Daddy dearest

My gown sticks to my skin as the rain drenches me. Everyone else has taken shelter in the cabin and are floating around in their elegant silk gowns, socialising and being pretty.

I glare at my gown. Stupid thing.

I never should have said yes.

Never should've come here.

I glance behind me one last time and spot the reason for the soirée– the happy couple.

Georgette smiles and the lights catch her pearly whites which is reason enough to send me into a rage, but then they also catch Aaron's ring– the one he let her slip onto his finger with a goddamn smile.

I rip my eyes away from the gruesome sight and stalk towards the bathroom, full of intent.

I'll show all those motherfuckers not to fuck with me.

I'm not Cinderella, I'm fucking Rapunzel and I'm letting my hair down.

My beautiful gown falls to the floor with a plop and I smile at my reflection.

Were you hoping to get lucky tonight? That's a sexy number for an innocent soirée.

"Okay, Inner voice, I get it. You're meant to be sarcastic and annoying as hell, but do me a favour and fuck off."

And now she's talking to her reflection. Barmy.

My bra is a chic elastic navy blue body hug that tappers off into a curtain of woven strands with light dustings of silver. The strands go down all the way to meet the flimsy material that is my pant and create a network of pure art.

I tear the torso off my silver gown, glad the juice did not go further than the chest area, and leave the elastic waist intact.

The colours surprisingly complement each other. Navy blue top and cold-white skirt with gold patterns scaling the length.

Well, that's one fine bod.

"You know it, Tequila, you know it."

~•●•~

The whispers begin the moment I step into the dining hall.

Dainty hands bedecked in the finest jewelry hide sharp serrated mouths that speak unimaginable horrors. Laughter lines complete the picture of true caring smiles, hiding the ice in the eyes.

Vultures, the lot of them.

Mrs Winchester is the first to attack, clearly still reeling from my underhand jab.

"Tequila darling. Here I thought you would hide this embarrassment out tonight. Stuations like this seem to follow you around, don't they? And that silly boy thought it was okay to keep you in the dark, did he? I'll give him a good talking to."

"Your gown is an interesting shade of horrible, you have warts the size of Texas and everyone knows you still smoke because your breath stinks.

Should I go into details on how busy the gossip mill is with your cute little grandson or should I talk about Mr Winchester's love affair with the twentieth waitress this month? Take your pick, I don't like talking about myself alone."

"And here I was, thinking you were as stupid as you look. Apparently looks can be deceiving." Her icy tone is a jarring change from the pseudo concern she showed just moments ago.

"Yes. And it applies to everyone too. Don't forget that."

She steps aside for me to pass while the gossipers begin to murmur anew.

They have new meat; this information is too good to pass.

I don't believe for a second that they would dally on her for long especially considering what I have in mind.

"Tequila, how is José? It has been too long."

"Hi, Mr August, he is doing very well. How is Miriam and Augusta?"

Mr August is the barrister who helped us during the scandal my father faced. He became a family friend since then and comes over once in a while.

"They are okay, but be careful dear. You are entering dangerous waters."

I give him a nod and walk on.

I know, Mr August.

Aaron makes to take a step towards me but is stopped by Georgette's dainty hands– hands that have a blinding band on a finger.

I grit my teeth and glare at the point of attachment between their upper limbs.

"Hey, Rapunzel. I was worried you would get drenched. Did you bring two changes of attire?"

"I didn't. I just got creative. Can I have a dance?"

Georgette's mother steps forward and glares at me through her beady eyes, looking every inch the hawk she is.

"Of course not! It's his engagement party. You have guts to even ask that. You shouldn't be here, girl."

"Aaron, I will not take no for an answer. Georgette wouldn't mind, would she? Surely she isn't threatened by a friend taking her fiancé for a dance."

"I wouldn't be if it were just a friend. We all know you are obsessed with Aaron. Who knows to what extent you would go to jeopardise all this."

"Let us test your theory then." I say, stepping forward and yanking Aaron's arm from hers.

He doesn't resist, much to my satisfaction, and soon we are on the empty dancefloor.

Considering the situation, all eyes are pinned on us.

Perfect.

I catch Mia's eyes and give a mock bow.

I'll give you a show worthy of Jessica Rabbit's reputation.

"What are you doing, Rapunzel?"

I place a finger on Aaron's lips and shush him.

"Let me lead just this once."

The music begins just as he whispers something that makes my heart trip.

"Don't you always?"

We glide through the dancefloor and for a moment I close my eyes and choose to forget the looks.

I let myself believe we are the only people on the beautiful yacht.

