External | HS

7.

I woke up feeling disoriented. The first thing my eyes caught was the sideways tv in front of me and a coffee table on top of a rug.

Blinking, I sit up and everything assembled itself in my vision. The tv now looking normal as well as the rest of Emily's apartment.

I remember having a breakdown in the shower yesterday but everything after that was a blur. All I know now is that I have to go to an event with my parents on behalf of Hart. Inc.

What time is it?

I search the couch I slept on with frantic hands for my phone. After checking each crack between the cushions I find my phone and turn it on. A black screen remains no matter how many times I click the on button.

I shoot up and scour for a charger in every corner of the room. As I'm walking around Emily's apartment frantically, I pass the clock on her microwave that reads 2pm. I have 15 minutes to get to the venue. I'm not even dressed. I'm gonna be late... my mind won't shut off.

"Hey, you're up. Feeling better?" Emily walks into the living room from her bedroom.

"No, I gotta leave right now or I won't make it on time."

"I have some clothes you can wear. You can taxi there right?" She says as she walks back into her room. I follow behind her and plop onto her bed.

"Yeah I can get a taxi. But I have to be dressed to a tee. Do you have anything super fancy and... rich?" I sound like such a bitch.

Emily just laughs, she knows I have to be presented a certain way in front of my parents and their associates.

"Yes babe, you gotta calm down." She pulls out a magnificent dress from the back of her closet. It's something I could never picture her wearing since she a really simple girl. I can't believe she owns something so intricate.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" It's a simple black dress with black mesh sleeve that are adorned in black pearls of different sizes. It's floor length with a slit by the thigh and the top is of bustier material, giving a pretty sweetheart neckline that isn't too low or revealing.

I throw it on and it fits perfectly. Hugging my curves in the right spot. It helps that it's a stretchy satin material. Very sleek and possibly Eleanor approved.

Emily throws a pair of black strappy heels at me to put on and plugs in her curling iron. While that heats up I do very light makeup to look more awake, adding a sheer gloss to make my lips pop. When the curling iron is hot enough, I do light curls so that when it sets it'll look like soft waves in my hair.

It only took me about 30 minutes to get ready and I was out the door.

"You look fabulous love, you're going to kill it!" Emily shouts as I'm running out her door.

I hop into the taxi and arrive at the venue within the hour. It starts in about 10 minutes so I'm just on time. Walking up the stairs to the main foyer I meet my parents. My mother finds me right away and is glaring at me from across the room.

"Anastasia. Where the hell have you been?" My father pulls me in close so no one else can hear him. "You should have been here over half an hour ago. Do not embarrass me."

I pull my arm from his tight grasp and swallow. Slowly looking up at him, "It won't happen again father."

He lets go of my arm and walks into the hall. My mother following right on his tail.

I rub my arm in the spot he grabbed me and massage it a bit so it doesn't bruise. I don't think he meant to grab me that hard but I definitely felt the pinch in my bicep from his rings.