hey enjoy the new chapter.
i slip out of my bed the next morning and walk silently through the long hallway. my silk nightgown sways comfortably at my ankles, allowing the cool draft to run up my body. "good morning rubie" launder says walking up to me, stepping out of his line of peacekeepers. they are on their daily patrol through the mansion. he stands before me, cutting me off so i cannot reach the staircase. i cannot walk away either, it is bad manners. launder tips his head to the side, waiting for a response but i do not answer, i do not even look at his face. he lifts my head, "aw you're not still upset about yesterday are you" he asks me with a cocky smile.
he holds my hand and looks at my chest, "oh what i would do to get your beautiful body again. it felt good did it not" he teases and my eyes flood with tears.
"oh come on now rubie dont cry" he whispers stroking my hair. i bow my head and sniffle. i would have been fine today without seeing him, without being reminded of the rape. daddy probably ordered him to say these things to me.
launder kisses my neck and whispers, "you dont have to get in trouble to be with me you know" he says. his arms wrap around me. i resist, but gently. any forceful movements will be counted as defiance. "alright ill go" he says with a smile then kisses my hand. "i look forward to seeing you tonight,at the benifit". he stands up straight then kisses my cheek and walks off.
i tense up and continue on my way. when i reach the bottom i walk into the kitchen. daddy stands whispering with mother. i take the time to wipe my eyes and compose myself before greating them. mother notices me and daddy turns around. he smiles, "goodmorning my rose petal" he says warmly then kisses my head. "i suppose you have learned your lesson, correct?" he asks with a more serious tone, eyeing the bruises on my arms and neck. "yes daddy. i am sorry" i reply with a smile. he smiles back, rubs the back of my head like mother does then turns away. "so your mother has informed me that you want to...have a baby"he asks. "a son" i reply then wait for him to speak again. "continue" is all he says. "well, i know that you want a boy to become president, and if mother cannot get pregnant then i will have a child for you" i say. "and who might the father be, dare i ask". i pause for a moment to think, i can only think of one man i would want to have a child with. "...eban ebbaneza".
daddy takes a moment to think. what will he say? "will you two marry" he asks. "i can discuss that with him" i reply. daddy nods then looks at mother, "what do you think rhoslyn" he asks. "i think it is a very generous idea" she says. "indeed" daddy turns back to me. " i trust you will discuss your plans with Mr. Ebbaneza and report back to me afterwards" he says. "i will daddy" i promise. he smiles, "good", then he walks off.
mother and i exchange a look and then she hugs me, "thank you" she whispers and i nod.
that night mother comes into my room to help me dress for the benifit. we are raising money for the career districts to be able to supply jewels, electronics and seafood for us in the capitol. when the districts run low we get shortages here. "let me help you get ready" she says softly and places a corset around my middle. "no mom i cannot wear that" i say pulling it off and exposing my bruises. the corset will hurt me. mother apologizes and goes through my closet for a new dress while i sit infront of my mirror curling my hair apply my make up.
the theme is lace, although the men will be in black tie. mother is wearing a black silk gown with a lace strap over her left shoulder. the dress pins in at her stomach with a crystal clip then falls to the floor and drags at her feet, she has a diamond necklace on, her hair is in loose waves at her elbows and her arms are heavy with bracelets.
she selects a dress from my closet, a white strapless flowery lace gown that drags down past my feet. there is a skinny little belt in the middle and has two layers, one stops at my knees the other continues much lower. "this is beautiful" she says when i have it on. "it does not cover my bruises" i complain. mother has me sit in a chair and she covers my arms and neck in layers of makeup. then she gives me a little necklace with a small ruby in it and a ring on my right hand. i am given white pumps and she takes my hand and places me infront of the mirror. i look beautiful. "ok come we cannot be late" she says and hurries me downstairs to the ballroom.
guests are arriving, couples with locked arms, the most mature teenagers, parents with their young children, and seniors. they all come in the proper attire, no single person in the capitol likes to be unprepared. it is unattractive.
mother and i quietly enter the benifit and take a seat in the back with the highest government officials. daddy does not participate in the ceremonies, he only appears to give speeches.
