His Drama Queen

Nicole Vargas

"That's a lot of money, Nicole!" My dad looked displeased at me as he opened his bank account and saw how much money I had spent. "For all I know, you have everything you need. Why do you need to keep on buying stuff?!"

"Papai, I don't!" I muttered looking down at my perfectly polished toes. "It's only sixty-five thousand real."

"Only sixty-five thousand! Are you out of your mind?! That's a lot of money!" he seethed angrily. "Give me your credit card. You will not buy anything for the next two weeks!"

"But dad...," I whined, tears brimming. This can't be happening right now. Not when the big ball approaches. "I need to buy a dress for the elite ball next week. And shoes. And makeup!"

"You have a whole store with shoes, clothes, and makeup in your room. You even have three walk-in closets. Choose something you already have."

"But it will be so out of style, Dad. Please let me use it for this once. I promise I will not spend that much anymore." I pleaded.

He shook his head. "You already said that the last time. And all the other five times. You're twenty-three and graduated, how can you still be so irresponsible?"

"I'm not irresponsible. I can't help but see that everything I see is so alluring. It calls me to buy it. You know it's hard for me to say no."

"Well, you must learn to say no to all the alluring stuff. Only buy what you need. Now, you are dismissed, I have work to do. You don't get your card back."

"But papai---," I cried out.

"No arguments Nicole. I already made my decision. You don't know how to spend money, you don't get your credit card back." he said sternly and pointed his finger at the door. "Now, get out of my office, because I need to earn that sixty-five thousand real back."

I grunted angrily and stomped out of his office. I was so mad at him. He earns that money every fifteen minutes, I don't see what's the big deal. Next week there's going to be a big ball where all the billionaires and their families are going to be. It's a fancy and elite ball and now I don't have anything to wear.

I walked into my bedroom and angrily started to turn on my music, the volume up. Look what you made me do of Taylor Swift blasted in my room and probably through the whole penthouse.

"What is wrong with you, Nicole?" My mom yelled above the music as she barged into my room. "Why are you throwing another tantrum?"

I turned the volume down and huffed. "Dad took away my credit card."

"You spent so much money in three days. What did you expect?" She placed her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow.

"Don't take his side."

"Of course I will. You graduated Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design. Do something with that degree and earn your own money."

I rolled my eyes and plopped down on my king-sized bed. I love Fashion and I loved the field I majored in, but I wasn't feeling like working in Brazil anymore. Everyone knows me since my dad is the CEO of Brazil's most popular hotel and casino chains. The Vargas.

They would only give me the job because I was his daughter and not because of my degree. My dad also asked me a million times why I didn't want to have my boutique, he had the connections to make it a reality.

How much I really wanted it, I didn't want to achieve my success through my parents. I wanted to do my own thing and be successful on my own. But If I stay longer in Brazil, I can't achieve my dreams and my dad isn't ready to let me go yet.

How much I annoyed him and scared the living hell out of him when he saw the amount of money I spent on my shopping trips, he still loved me unconditionally.

"I already told you mamãe, I don't want to open my business here." I sighed, covering my face with my hands. "You know the reason already."

"If it's because of papai then it's a dumb reason. He can't help that he's so well known. Brazil is also a really good place to start your business. You're familiar with the place." Mom reasoned.

"It's not only papai. It's also you, you're a popular artist. Your work is displayed in all art museums." I got up from my bed and faced my mom. "And by the way, I want a challenge."

My mom shook her head disapprovingly. "Dad will not allow you to go out of the country."

"But why?" I just can't understand why he wouldn't let me go. "I'm not a teenager anymore!"

"Good Luck explaining that to him." With that, my mom turned around and walked out of my room. I let out an angry growl and threw my pillows on the ground. I was so frustrated and annoyed. My parents treated me like I was a porcelain doll, that needed to be protected every single minute because she was so fragile.

But I'm not. I'm not a porcelain doll nor am I twelve. I don't know at what age they will stop treating me like I'm a child. Even when I go for a run, I have to take a bodyguard with me. The place where we live is a highly secured neighborhood and you can't enter it without permission. I am their only child and I knew that they wanted the best for me, but this is just too overdone.

