Chapter Two: HARLOT IN BLACK

Chapter Two: HARLOT IN BLACK

I wondered why he left. He could’ve stayed warm inside and no one would’ve objected to his presence as long as I didn't. It was my ice rink after all.

It was a good thing Daddy was rich. So rich that he could buy me anything I whined for. The ice rink was his last gift to me before he died four years ago. I tried my best not to think of it. Instead I thought of how he cheered me whenever I had my skates on, dancing to the music and the routine, getting lost in whichever song I chose.

But I wasn’t going to take up skating as a career. My books and the nerdy image that attached itself to an IQ of 147 were too valuable to me to exchange. Yeah, I was boring that way. And in a million more ways – you just had to ask Nancy.

It was bad enough I had to spend my allowance that she handed me on items from the lists that she prepared for me – right down to my socks and shoes mind you. If I didn’t comply, all my merchandise would be dumped on the customer service counter displaying the huge Returns Here at the store. I could never get over the time when she’d made me go back with Henry and return the cutest purple colored sequined top simply because GAP wasn’t what Nancy wanted me to wear. Oh no! It had to be a Donna Karen that season. Even Haute Hippie wouldn’t cut it because Nancy found the styles rebellious. Shoes – it had to be Prada or nothing.

The twisting road ahead complimented my mindset as my Corvette hugged its curves. I kept thinking how and why my life had turned upside down. It had everything to do with Daddy’s death because that’s how he’d planned it in his will. He’d left everything to Nancy. Everything except the ice rink. Daddy had set up a separate fund to run it. I was not allowed to touch that money to spend on myself, but it was more than enough to keep the ice rink running in perfect condition. Nancy had hinted a few times that she wanted to sell it due to lack of liquid money, but thankfully the lawyers said the only person who could make this decision was me.

The same went for my college fund. I had money to spend on my education as long as it was educational only.

As I pulled into the circular driveway of the house, I could already see the hideously long lines of stretch limos, sparkling sports convertibles, BMWs and the like. Valets stood idly at their posts indicating that all guests were warmly seated inside and all the cars I could see, for as far as our driveway stretched, were in fact parked.

I braked right in front of the main door and turned off the ignition. A valet came running and politely asked for the car keys. He was hired help and had no idea who I was.

“No.” I jumped out of my silver Corvette. He looked confused as he quickly tried to explain why it was necessary for me to blah blah – I listened to him patiently.

“Could you please call Tushy Pain?” I asked sweetly.

“I – I’m sorry ma’am – who?” The surprise on his face made his two peers snicker.

“Big, nervous man. Blond.” Just then I spotted him, our estate manager, standing in the opened front door. I waved to him as he banged the door shut behind him and scrambled down the steps.

“That’s Tushy Pain.” I waved. “Hey Tush! Park the car!” He hurried up and grabbed the keys I had held up for him.

“It’s Tosh! Tosh E. Payne! E for Earnest, Tosh Earnest Payne!” He stressed every syllable.

“Yes,” I said. “Tush-E-Pain! With earnest!”

Tush smiled nervously at the three valets while they tried and failed to smother their chuckles. “Really, Eva, you should stop.” He barely managed his tone of mock civility.

“Stop calling me that, you’re not ten years old anymore.”

“Stop calling me Eva,” I replied and sailed into the house. Tosh tossed the keys to the valet and was right behind me.

“It’s about time you came home Eva!” he whispered viciously in my ear.

“Don’t call me Eva.” I entered the foyer and squinted at the blinding lights glaring at me from all four corners of the house. “Is she having a bonfire in here?”

“You’re just in time for dinner.” Tosh ignored my remarks. “Please dress for the occasion and be down quickly. You have no idea how worried your mother –”

“Step-mother. And she isn’t even that anymore since Daddy’s dead.” I turned my back on him and climbed up the spotless, white marble staircase. Tosh decided not to follow me up and lingered at the bottom step.

“Christina will be up soon to help you,” he called from below, but I was already half way through the upper hallway to my room.

I stopped as I reached the landing with a delicate railing that overlooked the humungous living room-converted-to-ballroom below. The space was dazzling with gleaming hardwood floors, artistically carved furniture, crystal chandeliers, long silk drapes and above all, exotic foods and fruits. I could see caviar, escargot, mussels (Ew!), oysters, truffles (divine!) both black and white and plenty more. There was a separate fruit bar glittering with oriental trinkets like mangoes, loquat, dates, lychee, papaya and such thrown in with good ole oranges and strawberries. In one corner was the busy live bar with two bartenders making drinks on demand. Not to mention the array of servers weaving through the guests with dexterity, offering hors d’oeuvres.

