I burst into the door, my cheeks flushed and eyes wide with excitement, and wandered to the kitchen where Aunt Juliana was. She looked at me like I had suddenly gone insane and raised her eyebrow. “Are you feeling okay, Corinne?” she asked, the quizzical expression still on her face.
I smiled. “Yes, yes, I’m fine,” I reassured her. “I met this man, Garland Foxworth and we really got together, and so I invited him over for dinner. Oh, please Aunt Juliana, say it’s all right,” I said, my voice almost taking on a whining tone.
“A Foxworth?” she shrieked, her hand floating up to her throat. “Do you realize that the Foxworths are on the most influential people in the state, if not the whole country? Oh, lord Corinne, it’s a little too late to say no now, isn’t it?”
Suddenly William’s voice appeared from the doorway. He leaned against the door, an angry expression crossing his face. “Yes, Mother,” he said bitingly, “And I doubt Corinne will be able to say no to this man as well. The Foxworths get what they want and why should this Foxworth be any different? Corinne, once he gets what he wants, he’ll toss you aside and look for the next naïve victim and then toss her aside as well. I advise you to stay away from him if you want to keep your dignity and honor,” he said forebodingly before turning and exiting the room rapidly.
Aunt Juliana clicked her tongue and shook her head. “William really has no idea what’s he’s talking about,” she said warmly, noticing the fierce expression on my face. She extended her arms, beckoning me towards her. “Come now, he really didn’t mean it,” she said soothingly.
I shook my head, my arms crossed tightly underneath my bosom. I quickly walked towards William, placing a hand on his shoulder to turn him around when I reached him. “What do you think I am?” I fired off, my face lifted to look him squarely in his light brown eyes. “I’m not some cheap, little trollop!”
He grinned and put both of his arms on the wall, blocking me. As his face neared close, I could smell strong liquor on his breath. “Corinne, Corinne, Corinne,” he chanted like a song, then laughed. “you’re too trusting,” he said softly. He brusquely leaned against me, his face just inches away from mine. He suddenly pressed his lips roughly against mine, my nose filling with the scent of booze and his slight stubble scraping against my skin.
I writhed from under him, my elbows pressed against the wall. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand then slapped him hard and then shoved him against the wall with equal strength, which was easy since he was still stunned from the slap. I turned and ran to my room, locking the door for safe measure.
I rested against the door, breathing loudly and quickly. Soon, I became calm again. I got up and glanced around the room, walking to my closet. Opening it, I discovered Aunt Juliana had put many beautiful dresses in there. My hands drifted over a midnight blue one, the same exact color of my eyes.
The top layer of the dress was a filmy fabric, chiffon it seemed. It glittered with every movement of my fingers. The under part was silk, a slightly darker blue than the top. The dress had short sleeves, ending just after my shoulders. It was a heart cut, low enough to reveal just a bit of cleavage to attract attention. Thank you, Aunt Juliana, I mouthed to myself, thank you.