I stood at the doorway of my new home unable to will myself over its threshold. The sense of dread that pulled at my heartstrings had no desire to settle its tunes. The unending and never dying question remained nagging at the back of my mind as I reached an uneasy conclusion.

'Will this family truly be my one and only family?

Or is this the beginning of the end?'

          Charlie chuckled; sensing my hesitation, and led us to through the door. "Ms. Seville, please follow Maggie to the lounge room. Lady Ambrosia, please follow me to your quarters." Seville gave me a small hug and her best reassuring smile before following the small pudgy lady to what I was guessing would be some sort of lounge space. I focused on Charlie allowing him to lead my way into the unknown. "Are you excited?" Charlie had a little twinkle in his eye and a pep in his large step as he led me down beautiful marble hallways, but I still couldn't quite make his elation my own.

"I cannot wait," I lied as I gave him a bright smile; dimples and all, he kindly returned my gesture before turning us into a hallway marred with stone rose vines. There was an abrupt and rounded dead end ahead of us, but Charlie seemed unphased as he continued onward. With the press of a button, an elevator made itself present and I was speechless to the revelation.

'This is new.'

"Ladies first."

I stepped onto the elevator with Charlie finding it just roomy enough to fit about 6 people. Charlie pressed the only button the elevator held and it began to rise, pinging as it ascended each level. I held my breath and closed my eyes as the doors opened. I couldn't help but be reminded of all the times I had been in this very predicament.

'The unending anticipation of pre-decorated walls waiting for my personal touch.

A bed; that is quite too large for my small stature, dressed in whatever arrangement my mother sat hours deciding on...

A story would be told later as a tasteless treat on how my room was put together.

The story of how they built my temporary dollhouse.'

My somber thoughts were interrupted as my ears erupted from the greetings of the ten or more women in my bedroom. The walls were a pale but dusked blue with elegant cream trim. The ceilings were tall and domed while the space was large and free. An oak wood canopied bed adorned with flowy cream drapes stood against a wall to the far right of my room. While pairings of vanities, wardrobes, and dressers encapsulated the space of the soft slate flooring. There was a single enormous ceiling to floor window that doubled as a wall covered in curtains save for the balcony door.

This place didn't need my opinion or my permission to be called beautiful, it just was. "Everyone this is Ambrosia, the new lady of the house. Ambrosia, these are your maintenance servants. These young ladies handle your appearance requirements for everyday living, or it can just be for special occasions. Either way, they still get paid to treat you every day so you might as well use them." Charlie gained a witty aura to him that seemingly suited him and explained the character his mustache helped present.

I turned to this team of women and wanted to dissipate like smoke, but I was not made of its elements. "Hello and thank you for accepting me, it is truly is a pleasure to meet you all." I offered them a small smile and they all responded, some with giggles and others with cheerful looks. When I noticed not one of them gave me a look of doubt, I knew that they were either easily deceived or smart enough to go along with my vibe. Either way, I was happy they didn't comment on my clear discomfort.

"Oh, she is beautiful Charlie! She will be easy work for us." The small woman who looked to be in her early 20's came up to me and flitted through my hair before sliding her hand down my face. It took everything in me not to shy away from her touch even as she carried on, giggling at my timid expression. "My name is Zara. I am the leader of your whole styling team, you can tell me how you desire to feel and I'll make you look it. Though for today; since it is a special occasion, your new mother decided your outfit. Any questions?"

Zara's eyes were grey as slate, her long wavy hair was as brown as dirt, and she was as skinny as a twig. All of her features including her olive-toned skin made me wonder if she was crafted from the garden. The warmth of her touch confirmed she was as real as anyone else in this world.

I shook my head and allowed her to pull me into a bathroom where more women poured in after us. "We're gonna have you smelling better than any royal has ever dared, and looking more beautiful than any Duchess that has ever lived. Oh, I am Miranda by the way," A blonde hazel-eyed woman who looked to still be in her teen years approached me. Miranda held a basket in her hand while two others started to fill the club-footed bath. I gave her a small smile and nodded keeping my lips firmly shut.

"Don't worry dear; just think of it as a spa treatment, we won't bite," Zara said while looking at me with laugh lines in her eyes. She was the first person to finally notice my facade.

