My dad works for a big non-profit organization, and every year they have an elaborate gala fundraiser at a hotel in the city to help raise money. Now that I finally turned eighteen, I am allowed to volunteer at this year's gala. I have always wanted to go because of the pictures from the event. It is a magical night with tons of local celebrities and rich people in attendance. Everyone dresses in gowns and tuxedos. I feel like Cinderella, finally getting a chance to go to the ball.
I pick out a dress with my mom. It's a strapless knee length cocktail dress in black sequins. The sequins are a little scratchy, but I am willing to endure the discomfort to get to pretend I'm rich for an evening.
Daddy and I get a room at the hotel that his work paid for. We will be one of the last groups to leave so it makes sense that we should stay in the city and not try to drive home.
The hotel room is spectacular. A big lush bed in the bedroom and a fresh vase of flowers on the table in the adjoining sitting room.
I sit on the edge of the big bed and bounce a bit, feeling the quality of the mattress. I would lay down, but don't want to mess up my carefully curled hair before the event.
"Where do I sleep?" I ask my Dad as he puts away our overnight bags and checks his appearance in the bathroom mirror. My Dad is in his early forties and still very handsome. He has gray at his temples, but a full head of thick hair. We have the same twinkling blue eyes and wrong sense of humor that gets us both into trouble all the time. He's a cool dad and I'm lucky we're so close.
"There's a pullout couch in the other room," he answers. He sees my pout in the mirror. "We could always snuggle together," he suggests with a shrug and a wink.
"Eww. As if I would let you put your cold feet anywhere near me." I laugh as he makes a face at me.
"Let's get going before guests start arriving."
***
The party is everything I imagined and more. I dance non-stop between helping put out the silent auction items and then handing out fancy party favors. My dad even lets me sip from his drink before eventually getting me my own whiskey and coke which I down and ask for another.
I am having a blast and I feel fantastic.
The night winds down and I help with the clean up. My dad hands me one more drink with a wink.
"You did great tonight, peanut. How about heading up to our room and waiting for me. I need to chat with these potential donors before they leave."
I take my drink and the keycard and leave my dad to go chat with some serious looking rich dudes. I notice them watching me as I head towards the elevators. One of the men nods in my direction and I smile at him. He smiles back.
I make it back to the room and toss my heels in a corner before downing the rest of my drink and plopping down on the bed. I'm suddenly exhausted. That was a long evening and I had way more to drink than the usual few sips I'm allowed at any other grownup event. The whiskey is definitely going to my head. I lay back and close my eyes ignoring the spinning sensation.
The door to the room opens and I startle. I must have fallen asleep on the bed. My limbs are super heavy and I'm having trouble sitting up.
"Peanut? You in here?" My dad's voice comforts me. He flips on the television before muting it. The light of the screen illuminates the room without hurting my eyes and I'm grateful.
I turn my head towards the bathroom and see my dad stripping off the tuxedo, leaving his undershirt and pants on.
I want to ask him if he wants me to move to the pullout couch but my mouth is having trouble forming words. I must have drank too much.
"Hey peanut. You feeling okay?"
I groan a little. No. I'm not okay. I drank way too much.
"It's okay sweetie. I put a little something in your drink to help you relax." My dad strokes my cheek as I struggle to comprehend what he said. He drugged me? He continues to caress my face and neck and dips down to my cleavage. "You've grown into such a beautiful woman."
I close my eyes and feel tugging on my legs. I'm being pulled to the edge of the bed. My dad reaches under my skirt and removes my pantyhose.