That we are still ten and free.

That the weight of our parent's social standing isn't threatening to crush us.

Aaron makes it easier when my lids open. His sea of promises stares intently at me and I willingly get lost in them.

I'm indulging myself for today; only today. After this, I will stop whatever Aaron and I have agreed upon.

My job will disappoint my Pa, sure, but if he knows what I have to do to keep the secret, his heart will be broken and I cannot do that to him.

The scandal will blow over pretty soon. Socialites are fickle people and get new topics for discussion every second.

Thought in mind, I reach up and kiss the engaged man in the dancefloor of his engagement party to the ruthless daughter of a powerful and vicious man, right in front of forty and so gossip-hungry socialites.

I reach up and kiss Aaron, and he kisses me back, no hesitation.

The indignant screech Georgette makes flies over my head, the few camera lights that flash do not make me back down, the name-calling and wolf whistles egg me on just as Aaron's hold on me tightens.

"Arcelia."

I hear that whisper over every other sound, it could as well have been shouted from a rooftop.

My body spasms in detachment from Aaron and I whip around to find the one thing I hate seeing.

Disappointment in his eyes.

"Papá."

What is he doing here?

He answers my unasked question.

"I had business in the area and got dragged here by my personal assistant." He stretches out the last words through gritted teeth and I spot Marian cower away in a corner.

This was a ploy.

Fucking Georgette.

"Daddy, let's go somewhere else."

"Is this what you should be doing, Arcelia? He is engaged."

"Papá, por favor." I plead.

"Pero–"

"Papá."

His eyes glaze over but he nods and walks away.

Aaron's lips are pinched together as his hands reach for me.

"Do you need me to come? I could help–"

"No." I cut him off with a tight-lipped smile. "You'll actually make it worse."

He still raises a hand and pushes a tendril of hair from my face.

"I'll wait for you."

I don't know what he means exactly but I cling to those four words.

My father glances at me the moment I step into the cabin room he entered.

"What were you thinking, mi hija?"

That's the thing. I wasn't thinking.

Or at least, I didn't factor your presence in this.

"I'm sorry, papá. I don't know what I was thinking."

He walks over to me and raises my chin.

"Talk to me, Tequila. I will listen to only you."

"I like him, Papá. I like Aaron. Georgette just doesn't want me to be with him because she hates me. I felt something in our dance, Papi." In our kiss. "I know this is farce and he's not truly engaged to her. Please, Papá."

I don't even know what I am pleading for. He seems to know what that is though.

"Arcelia, let's sit." We walk over to the plush bed and he lets me sit before kneeling in front of me.

"You're the most stunning young lady on this yacht. That kid has no other choice but let himself be bewitched. I know you feel you're always talked about.

I know you want to burn all bridges and tell them to fuck off because you feel you've lost it all and have the right to act out but you shouldn't feel that way."

He takes a breather and gives me one of his adoring looks.

"That scandal happened and blew over. I am not a pedophile and you know that. Lolita knows that and your mum knows that. That's all that matters to me– you three are all that matter to me. You believe me.

I am regaining trust and investors are trooping in. Robótica Prístino is thriving once again, so why are you punishing yourself for something I have forgotten about? Something everyone else has forgotten about."

Georgette's sneering face flashes in my mind's eye. The whispers and jeers. The taunts from people I thought were close friends.

The trolls on the Internet who knew nothing about our family.

The hate.

"Because they didn't hold my hand when I was drowning, Papá. It was awful. Everyone turned their backs on me."

He reaches up to wipe a tear from my face and only then do I realize I'm crying.

***

The morning the scandal reached us was bad. I went to school to find my friends because I believed they would make it all better. I believed Georgette would take my hands and propose we ditched school for a ride since it took my mind off things.

I was certain Aaron would miss his English test to join us, only to have us ditch Georgette and hike up alone.

Reality bitch-slapped me that day.

"Everyone, here she comes! So, Tequila, do you help your 'daddy' with his extracurricular activities, or is your love so strong you don't want to share him with anyone else?"

My shock had worn out fast, the very next second, she sported a bruised and bleeding nose.

Our catfight ended bitterly.

"I fucking hate you, Georgette!" I had screeched as I was being dragged away.

Her nasal voice carried through the air.

"Finally, you've come out and said it. I thought you'd always be a coward, you cold-hearted bitch! You'll never have Aaron either, just so you know!"

***

"Let me fight this fight, Daddy. It's personal."

He looks into my eyes before enveloping me in a hug.

"Don't get hurt, my love."

I'll try not to.