I twisted and turned on my bed thinking of ways how to convince my dad that I was a grown-up woman. While the argument between me and my dad played in my head, I fell asleep.

I don't know for how long I have slept, but when I woke up it was already dawn. I yawned and stretched out before jumping out of bed. It was already seven pm and dinner would start soon. During this time my parents were rarely home. My dad was at his office and my mom was either working on her painting in the east wing of the penthouse or she was at the museum. The maids and I were the only ones at home. Most of the time I went shopping, golfing, or swimming. But when it was dinnertime we would all be around the table.

No excuses.

Dinner time was family time. If my dad had a meeting during dinner time, he had to cancel that. Family comes first.

I closed the curtains of my window and walked downstairs. The smell of Feijoada entered my nostrils. "Mmmmh." I hummed as I entered the kitchen. Feijoada was my mom's specialty. It was warm rice with a stew of beans beef and pork. It's commonly prepared in Macau, the place where my mom grew up.

My dad was already seated at the dinner table waiting for his food to be served. Even though we were elites, my dad always preferred a meal prepared by his wife. Even for lunch, he brought food from home that my mom prepared.

"Hey Papa," I seated next to him on the round dining table. "I'm sorry about earlier."

He just nodded. "Good, you're realizing your mistakes."

I smiled stiffly. "So, hmm---," Even though I have asked him this a million times and I know what his answer is going tobe, I still keep on asking him. "Can I move to New York, to start my career as a fashion designer?"

"No!" was his firm answer. "I already told you. I'll not let you out of this country. We don't have anyone in New York who can watch over you."

"I don't need anyone to watch over me. I'm twenty-three, not twelve."

My mom placed the plates with food on the table and my dad reached over to her and planted a kiss on her cheeks. "It smells delicious, querida. You never fail to amaze me with your cooking." My mom blushed at his compliment.

I sighed and started to eat. The food was delicious as always. My mom was good at everything. Painting, cooking, decorating, fashion, and so much more. She was from everything a little bit. Probably that's why my dad fell in love with her. I, on the other hand, was the total opposite of her. The only thing I'm good at is spending money and eating non-stop.

"Can I have my credit card back papai," I asked in a small voice. Maybe he realized how important a dress for the ball is and---

"No!" My dad stated. "I have already told you that. Let's not argue about it anymore."

"Why are you doing this to me?!" My voice raised an octave. "I'm not twelve, I'm twenty-three for god sake!"

"Nicole!" My mom warned sternly.

"Then act like you're twenty-three. You are throwing tantrums like a three-year-old." My dad said calmly.

I hated it when he was acting calm. It made me even more furious.

"That's why you should learn to let me go!" I yelled out and stomped out of the room.

I was so mad. They are treating me like a child and I can't stand it anymore. I needed freedom.

I groaned and kicked my bedroom door shut. What should I do for them to let me go?

Nicole Vargas

"It's so itchy, get it off me!" I yelled out as I fastly unzipped the dress and let it fall on the floor. The rhinestones on this dress were horrible. I didn't even know what it was doing in my closet.

"But Miss, you wore this last year at the Benefit ball. You weren't complaining." My assistant mumbled as she picked up the dress off the ground. "And we already went through thirty-five dresses. You really need to choose, the ball starts in two hours."

I let out a strangled scream as I fell to the ground. This was horrible. I didn't have anything to wear for the ball and yesterday my mom told me that Ethan Gray is also coming to the ball. I haven't seen Ethan in almost five years. After he graduated from high school in Brazil, he moved to England to live with his uncle and aunt. Last year I heard that he was the youngest and most successful CEO in the whole of England. He had quite a reputation there.

"Miss!" My assistant looked down at me and shook her head. "You need to hurry up!"

"I'm not going." I turned on my stomach and tapped with my fingers on the white marble tiles. I don't want to show up in front of Ethan in the last season dress. That would be so embarrassing.

"May I ask why?"

I rolled my eyes at that stupid question. Is she blind? "I don't have anything to wear, can't you see?"

"You have three closets with all kinds of clothes and dresses. What do you even mean?!" My assistant threw her hands in the air out of frustration. "I told you, the blue one fits you perfectly."

