July
“Father, I don’t think I’m ready for this?” I told my father in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
"Don’t be ridiculous girl. This is what I’ve been raising you for." His voice, raspy from a lifetime of smoking cigarettes, answered back.
He was right. I’ve known since I could remember that I would be married off to some rich man who put in the highest bet. My father had taught my sisters and me how to be the perfect housewives. He truly was a cold-hearted man, he taught us to speak only when spoken to, to do whatever a man asked us to do without asking any questions. Once he deemed us ready for marriage he would hold an auction with the most powerful men in the world and would sell us off like cattle.
“July... July did you hear me” The stinging sensation of my father's cold hand dragged me out of my thoughts.
“I’m sorry Father; I’ll pay attention." I flinched as he brought his hand up to caress my face.
"Good now put on a million-dollar smile. After all, that’s what this man paid for you. It’s time to meet your new owner." His laugh quickly turned into a dry cough. He let go of my face and started walking us towards the stairs.
"Yes, Father."
I nodded my head and put on my best smile. My father proceeded to grab my arm and drag me down the stairs and all the way into the ballroom. There I was faced with a room full of strange people.
I got to see the amount of people who made it to my engagement party. Seeing all these strangers looking up at me made me want to run away and hide.
It dawned on me this was MY engagement party. I had watched movies where teenagers would go out to high school parties, but this was nothing like that. I never dreamed that my first party would be My Engagement. My father rarely let my sisters and me go out. We were home-schooled and we had people bring us things. He always says that it's to "protect us" We weren't even allowed to go to my older sister's engagement party or wedding.
My father dragged me to a little stage area in between the grand stairs. He picked up two glasses of champagne handing me one and tapped a spoon against his champagne glass. Gaining the attention of the room filled with well-dressed men and women.
“It is such an honor to have all of you here to celebrate the greatest moment in my beautiful daughter, July's, life.” He spoke like he actually cared about me; this was the man that has sold his oldest daughter to a complete stranger. Yet here he sounded like a loving and devoted father.
"I remember when July was a little girl, she would dance around our house dreaming of the day she would get married. She would wear her mother's wedding dress and married about everything.- "My father stopped and reached into his pocket to take out a handkerchief to wipe his crocodile tears. I was seriously impressed if I didn't know my father, I would have thought that he cared about me. "- and now she gets to plan her dream wedding. I'm sad to see my little girl go, but I know that it's to the man she loves. Elijah, why don't you join us on stage for this next part?
A man in a perfectly tailored, navy blue suit stood up and began walking towards me. This was him, the man that I was going to spend the rest of my life with. As he got closer I started to make out details about him, he appeared to be in his mid-40s. He has salt and pepper hair that was lazily brushed back from his face. His pale blue eyes stood out compared to his golden tan skin. A five-clock shadow hunted his handsome face and as he got closer I noticed a slight smile on his face that revealed small wrinkles. I was starstruck at how attractive this man was. I was expecting a grimy, monstrous old man, that his last choice was to buy a bride. But nope, this man could definitely get a woman. Something has to be wrong with him because no normal man would do this.
He finally reached the stage area and got down on one knee in front of me, pulling out a small velvet royal blue box. Inside the box was a stunning teardrop sapphire ring with small diamonds surrounding the sapphire.
“July Grant, will you do me the honor of making our engagement official?” Remember ladies and gentlemen this is all a show I scream in my head.
“Yes... a million times Yes!!!” I reached out to help him stand. He slid the ring on my finger. It felt like he had just slipped on a 40-pound ball and chain on my life. He slipped one hand into my hair and the other into the smalls of my back and kissed me. A kiss that to our audience, I'm sure, looked all too real and passionate. I, on the other hand, was just stunned. I could feel my cheeks turn a violent shade of red, this after all was my first kiss. As I broke our kiss I could hear the thunder of applause coming from our "FRIENDS".
Elijah pulled me off the stage and led me over to a table, that was mainly empathy.
“July.. that’s a unique name.” he grabbed my left hand and started playing with his ring. I softly pulled my hand away from him
“My father named my sisters and me after the month we were born,” I said giving him a timid smile.
“I'm assuming that none of you were born in the same month. Why don't you tell me about them.” He seemed genuinely interested, but if he was even half as good an actor as my father then this was just part of the act.
“Ok, I have 4 sisters. The oldest is my sister October. She's married with a baby boy and one on the way. Then there's me and my 3 little sisters; December, September, and May. I love them so much, I can't image my life without them. What about you, Mr. Griffin, do you have any siblings?"
"Oh please, call me Elijah and yes I do, I have a brother, Stephen. We can talk about me later, right now I want to get to know you Why don't we go outside to talk in a more quiet place." He said nudging his head over to an older lady who was acting like she wasn't eavesdropping in on our conversation. I gave him a small nod and stood up knowing pretty well that I had no choice. I was his property now.
