The Mansion Prison

Chapter 2

A month later Ariel lays on her bed playing with her phone. She has enrolled in the local High School and got a job in a diner. She does anything from washing dishes to waitressing and is paid under the table because of her young age. She even gets tips when she waits tables but she only gets to do that when they are busy and short staffed. The owner's name is Lydia, who is a stingy mean divorced woman. The school is not the best but after living on the streets Ariel is just happy to be back in school. She figures she can graduate in a few years and even get a full scholarship into a college. She easily gets good grades and has a photographic memory after all.

Ariel avoids her Mother which is fairly simple. The apartment is only on the second floor so she can escape out the window. She figures the less contact she has with her Mother the better. She knows Diana has been trying to talk to her but Ariel figures that will only lead to problems. If her Mother knows she is working she will no doubt demand rent. Even tho her Father pays her Mother more monthly child support than Ariel probably will earn in 6 months.

So Ariel is disappointed a week later when her Mother comes into the diner while she is bussing tables. She tries to talk her Mother into leaving but instead she is high and being loud. Diana slurs, "Why are you working here girl? With that face and body you could be making real money and I know you are not getting much from this dive". Lydia appears and tries to throw Diana out by threatening to call the police. Diana slurs, "You got my 14 year old kid working here. How about I call the cops and tell them that?" Lydia puts a twenty in Ariel's hand and lies, "Out the both of you. Girl does not work for me. She just showed up here and started cleaning to get a handout. I never want to see either of you again."

Sighing Ariel takes the money and leaves with her Mother following her out. Seeing her Mother's car she heavily sits down on the hood and angrily says, "What!" Her Mother looks confused by her tone for a moment but then suddenly brightens saying, "I have good news Ariel. I am about to be married. To a man way, way richer than your Father too. You are going to meet him Friday night for dinner. We need to get you some clothes. For Saturday as well. We will be meeting his kids Saturday. His oldest is 24 and his youngest 6. Only the older kids live with him tho. His 24 year old daughter and 22 year old son have their own families and live elsewhere but all the kids will be there Saturday. The kids under HS age live with his ex wife and the high school kids and his adult single sons live with him in his huge mansion. Far bigger than your Father's mansion too. It is huge Ariel. You are so lucky to have a Mother like me. Now get off my car and get into it. We have to go clothes shopping. How much money you have besides the twenty. You have to dress nice. Like me."

Ariel just stares at her until she is yanked off the car pushed toward the passenger side. Numbly getting into the car Ariel says, "If you want me to dress a certain way you pay for it Mom. I have perfectly good clothes at home I can wear out to dinner. Driving fast Diana says, "No, no, no. I saw your clothes. These people are rich Ariel. You need way better clothes. As soon as we get into their mansion they will buy us whatever we desire kid. I have some of your Father's money left and if we go over I will demand he pay the boutique bill. After all you are his daughter whether he likes it or not. Once I am married we will not even need his money anymore. You are lucky you came home when you did Ariel. Once I was married and living in his mansion you would have been out of luck. When I told Alex I have a daughter, I can tell you he was far from pleased. So you need to be on your best behavior Friday night Ariel. Do you understand me?" Ariel just nods without saying anything.

They drive to a rich neighborhood full of fancy shops and Diana got out in front of a boutique she is clearly familiar with. Ariel follows her inside and is shocked at the prices. She tries on the clothes her Mother tells her to and agrees with whatever her Mother likes. The sales clerk tactfully convinces Diana to only buy the dresses and jewelry that are age appropriate for a 14 year old. Her Mother also buys clothes for herself and again Ariel just agrees with her leaving it up to the sales clerk to be the voice of reason. The bill was in the thousands and her Mother insists it be sent to her Father. Ariel really does not expect it to work but after about 25 minutes her Father apparently agrees to the charges because their new clothes are loaded into her Mother's car.

As her Mother drives, Ariel finally asks, "Mom when exactly are you suppose to marry this...Alex? Her Mother, driving fast, answered, "Alexander the third Spencer. The wedding is a week from Saturday. It will be at his mansion. He was a bit confused why I never mentioned having a daughter before but I smoothed it over. If I had known how hard you were going to be to talk to tho I would have just moved out and left you by yourself in that apartment. Lucky for you I already told him you existed." Ariel just stares at her Mother realizing she means exactly what she said. She would have just ditched Ariel without a second thought. Ariel knows from her time on the street that it would be only a matter of time before the landlord realizes there is not an adult living there and throws her out. Assuming she could even come up with enough money to pay the rent. Ariel hates being a kid.