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Congratulations.
A pulse of excitement swept through me, dragging the ugly black cloud away, a squeal erupting from my throat. I read it three times before jumping up and down. “I got in. Did you see? I made it. I’m going to Julliard.” I’d never been so excited in my life. It was as if a weight had been lifted, glorious clouds floating in a bright, sunny sky.
A full five seconds passed before I realized he hadn’t joined in on my celebration. “What’s wrong?”
He sighed again. That was never a good sign. “Unfortunately, you won’t be attending, at least not at this point.”
I hadn’t heard him right. There wasn’t a chance I had. “What did you say?”
My father looked exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “I’m aware of what happened last night.”
“Aware? What are you talking about?”
A slight smirk crossed his face. “Do you honestly think that you can attend a party for man I consider an enemy and I won’t find out about it? Or the fact you’ve been dating his son? You left this house without an escort, bribing the guards to keep your secret. What do you think happened to those guards, daughter?”
Oh, my God. He’d taken out his anger on the two soldiers who’d seen me leaving? “You didn’t.”
“I did what I needed to do. You threw in my face everything I’ve taught you.” He was shaking, his anger increasing. “You defy me at every turn while I give you everything you’ve ever wanted. Then that boy.”
My mouth felt dry, my mind spinning.
“I wouldn’t call it dating and I assure you that I won’t be seeing him again.”
“No, you won’t.”
What was that supposed to mean? “Are you saying that you’re punishing me for going out with someone you don’t approve of by forbidding me to attend Julliard? You know how hard I’ve worked for most of my life, practicing almost every day. That’s not fair. Fine. If you won’t pay for it, I certainly will. And don’t tell me that I have no money because I know that’s not true. Maybe I can’t get my hands on my trust fund just yet, but I can go to work. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Father, but you can’t keep me prisoner for the rest of my life.”
He had an emotionless stare, but I could tell by his eyes that whatever was going on had something to do with business. I’d seen that look only a few times in my life, including… a strange memory rushed into my mind.
My father had a visitor that day, handling business on my birthday several years before. My mother had been incensed. They’re argued. The party had been ruined. Why did I think it had something to do with the meeting he’d had?
Printsessa…
The word flowed into my mind, one that was more troubling that anything that had happened or was being said.
“That’s not the reason you will not be attending Juilliard, Giada, although I do think you need more discipline in your life. I wanted to wait for another month before telling you, but I can see that won’t be beneficial. A business arrangement was made years ago. It enabled two families to remain at peace.”
Different discipline? Business arrangement? I was flabbergasted, suddenly feeling like a possession instead of his daughter. “I don’t understand.”
Every scattered breath he took, every stall tactic used was chilling. My life was suddenly hanging in the balance or maybe being dangled over a cliff. Whatever it was, I couldn’t handle the apprehension much longer.
“There’s no easy way to say this, Giada, so I’ll just come out with it. You’re getting married. Your husband can then decide whether or not you deserve to attend Julliard.”
The words didn’t register, at least not for a few seconds. Then agony erupted in my mind and my heart. How could my father do this to me? I glared at him for a full thirty seconds, my rollercoaster of emotions forcing tears in my ears. I wiped them away furiously, unable to process what was really happening. “What business is this about, Father? Are you really going to sell me to someone just because you failed?”
He snapped his head up, his face turning beet red. “This isn’t about failure, Giada. This is about the future. Without this connection, our entire world could be challenged.”
“Our entire world. We don’t own a world. We own several companies, nothing more. I am not for sale. Period. I don’t care who you promised, that’s not going to happen.” I’d never talked to my father this way, but I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. We weren’t living in the stone ages. People didn’t sell others off, bartering with their lives.
“You are my daughter, and you will do as I say. You have no choice in the matter. The contract was signed years ago. You’ll be married on your birthday.”
Birthday.
It was all coming together now, none of it acceptable. I was sick inside, in shock. I’d known my father was brutal, my brothers becoming just like him, but he’d adored his family.
I backed away, half laughing at him. This wasn’t happening. “My birthday?”
“I managed to hold off until you turned twenty-one. Consider yourself lucky.”
