"You are beautiful!" Iris's look speaks for itself. There was no need for words.
"Thank you!"
"It's true that it suits your daddy, despite the revealing outfit, you don't look provocative at all. There is no vice in you, your tenderness cannot be disguised by such a dress.
I chose the image carefully, a kind of rebellion. He is trying to cut out a goody-goody from me, but it will not work. I have a difficult character, I will not allow myself to be broken. My father drove my mother to it, he will not get what he wants. Submission is not a quality that can be taught, only forced. But in my case, everything works differently, the more he tries, the more I resist.
"Well, birthday girl, are you ready?"
"Put yourself on display? No!"
There was a knock on the door, but not like Iris, but quietly, restrainedly.
"Miss Gillian, guests are waiting for you." The maid did not enter, and remained to wait in the corridor.
We have a whole regiment of housekeepers here. They look after the mansion and keep it in perfect order. There is no need for so many workers, but Father likes it when he is served like a king.
"Go, I'm on my way."
"Please, hurry up."
"Okay." The sound of retreating footsteps was heard.
"Well, friend, go ahead!" Iris took my hand in support.
Gillian, you need to be patient for a little while, soon the summer will end and school will begin. You'll fly back to the university.
I feel great there, I find freedom, albeit illusory, but still. My comfort zone. My father does not tell me how to live and how to behave, only occasionally comes to talk to the rector or the dean to make sure that I am studying well. As for my studies, I do not rebel. I remembered my mother's words "Knowledge is power." That's why I'm a diligent student. And I like to dissolve in books.
As soon as I found myself at the massive stairs, the guests' attention switched to me. A quiet melody created a suitable atmosphere for the birthday girl to come out. I took the first step, went down just one step, and again a vivid memory overwhelmed me.
At the last step, someone is standing with their hand outstretched in anticipation. I don't see his face, only black hair and what the young man is wearing. Subconsciously, I know that the stranger is young and handsome. But the blurry features, unfortunately, do not allow me to see him.
Step by step, getting closer to him. The vision is so colorful and real that I don't understand how to behave. What if he's real? What if someone is standing there, and I'll just pass by?
When there were only a couple of steps left, my head started spinning from the excess of feelings and confusion, I stumbled and flew forward. I was already thinking about spreading out in the shape of a star on the parquet floor when someone caught me in time and abruptly put me on my feet.
I raised my head. My eyes met poisonous-black eyes, so deep and frighteningly bottomless. As if there was nothing in them except this pitch darkness. Not daring to hold my gaze, I tried to simply look at the savior.
The gloomy face of the guest does not express any other emotions except anger. White skin emphasizes the dark color of his hair and the emptiness of his frightening eyes. At the temples, there is rare, but still gray hair.
What happened in the life of the young guy when he partially turned gray? The lifelessness and emotionlessness of his face do not spoil his beauty. If it were not for the hot palms on his back, still holding me, I would have thought that in front of me was a statue.
The stranger is not embarrassed to look at me. A thick eyebrow crawled up as if something had surprised him, but this display of emotion was so fleeting as if it had seemed so.
Finally, the guest removed his burning hands, I thought I would feel relief, but an all-consuming melancholy arose in my soul, I even wanted to cry.
"I knew that my daughter's appearance would make a splash." As if out of nowhere, the father appeared.
The look he gave me did not bode well, but to maintain the image, he continued to smile.
"She is not one of those who appear like everyone else."
"Naturally, I am special to you." She quipped, smiling sweetly.
Father clenched his fists, trying to restrain himself.
"Darling, meet my friend. This is Asher Christian Salisbury."
I glanced at my new acquaintance. He, in turn, was watching us indifferently, but when our eyes met again, they seemed so familiar to me. My heart began to beat traitorously in my chest.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Villiers!"
"You can call her Gillian." My father intervened.
The guy, not paying attention to him, leaned over and lightly kissed my hand. Such a light touch of his lips caused a powerful wave of feelings inside. From a pleasant strong impulse in the heart to a shiver throughout the body. What's happening to me?
When Asher Christian looked at me again, his face was no longer empty. The guy was overcome with feelings, but it was quite difficult to understand whether he was pleased or disgusted. But the guest was in no hurry to let go of my palm.
My father, noticing our clasped hands, smiled like a contented cat who had eaten sour cream, in his case it would be more appropriate to say cream. A little more and he would probably jump for joy. His eyes just sparkled. I decided to get on his nerves, freed my hand from the desired palm, turned around, and went to greet the rest of the guests.
My legs were giving way, I tried my best to walk confidently and proudly. I hope my gait didn't let me down and didn't give away my true state.