But Daddy I Love Him

Peace

"But I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart warm/ If your cascade ocean wave blues come/ All these people think loves for show/ But I would die for you in secret"

"Please state your full name for the record."

"Ariel Kathrine North."

"Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

"I do."

"You may be seated."

Ariel smoothed her skirt as she sat at the witness stand, trying to portray the perfect image of collected. She clasped her hands in her lap to hide the tremble.

"Miss North," Teddy began. "How old were you when you began working as a model for StarModels, a company owned by NorthStar?" She knew he was giving extra clarification for the benefit of everyone else in the room.

"I was seventeen when the contract was signed, eighteen when I was really photographed."

"Seventeen when the contract was signed," he repeated. "No lawyer?"

"Not that I recall. Not for me."

"As we've established in this case already, many models worked for StarModels without contracts and/or legal support." He spoke to the room before turning to her. "Miss North, why did you begin modeling?"

"Objection." Her father's lawyer called out. "Relevance?"

"Mr. Huntington, back story can be found in any magazine in any store."

"Your honor, I think it's important Miss North answers the question."

The judges looked from Teddy to her.
"Make it quick."

"I was put into modeling when I was brought to L.A by family. I don't know why, you'd have to ask them."

"Why were you brought to L.A?" She realized where Teddy was leading her. She looked over at Warren for a moment. Of course he already knew everything, he lived it with her, she just hated saying it.

"My family disapproved of my boyfriend, they knew I was going to run off with him when I turned eighteen so they separated us."

"Why'd they disapprove?" Teddy was quick.

"Because," she sighed. "He was from a lower class, not white, raised by a single mother." She thought of what her own mother said. "They believed he would use me for my money."

"Your honor," opposing counsel spoke again. "I still find this point unnecessary."

"Move it along Huntington."

"Yes your honor. Miss North, what drugs were you given by your family members? Your brothers in particular?"

"Diet pills, when I began modeling. And then sleeping pills to counter them."

"Any pain relievers?"

"Yes, when I was nineteen, I had broken wrist."

"How'd you break it?"

"I was arguing with my brother Chris. I had been asking for my money, I was peaking in my career and wasn't being paid. He shoved me and I fell through a coffee table." She spared a glance to Warren who had never heard this story. He looked in pain himself. Then she looked at her family, expressionless.

"An argument that ended in a broken bone... was that common for you and your brothers?"

"Broken bones? No. But violence, absolutely. They pushed me around, hit me, bruised me, repeatedly."