"But it's so out of this season." I groaned.

"You never wore it, it will not be bad at all. And the dress is one of a kind."

"Really?" I asked, looking at my assistant. "I didn't know that."

She nodded in confirmation. "Yes, it is one of a kind. That's the only reason you wanted to buy it."

My eyes shifted to the beautiful long blue dress on my bed. It was a charming round-neck blue tulle one-of-a-kind dress. I stood up and touched the material. It was so soft, better than the one with the awful rhinestones.

"Fine." I huffed, turning around to face my assistant. "I'll go."

My assistant let out a breath of relief and immediately pushed me in front of my vanity table. "Sit still, I'll do your hair and makeup quickly!."

She took a handful of my light brown colored hair and started to comb it fast and hard. I bit on my lips to not yell out of pain. After All, with beauty comes pain.

After my hair was done, she worked on my face. I didn't like to have a lot of foundation and primer on, because my face was already smooth enough. I have my own self-made face mask that does a wonderful job of keeping all the acne away and keeping my face fresh and clean.

She sprayed the setting spray on my face and clapped in her hands. "Done, now go put on your dress. You're already fifteen minutes late."

"It's called fashionably late." I stood up from the chair and walked over to my king-size bed to put on my dress. It fitted me like a glove.

"You will be the most beautiful lady at the party!" My assistant hushed excitedly as she spun me around to admire the dress from all different angles and views. "Now, hurry up. The limousine is waiting for you outside!"

I grabbed my diamond clutch stuffed my phone, keys, and hand sanitizer in it, and hurriedly walked downstairs followed by my assistant. Dani, my bodyguard was waiting for me at the door. He gave me a curt nod and opened the door for me. I walked outside and stepped into the limousine.

During the ride, I fixed and reapplied my makeup. I think I should buy a new setting spray because this one is doing an awful job. I groaned inwardly as I applied my highlight for the third time. I picked up the phone next to me to call the driver.

"Good evening Miss Vargas, how can I help you?" His raspy voice asked as he opened the window so I could see the back of his head.

"Is there any cosmetic store open? I need to buy a new setting spray."

"I'm sorry Miss, but no. All stores are already closed."

"Okay, it's fine I will make this work," I muttered and put the phone down. I looked back in the mirror and finished my makeup.

Suddenly the limousine stopped and when I looked outside we were already at the place of destination. Even from outside, I could see that It was crowded with Armani suits and designer dresses. All the rich and first-class people of Brazil were here.

The door at my side opened and I stepped out. Back straightened, chin high, and smile wide. I walked with confidence to the main entrance of the ballroom. When the security saw me they immediately led me in because they recognized me as the daughter of Brazil's most richest and powerful CEO.

When I entered the ballroom, all pairs of eyes were on me. The admiring look on men their faces and the envious look in women their eyes. They were all looking at me as I was making my way towards my parents who were standing in the corner talking to a guy I don't recognize.

His back was faced towards me, but I could tell that he was young and handsome.

"Hey mamãe, Papai." I greeted them with a smile. My mom looked up at me and smiled contently.

"You look stunning." My mom smiled at me and took me into a hug. "I'm so glad you came because I want to introduce you to someone who might help you to fulfill your dreams."

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion at the last part. What does she mean?

I turned around towards the stranger and my breath almost stopped. I gaped openly as I observed his sharp jaw, chin, and cheekbones. On either side of his straight nose were two blazing hazel eyes. Spiked, warm brown fringed with smooth green. His dark brows were actually graceful but currently furrowed in a frown. He was a few inches taller than me and his tousled dark brown hair was glistening in the moonlight illuminating from the window.

He was an eye candy.

A total hottie.

I didn't realize he was greeting me until my mom nudged me from the side. I instantly came back to my senses.

"Good evening Miss Vargas." His voice was deep. He had that rich, silky tone that whenever he spoke, every head in the room would turn.

I smiled kindly at him. Showing off my set of white teeth. "Good evening Mr..." I raised an eyebrow at him because he hadn't introduced himself yet.

"Gray," he said with a small smile.

"Ethan Gray."