Scarlett's POV.
"Cheers to a future of endless possibilities and unlimited potential." The crowd of excited graduates erupted in squeals and laughter as our valedictorian ended her speech. With as much force as I could muster, I ripped the overly tight graduation hat, flinging it into the air in step with my mates.
Layla, my best friend and valedictorian stepped down from the stage, her wavy brunette hair ruffled from the force of her own throw. I rushed from my seat, running into her embrace.
"Oh my gosh. I never thought this day would come. Well I did, but you know what I mean." I gushed, jumping up and down with my hands still locked around her in a grip that could've cracked ribs.
"I'm so glad to be done with all this. Now we can live like grown ups. No snide remarks for starting a company without the due requirements." She rolled her eyes as I pulled away, surely remembering what her snob of an uncle had told her when he found out she'd started a tech company in her second year of school.
"Snap out of it. This isn't time for sour flashbacks." I let out a laugh as we fell into step with each other and she cracked a smile, side eyeing me knowingly.
"You're just happy you finally get the car your parents promised when you graduate." She said coyly, eliciting a sheepish smile from me as I eyed my Ferrari sitting pretty in the parking lot. I loved my baby, but there was one disgustingly expensive car I'd wanted since the moment I layed my eyes on it. I could already see it in the parking lot of our Bel-Air mansion.
"What can I say? It's a great day to be alive." Our laughter mixed as we greeted and congratulated our fellow graduates. The more people I hugged and smiled at, the more the pull to rush home, present my parents with the certificate and get the damn car I've been dreaming of.
"Hey, Layla." I called out to Layla who was engrossed in a conversation about codes and other things I couldn't understand if I tried.
"Sorry to intrude but I think I'm going to head home now."
"That excited, huh?" She laughed as I bobbed my head up and down like a child. We hugged each other goodbye and I promised to call her just before rushing to my car and firing the ignition.
The sun was beginning to set, basking the sky with a pinkish hue. It looked cinematic and so did the racing of my heart as I swerved the corner leading to our extravagant mansion.
The people that lived in this side of LA were pretentious, making friends strictly based on the type of car you drove, the number of zeros in your bank account and other shallow things.
My car slowed as I passed the Cortez mansion. Among all the people in this pretentious estate, I hated them the most. Especially their daughter, Tiffany Cortez, a pretentious air head.
I couldn't spoil my mood with that thought now. As the golden gate of our mansion opened slowly with a tap from my embedded control ring, I swerved in. With hurried movements I made my way to the garage, rushing out of the car and running to the front door to search for my parents.
"Good evening, ma'am." One of our help greeted me as I rushed in.
"Good evening, Rita. Where are my parents?"
"They are on the balcony of the wine room. But they have a-"
"Thank you, Rita." I cut her off, rushing through the annoyingly long stairs, my certificate clasped tightly in my hands. My stomach turned and churned in excitement I could barely contain and I sucked in a deep breath as I stopped at the double doors of the wine room.
With one push the door opened to reveal my parents, their back facing me as they overlooked the expanse of land. They, as always, were dressed immaculately, diamonds glittering off their necks and wrists like shooting stars in the sky.
They held wine glasses between their fingers, as pretentious as the rest of the estate, their shoulders higher than should be and their fake laughs held firmly in place.
Then I noticed the man standing with them, giving off a vibe I couldn't quite place but I knew it made me uncomfortable.
My steps must've alerted them of my presence because the three of them turned at once, my mother's gaze immediately sharpening as she assessed my 'disheveled' appearance.
Even if only a strand of hair was out of place on my head, my mom's face would turn sour, swearing that I was on a quest to embarrass her in front of her friends.
My dad on the other hand smiled even brighter on seeing me, that was when I knew something was off. I couldn't remember the last time my dad smiled on seeing me.
My eyes strayed to the other man, with patches of grey in his hair and a gaze that made me feel like a thousand insects were crawling all over my body. His eyes ran over the fitted dress hugging my frame, his gaze staying a bit too long on my curves for comfort.
