The Pressure
Mandy
I feel like home should be everyone’s favorite place right? I mean it should be where you get your mind off things, relax, smile, and probably be happy or made happy by the people around you and people who see and believe in yourself. People who know your worth, people who feel like you can do anything in the world. That’s what home should be like, or at least how I pictured it in my head.
But in Mandy’s life, it has become toxic for me. I feel so restless, disturbed, and clouded with thought, that I barely recall the happy moments behind these walls. ones I once shared with these amazing people are barely engraved on the walls, how then, on the heart?This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
A lot of times, I get back here and I get drained because I’m hoping that it wouldn’t be as shitty as the office was. I hope I will have a peaceful night and a good stay at home.
I sighed heavily, as I took the stairs and got to my room, I pushed the door hard, and closed it with the same energy, before jumping on the bed and releasing a huge breath. My legs were lifted up, as they helped each other pull out my shoes, reducing the aching pains I felt around my toes. I grumbled a little, readjusting myself on the bed immediately after my shoes were off. I was getting too comfortable and I knew deep down I had to take a shower, have dinner, and get ready for the night, but right now I feel subjectively lazy.
“Come on girl,” I gave myself one of those pushes, and groaned lightly, as I started to take off my clothes, heading for the shower. I brushed my teeth, had my bath, and did my night routine, before getting into something comfy.
I walked down to the kitchen, with my phone in my hand and my stomach grumbling really hard. I got to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and took out a bottle of water.
“Food would be ready in five minutes, miss. Please wait at the dinner,” the chef said after hearing the sound of my grumbling stomach. I smiled and sat down, patiently waiting…
Just in time, the table was set and food was served. I sat in the dining room, having my meal already and internally wishing that nothing ruined it. And thankfully nothing did.
The next morning.
I woke up earlier as usual, getting myself ready for the day, did a little morning workout, had a huge amount of water, brushed my teeth, and had my bath then decided it was time to get ready.
I stared at myself from the dresser, as I used the hand dryer to dry up my hair. The air that came out of it hit my face and a smile spread across my lips. I started to cream my body, gently, while doing a mental breakdown in my head on how today’s events were going to turn out.
I wore my undergarments and picked a blue suit from the cupboard. I know it made me look like a mean female CEO, but that’s exactly the image I want to maintain. I grabbed my bag, after quickly scrambling through it to make sure I had everything I needed in it. I brought my AirPods and fixed them to my ears, before turning to look at myself one last time in the mirror. Satisfied with my look, I took in a little breath, and walked out my room, shutting the door tightly.
” Good morning Steve,” I said to the family Butler, who was like a father to me. I’ve known him since my childhood and every memory with Steve had been unapologetically beautiful, the time we went for rides, him covering up for dad because of his busy schedule.
“Slept well, princess?” he said and sipped from his cup of coffee while going through the newspaper, it was one sight I couldn’t get used to, I mean who needs the newspaper when we can access the internet on our phones?
“Yes I did, are mom and Dad joining us for breakfast today?” I asked instantly, and I saw him pause his reading and stared at me for a brief seconds before clearing his throat.
“Yes, they will,” he said simply, while I nodded my head in response, unable to say anything else, as I mumbled “great” under my breath. Don’t get me wrong, I have no hatred towards my parents, but I don’t think seeing them this morning is going to exactly be how I wanted to Kick-start my day.
“Oh, my baby girl,” I heard Dad’s voice right behind me, and I dropped the cup of coffee on the counter. I turn around to stare back at him, with a huge smile displayed on my face…
“Good morning Father,” I said while he patted my head, and slowly pulled me to the dining room.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but it does seem like you’re avoiding your mother and me. It’s either you miss dinner, or don’t have breakfast with us anymore. And once you’re at work, it’s hard to get to you,” he sighed before Mom rubbed his palm while I smiled and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
“I’m not avoiding any of you, it’s just that work being on a tight schedule,” I responded, munching slowly on the omelets on my plates.
“Well it’s a good thing you’re here, and I’ve heard only good reviews from everyone about how you’ve been managing the company,” he said and I felt my heart flutter to those words. Finally some recognition, one that I truly deserve.
” Yes, we have, honey. And we are proud of you,” Mom added, smiling right back at me. But I couldn’t understand why I had this feeling that we were about to say something bad and are probably using this to lay the news off gently.
“I know you’ve proven yourself capable of running the company Mandy, but what about other departments of your life,” Dad started. ..
“What do you mean by that? Did something happen?” I asked slowly trying to control my rapid breath…
“No nothing bad happened, it’s just that you have no social presence, are barely in a long-lasting relationship, and aren’t thrilled with the idea of getting married,” Mom helped him out, and laid the bombs quite harshly.
” So this is what this is about, the whole compliment and all was just a facade, a lie to make me happy, before making me feel shitty?” I scoffed at them.
“Marriage isn’t shitty, and if you aren’t so hardcore about the idea of only working in the company, I wouldn’t be bringing this up. So maybe get married, rather than paying men to act all in love with you, because you keep lying to us” My mom’s response was raw and harsh and it was as if I felt a sting on my chest.
” I would get married, mom. I don’t want to lie to any of you, but you keep putting so much emphasis and pressure on it, that’s why I had to do it. And it was working alright, not until you found out,” I half yelled.
“Well I can see the pressure isn’t enough, maybe I’ll make it just harder than it used to be,”. I heard her Dad’s voice, which stopped the heated argument between Mom and myself…
“Dad, what are you talking about?” Confused as I was, I knew it wasn’t going to be something pleasing either way.
” You have one year to get a man and get married, or I take the company away from you and hand it over to Derrick,” he voiced out, and I could feel the ground around my legs shake a bit, it became unstable, and my legs wobbled making me weak…
“He’ll do what? Give the company to Derrick? Derrick? My uncle’s son? The spoiled brat who barely knows how to run a company,” I repeated in my head before I fell back to my seat astonished…
I mean how far is my father willing to go to sell me off? Destroy his legacy? He wouldn’t be right…!?