3- Isabella

“They’ve asked for you” whispers mother, her tears now falling down her face as she moves to look at me, having kept silent during the whole exchange.

“What?” I whisper. No this couldn’t be happening. I was only 25 and here I was, a bargaining chip between my father and the D’Amico family. A business transaction to help my father and his company. His investors a bunch of shady people. People bent on hurting him.

“I’m afraid so, my tesoro (Treasure)” is all my father says. “Se miso (I hate you)” I mumble as tears begin to rise. “I HATE YOU!” then with nothing else I run. Running for the door I move to leave the room as tears begin to fall.

How could he do that? How could my own father sell me off like some piece of property. I had dreams. I wanted to go off to college, maybe study abroad in either Greece or Italy. Study art or fashion with a minor in design. Now… Now I can’t.

At the pain of being betrayed do I quickly move towards my room. Not wanting to be anywhere close to my family if possible. Upon entering, do I slam my door shut before running over towards my bed and collapsing, tears falling as I sob.

“Se miso (I hate you)” I cry as I continue to lay upon my bed. The sound of dinging soon sounding, which in turn alerts me that someone had sent me text messages just now.

Sniffling, I move to grab my phone from the nightstand. “Who is it now?” moving to look, I can’t help but notice that there from my two best friends. Smiling, I move to swipe up to unlock my phone curious to read the messages, all nine of them and counting.

Angel: Yo girl, what’s up?

Caleb: You free tonight?

Angel: Ya, are you? If so let’s PARTY!

Caleb: Party till we blackout, lol

Angel: HELLOOOO… Are you there?

Caleb: Mmm, maybe not. Maybe you scared her with the party bit.

Laughing, I can’t help but find humor within each of them. Angel and Caleb having been my best friends for as long as I could remember so naturally I would agree to just about anything with them.

Isabella: No, I’m here, sure let’s go out, where to?

Angel: OMG… There’s a new place that just opened up, it’s called Ambrosia

Caleb: It’s like the hottest club in all of town.

Isabella: Ambrosia? Sounds like a fun time, let’s go. I need a distraction.

Angel: YAY, You’re the best

Caleb: Diddo, let’s meet up and plan out what to wear

Isabella: Sure, I’ll meet you at Angel’s

And with that I lock my phone before shoving off the bed. Better there than here. Then without a word do I swiftly grab my phone and my cute little black purse. The one with the Tommy Hilfiger logo on it before darting from the room.

My body now standing along the front door, debating if I should tell my parents. Nah. Deciding against it, I move to leave the house because after all I was only property, no longer their daughter. With that in mind I move to leave all the while heading straight for my little red convertible, a birthday present from my father when I turned 21. A car I instantly loved.

Mine. Then without a moment of hesitation I quickly jumped into her before starting her up, my baby purring to life as it did. Let’s get this show on the road. And with that I pulled out of the driveway and headed towards Angels.

My little red car now speeding away from my parents’ house as I do.