Aurelia

Emaine marches toward me, fury lining her features, she grabs my arm, fingers digging into my skin harshly, “What are you doing here?”

My throat closes up, I cant get a word out, my eyes bouncing around the room. A few guests glance at us, curious about the commotion.

“How did you get out of the basement?” She growls, dragging me out of the room, “Oh, girl, by the time I’m through with you-”

“Sweetheart.”

Emaine stops at the sound of my fathers voice. He walks up behind us with a smile, nodding at his guests as he approaches.

His smile thins, but doesn’t slip of his face for appearances, his voice drops, “Don’t make a scene, dear.” He slips an arm around my shoulders, his voice rising then, “And our daughter can stay of course, I’m sure she just wants to have a good time, feel among. As a matter of fact, there’s someone I’d like her to meet.”

A man comes into my line of sight, one I recognize. He’s a family friend, one of Dad’s oldest business partners. “You remember Daniel Miller, do