As I reached my home, it was already in the fuss to attend the party or meeting, or whatever! I leaned on the door frame of my mom's room watching her gushing about the makeup that stuck up sophisticated makeup artist has done on her face. Though the artist was trying to keep it a poker face, she had this glint in her face which screamed pride!

I sighed. What am I good at?

I turned around to go, unable to see this any further. My father made an entrance and looked at me disapprovingly. Well, my skinny jeans may not be his style of fashion but I held his stare and stood there, challenging him.

There was something in his eyes today that made me want to shake him and make him spill out his guts. He held my stare for so long that I understood he is giving me some sort of signal. Good thing, Tom helped me learn sign language and all those crazy stuff which helped me understand what he was saying. However, I can't understand what Sam was trying to say since he was not educated about this stuff and thus, his signs were nauseating me. I am not able to read it.

But something tells me he wants me to go to my room.

He sighed and scowled at me. "You are not properly dressed."

"I don't get dressed to sleep."       

"Sleep?" he was really alarmed. "But, we have a party come meeting to attend."

"No, we don't. You have to. Go! Attend!"

"Lillian, have I ever attended a party without my family?"

"There can be a first time for everything."

Evelyn's attention was focused on us now. She excused herself and came to the doorway where we were standing.

"Lily, what is the fuss about?"

"I was saying I am not able to come to the party." She looked horrifically at me and then to Sam.

"But, you can't do that. We can't do that!" she said disgustingly as she looked at Sam for help.

"Lillian, you have to understand, you can't stay back" Sam assured her by keeping a hand on her shoulders as he chastised me.

What is wrong with these people?

"What the hell is wrong with you guys? Have you been born with clay in your heads? Can't you understand the meaning of 'no'?" I screamed at them.

Once again, Sam looked at me and then motioned with his eyes to go up. I scoffed and walked furiously to my room. Tiffany was descending the stairs looking really good in a lace and embroidery coral dress. At last, a dress that I love from her collection. She said something snarky but I didn't hear. I flipped my hands so fast to her mouth that she didn't see it and it hit her square covering the mouth and nose. She shrieked in pain. I am sure; she will be in a bloody mess now. Poor dress!

Once I was in my room, I slammed shut the door.

I looked around my room to find something out of place. What was Sam trying to say? Why is it so important that we all need to attend the party? What is wrong in here? What am I missing?

Many questions swarmed my head and it was giving me a serious headache. But I was damn strong with my decision; I won't go to the party.

There were conversations coming from the end of the hallway and if I am sure, it was Tom. I sighed and then sat on my bed removing my shoes. I put my right leg on the left lap and massaged my feet. Somehow it always soothed me. I did with the other leg too.

Then, I fell down to my soft bed.

It crinkled.

I got up, removed my bed sheets and found a piece of paper there. Curiously, I read it,

"You have to understand that the enemies are a lot closer than you think. Don't trust anyone. You are not safe. We are not safe. Please! Trust me."

Ok, this was getting out of hand. What the heck is this? I stormed to the door and was about to rage out; but, when I opened the door, I stood my ground. Tom was standing there with his hands positioned as if he was about to knock on my door. I slowly slipped the note into my pockets.

"Oh hey, sugar. How are you?"

"Obviously not well... what are you doing here?"

"Well, haven't I been the one always escorting you to the parties?" he asked me boringly.

The first note which said I have to choose my comrades carefully and now this note which I am sure was by my father, made me confused as hell. What am I missing? The look on Tom was one of concern... however, there was something else unreadable today and honestly, for the first time, I am starting to worry.

There is something so nasty going on and I have no clue.

"Yeah, right, but uncle please..."

"Don't say anything else, you are coming pumpkin and that's it. You know Sam won't like it."

"Sam can suck on his own likes. Dammit. Now, are you siding with Sam?"

"No pumpkin... but,"

"No buts... I am not going and that is that. I am so tired of all these stupid games, secrecy and dammit. I had no idea this was how everything will be turning out once I am starting to become an adult."

I slammed shut my door to his face. He knocked and pleaded but I gave no heed. After a while, he left. Then after half an hour, I heard the rumble of three cars and I believed they left without me.

Victory!

That was the only word that conquered my world and for the first time in my life, something that I demanded happened. I should do more of this. I rammed up my new stereo which was way better than the first one and got on my bed to do a happy dance.

After I sweat it out, I lowered the volume and opened my door to go make something in the kitchen. I wanted to eat pizza. As crazy as it sounds, I wanted to make it in my own way.

Since there was no one in my house apart from the usual servants, I could make them come around to my demands and they listened. Linda, a kind fifty or so homemaker stood back to help since she knew it was my first time in the kitchen.

Talking to her was so soothing. She had this aura that made me want to melt into her lap and cry for the rest of my night. Linda helped me prepare the pizza. I knew never it was to be prepared like this and once I popped it into the oven, my heart beat happily. For the first time in my life, I did something without the force of someone else.

