One Warning

Chapter 1

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I straighten the last strand of hair and apply the last coat of lipgloss, making sure the mask I wear over my natural face everyday is perfect. 'Appearance is everything,' mother always said.

I notice a chip in my finger nail polish and I frown. I grab the polish from my drawer and swipe the brush over my index finger, the little imperfection now gone. "Perfect."

My family uses that word a lot. 'Perfect.' Us Wilson's, are the perfect family, with the perfect life. Or so everybody seems to think.

I stand up and wrap my robe around myself heading downstairs for breakfast. I grab a plate and a muffin. I sit down at the table watching my dad talk through his Bluetooth to his assistant.

"No Mark, I specifically told you those papers needed to be signed and put on my desk by six o'clock this morning! No later than that!" My father ends the call, taking the Bluetooth out of his ear and slamming it down on the counter. "How hard is it to find a decent assistant around here!"

I flinch at the sound of his voice and he looks at me. "Oh Scarlett, good morning. I didn't see you there, sorry." Story of my life. I send him a small smile, while mother hurries into the kitchen shoving things in her purse.

"Hello, darling. I've got to run, we are making more signs for your campaign and I've got to talk to your speech writer. He is such a mess you know! He just-"

"Honey, calm down. I'll talk to him just worry about the signs, okay?" She nods and he kisses her cheek. She looks at me and frowns.

"Scarlett, stop slouching and what did I tell you about eating that junk for breakfast?" She grabs my plate and throws the food away. She goes to the fridge and pulls out a green colored smoothie.

"Drink this, it's your detox smoothie." She pulls out the weight loss pills from her purse and hands me two. "Almost forgot about these." She forces a smile and pinches my cheek. "Now go change into the outfit I laid out for you."

She is your mother and you love her. I repeat over and over to refrain from rolling my eyes. I fake a smile, mutter an "Okay, mother," and head up to my room.

This is how it always is. 'Eat good, look good.' But with my father running for another term as governor, everything is tenth-fold. I look at the outfit she laid out and roll my eyes. Long, navy, work trousers that tie around the waist layout on the bed with a low cut, tan, silk tank top.  I put them on and look in the mirror. Well, I can't complain, it looks cute at least. Of course mother picked out the tightest pants for me to wear. Leave it to her to use the women's body to show off cleavage and a nice behind to gain votes.

I slip on the nude high heels and pick up my phone, calling one of my best friends. "Hey, Rach. You ready to go?"

"Yeah! Just waiting for you girl." Rachel chirps, too happy for me to care for in the mornings as always.

"Okay be there in a minute!" I slip on a silver necklace with a matching bracelet set. I hurry downstairs grabbing my bag and chug the smoothie with the pills.

I cough and squint my eyes. "That was awful! My goodness.."

I grab my keys and drive around the block to pick up Rachel. She hops in my black Range Rover and smiles. "Hey gorgeous."

She winks and flips her hair behind her shoulder. "Hey, so question. When you give your speech today at the assembly, is there anyway you can kick Julie off of singing the National Anthem so I can do it?"

I laugh as I drive down the road. "Rach, did no one tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Julie has been at home for the passed two days with the chicken pox. Of course you can do it, wouldn't want anyone else to sing the words of our countries song, by my side." She smiles proudly and sits up straighter.