Aubrey shut the car door with a loud bang and started to make for the front door of the really huge mansion. She had the biggest frown on her face and it even grew worse when she walked in.
"Welcome home Miss Aubrey." Ignoring the butler intentionally, she fastened her steps towards the stairs. The further she was away from everyone, the better for everyone. She couldn't let her mother see her like that.
In as much as she hated to admit it, Paris was right, a hair change was just what she needed. She looked like a whole different person with short brunette hair, way better than she did with the blonde.
She had spent hours at the saloon with Noa and Paris and even after getting her hair done and changing it's color, she wasn't really sure she was confident with this new look and she knew exactly how her mother was going to feel about it if she saw her, that was if she even noticed.
Aubrey had always been invisible to everyone, even to her family. For the child of a lord and a judge of Breton, her parents never really made time available or her especially since her baby brother was born. The only place she was ever seen was at school, all thanks to Paris' influence. This was why she could never stop being Paris' friend or should I say in this case, lap dog. No matter how difficult it was, no matter how unbearable it was, no matter how badly Paris treated her, she had to take it all in to retain her popularity status and if changing her entire identity was going to help her get that then she was going to do more than changing the color of her hair.
"Oh my goodness Beatrice," her mother's voice echoed from the stairs, followed by her footsteps. Aubrey raised her head to the long spiral stairs so she could watch the blond thin lady with really long legs rush down it, throwing her coat on as fast as she could. Gwendoline Bolton, one of the most popular judges in the kingdom and most successful too, beautiful, tall, blonde and really identical to Aubrey, more like an older version of her. She was indeed her mother.
Aubrey refrained from taking another step, forcing a smile on her face and holding on tightly to the arms of her backpack as the lady drew closer to her, praying in her heart that for once, her mother actually took notice of the particular change in her appearance. She prayed she noticed and just talked about it or even scold her.
"I've got a meeting with a few ministers concerning the aviation program in ten minutes," she looked like she was in so much hurry even as she got to the last stair. "I can't believe I lost track of time."
"Mum-"
"Welcome home baby." Her mother walked past her immediately, still gluing her phone to her ear with her shoulder.
Aubrey let go of the breath she was holding. Of course she didn't notice, she never did, how on earth did she think that day was going to be any different? She slowly turned around so she could watch how her mother raced to the door as fast as she could like her life depended on it. She let out a shaky breath.
"Aubrey," Aubrey turned around immediately she heard the voice that called her name. She could recognize that voice even with her eyes closed. It belonged to her brother's caregiver, Nancy.
Since her parents were almost never home all day, her mother had thought it was best to employ a caregiver for both her children, Aubrey stopped needing one since her fifteenth birthday but Solomon, he was just three, he needed one much more. Aubrey managed to return the lady's smile as she drew closer to her.
"You're home quite early." The lady went on, "And I can see you did something with your hair too."
Of course the caregiver had to be the one to notice out of everyone in her life
"Yeah," she said. "My friends thought I should try a change."
"You mean Paris thought you should try a change?"
"I wanted to do it. I was getting sick of the blonde and it's length, and it's curls. It was super annoying and not attractive."
"I thought it was pretty and made you stand out a lot." The lady let her smile widen. "But I like this change, it suits you so well. It's sexy."
Aubrey let out a weak scoff. Fancy her trying to joke about it. Thanks to people like Nancy, Aubrey's day was always brightened whenever she was home. Aubrey let her eyes scan the house shortly.
"Where's my Dad?" She traced her gaze back to the woman in front of her. "Is he home?"
"Not yet." She said. "And you shouldn't wait up for him, he had a few things to do at the office. I had the cook make lunch, just in case you're hungry,"
What was the point eating alone again on that big table.
"Can you have someone bring it up to my room please? I've got a lot to do upstairs."
"Sure thing."
"Thank you."
Aubrey turned and started to make for the stairs until she was out of sight.