"If you say so."

Zara gave me a big smile then and confidently stated. "I know so." She handed me a robe and lead me to get undressed.

           Everything was moving along smoothly. Once undressed they scrubbed, massaged, and oiled my body till I gave off a healthy glow from head to toe. They proceeded to wash, trim, and style my hair. An intricate pattern of finger waves and a braided bun that rested on the back of my neck had been formed. I watched as they wound the ends of my braid around my neck forming an elegant collar of hair.

My twin hairstylists Britney, and Xhopie kept going on endlessly about how my wavy locks were naturally pitch-black and how unusual it was. My make-up artist Zoey, echoed their endless rain of fancies with how much she adored my heart-shaped face and deep amber-brown eyes. All of them carrying on about how I looked to be made of porcelain so my perfectly plump lips and youthful skin could go with any color. I was overdue for an eye roll, but I knew there'd be war and heartbreak so I continued smiling and extending my thanks.

I had been clothed in what seemed to be some pointlessly expensive white asymmetrical, off-shoulder dress that stopped just shy of my collar bones. The dress was snug to my frame and flared at the bottom with a slit through the side. I knew from the look of it I would be taking part in some very unwanted partying. "Um, I know this question might seem a little a bit poorly timed, but why am I so formal?" Everyone paused.

"Well, from what they told us they are throwing you a welcome to the family party. All their family members will be present, so they expect you to look like a centerpiece." I nodded to Zara, not asking any more questions as my make-up artists applied their itchy products to my face.

            My stylists stood back away from me before placing me in front of an elegant full body mirror. I stared at my reflection trying to figure out where I had gone and what poor girl's beauty I had stolen. Charlie came marching into my room smiling like a young man who found some priceless jewel. "You look magnificent."

I felt my cheeks heat, and I lowered my head trying not to show my clear bashfulness. "Thank you, Charlie"

He chuckled and offered me his arm which I took so he could lead me to my new family. "We will be unfashionably late I'm afraid, but I think they'll let it slide when they see what took so long." I was aware my dressing had taken quite a while to complete, but I remained unaware of just how much time had passed? "It is 2:22 pm, the party has already begun."

To think I had been so impatient on meeting my new family only to be the one to keep them waiting. I began to panic as I hoped that this wouldn't deter their view of me. This was the very last family I would be fostered by until I turn 18 years of age. Once I turn 18 I will age out of the foster system and be left to rule my kingdom... Alone... The corners of my lips descended as I weighed in on how much I truly needed this family to want me.

"Oh, if you don't quit your pouting and place another one of those charming smiles on your face! I think I might have to take you back to your room." Charlie stated to me while giving me a stern bug-eyed stare before whisking me out of the elevator. I laughed genuinely for the first time since arriving at this new home and let Charlie briskly drag me along. Lights blinded me as we stepped into a wide-open space but I instantly felt as if I were being watched everywhere.

"The guest of honor has officially arrived. Her royal highness in the flesh, Queen Ambrosia Zxia'lori Vignette." Charlie announced me to a lively crowd of people who I greeted with a generic smile plastered on my face. Everyone here came from the power you could see it. Men were tall, handsome, and well-trimmed. Women were goddess-like with coldness hidden in their eyes. There was only one man who broke the silence and came up to me with the warmest smile.

"Hello, Ambrosia. I am Thomas Vector, and I will be your father-in-law. It is very nice to meet you, Son!" I deadpanned.

'Father in law?!'

"Wha-" A tall and lean young man who looked to be no older than 20 made his way to us. His hair was a wild and devilish platinum gold, his emerald-eyes glittered with amusement, and the smile that curved, and enhanced his artistically crafted jawline was pure mischief.

"Hello, Ambrosia. I am Fabian Vector III and I am pleased to finally meet you, my fiance." If I didn't have all this makeup on, I would look as pale as a ghost with my eyes as wide as saucers. Though I found my voice to be working just fine.

"Excuse me, but may someone please explain what's going on?" The room erupted in male chuckles and feline giggles. Fabian gave me a broad smile that seemed almost proud as he held out his arm.

"Why yes, we can actually." I felt the strong need to decline his offer but my need for clarity won over me. I gently slid my hand into the crook of his arm and watched as his smile grew larger. Fabian and his father exchanged a glance with some bonus chuckles as they led me out of the party hall.

