THE STOLEN BILLIONAIRE'S DAUGHTER

CHAPTER TEN

I was feeling a bit self-conscious and nervous about myself as I took a shower. Tonight was the prom and I didn’t know how exactly to handle myself tonight. I took a deep breath in an attempt to try and calm my nerves but even thinking about the party made me nervous.

I stepped out of the shower and when I walked into my room my eyes went wide when I saw my mother in my room looking at the navy blue dress, I had laid out on my bed.

“Mom!” I yelled as I ran up to her, “what are you doing in my room?” I asked as I grabbed the dress from her and gently laid it back on the bed.

She chuckled, “I was looking at the dress. Did you choose it or did Leon?” She asked.

I could feel my cheeks heat up, “I did.” I said, but it sounded defensive.

My mother put her hands up, “it was just a question.” She said, “and to answer your question, I’m here to help you get ready.”

“I can get ready by myself.” I said as I rolled my eyes as her.

“Honey, this isn’t just another day at school, you need to look cute so I could take a picture of you and Leon together.” She winked at me.

“No, no, don’t wink. Leon and I are just going as friends.” I stated.

She smirked, “yeah right. I can see how he looks at you and I know for a fact that he wants more than that.”

I covered my face with my hands, “somebody kill me now.” I muttered. The last thing I wanted was for my mother to be talking to me about boys when I was in my towel and nervous about the dance. “Do you have to do this right now?” I asked, “I need to get ready.”

She shrugged, “it’s nothing I haven’t seen sweetie.” She replied.

“Privacy mom!” I yelled as I shooed her from my room and closed the door.

“I’m giving you five minutes to get dress then I’m coming in to help you with your makeup.” She said through the door.

I sighed, I was very nervous. I didn’t know if I was nervous about what the dance or the fact that I was going to the dance with Leon, it didn’t help that my mother was planting ideas that Leon might like me in my head. If I thought that then the night was going to be intense.

I managed to put on the dress when my mother walked in without even knocking. “Mom! Privacy remember?!” I yelled.

“Sweetie relax. Now seat in front of the mirror and let me doll you up.” She said as she grabbed my hand leading me to the chair that’s in front the mirror. “You and I used to do this a lot when you were a child but then you just stopped putting on makeup. I thought that once you became older you’d want it more but you didn’t.”

I sighed, “I didn’t want to tell you this but one day when I applied the makeup kids made fun of me in school. So, I decided to not put it on anymore and changed the way I dressed.” I explained.

My mother was busy picking up things while putting down others, ordering me not to move. “Why didn’t you tell me honey?” She asked.

“I knew you’d want to punish those girls and I didn’t want to be the girl who ran to her mommy whenever she was teased a little so I didn’t.” I replied, “I just chose to be the invisible girl and it worked for me.”

She stopped and looked at me in the eyes, “did you ever consider they made fun of you because they wanted to make you seem invisible?” She asked, “you were too pretty and they felt like you were a threat but once you stopped putting effort in make yourself look prettier they didn’t see you as a threat anymore so they just ignored you.”

“I—I never thought of it like that.” I said, now everything seemed to be making sense. It was Emilia who had been bullying me back then and it was no surprise she didn’t even remember me now.

“Sweetie, you are very beautiful with or without makeup and don’t let anyone tell you any differently.” She asked as she turned me around to face the mirror.

I smiled, the makeup was not so bold that it was obvious but so subtle but noticeable and the red lipstick that made it pop. “You’re really good at this.” I said as I admired myself.

She leaned on my shoulder, “you’re the one with all the beauty. I didn’t even have to do much.” She replied, “now your hair is what will take a lot of time.”

“I like my hair being curly.” I said, “maybe just thrown it up into a messy bun?” I suggested.

“A messy bun? For prom?” My mother asked surprised.

I chuckled, “like a messy bun with a few strands hanging around but also enough to show off my earrings.” I explained.

She smiled, “I get what you’re going for and I love it.” She said, “glad to see that stylish little girl isn’t completely lost.”

I smiled, then a text came through my phone. It was the teacher in charge of the prom, Mr. Mendoza. HELP! The text said.

I sighed, What’s wrong? I replied.

The janitor moved the chairs, a few balloons are missing and I can’t seem to locate the microphone. She replied.

I looked at the time, it was about an hour till the prom starts.

I set up everything by myself. As literally anyone else in the committee to help. I replied. I had been staying till late to arrange everything, I couldn’t believe he still wanted me come in an hour early to the prom.

They said you’re the one in charge of it and they wouldn’t know where to find these items. I really need your help please. He was begging.

I sighed, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. I replied as I gave him a few places he would try and find the microphone.

