Chasing Cory Hunter

Chapter One

I stared at the mirror that was sat in front of me intently, puckering my lips once or twice and smiling in satisfaction. Tilting my head to the side, I let my curls fall off my shoulders. I placed my manicured red nails onto the ivory surface of my vanity, tapping it with my long, tanned fingers. My mother had always said I was born with “piano fingers” just like her and my late grandmother. I liked to agree as playing the piano was one of my main hobbies, along with: archery, gymnastics, equitation and dressage.

There was an old, large grand piano in the far corner of my bedroom, sitting there gathering dust. Although I was a frequent player, I hadn’t set my fingers on that since I was just 10.

I preferred the more luxurious piano in which was placed in the study room on the second floor.

I smiled one last time, standing up and trodding from my bedroom out into the third floor landing, looking over the swirling staircase and nodding. It was a beautiful sight, really. Father had gotten the third floor renovated and increased so that I could situate there and he had even installed an elevator; but I much preferred the stairs.

I stepped down them one by one, my hand firmly on the marble banister as I placed my front foot down each step. Across the walls were various pictures of late family members and some just landscapes. I admired them one by one as I reached the second floor, stopping to evaluate the portrait of me near the stairs to enter the first.

Mother had called on Uncle Antonio, our relative of an Italian descent, to come down from Rome especially and paint a perfectly formed portrait of her dearest only daughter, in which was me. I smiled at how alike it was to my current state and continued to walk down to the first floor, batting my eyelashes as I blinked.

I reached the bottom of the staircase and stepped down onto the marble tiling, seeing Mable, our housekeeper, rushing around frantically in her uniform, her hair flailing about in its’ usual state.

I sighed at her carelessness of appearance.

She never seemed to take pride in her hair, always let it hang loose and never even thought to put it in rollers. It was impossible for me not to go to bed every night in tightly fitted electric pink rollers in which mother would do too. I flicked my hair back and walked over to Mable, who was now positioning the coffee table in front of the red velvet sofa father had brought back from France.

I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned to me, her frown turning into a professional looking smile instantly.

‘What’s happening? Where’s father?’ I questioned, feeling more agitated by every second that went past in silence.

Mable looked flustered as she bit her lip, seeming as if she was trying to think of an excuse. I gave her a look and she sighed heavily, crossing her legs.

‘Mr Hunter is in a meeting…a business meeting. It’s extremely important, Cory. Please just wait until he is out and talk to him then.’ She finally replied, forcing herself to walk away again and continue to clean our valuables.

I just shook my head and decided to find out where my father was myself. Strolling past Mable, strolling past the living room and finally ending up in his office, I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and looked around me at the documents and classic furniture.

I knew father would mind terribly if I faltered with his important work paperwork but I couldn’t help but snoop. Mother was employed by father, who owned a mega million worth Office Company. He never worked away from home, whereas mother most always did. She was currently away in Monte Carlo, Monaco and had been for a few days know on a business expedition. As father was a major factor in the company, he always stayed in his office to work and never attended meetings. So knowing that is what he is doing so right now is rather worrying. I stifled through the files, intent on finding out what was happening.

Noticing a few pieces of paper sticking out from the rest, I grabbed them instantly and scanned them, my heart dropping as I read the content. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, my heart stopped.

I threw the paper down on his marble worktop, swallowing hard. I prayed that I read wrong, that I was dreaming or something of the sort. But I knew it was stupid of me to try and block it out. I stood there, staring at nothing in particular when suddenly the office door burst open and there my father stood in his best suit, his sophisticated silver hair gelled into place and his usual briefcase in his hand, but he looked somewhat different to usual, like he was agitated.

And now I knew why.

‘Cory? What are you doing in your my personal office? You’re strictly forbidden! You know that, darling!’ He questioned, angrily placed his case down and looking at me with authority.

I wasn’t sure what to do so I just took a deep breath, my eyes close to bursting as the tears brimmed against them heavily.

‘Father…the business..it’s bankrupt isn’t it? Please don’t lie to me! What will we do now? I’m scared.’ I cried, running up to him and letting him rock me in his arms like I was 6 not 16.

I could feel him sigh against me as he stroked my blond curls, unable to consolidate me.

‘You shouldn’t have been in here, Cory. But yes, we have. I’m so sorry but we’re going to have to move into the city.’ He said, whispering as he got to the last part.

Suddenly I leapt up from him, glaring at him as he stood there, his face without an expression.

‘What…what about private school?’ I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I spoke.

I could feel my heart pumping fast I looked down at my high heeled feet and back up again to a guilty face that stood in front of me.

‘We’ve enrolled you at a public school in Cornwall, it’s where we’ll be moving. I’m really sorry darling, it’s not my fault. I can’t do anything about it.’

I glared at him as the words were spoken from his mouth. I couldn’t believe what he was doing to me. I had my friends here, my boyfriend, it was the most refined school in the whole of England. And he was taking my life away from me.

I picked up a vase that stood on his desk and dropped it beneath my feet, the tears spurting from my eyes as I spoke.

‘I hate you.’ I hissed, storming out of the room and slamming the door behind me, running as fast I could up the stairs in my shoes.

I couldn’t believe how he could do it. I was going to lose my manicures, hairdresser appointments, personal floor, gigantic house, pool, Jacuzzi, private education and worst of all my entire life.

To go to a public school.