I leaned back and he released his hold on me. It was all about keeping up appearances after all, and a struggle by the newly engaged couple wouldn’t look too great to voters.
There was applause, and then we were finally allowed to get off the stage. David tried to talk to me, but I held up my hand, stopping his fumbled explanations. We were standing next to the stage and people were still looking at us so I smiled and leaned closer.
“This is insane. Fuck you for going along with this. I thought you were better than her,” I hissed and walked away, leaving a flustered David behind.
I made it to the table and hoped Mason was ready to get out of there. No way was I going to stay another minute. But when I looked at the seat he was supposed to be sitting in, it was empty. And there was no sign of Mason.
“Get back to your seat. Now,” my mother hissed while waving to someone.
I was still stunned from what had just happened on stage. And where did Mason go?
“I’m not going to say it again,” my mother’s voice jolted me out of my dazed state.
For lack of a better idea, I did as I was told and sat down. Who knew how much longer my feet were going to keep me up anyway. I should never have obeyed and attended this fiasco.
David dropped into the seat next to me and took my hand.
“I know you don’t understand what’s going on, but I couldn’t tell you before the announcement. It was your mother’s decision, and I agreed that this was best for the campaign. Just don’t make a scene, and we can talk about it tonight after everyone leaves.”
I pulled my hand back and he let go when he realized I wasn’t going to back down. “You are out of your mind if you think I’m going to talk to you. And I’ll gladly repeat myself so you understand where I stand. This is insane.”
I didn’t touch any of the food that was brought out and refused to participate in the conversation around the table. Leighton tried to get me to talk to him, but I just ignored whatever he was saying. I was good at tuning people out and he was easy to ignore. He eventually got the hint and gave up.
I texted Mason to find out where he was, but he didn’t reply. I texted again to make sure he knew that what had just happened on stage wasn’t what it looked like. There was still no reply.
As soon as dinner was finished, I jumped up. Time to get out of there. A guy I hadn’t met before stopped me when I turned from the table.
“Excuse me,” I said and tried to walk past him. He matched my movements and shook his head.
“Ma’am, you’re supposed to stay here.”
“Yeah, well, and my mother is supposed to care about me.” I made another attempt at walking past him and was thwarted again. Seriously, what was it with these brainless thugs my mother seemed to be hiring lately?
“Let me through,” I ground out.
“Stella. Cease this behavior at once,” my mother admonished.
“What behavior? Trying to go home?”
“You are home. But I see you need a reminder in proper etiquette. Tomorrow we will pick your lessons back up where we left off before your little tantrum.”
My blood ran cold and my whole body went still.
“I’m not staying here.”
“Oh, but you are. Just think of your friend and her darling kids.”
Just the mention of Nora made all my resistance evaporate. She knew how to get my compliance.
“Fine. Now if you’ll excuse me,” I clipped, storming out. This was a nightmare I wish I could wake up from. Nobody stopped me, but I noticed the hired muscle followed me up to my room.
I slammed the door behind me, at least as much as one could slam a heavy oak door, and took in my room.
It looked exactly like I left it. A lot of soft pink and white, and a hideous wallpaper that I had hated on sight. I had no hand in decorating the room and wasn’t allowed to change anything once the interior designer was finished. I was a stranger in my own home, careful of every step I took and every word I said.
It was exhausting. And now I was right back to where I started. I had to get out before things escalated. That was one thing I was sure about. My mother wouldn’t just let me get away with my defiance. She was good at biding her time and waiting for the right moment to put me back in my place. I felt pathetic, letting my mother control me like that.
My eyes closed for only a moment before I was jostled awake by a knock on my door. I sat up, disoriented and still in the same clothes. I tried to turn on my phone to check the time, but it was dead. It was getting light outside which told me I must have slept all night.
