Helpless to Resist (Rough Submission Book 1)

Chapter One: Party

Jane wishes she could celebrate her eighteenth birthday like the rest of her peers- together with her peers.

Instead, she’s at this party for old people because her stepdaddy needs to show what a responsible and caring father he is. He’s using her birthday as an excuse to invite a lot of Very Important Persons. It’s for himself a lot more than it’s for her, honestly. Even an idiot could see that. It’s annoying and she hates it more than she can put in words, but her mom made her promise to take care of her father before she passed.

Their mansion is in perfect condition and all their cheaper china have been keep hidden under the cupboards. Daddy got her to help the cleaners that morning and her fingers are kind of sore and calloused, but she’s putting on a brave smile and pretending she’s elsewhere.

Everything’s going to be fine. As long as daddy gets the job he wants, she can go to whatever school she wants and everything’s going to be alright.

The dinner party is going on splendidly. The important and arrogant Ministry people are mingling among each other, sipping the expensive champagne that daddy had imported from overseas and paid hundreds for the expedited shipping. The costs of the drinks alone probably cost enough for her college education, but daddy doesn’t see money that way. These are important investments for their (his) future, but her education is her problem, really.

Daddy’s never really cared much for children. She is still convinced that Daddy only married Mummy for her money. Jokes on him because all they had was old money given to them by her grandfather. Most of that went into Mummy’s hospice care and they’re hardly making ends meet now, which is why they no longer have a permanent staff on hand. Daddy made a show of telling the Ministers that he’s dismissed. Daddy took out a lot of loans in hopes of this turning out the way he wants it to.

They have the mansion, though and the Velazquez name still means something in certain circles. Daddy is burning through the rest of Mummy’s inheritance making a name for himself.

She’s eighteen now, though, and she has some money to her name too. It’s really idiocy that keeps her here. Idiocy and a misplaced sense of responsibility towards her dead mother.

She takes a deep breath and tries to remind herself that it’ll only be for the night. Afterwards, she’ll meet up with the family lawyer and talk about moving out. The fact that there are a dozen strangers in her family home feels suffocating, but she can handle it. She’s eighteen now- almost. She glances at the grandfather clock. An hour till she turns eighteen and she can begin planning for her own future. Surely, Mummy had left her some money too?

She knows it’s all just wistful thinking. She’s not going to leave Daddy on his own. He’ll sell all of Mummy’s precious antiques.

They’ve finished desserts and most of the people left are only here because there’s nowhere else for them to be. It’s rather sad, she thinks, to be so important and yet have nothing to go home to.

Daddy rushes about, trying to entertain all his guests without looking like he’s tripping over his feet. They’re all quite young, somewhere in their thirties and forties with a few people bare ten years older than herself. She wonders how they managed to get in their positions. Maybe family influence and money, she thinks blithely.

She sips a glass of champagne that she’s not supposed to have and tries not to glance too often at the clock. It’ll only make time pass slowly. Daddy says she only has to stay until midnight and then she’s excused.

She doesn’t recognize any of the faces here but she answers any questions they have for her over and over ag

ain.

Yes, Jane. Has she gotten taller? She hasn’t noticed.

Thank you. Yes, she’s enjoying her birthday.

No, she’s still trying to decide what to study for college.

No, she hasn’t been accepted officially into any of the universities yet. She had to take a year and a half off to help Mummy when she wasn’t feeling well, so she’s a little bit behind, but she’s catching up.

Yes, she’s a very good girl.

No, Daddy hasn’t arranged a match for her yet.

No, no, there’s no need to rush.

She is beginning to grow a little light-headed and starts sipping on water instead of champagne when Daddy brings another one of his guests to her. She hasn’t seen him before, which means he’s either new in the community, or he’s so high up that he’s never graced them with his presence before.

“You must be the lovely Miss Velazquez,” he murmurs, his breath warm as he presses a kiss to the back of her hand.