Spotlight

26

"Oh my grown up beautiful girl" I sat in a plush black chair, having my makeup done by one of my mum's makeup artists, while she fussed over me. My head was pounding and the cruelly bright light from the lights attached to the mirror only seemed to make it worse.I was jet lagged, having only stepped of the plane two hours ago, yet smiled docilely at her. More to calm her hysterics than because I meant it but still. Anything to calm her hysteric mama bear act.

I had been flown seemingly instantly from Miami back to Sweden, and in only a few more hours I would have to hop back onto a flight and go back to Milton Keynes to continue working. It had been my father whom had talked RedBull into letting me have a day and a half off to fly home and celebrate. It had also been he whom had decided the elaborate guest list for tonight's celebration, how he had managed to get such big names with such short notice was, despite his name and influence, completely beyond me.

Mum claimed to have missed me terribly and had barley been able to keep herself from tearing up as she constantly spewed her motherly love and affection over me. Almost as if she wanted to make up for the weeks she had spent ignoring me in the few hours we would have together. She looked well enough, her eyes were not as glassy as they got when she had a rough time and her hands were not shaking. Presumably sober then.

My mother often took to drinking whenever tensions between my father and I ran high, something about her not being able to bare knowing two of her favorite people were arguing. Or at least that is what she always blamed it on, though her problem started way before I stepped a foot into my first go kart.

It had gotten better ever since Iris was born, however she still seemed to give in whenever father and I fought. Maybe she was right, maybe I am the root to her drinking problem.

Never the less I was sat there listening to her go on and on about her maternal feelings as the makeup artist finished up her gorgeous work. I was already wearing my gown, floor length, loose and straight with thin straps, cream colored satin with small dainty diamonds weaved into the upper seam of the conservative cleavage. I thought it stupid at first- to have real diamonds woven into a stupid dress, but of course I accepted it.

The dress was matched by two thin tennis bracelets on my right hand and a small white gold watch adorning my left one. Since my hair was neatly pinned up in a classic French twist I had slightly bigger gold earrings and a thinner necklace, I wore only one ring- on my right hand ring finger, a thin diamond studded white gold beauty.

My heels were rather tall and cream colored and I would not be bringing a bag, most likely to also prevent me from bringing my phone since I would have nowhere to keep it. It was my mother whom had chosen my outfit, with the approval of my father of course.

***

The party was grande. It was hosted at my fathers favorite venue, a country side estate owned by my family for generations. It had five floors, ancient furniture and the distinct feeling of belonging in downtown abbey, only missing Mr.Carter to fit the part.

There were people lingering everywhere on the property and I was being walked around and forced to speak to everyone one of them. My father was parading me around to all his friends and businesses partners, laying it on thick while boasting about my success and his role in it. Only having me chip in to confirm my gratitude towards him every once in a while. I mostly stood quietly by his side, just as he always insisted of me. Children were to be seen not heard.

To be honest I was bored out of my mind. My feet were hurting from walking around in heels and I desperately needed some of the icy cold outside air before I croaked from all the self-importance I had been inhaling for the past few hours.

Though no matter how badly my feet ached or my head pounded I convinced myself that I was not anything but happy. My father parading me around meant that he was proud of me for the moment, and that was all I could ask for.