Her Heart

Chapter 9

A Week Later

"Elara, Maya is here to see you." I stood up from my chair and opened the door. My mom was standing there looking scared. 

"What's wrong?" I asked. She pulled her cardigan up to cover her neck. Confused, I reached out but she flinched away from me. "Did something happen?" She turned to look down the hallway and then pushed me back into my room. 

"You need to be quiet." I nodded. "Your father found out that I was contacting one of my friends. He did this to me." She pulled down the cardigan slightly revealing a huge red bruise. I opened my mouth to gasp but nothing came out. 

"Mom..."

"It's alright," She pulled it back up. "Before he found out they said they could help us."

"Us? He wouldn't let us both leave mom. He hasn't done anything to me and I doubt he will."

"I don't want you to stay here."

"You have a better chance of getting out if I stay. Plus I can find my own way out especially since I'll be 18 soon." I don't think she wanted to acknowledge that I was somewhat right. I know I should leave too and I will but leaving together might not end up well. 

"We'll talk about this another time. Maya is downstairs, go." She opened the door and pushed me through. She followed me until we reached the top of the stairs where we parted ways. She went to her own room and I went down to the ballroom. I could hear a bit of clanking in the ballroom. Maya must be moving things around. 

"Hey Maya," I smiled at her. She lifted her head up and smiled back at me. She was pushing two tables closer together which was odd. 

"Hey, girl hey." I laughed. 

"I kinda missed you."

"Thanks I kinda missed you too. I heard my son got you in a bit of trouble. I'd like to apologize. I didn't know he would ever do such a thing."

"Oh, it's alright. I wasn't in trouble for that long." She nodded and brought over one of her many binders. 

"If you're sure also Daniel is coming here around 3 to talk with you about the pieces. Anyways I brought the fabric samples we talked about last time and we need to talk about lighting." I nodded and she got right into the details.

 I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited for this. I've never had a birthday party. Not like this anyway. The only thing close to a party was Millie and Taly coming for a sleepover. Except they did have to leave at 7 am. 

Apparently, I have lots of family coming which I've hardly ever met, and of course a lot of my father's business friends. 

"Elara, the invitations." I snapped out of my daze and looked at the different designs she had drawn out. I think she said she came up with them herself after meeting me the first time. 

"Um, I like this one and this one and this one. But I like them all and I want them all." She laughed. 

"Well personally. I like these two the most so how about you pick from those instead." I nodded as she slid two of them towards me. 

"Let's go with...this one." It was matte black with some silver designs all over.  

"Great and we'll send them with these cute envelopes I found on sale." She pointed to the stack of envelopes on the table. "Now we have the guest list your father gave me. He wants you to look it over." She handed me a stack of papers with names going up and down the entire page front and back. 

"And who came up with this list?" I asked as I flipped through the pages. I was only really looking for Taly and Millie's names. 

"Your father."

"I'm sure whoever he put on here wouldn't try to kill me so we're good." I spotted Millie and Taly's name on the very last page and handed her back the papers which she set aside. 

"Great, so I think we're good for today and," She checked her watch. "He should be here right about now." As if on cue he walked through the doors.