Guarded

Chapter 23

I laid in bed, eyes wide and limbs stretched out. My body still thrummed with feeling from last night and just thinking about it made my stomach flutter with butterflies.

I cocked my head to the side to see the clock on the table.

13:22 PM

I sighed with relief when I remembered that Luca said last night he didn't have work today. I wouldn't have to tip toe around the house feeling flustered before I remembered he was working in the garage today.

Looks like I won't be leaving my room today!

I wrapped myself in my covers so I became one big burrito and tried to think about anything but last night. It didn't work and the memory of his sweet breath fanning my face flooded my mind.

In my head everything was the same. The dimly lit room, my palms on the wall, the heat spreading over my body. Our noses still touched and he still leaned in slowly but this time he didn't pull back. Just as our lips touched my mothers high voice shattered my waking dream.

"Tori!" I hear from the bottom of the staircase.

Ugh

I wasn't completely excited to leave the comfort of my bed to engage in conversation with my mother given how terribly our last attempt had gone but I climbed out of bed anyway.

I opened my bedroom door getting ready to meet my mother at the end of the staircase but she was already waiting outside my room, dressed in Chenel and diamonds.

"Tori, your father is waiting for us in the drawing room" she smiled at me.

"Nothing good ever happens when he's waiting for me in that drawing room" I answered scrunching my face into a suspicious snare.

"Trust me it's a good thing" she said cheerfully and linked her arm into mine. It shocked me. She usually avoided me like the plague and wasn't often seen smiling. The whole thing smelt fishy and I was on high alert as we descended down the stairs.

We finally made it to the drawing room where my father was finishing up a phone call. The sound of my impatient foot tapping bounced around the room for a minute before he finally turned to us. "Darling" he said in that deep and unfeeling voice.

"Good afternoon" I said awkwardly. My father was a weird man. Speaking to him felt like speaking to a stranger and it was uncomfortable.

"Sit darling" he said pointing at the chair closest to me.

"What is this about?" I asked wearily.

"I have noticed what a beautiful young woman you are becoming and I believe it's time we started discussing your responsibilities" he said sitting down.

"Is this your way of telling me you might be giving me more freedom?" I asked feeling excitement bubble up to my throat.

"Darling do not be so silly. I do see you are growing fast and I can not protect you forever. At some point you are going to want to go out and be free"

"What do you mean 'at some point'? I want that now" I pointed out but he ignored me.

"And at some point you are going to develop an array of new relationships and find yourself a boyfriend. But your mother and I want to help you. It's important that your life takes a certain direction to benefit you, the family name and your future" he said as he leant forward in his chair.

"Where is this going?" I asked.

I felt my mother's small hand on my shoulder "Tori have you never considered marriage? We don't send you to that school just to learn etiquette but also to socialise amongst others of your kind"

"That's disgusting! You can't separate people based on wealth" I said shaking her hand off of me.

"Tori don't fuss. We're trying to have a conversation not an argument" she rolled her eyes.

"As your father I want to protect you and as a Hayes I want to protect our name. Therefore you will never be with anyone I don't approve of"

"So one moment I'm a blossoming woman and the next I don't have a choice in who I can love? Who I spend the rest of my life with? That's going too far" I said standing up.

"I am simply stating you can't date anyone I don't approve of. And yes I'd be judging them on wealth" he said.

"What if I don't want to marry someone rich? What if I don't want to marry at all?" I asked him but my mother answered.

"Of course you want to marry. All women want to marry. Just look at your father and I. Our lives weren't complete till we married" she smiled then looked lovingly at him. His face was emotionless, eyes not even shifting to meet his wife's gaze.

"I'm sure dad feels the same" I said sarcastically.

"Oh Tori don't tease" she joked. A comment like that usually started a screaming match between us but instead she gave me a toothy smile.

"Okay. I've heard the pitch. What's really going on here?" I asked and my parents shared a look.

"Tori we would never force you into a marriage with someone of our choice but we are asking for your opinion on the idea of organising a party to take place in a week" she said.

"What kind of party?" I asked.

"A gathering of us and a few friends with children your age that are compatible with you" she said.

"So... speed dating?" I asked.

"Not speed dating Theresa" my father said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So what's the plan? Me, you and a room full of rich boys" I questioned.

"Of course not Tori. In fact I will be organising it all myself" my mother said. No wonder she was so happy "I won't let that happen. Their parents will be there and some may have sisters"

"How many people are you planning to invite?" I asked and I could feel my nails digging into my hands.

"The Collins, Mandarks and Clarkes" she's listed "maybe more"

"I won't do it" I said finally even though I knew they wouldn't care what I had to say

"Theresa" my father after a long sigh.

"I won't have all those people in this house for you to can pass me off so the family can have more money. I'm not some prostitute" I shouted and mother slapped her hand across her mouth in shock.

"Theresa!" My father said standing out of his chair.

"No" I said and stormed out of the room