“Mom, I have to go Mr. Mendoza is claiming to have a few issues with the prom decorations.” I said.

“Well, can’t he ask anyone else to help?” My mother asked.

“He did and they threw it back at me.” I replied as I rolled my eyes. “I won’t be in charge of anything when I get to University.”

“Okay. Let me try and hurry it up.” She said.

I narrowed my eyes at her, “tomorrow is my birthday and you have been very quiet about it. What are you up to?” I asked.

“Nothing. It’s your eighteenth birthday and I thought that you should be the one to decide how you want to celebrate it.” She replied.

I chuckled, “I’m going to pretend like I believe you. I know you have something planned but I’m too nervous to think about it now.” I replied, “are you done?” I asked as I looked at my hair.

“Almost.” She said as she didn’t a little fluffing here and there, “done.” She said as she took a step back to admire her work, “isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I mean not really but it works.” I said as I got up from the chair and went to put on my pair of three inch boots.

“You couldn’t find heels?” My mother asked.

“I could. But I expected something to go wrong and I didn’t want to have to run around in heels all night.” I replied, as I walked to my wardrobe to get a jacket.

“No.” My mother said as she took the jacket from me, “I’ll give you shawl that will go well with the dress.”

We went to her room and she took out this black shawl and handed it to me. I looked at it confused, “how exactly do I use this?” I asked.

She sighed, she put it around my shoulders while letting it droop ever so slightly to reveal my dress. “There it is.” She said as we heard someone knock on the door.

“That must be Leon. I asked him to pick me up early.” I said as I walked to the door, my mother seemed too excited about this.

I opened the door and Leon stood there in his tux, “look at you. You clean up nicely.” I joked.

He smiled, “I know right, you don’t do so bad yourself.”

“You have already seen me in the dress.” I said as I let him step in.

“But not with the makeup, shoes and that thing around your shoulders.” He pointed out.

I chuckled, “it’s a shawl.” I replied, “and you are here on time because I need to take care of a few things with the decoration so we need to leave like now.”

“Not before I get a picture of you two.” My mother said with her phone in hand.

“Not now mom.” I said as I ran to my room to get my little purse.

I ran back and I was dragging Leon to the door but my mother stopped us. “Dulce, come on. You only go to prom once.” She said.

“Twice actually. She would be accompanying me to my prom too.” Leon said.

“Why?” I muttered. I turned around, “you only get two pictures mom.”

“Five.” She countered.

“Three.” I said.

“Deal.” She said with a smile.

“This is for you.” Leon said as he showed me a corsage with red and white roses and the band was navy blue like my dress.

I smiled, “wow.” I said as he put it in my hand, “you didn’t have to.”

“I know but I wanted to.” He said.

“I didn’t get you one though.” I said.

“I got myself one. Maybe you could help me pin it on my jacket?” He asked as he handed me a boutonniere, with flowers that matched the one on my corsage.

“You two are cute.” My mother commented, surprising me. I was so caught up in the moment I had completely forgotten about her.

“One last photo then we leave.” I said as Leon put his hand around my waist.

After she took the photo my phone buzzed, “that must be Mr. Mendoza. We have to go.” I told my mother.

“Have fun. In fact, have too much fun, feel free to spend the night out!” She yelled after us.

Leon laughed, “my father wants me back home by eleven but your mother wants you to spend the night out?”

“Terrible influence I know.” I replied.

“I think she is kind of cool.” He replied.

“I wonder why?” I joked.

The driver was outside waiting for us in a limo. I found it a bit over the top but it was his choice so I just went along with it.

“Why exactly are we on a limo?” I asked.

“Because I like going to parties in style but first we pregame.” He said as he poured us some wine, I think.

I chuckled, “as much as I would like some expensive wine I don’t think I will be able to help out in school if I’m tipsy or drunk.”

“You won’t be helping out. You help out a lot there and tonight is your night to have fun.” Leon said as he handed me a glass of wine. He raised his glass, “here is to your first night of having fun. Who said you have to wait till college.” He winked at me as he chugged the drink.

I smiled, he did have a point. I had been the only one running around helping out with everything. Tonight, I was having fun and letting lose. I chugged the drink. “Another one.” I said.

“Now we are partying.” Leon cheered as he poured me some more wine. “I hope you don’t mind that I said we will be picking up your friend and her date?” He asked.

“Claudia?” I asked.

Leon smirked and nodded.

“I have no idea how you found out about her but we’ll talk about this later.” I said.

“I just wanted the two of you to have fun together so that’s exactly what we are going to do.” Leon said as he continued to drink. He was as wild as my mother wanted me to be. I hope she is ready for what I was doing tonight.