"good evening ladies" launder purrs walking up to us and sneakily stroking my hip with his hand as he stands beside me. "we do not wish to partake in conversation with you launder so if you would please leave my daughter and i alone" mother snaps, her cheeks turning bright red with anger. "ok, im sorry" he says and walks away, that cocky smile still plastered on his face.
mother and i sit quietly and listen to the announcements, then mother and i conversate until daddy appears to give his speech. we eat dinner, deserts then everyone shifts to the dance floor. eban sweeps me away and i pull him out to the hallway to speak to him in private.
"what do you want to talk about" he asks holding me by my waist. "would you ever consider having a child with me" i ask. "a baby" he asks. i nod. "of course I thought of it, you're my girl" he replies. i smile brightly. "so is that a yes" i ask. "yeah, ill give you a baby" he smiles. "thank you so much" i say and hug him tightly, i knew i could count on him to help me with this. he smiles and then kisses me, "i would love to have a baby with you" he decides. "me too" i reply and rest on his shoulder.
we go back into the ballroom and dance together. "so when will we start baby making" he whispers and i blush. "during your next appointment" i respond with a shy smile. he holds me tighter, "i look forward to it." he replies then pecks my lips.
after the benifit everyone goes home and i head to my room to remove my makeup and clothing. the ballroom was so hot with all of those people, all i want is to crawl into my bed and cool down; so i do.
eban agreed to have a baby with me. he will help me please my father in giving him a grandson. my son. i will give birth to a little boy and raise him with eban. we wll be parents. then when my son grows up he will become president.
there is a knock on my door. i quickly pull on a silk robe and then answer. my mother stands before me, "your father wants to speak with you" she says. i tighten my robe then follow her to her and my daddy's room. he is sitting in he and mothers bed sipping a cup of tea. "rubicund, have you spoken to eban ebbaneza yet" he asks. i nod, "i have, and he agreed" i say with a smile. daddy smiles and nods, "well done my dear. i look forward to a grandchild! be sure to notify me when you get pregnant, and eban can stay as long as he needs to while the two of you try to conceive a child". i have become uncomfortable. i thank him. "goodnight my dear" he says and goes back to his tea, "goodnight daddy" i reply softly then walk into my mothers arms. she kisses my head, "goodnight sweetie"she whispers, "goodnight mother" i reply then head back to my room.
"i hear you're trying to get pregnant" launder says walking up from behind me and standing infront of me. "no" i lie. he slaps me across my face and my head snaps to the right. "dont lie. your father gave me persmission to punish you if necessary." he warns pointing a finger at me. i my keep my head to the side and shut my eyes. "are you planning on getting pregnant" he asks me again. i slightly nod. "excuse me" he asks, "yes" i whisper. "yes what". i swallow the lump in my throat, "yes i am planning to get pregnant" i say louder. he smiles and caresses my cheeks, "see now that wasnt so hard" he teases.
he wraps his arms around my waist and holds me close so my chest is on his. "i wish to be of assistance to you my dear, if you need any help- conceiving- you know where to find me" he smiles. "actually, i already have someone in mind that i want to have a baby with. and sadly it is not you" i say angrily. "who is it" he asks. "ebbaneza" i say moving my head so his lips dont come in contact with mine. this gets launder's attention. he looks me in the eyes, "that male prostitute!? isn't he almost 30" he asks. "yes, so what" i complain. "he is much too old for you", "it is not your decision about who i choose to be with. you are a grown man as well" i snap back. "i am 20, not 28" he looks completely serious. "i do not care, atleast he does not beat and rape me!" i storm away and lock myself in my bedroom.
launder does not tell me who i need to be with. he is not my father, he is only security. eban is my choice because he respects me, and my body. he does not harm me, he would never..he says he loves me and i believe him. he is mine. we will have a baby together, we will get married and hopefully this will make daddy happy.
the next day i call eban on the phone. "hello" he asks. "hi" i reply. "hey! how are you" he asks. "i am great, and so happy. my father says you can stay with me until i get pregnant". eban swears, "i wish i could but im down here in district five now, i wont be able to see you until next week" he complains. my shoulders slump, "oh, ok. i will see you next week then" i sigh, "ok. i will love you always rubicund" he says, "i will always love you too" i say and then hang up, sliding back into bed. there is nothing special going on today so i decide to sleep in, and it is very helpful. i did not realize my lack of sleep. maybe it is always the fact that im so afraid of my father that i do not want to sleep, afraid he'll hurt me in my dreams the way he does while i am awake.
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