           We arrived at some sort of lounge space where Seville sat typing away on her laptop. She was dressed in a royal blue side slit gown and her once messy brown hair was now neatly flat-ironed like a pool of silk down her back.

"Ehm... Ms. Seville." Ms. Seville instantly stopped and turned toward the direction of Mr. Thomas's voice.

"Ah! Surprise!" I felt my expression drop scarily and I was practically launching daggers out of my eyes. Seville clutched her sides as if she were shivering in fear. "If looks could kill-"

"What do you mean by 'surprise'?" I knew my voice held acid, and I had completely let go of my facade and Fabian's arm. I paced over to Ms. Seville and I wanted answers as she rose from her seat.

"Okay, maybe this wasn't such a great idea." She looked over my shoulder to Thomas who stood with an amused look on his face while Fabian looked as if he were patiently waiting for something to happen.

"No, this is how it was to be done." I turned to the new feminine voice and my eyes landed on a feline-like woman. She had it all; literally, high cheekbones, pale blonde almost bleached white hair that flowed well passed her derriere, and sapphire gems for eyes. Her body all was curves and athletic. One could tell she had more than a few modifications done because she just looked like she had fallen from the heavens, cast out by the gods who made her.

"Hello, Ambrosia. I am Elaine Vector, your mother-in-law. It is nice to meet you." She extended her hands forward for an inviting hug while flashing me an angelic smile and I flinched.

"Hello Mrs. Vector; not that I mean to be rude, but may you please explain the reason why I am your daughter-in-law?"

Elaine laughed dryly at me. "Does it matter? Come on, just look at my son." Elaine pulled at Fabian's black tie, tightening it before sliding her hands down the folds of his posh midnight black suit, to lay them back. "Isn't he handsome?"

I nearly gawked at her, but Ms. Seville's musical laugh distracted me. "She is not much of a joker Elaine, you must forgive her because I don't think she will respond to that question in a way that you would like." Elaine pouted but gave a small nod.

"Then you explain; please be quick, I want to show her off." Elaine exited the room going back to the party while the two men still stood before me. I turned to Seville who had an apologetic smile on her face.

"Ambrosia let me start off by saying, I am completely and one hundred percent sorry." I wanted to beyond laugh at that statement. "Ambrosia the agency you were put through/the agency that I work for is a special case program. When you were pulled from your mother after she had been killed in that terrible boating accident with your father... You became the sole heir to the Vignette throne on that very day."

I nodded my head. "I know this already; what I'm trying to find out is, why am I being married against my will?" Seville gave a tight-lipped smile to my words almost as if they amused her.

"Well, you see. According to your father's will and a few other legal documents. You were promised/engaged to Mr. Fabian Dominic Vector III since before birth as a partnering deal of their companies and a union of their houses. Concluding that if anything ever happened to your father after all agreements, the Vectors would have succeeded your father's fortune using you as the business tie. On paper; before you were born, you were married to the man standing behind you. Also due to your parent's death it became immediately finalized and irreversible. You can say it was their way of making sure you were in great hands." When she noticed I was wasn't responding she went on.

"You were put through the system to be fostered by your father's business partners and advisers that he trusted to take care of you. That is until you could come here at age 17 to begin planning your wedding to Fabian. They didn't want you to grow up in the Vector household because then you would treat each other as siblings so it was not permitted." Seville let out a long breath, and I was lost.

"It is now my job to see that you get properly married by your 18th birthday, and you cannot deny it in any way shape or form. Unless of course... Nothing. Fabian, as of two years ago cut off every tie with any lover or mistress he's ever had and is on a tight leash. Meaning all that's left is the engagement ring. Fabian."

Fabian came over to me and switched places with Ms. Seville. He got down on one knee in front of me while giving me Prince Charming's smile, and all I could do was look at him while holding back my rage. He held the stupid ring in front of my face spewing pointless words, from his pointless mouth, and I'd just about had enough. "No!" I smacked the ring from his hand and kicked off the painful strappy pumps from my feet and fled.

I heard them calling after me but I was in a blur, my mind was in a knot, and I just was not there.

'This was not what I wanted.'