohol. I used to live in that madness until I left. But when I left, I was sixteen and didn’t have a job or money. Now I do. I fight. I fight to survive. I fightto let my sister live a life a little better than I did. I fight so she doesn’t have to worry about where her next meal is coming from. Could I get a regular job? Probably, but the money isn’t as good as it is fighting. And fighting is something I enjoy.
Chapter 2
River
I look at myself in the mirror at the overly expensive dress my mom picked out for me to wear tonight. It’s not that I don’t like fancy things; I do, but this is over the top even by her standards.
This dress looks like it belongs on a queen, not the daughter of the Governor, but tonight isn’t just any night. Tonight is the night my father auctions me off to the highest bidder. At least that’s what I think he’s doing. In reality, he’s finding me a husband. One he approves of. One he can control and one he can get money out of.
Dirty Governor? That’s my father for you. That about sums him up. He’s as dirty as they come, and no one but me seems to bat an eye at it. They all look the other way because he holds all the power, and they know it.
My mom isn’t much different in that aspect. She likes the money that comes with a man like him. She always has. Anything to walk around in designer clothes with the matching handbag to go with it.
I take in my appearance once more, from the perfect cat eye to the single strand of hair that hangs in a curl down my cheek.
I know who I am. I know what I’m here to do, but the only thing keeping me here is the money. I don’t need all this. I don’t need the designer bags and the makeup. I just want the money I will receive once I turn twenty-one. After that, I couldn’t care less. I can live off that money for the rest of my life, never having to worry about a thing.
Except my father wanted more. He wanted me to have a husband before I could have the money. And that added a whole new layer to my plans. I didn’t want that. I don’t want a husband. Don’t need one. I’m happy on my own.
“Fucking ridiculous,” I mumble to my reflection just as my bedroom door opens. My mom walks in and stands next to me, looking at my reflection in the mirror.
“You look beautiful.”
“I look foolish.”
“You look no such thing.”
“This is way over the top, Mom,” I tell her.
“Not for what your father wants, it isn’t.”
“Does anyone stop to think what I want?” I ask, turning to face her now.
“That’s not how this works, and you know it.”
“I don’t have to go along with this,” I huff in protest. Her hand quickly flies to my face, gripping my chin as tightly as she can.
“You will go along with this. Your father has worked very hard to pull this party together, and you will act accordingly.” I can tell by her tone that she means business. A part of me wants to fight her on it, but the other part just wants the money. To be honest, the money is the only thing keeping me going at this point.
“It’s bullshit,” I tell her. She releases my face before stepping back and rubbing her temples.
“It’s your life, River. He’s setting you up for life.”
“No, he’s setting you up for life. It’s always been about the money.”
“As if you don’t stand to gain anything. Do you know how wealthy these men are?” she snaps at me.
“I don’t care.”
“You should care. You’ll never have to work for a thing in your life, River. Most women would be grateful for that,” she reminds me.
“I’m not most women. I’ll have my own money when I’m twenty-one.”
“Which you can’t access without a husband,” she reminds me. That little fact pisses me off.
“Divorce,” I mutter.
“You’ll lose it all then. Why can’t you just be happy that you have what you have in life?” she asks.
