Chapter 10: GABRIELLA

“So Gabriella, a couple of us are going out this evening. Would you like to come with me?” The voice coming out of nowhere made me jump in my seat where I’d been daydreaming as I waited for aunt Marion to finish up.

Robyn was one of the girls I’d met earlier; she worked in design or something, I think. There were too many new faces to keep straight, but I knew I liked her, she seemed fun and friendly, and she’d told me how beautiful my hair was so...

“I’m not sure if I’m allowed.” I kept my voice down so as not to attract aunt Marion’s attention.

For the last five minutes, she’d been yelling at someone on the phone, and it had started to get ugly. Knowing that I was facing a long evening ahead alone with her in her apartment, I was trying to avoid another scene like the night before.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’m new here, and I don’t know if aunt Marion would let me go out on my own.”

“Girl, you’re eighteen, plenty old enough to go wherever; you just can’t drink…legally.” She winked at me and grinned the most mischievous grin.

“Maybe I’ll ask, but don’t we have work tomorrow?”

“So?” She shrugged and walked away. “I’ll be at my drawing table if she says yes.” She rolled her eyes comically, and I had to cover my laughter with my hand when I heard the phone in the other room slam into its cradle.

Of course, aunt Marion said no; she had all kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t be on my own in the city. I was almost tempted to ask her about her first time on her own when she was my age but thought better of it.

The others didn’t seem too put out when I told them I couldn’t join them, so no harm done. I didn’t want these people thinking I was a total dweeb, not like back home when momma and daddy had been so overprotective that they hardly ever let me do anything on my own, but neither did I want to rock the boat.

...

“Well, Gabriella, what did you think of your first day?” she was like a completely different person as she asked me this question on our way home in the chauffeur-driven car. It was enough for me to let my guard down.

“Oh, it was amazing; I never knew there was so much to do, and you make it look so easy.” She preened under my praise, and I felt the tension ease a little more in my tummy.

“That’s the only way to make it in this city, hard work and perseverance; now as to you hanging around with the others after hours, that’s just not the done thing, dear. I understand that this is all new to you, so I’d make allowances for that, but the boss’s personal assistant does not fraternize with her subordinates.

It might leave the door open for all manner of impropriety, you understand. I think until you get yourself situated and start taking those acting classes that you’re so keen on, that it’s best if you stay close.

And you might reconsider becoming too friendly if you’d notice I keep mostly to myself; there’s no point in mingling with the others since you probably won’t be there that long anyway, right?”

“Oh, okay, that makes sense, I guess.” I felt a little deflated after that, not quite sure what she meant by me not being there that long. She went back to ignoring me until the car pulled up outside the apartment, and we headed up.

The sickening feeling hit me again as soon as we reached the door, and I started plotting my escape to my room as soon as it closed behind us. I realized then that I was a little afraid of momma’s friend.

I bit my lip and fumbled around a bit like the ninny that I am trying to come up with the right words to say goodnight at five-thirty in the evening.

“Uh, I guess I’ll be going to my room now.”

“Do as you like; I might be having company tonight, so I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of the way.” My stomach chose that moment to make itself heard, and my face went up in flames.

All I’d had all day was half an apple and a half cup of coffee. The sneer on her face had me taking a hasty step back as she turned back to me.

“Please do something about that horrendous noise; I hope your body hasn’t been making those obnoxious sounds all day.” I could only shake my head at her as I made my way toward the kitchen.

In the refrigerator, all that was on offer was more water and a banana that had seen better days, and I was too nervous to open the cupboards and see what was on offer there.

Making my way to my room, I reminded myself to get something more to eat tomorrow. I didn’t let myself think about the way she’d smirked at me when she mentioned company.

Did that mean that ‘he’ was coming over? I got weak-kneed at the thought but then realized that he would be coming to see her and not me.

I pushed those hurtful thoughts aside as I gave more thought to my more immediate problem. If I had too many more days like this, I’d starve myself to death inside of a week.

Taking out the money I had hidden in a sock, I added up how much I could safely spend each day before it was all gone. I’d done some research on how much classes were going to cost, and with my pay, I should barely be able to make it.

If I was really careful, I could afford to buy lunch for the rest of the week until I get paid without putting too much of a dent in it. Momma and daddy weren’t expecting aunt Marion to pay my way, but neither had they been expecting her to starve me after all.