She made me a cake, chocolate cake with Oreo icing and I felt so grateful for her kindness. After a while, Lisa came for the evening shift and she was glad to see me home. The pizza was enough to feed the whole family, but I, Linda and Lisa gathered on the patio and had dinner.

To be honest, it was the best day of my life, as I remember. Linda was fun to hang out with. Her life story was so much fun, in fact, much funnier than my late night rides because she has done much crazy stuff than that.

She said, she trespassed into a private factory just to see the big machines and all and almost got caught by the night guard. Apparently, he was a young chap who got amused to see a girl inside the big factory all by herself and they clicked instantly. They got married after five years and were inseparable since then. That was so cute. I wonder when I will get a love like that.

"Lillian... Lilly..."

"Huh!"

"Where are you? We have been calling you for five minutes. Eat your food." Linda said in her adorable old voice and I can't help but smile at her. The pizza was so good. In fact better than the cook that prepared at around Sundays. Oh, haven't I said that? We don't have fast food. We prepare organic stuff here with real veggies and poultry from the farm. Wow!

"It's so tasty Linda. Better than the one that cook prepares."

"Oh, it's because we have not counted the calories that we put into the toppings!" Linda said amusingly with faux disgust and we all laughed.

"So, birthday girl... what is your wish for your eighteenth year?"

"To run away"

I never wanted to say that. It sort of blurted from my lips. The look on their face was enough to drown me in guilt. They don't know what is happening to my life. They don't know anything. I sighed and dropped my head to the table.

"Honey, tell us what is bothering you. I know you are going through a lot and I hear them talking bad about you. But, I believe you are good under all your bad girl façade."

I laughed at her and then side hugged dear old Linda, feeling really grateful for being there for me. She kissed my forehead and Lisa squeezed my hands.

I cried.

In front of these servants, I cried. They are more than servants for me. But, I don't have anyone else and they are the only ones in this wretched big house to give me tissues when I cry rather than laugh at my face. How fucked up is that. And me promising myself that I won't cry in front of anyone. Bah!

I looked at them earnestly and their warm glow made me want to confess my greatest fear to them and that's what I did for the rest of the evening; telling them my doubts, worries, what is going on, what was so special about my eighteenth birthday, the notes, everything. They listened carefully without judging me or interrupting me. I was really grateful for that.

Once I finished rambling. I inhaled, sniffed and wiped my tears anyway, "So..."

"Oh my, that is... why didn't you say anything?" Lisa was crying now.

"Why should I distress you too?"

"But, dear, that is not right. You are so young, no one has the heart to bottle too much at a time." Linda wiped her eyes with a delicate silk handkerchief with her husband's initials peeking out. I smiled at her.

"Now, that I have told you, I feel good."

I am grateful to Tom, for teaching me so much. I listened, observed and carefully analyzed both of their features to realize that Lisa was awestruck but Linda was fidgety as if she was sad that she had to keep it in her head. Come on, I am good at reading people so don't judge me. I had a hunch that Linda would know something and I think I am right.

"So, it's been a long afternoon, off you go to your room, I will clean the kitchen. We have chores to do dear." Linda said without looking at my face.

I held her hand, looked deeply into her eyes with a smile that made her anxious.

"What is it dear?"

"I have known you for years and you have been here long before I was born. You know something and you are not telling me."

She looked at me shocked. Lisa was stunned but she knew me so well, so she quickly gathered the stained utensils and walked inside to the kitchen.

Linda however sighed and looked at me sadly. She looked here and there and as I tailed her eyesight, I was startled to find bodyguards hidden in the foliage, protecting the mansion. I mean, I knew we had bodyguards but I didn't know they would be surrounding every point of our house. I sighed again.

Linda took my hand and walked straight to the back garden gate. She didn't make eye contact with the guard that was casually walking through there but I did. I looked at him sternly and he glared back.

After a long walk, Linda took me to the end of the garden where a fence is separating our lawn which leads to an astonishing lake. I used to disappear here when I was young; however as I grew up, I learned to ride my bike and I leave this property rather than stay inside the property no matter how beautiful this place was.

Linda took me to the corner of the property where there was a big sturdy oak standing proudly. She took me there and plopped down. I sat with her.

She took her phone out and was typing something. I wondered why she took me here and then preceded to text someone. I was angry and when I was about to ask her, she gave me the phone with a look in her eye that screamed sadness, guilt, and anger.

"You have no idea honey what a mess Parker family is in. There are too many scalding secrets you don't know and have no idea about. It's better to walk around until your eighteenth birthday as if you don't know anything and you don't care. It's for your own and your family's good even for us. The people you consider your family and companion is in fact foxes in disguise. Don't ask me any questions. Don't raise any suspicion. Don't ask too many questions to anyone. We are always under surveillance and you don't want to get caught. We are equally in danger and I don't know why."

I was stunned, humiliated and utterly devastated.

I looked at Linda horrified by what I just read. She took the phone from me, erased it and got up as if nothing happened. When she looked at me, I was sitting there thinking over and over again on what she said; I mean on what I read.

She left me sitting under the oak.

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Thank you for picking this book. The main plot will come around after two or more update! ;)