In contrast to the colors on the floor of the room, the walls there were barren. There was no artwork or tapestries since Daddy and Nancy could never agree on the perfect choice. Daddy was the sort to go looking for the local unknown or less known painters and pay big money for their oils or even acrylic if he liked it enough. Nancy, on the other hand, was an expensive girl made to appreciate brand names and big names.

I scanned the ballroom once more for Nancy. There was no dancing going on and I was able to single her out. There she was, in her latest black Chanel, on the arm of some stranger in an expensive tux. I frowned at him. He probably owned millions in oil rigs or global synergy etcetera and – as I would most definitely hear later – would prove very valuable to Alistair Enterprises. That meant I’d be expected to be nice to the nice gentleman.

I only hoped she wouldn’t be brewing any plans similar to what she had churning last year. She’d almost pimped me out to a sleazy billionaire interested in collaborating with Alistair Enterprises. Nancy, overjoyed and dying to make the deal ironclad had sailed in with an extremely lewd proposition – courting Alistair’s daughter. Yeah, it sounded harmless alright. Only until you added free sex and a possible matrimonial alliance to the mix!

I was so furious I’d splashed the entire glass of martini that the tycoon himself had poured out for me on his face. I didn’t drink hence I couldn’t have put the alcohol to better use anyhow. Later when Nancy had stormed into my room to reprimand me I’d told her as icily as I could, if she dared try that move on me again I’d drag her to court.

And her good reputation with it!

She’d got the message.

I moved away from the railing, went into my room, slammed the door shut and plopped on my bed. I hated my life! And I missed Daddy. If only there was a way to escape it all. If only Nancy would disown me or stop engaging me in her aggressive attempts to grab more profitable opportunities for Daddy’s – uhm – her empire.

Christina’s meek voice pulled me out of the ugly ditch of sadness. She was carrying a nicely tailored silken evening gown. White. Nancy thought I looked angelic in white. I stared at the dress and swallowed an unladylike word and bile. Exactly when did that woman sell her soul to the dev – Hey! Wait a minute!

“Ma’am,” Christina said, “Miss Nancy is waiting for you downstairs.” “Tell her I’m dead.” I yawned and buried my face in my pillows.

“Please Ma’am,” she pleaded. “You don't get dressed, I get into trouble.”

I looked at the plainly dressed girl – about my age but much wiser than I could ever hope to be. She wore a simple black skirt with a white blouse, not exactly a maid’s uniform but that’s what Christina always wore. Doesn’t she ever feel like doing something different? Perhaps she liked her life just the way it was.

“Oh, look at the dress Ma’am, it’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.

“Why don’t you wear it?” I rolled over and looked at her.

“I’m sorry Ma’am.” She smoothed down the plastic that covered the garment.

“No, no! I really meant it. No sarcasm!” I sat up. “You can take it Christina, I don’t like white anyway. But you do!”

She looked at me like I’d gone mad. And then her expression turned solemn, on the verge of taking offence if I continued with my insolent behavior.

“Fine.” I sighed. Christina never took charity. “Put it down and get me some orange juice. I’m parched.”

She nodded and complied quietly. As soon as she was out, I sprang up and locked the door. I didn't want any more interruptions. I glanced at the white dress again and opened my closet. There in a corner hung the perfect attire for the night. I quickly got to it, too.

Twenty minutes later, I was heading downstairs to meet my affectionate Mom. I hoped to God she’d die of shock when she saw me, though I had my doubts. Evil seldom died easy.

As I descended the stairs I met my reflection in the giant ornate mirror hanging on the side wall. Perfectly dressed in black from head to toe – black corset-type top, black leather pants, black long boots, black lips and kohl eyes, and the awkward pearl necklace from Azure to complete the look – I could pass for a Goth hooker.

I fluffed up my unbound chestnut curls that fell all the way to my waist; gave my already full lips a pout and batted my brown eyes. My skin glowed golden in contrast to the stark blackness of an old costume that had finally come in handy.

I entered the grand room delicately and glided over to Nancy. An instant hush spread over the guests as I walked by them. The whispering followed me as I stepped away. I wanted to know what they were saying since every eye was now following me.

“Good evening, Mother,” I said as I reached Nancy.

She shrieked briefly before covering her mouth. It was clear she had trouble deciding whether to faint instantly or have me thrown out. Unfortunately, she did neither. “Why – why –” She stared hard as she searched for words and then did what she was best at. She plastered a charming smile on her impeccable red lips and introduced me to the people with her. “Everyone – meet my daughter. Eva. Eva – this is Brian, Roy, and Emily. They knew your father back when he was starting out. Then, they all lost touch somehow. But I finally found them!” she said with a hint of a smile. “Brian and

Emily are physicians. Roy here is an oil baron! He loves to travel.” Oh boy! Here she goes again!

