Sixteen
Dexter
It's the night of the debutante party, though I've been thinking about anything but that. I've been too busy with school, the business and Pandora's disobedience to pay attention to anything. My little prisoner has felt the effect of my absence and has punished me accordingly. I know I don't have the time to pay her a visit, though - I need to get ready for the evening ball, which will be held at the local Country Club.
Anders has picked out one of my father's tuxes for me, and I feel nostalgic as I get dressed, spraying myself with cologne and shaving my face. My thoughts aren't with the jailed little bird stuck in her cage, they're with Pandora - like they always seem to be lately. She's taken permanent residence in my mind and I don't like it one bit.
A few minutes later, Anders waits for me with my overcoat, wishing me a pleasant evening. A driver is waiting outside, and I sit in a polished white limo wordlessly, pondering everything as the journey begins. I don't have much time to think, we arrive in about ten minutes, and I head into the building with a feeling of dread settling over me.
I exchange polite hellos with the people there. My father's former business associates, the founding fathers of this town, and my peers. I don't feel like I belong, though. To be honest, I never did.
My eyes keep scanning the crowd for a sign of Pandora, though I know I'm not likely to see her until she descends the iconic staircase of the country club after she's announced and presented to the public.
The introductions are already happening, and my bored gaze fixes on the top of the stairs as I watch woman after irresistible woman descend them. Audra is one of them. She looks pretty in a peach-colored dress, but she doesn't keep my interest. Her hopeful eyes meet mine from the top of the stairs, and I look away without interest. I can almost hear her hopes shattering at her feet, and it makes me smirk.
Girl after girl descends the staircase. Pandora will be the youngest tonight. Her birthday is tonight, at midnight - she'll be officially turning eighteen, so they've let her participate despite still being seventeen. I keep waiting for her. Keep glancing at the stairs to steal a glance of the toy that has stolen my thoughts and refuses to let go.
I start talking to one of the employees in my
father's company, but the moment I hear they're announcing the last debutante, my eyes focus on the stairs again, forgetting all about my unlucky employee.
"Presenting," the tuxedo-clad man at the top of the stairs announces. "Lily Anna Oakes of the Oakes Estate."
The whole goddamn room goes quiet, and I think we're all waiting for her to appear. A second passes, the unbearable wait making pangs go through my chest. Then, she appears. Except it's not her.
She's wearing a dress Lily Anna wore on her birthday. A pretty, pale lavender gown with layers of flowing chiffon and a tight-cut bodice that leaves nothing to the imagination. She even wears her hair the way Lily Anna did, pinned in a false bob, and her signature makeup - cat-eye liner, and red lips.
I let out a huff of air. She's dressed up like Lily Anna. I can tell the rest of the room has noticed too, and as she descends the stairs, everyone's eyes are glued to her - exactly what she wanted, I'm assuming.
Lai reaches me, grabbing my arm.
"Are you going to let her get away with this?" he barks at me. "Look at her father."
My eyes wander across the room to Emilian Oakes. His eyes are tear-filled, something I've never seen before, and he watches Pandora with adoration.
"Fuck," I mutter. "Grab her the moment she's alone. Are Caspian's parents still out of town?"
"Yeah," Lai nods.
"Take her to his place. I'll be there as soon as I fucking can."
"Got it." Lai nods before disappearing into the crowd to give everyone else my instructions.
I stand there feeling like a fool as Pandora walks over to me. The crowd parts, allowing her to pass through, and she smirks at me, all smug and shit.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I snarl at her.
"You wanted Lily Anna," she hisses. "So here I am."
She looks so stubborn, so fucking defiant, and I just want to smack that look right off her face.
"You're going to pay for this," I tell her as she moves past me.
"We'll see."
She giggles, and I keep my eyes trained on her as she walks to the corner of the room. There, Caspian engages her in a conversation, inviting her out into the balcony. She looks at me, as if seeking permission, then something like disobedience flashes in her eyes, and she follows my fellow Firstborn outside. Right into my fucking trap.
I finish my glass of champagne before making some polite excuses and heading back to my waiting limo. I give the driver Caspian's address and tighten my fists as we start on our journey.