Guarded

Chapter 13

Uuuuuuuuuuuggggggghhhhhhh.

I laid in bed very still watching the whole room spin. The feeling of needing to throw up came and went and a thin layer of sweat covered my forehead. I just wanted to slip back into unconsciousness but the beating headache was keeping me awake. I was so hungover. I had spent at least hour in the bed trying to figure out what had been in the cup. Vodka. There had to be a lot of vodka or rum or something strong but how could I not notice I was drinking a whole cup of vodka. Kool-Aid? That would explain the cherry flavour but I felt I was forgetting something. One thing was for sure I was never having a 'great Jake surprise' again.

I shifted a little in the bed feeling uncomfortable wearing the same clothes I had been in last night. I hadn't changed since Lucas drove me home. Lucas. I smiled slightly at the thought. I was crushing hard on my Adonis of a bodyguard and enjoying it. Of course I knew he didn't feel the same but that wouldn't stop me enjoying it while it lasted.

Suddenly there was all kinds of noise erupting in the room and my hungover mind couldn't handle Juliá's shouting "Miss Hayes wake up. Now Tori! e hiki ia oe e hoolohe mai iaʻu? Huh? Mr and Mrs Hayes are waiting, wake up"

I wanted to yell at her to keep it down but my dry mouth lacked the ability so I just got up and changed my clothes. Julia ran around the room cleaning and I couldn't bring myself to tell her to stop so I just left and shuffled down the stairs. I rubbed my face trying to get a grip. My parents could not catch me hungover.

"Darling won't you sit and have breakfast with us" they were both sat around a table full of food. I knew what this meant. An announcement and it was clearly something that wouldn't please me if mother was so happy. She was grinning from ear to ear.

"Sure" I tried to sound excited about all the food in front of me but the Idea of food made me wanna hurl.

"Sit, darling. Enjoy the food. The chef worked hard" I obeyed and started picking at some waffles.

There were a few minutes of silent eating as opera played in the background. I spoke up not seeing any reason to prolong the happy family act "so what's this all about?"

"We'd like to discuss with you your punishment darling" he was suddenly stern. I'd forgotten about that. After getting away with everything I got up to last night my little trip to the orphanage was a distant memory.

"Ok..."

"Now," my father took a steady breath "don not throw a hissy fit darling"

"Why would I?" I eyed them both suspiciously.

"Well, darling, we've organized a press release"

"No" I stood up and the sound of my chair scoping against the floor fuelled my headache "No, you promised you wouldn't make me do anymore of those" I spent most of my childhood with fucking cameras in my face. I was made the poster child of high flying family's in business till I started refusing.

"It's been years since we did one darling and the public are interested to see the Hayes family not just The Hayes Company"

"Bullshit"

"Watch your language!"

"we are rich not famous" he was always acting like everyone knew us and people were desperate to see into our lives but no one has ever recognised me walking down the street.

"We are very well known in the business world, darling"

"Oh come on Theresa" mother finally joined the conversation "There will be cameras and reporters and free champagne. It's all for us" well that explained what she was getting out of this all.

"This is a punishment darling you're not supposed to enjoy it. Now, have a shower and put on your smiley face"

"I don't have one"

"Find one"

...

There were reporters and journalists buzzing around the room as someone guided us to a table on stage. All three seats were lined up perfectly with the microphones on the table and cameras were already flashing and I was ready to leave. I wasn't good with interviews or questions at all. If that wasn't bad enough all the hubbub and flashing lights weren't helping my hangover. I gulped the water on the table trying not to throw up.

"Calm in the room, please. Calm in the room. Cameras up and rolling in three... Two... One..."

I honestly blacked out for the first half an hour till I heard my name.

"Theresa?" my dad poked me hard under the table and I looked up at his fake smile.

"Oh! Yes, sorry?"

"Michael lode, reporter for Suited magazine. Do you plan to follow in your fathers business footsteps?"

"Oh, um" I was not the person for all this. Was I supposed to lie or tell the truth? "Well, I think I'd like to explore a more humble career" the moment my sentence ended people were scribbling down. Then the shouting started again till the organiser picked someone.

"Mrs. Hayes! Sasha Cole, journalist with forward world. How has your husband's loyalty to The Hayes Company affected your marriage?"

"Our relationship is stronger than ever and his work is my work. We share loyalty to The Hayes Company. We share the burden and stress that come with it all" she reached over, grabbed his hand and the cameras went crazy for it. Bleh.

Then the shouting followed by "Mr. Hayes. I'm Tucker Newman I work for the TAKING IT paper we want to know what your first steps into the business world where"

"It's all about association. Who knows who"

"Mr. Hayes! Sasha Cole, how do you believe your fascist beliefs are affecting the financial world?"

I learned into the microphone quickly "that's a good question"

"My beliefs are not fascist. I just make good business judgments"

"Miss Hayes Julian Dulcet with value magazine, are you really the Virgin Mary the media has reported you to be" the room quieted.

"Excuse me"

"Well you've been known to have several male friends, it's fair to assume you've lost... some of your virtue"

My jaw fell open as I search for words "who- did you... are you off your nut?"

"Calm down Theresa" my father jabbed me again with one hand covering his mic whilst the cameras clicked and flashed. It was like nobody heard him just ask me if I've lost my 'virtue'. That sickly feeling was coming back.

"Miss Hayes, following on from value magazine's comment, what are your thoughts on possible partners? Richard Clarke? Jacob Collins? Joffrey Mandark? All suitable"

All eyes were on me, waiting. Since when was who I date so important? "I... I'm gonna be sick" I ran off the stage and into the bathroom shutting it behind me as I proceeded to puke.

Glitter. Glitter was the ingredient I had forgotten I thought to myself as I flushed the toilet. I quite liked the idea of glitter in my drinks actually. It was the most fabulous vomit ever. I decided this was where I would stay till the press conference was done.