The small cluster of two middle aged men and an elderly woman all fawned on me without delay.

“Oh, is this Alistair's little princess?” Emily asked. “Bless his soul. Why, darling you look just like him.”

“Really?” I said. “He always told me I took after my real mother.” They all laughed awkwardly.

“Eh, what did you say her name was?” Brian asked Nancy.

“Eva!” she said quickly.

“Beautiful name.” Roy, the elegant oil rigger was eyeing me more than the appropriate amount allowed by – uhm – me.

“Yes it is.” I turned my smiled on him. “Except that’s not my name. In my name there’s an F sound where the V should be and it’s spelt A-O-I-F-E.” I smiled at their expressions. “Confused much? Good.”

After that I walked away, leaving them to whisper with Nancy, and went into the kitchen.

“People!” I bellowed. “Water!”

A host of maids and servants scurried around to get me some.

“Miss!” I heard a tiny gasp near my ear and found Christina standing beside me with my glass of water, looking completely aghast. “What are you wearing? Miss Nancy will be furious! When I came back the door was locked. I even knocked but you never answered!”

“Yes because I wanted you to stay out,” I whispered as she handed me my glass of water. “Or else you’d have made me wear that hideous coffin cloth!”

She looked at me oddly. “Honestly, Miss Aoife. Sometimes I don’t get you.”

“And I love you, Christy, ‘cause you’re the only one who remembers my name right.” I giggled.

Christina sighed, shook her head, and walked away.

I was about to take my first sip of water when Nancy burst in and, grabbing me by the arm, escorted me out of the kitchen as if she’d caught me fornicating in public. She brought me to a nook right outside the grand room – a nice place for her to reprimand me without being overheard or seen by her fans.

“If you have joined some cult I should know about please tell me now!” She hissed.

“You look like a harlot for heaven’s sake. This is infuriating!” “Why, thank you Mother. That was the idea.” I smiled.

“Eva, do you realize what this gathering means for us? For the empire your father worked so hard to –”

“Nancy, you wanted me here and here I am. Take it or leave it.” I gave her my best businesslike tone. It seemed to make sense to her as well. All business stuff did.

“Fine,” she said softly. “But please at least be civil to the guests.”

“Er – am I intruding, girls?” Nancy’s oil rigger friend had searched us out.

Nancy quickly slapped on her plastic smile and dipped her voice in honey. “Oh no we were just catching up. You know it gets hard for a working mother.”

“Yes,” I said, returning the intruder’s intense gaze. “I was just telling her about my boyfriend.”

“Oh.” He raised his eyebrows. “You have a boyfriend?” “Shouldn’t I?” I asked bluntly.

“Oh no, it would be a crime in the world of men if a beautiful girl like you was not taken!” His expression was hungry. “Who is the lucky man, may I ask?”

He was slurring a bit by then and Nancy shifted uncomfortably in her elegant heels. Perhaps, she hadn’t counted on his interest in me reaching new levels. After all, it was her job to flirt and mine to just be angelic and mingle. That was our deal to restrain me from going to court and all.

But tonight – I was dressed to kill. If only I could actually do it too.

“So tell us about your boyfriend.” His eyes were fixed on my face – a strange sort of look that I could only call wolfish – lingered in his eyes.

“He –” I bit my lip as my mind quickly searched for an answer. “He is real – I mean really cool. And late!” What a mess! Note to self: never dress up foolishly just to get back at someone else – especially Nancy!

“What a fool.” Roy chuckled and then raised a finger to hush any response. “You hear that? The orchestra just started a waltz – my favorite tune. Let’s dance!” He grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him none too gently.

“I don’t dance!” I hissed, trying to stay glued in my spot.

“Roy!” Nancy tried to intervene but words seemed to have failed her. It was obvious she was more shocked than I was for some reason. “I think dinner is served. Shall we go?”

Roy let go of my hand and smiled. “But of course. I’m famished. After you, Eva.”

Something went off in my brain with the sound of that name that wasn’t mine. “No thank you!” I scowled. “I’d rather be with a demon in Volttus than to have the displeasure of your awful company. Good night to you!”

I turned away from their astonished faces and felt someone grab my hand as I stepped away.

I spun on my heel to confront him but he was gone – as was Nancy and the entire nook we were just conversing in. Baffled, I looked back but the familiar doorway was gone. I was definitely not in Kansas anymore!