Pressure | m.h

C H A P T E R 2 - The Kidnapping

"Lily, get in the car, I'll be there in a moment," my father said calmly once the conference was done and dusted, the only people left in his office being him, his assistant, some poor guy he's probably going to fire, and me.

I opened my mouth to tell him I've waited long enough but the look he gives me makes me say otherwise. "Fine," I shrugged, voice clipped before I turned around and left, leaving him to no doubt traumatise the poor guy who got on his bad side – probably by bringing him the wrong coffee or something.  "Stupid conference. Stupid rich people. Stupid dad for making me come when I'm starving my ass off right now," I grumbled to myself quietly as I walked into the elevator and ignored some guy who told me to wait so he could get in too.

I did no such thing. I did, however, press the close button repeatedly so the guy had no chance in getting in here on time.

I won.

He better hurry, I'm famished and starved and I could die without anyone even knowing, I thought to myself with annoyance as I felt the familiar rush of the elevator dropping down 15 storeys without once stopping until it got to the first floor.

"Miss Carter, hi, how are-"

"I'm hungry, don't talk to me," I snapped already in a bad mood since I knew the second my father would get in the car – or, more appropriately, limo – he would yell at me.

And that was exactly what he did as soon as the butler shut the door for him, his familiar green eyes, similar to mine, immediately going from calm, to blazing anger as he leaned back into his seat and started up his complaining and yelling and insults – all of which flew straight over my head as we drove the 30 minute drive from his building to home.

"You're so useless," he growled at last, that new insult causing my eyes to finally flicker over to meet his, "I asked for you to do one thing, Lily, and you couldn't even do it, could you?" father yelled as the car came to a stop in front of our mansion yet neither of us made a move to get out. "You come in late with your bedridden hair and looking like a slut, not even bothering to hide those disgusting bruises on your neck – which God knows where you keep getting them from – and on top of that you continually complained and pestered everyone in there!"

I rolled my eyes and finally got out, practically slamming the door in his face as he too made a move to get out.

"Come back here young lady; I'm not finished with you yet."

"Yeah?" I asked turning to look at him in all his rich and smug glory, a 5 thousand dollar suit and a ten thousand dollar watch gleaming on his wrist. "Well I'm done with you," I spat as he tried but failed to follow me into the house spitting more insults at me that, just like in the limo, flew right over my head.

Daddy issues? I think yes.

Going straight into my room I was quick to take a shower and call up Jeremy to come pick me up so I could drink and kiss away my problems, changing into some black skinny jeans and a simple, white V-neck shirt that hugged my curves nicely before packing a bag full of clothes since I planned on staying away from home for at least a week – again.

"And where do you think you're going?" my father asked me as he stepped out of his office and effectively cut me off from getting to the door.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you cared about me," I said sarcastically with mock-surprise, the ticking of his jaw and the stormy look in his eyes making me feel a lot better.

"Don't you dare leave this house, Lily – you-you're grounded!"

I scoffed and stepped around him but he grabbed my arm before I could walk off, "If you leave this house again without telling me where you're going I will not let you back in here," he said seriously, lips pulled into a tight line and his eyes unforgiving.