I cleared my throat loudly, successfully bringing his lustful gaze back on my face.
"Mother, father, I apologize. I didn't know you had a guest. I'll excuse-"
"No, no, darling. This is perfect timing." My dad's smile widened as they stepped into the well lit room, round and filled with gold shelves, not a wine out of place. The bottles reflected the illumination and so did the shelves, giving the room an eerie glow.
"This…" my dad began, gesturing to the man who seemed to be about his age and dressed in a well-tailored suit.
"Is Perez Martinez. He owns one of the biggest building companies of the new age. You might've heard of IronCrest Construction."
I nodded, unsure of where this conversation was headed. Mr. Martinez gave an annoyingly boastful laugh, as if my acknowledgement of knowing his company had been a treat for his ego.
"Perez, as you know, this is my only daughter, Scarlett Fox."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Scarlett." He greeted, a smile belonging to a viper spreading across his lips and a chill ran up my spine.
I almost wanted to tell him to never say my name again. It felt…wrong but to keep face I smiled, replying through gritted teeth."
"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Martinez."
"Oh, please. Call me Perez." My heart lunged to my throat as those words passed through his lips, the air growing thick and suffocating, despite the chill. My mouth grew dry.
"Indeed, no need for formalities. After all, this is your future husband."
What!
The room spun, my breathing laboured. For a few seconds my vision went black but I could still hear the muffled laughter of my parents and Perez….no, Mr. Martinez.
No way in hell. This had to be a prank.
"What?" I asked, it felt loud to my own ears but in reality it was only a whisper. They kept laughing, as if mocking my confusion, my hurt.
"What the hell did you just say?" This time my voice, loud and unwavering, echoed through the room and it fell into momentary silence.
My vision was slowly becoming clearer and I could see the bewilderment on their faces, which quickly contorted to anger.
"You would do well to watch your tone." My father spat venomously but the raging anger running through my veins was too hot to contain.
"I will never marry this man so I hope this is just a prank." I spat back but I knew too well that they were serious. The last time my father cracked a joke my front tooth was missing.
"Who do you think you are to speak to your father that way?" My mom spoke for the first time since I walked in, her words laced with anger and disappointment.
"Mr. Martinez, I apologize for this. She's probably just in shock. She-"
"I will never marry him." I cut her off, my tone spiteful as my body trembled from the sheer rage building up inside.
How could they do this to me?
Did they even love me at all?
On the day of my graduation, the first thing they thought to do was to sell me off. Tears stung my eyes, welling up like a spring but I held it in.
Mr. Martinez whispered something to my parents and they turned to me, looking skeptical but nodding in agreement to whatever he said.
"Look, Scarlett, I'm a good man." He began, approaching me slowly.
"I'll take care of all your needs. You wouldn't have to work a day in your life. I'll treat you well." He cooed as if he were talking to a child, suddenly reaching out to grab my waist through the short distance left between us.
Before I knew what was happening my knee had connected to his manhood and he fell to his knees, groaning in pain and swearing profanities at me.
I stared in horror at the scene before me. The slap came fast, snapping my head to the side. For a second, the room spun. My cheek stung, but it was the betrayal that hurt more.
Silent tears streamed down my face as I turned to see my mom, eyeing me with a look of disdain, of disgust and disappointment.
"You have brought shame to our family. Get out. Benjamin!" She called for her personal guard who came running.
Through the crack of her arms I could see my dad's expression as he profusely apologized to Mr. Martinez who was still moaning and groaning in pain.
He turned, our eyes meeting.
"Get this thing out of my house, Benjamin. Make sure she carries nothing. Maybe sleeping on the streets will help you know your place. You'll come crawling back."
Benjamin hauled me up, pulling me out of the room like a sack of potatoes.
"Let me go!" I wailed, hissing through my teeth at the pain of the grasp. As he pulled me down the stairs, tears streamed down my face. Not from pain, but from the weight of my parents' betrayal.
How could they do this to me?