Never Too Soon

Mother

POV: Harper

"I have to go speak now. You can come on stage with me and sit in the chairs behind the podium, or you can stay here by yourself. The choice is yours." Lauren leaned over to speak in my ear due to the loud mixture of voices in the room.

"I'll stay here. I'll be okay." I assured her and she nodded her head before getting up and rushing towards the stage. She is definitely one to stay on schedule like white on rice.

I watched as she rushed up the steps before slowing her strides into powerful ones. You could tell that she owned the place to say the least.

"Thank you for coming everyone. This is this district's annual conference and I would like to get home at a reasonable time tonight, so let's get this started." Lauren looked over to me and shot me a wink while a low hum of laughter rang out through the room.

Lauren occasionally glanced over at me while going over some kind of list and talking about some kind of numbers.

My attention span ran out ten minutes in despite how addicting the sound of her voice is. When Lauren looked in my direction again I pointed in the direction of the bathroom and she subtly nodded her head and continued on with her speech thing.

I stood up and walked into the vacant bathroom since everyone was focused on Lauren's voice as if they were ready to impress her. She said she knows maybe ten faces out of the crowed, so their thoughts on making an impression should go down the drain before they got their hopes up.

Lauren's voice was loud enough for me to hear in the bathroom. I didn't even have to go. I just needed to stand up and walk around some if I'm being honest. Being a seventeen year old girl in that room full of people that work for Lauren is intimidating. Just because she put me in the nice dress and jewelry that she did, doesn't mean I'm on of them. It doesn't make me equal with her when she acts like I am.

"Well well well, if it isn't my sweet daughter of mine. I almost didn't recognize you in that disguise of yours."

My stomach dropped as I heard the bathroom door lock behind the voice I thought, no, I knew I had escaped.

"Turn around, you rat!" My mother's powerful voice bounced off of the bathroom walls.

I quickly sent my dad a text. He knows that if I send him my location, my mother has me or is about to. That was the first thing we discussed.

"Now!" My mother's voice turned into a growl and I instinctively turned around with a chill running down my spine while clutching onto my phone in my hand. I hate not having pockets.

"W-what are y-you doing here?" I stuttered out as my lip started to quiver and my hands started to tremble.

"Awe, my poor baby is scared of her mommy. You want a hug?" My mother teased me with a snarl.

"W-what do you... what do you want from me? I-... you kicked me out. Why... why are you even here?" I tried to keep my voice steady and strong, but without Lauren by my side all of my strength in this foreign environment had vanished.

"You are coming with me. Your father owes me money, and I know his one weakness. You come with me, and I'll get my money." My mother stalked towards me with slow struts. She easily blended in with the crowd with her attire. Black floor length dress with fancy jewelry on each extremity. Her makeup could've been better though. Then again, I had a professional do mine.

"I'm n-not going with you!" Tears started to roll down my cheeks as I frantically searched for an alternative exit, but the only one was the locked door guarded my by mother.