1 The Heiress who Disappeared

 I shivered as Lucas’s greedy eyes ran up and down my body. He was such a lecherous creep. We were in the dining room of my parents house. The quiet clink of cutlery and my parents light voices were currently the only sounds in the room. The chandelier swayed above us, it’s crystals reflecting light throughout the luxurious room. I knew why Lucas had come unannounced to dinner at our house on this winter night and I was trying to hold down my dinner as my anxiousness made my stomach churn.
“Mr Vale, may I announce something to the table?” Lucas asks loudly. Here it comes, I thought. My parents pause from their conversation and their eyes landed on the two of us. Lucas stands up and grabs my hand. I wanted to bite and claw at him right then and there. How dare he be so brazen in front of my parents. However, I was the daughter of Victor Vale and I had standards to uphold. Even if we were in my own home, my father always asked that I kept an upright appearance. That I not show my emotions on my face so clearly. I don’t know how long I could hold it, if this guy says what I think he’s going to say in the next few seconds.
“Emilia Vale, the past few months that I have known you have been the most memorable moments in my whole life.” That time I threw water at your face in the middle of a party because you dared to touch my ass. That was very memorable. “In front of your parents and with their permission.” He started to get down on his knee. I clenched the hand that was not in his, I wanted to punch his face in so much right now. “I wish to ask for your hand in marriage.” He finished. My mother gasped. I looked over at my parents. To my horror I saw my father smiling. Thankfully my mother was also glaring at my father for my sake. I looked back at Lucas, he was a good looking man. Blonde hair, brown eyes and he always had a nice wardrobe. His family was rich too but not as rich as my own. I suspected his reason to marry was our family wealth but also it was his business deal with my father. I didn’t like this man. It was the smile I really didn’t like, crooked and twisted. His eyes always looked at me in a way that he owned me and I was already his possession. How dare this man even think I would agree to his proposal.
“No,” I said standing up. Lucas’s mouth turned into a thin line as he stood up.
“I’ll go out and get you a ring you like tomorrow,” he states standing up as well. He ignored what I said the bastard.
“Did you not hear me? I said no,” I repeated. I flinched when Lucas stepped forward, he put his head up next to mine.
“Just be a good girl and listen to your father,” he whispered into my ear. Shivers ran up and down my back at his tone. If only my father knew what this man was actually like.
“Emilia, don’t be rude to Lucas,” my father admonished, standing up as well. He walked forward and shook Lucas’s hand. “She’ll be ready to head out with you tomorrow Lucas, thank you for coming tonight,” my father patted him on the back. Lucas smiled proudly. These two stupid, arrogant men. It was 2026 and this is how they still treat women. I was disgusted at my father. I looked at my mum and I said her nod her head at me. We both knew this was going to happen.
“I am not doing this! If you’re not going to listen to me, I’ll leave this family,” I said firmly.
“You’ll regret it the moment your step out of this house young lady. Don’t think you’ll get the same treatment out there in the world like you do here,” my father said turning on me.
“At least it’ll be better than a father who sells his daughter off for a business opportunity!”I shouted.
“Go to your room! I don’t want to see you until you’re ready to go out and buy rings!” I let out a shout of frustration and walked out of the room.

I rushed upstairs, opening my bedroom door. I had a large king sized bed, a white soft plush couch and a large round balcony that looked out to the garden. I grew up in this room, this would be the last time I visited this room for a long time. I went to my walk in wardrobe and grabbed out the suitcase I had prepared already. I got out of the long ballgown dress I wore and put on jeans and a plain brown cardigan. I went to my large dresser and grabbed out the contacts my mum and I had prepared and changed my eye colour from forest green to a dark chocolate brown. I grabbed a wig and put my red hair up into a flat bun at the top of my head. Then placed the brown hair over the top. I looked at the my new appearance in the mirror. A stranger looked back at me, she looked dull and boring. Her short hair made her face look rounder. I put on some think black glasses as well, to make sure I wasn’t recognised even more. Hopefully my disguise worked. I had already gotten my new ID cards made and my new name now was Meira Vance. Emilia Vane will have to disappear for a while. This was the best way to avoid the press if I left the house to find work outside. Reporters always turned nasty if they had a hot scandal on their hands. Especially if Lucas ever announced our engagement to the world. That was the best way for him to keep me on a tight leash. That’s why I had to run away now, before he told the world about us and before he could get any photos of us together. The door opened and I jumped as I looked over. My mother rushed over.
“I’m so sorry this happened sweetie,” she apologised. I shook my head.
“It’s not you’re fault mum.”
“I’ll try to convince your father once your gone. Maybe if you disappear for a while, he’ll return to the loving father he was a year ago. He’ll realise what he’s trying to force his daughter to do.” I hadn’t seen my mother this angry. Usually she was the silent supporter in the family. Always following my father’s lead. Except when Lucas appeared last year, my father changed so quickly. Greed slowly took over and he started investing in new things, things that could ruin our family in a single day. Then Lucas came over our house one day six months ago. That was when his obsession over me began.
“Take care mum, if you need me you know where I’ll be staying,” I hugged her as a final goodbye.
“They’re talking in the palour so you can get out the back door, I love you so much sweetie. I hope you can come back in the future.”
“I’m sure dad will soon come back to his senses, I won’t be gone for long,” I promised. I dragged the suitcase out the door and carried it down the stairs.
“I already called for a taxi, it’ll take you to the bus stop.” My mother rushed down the bottom of the stairs and checked the hallway. We quietly reached the back door and gave each other one last hug while the taxi driver packed my suitcase into the boot of the car. Then I was off. Looking back at my beautiful mother, standing there in a gorgeous purple gown. Our large 3 floor house looming behind her with its immaculate gardens landscaping the background.