Chapter One
Sorsha Mya walked next to her father, Noah Mya, down the red carpet to the shuttle waiting to take them to Pluto for the next campaign. For the past six months, they had traveled from city to city on Earth. Noah wanted to continue in his seat on the Board of Directors where the Laws and Rights of Pluto and Earth were determined.
Every ten years, to remain on the board, Noah had to campaign for his seat in the same manner candidates did for the presidency. For most of her life, Sorsha's father had been on the board. Now that she was almost twenty-one, Sorsha looked forward to getting out since she had given up on her father staying at home and being a father to her. As usual, what made her happy didn't matter. He did what he wanted. Consequently, she was alone most of the time, slightly depressed and, when she wasn't being kept in the background, she was fighting to put a smile on her face for the cameras.
Their large shuttle was the property of the National Government and resembled their private jet, which they used when on personal business on Earth. The shuttle had three distinct areas--the cockpit, two private compartments, and a bathroom for the staff since the private rooms had their own restrooms. Noah preferred the government plane because he and Sorsha had their own area, which was separate from the large one for the staff. Sorsha didn't say a word to anyone. When she boarded the shuttle, she dashed into their compartment, going straight into the bathroom. She could no longer hold back her tears. As the second the door closed behind her, they were falling down her face.
Sorsha wasn't allowed to date. Noah was afraid someone would use her to get to him--a crazy thought, but one her father held onto with all his heart, keeping Sorsha very close to him at all times.
"Sorsha?" Noah knocked on the door, causing Sorsha to jump.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Wavy, auburn hair flowed down to the middle of her back. Her normal sparkling green eyes looked back at her with so much sadness. She had high exotic cheekbones, set in a delicate face, a straight nose and her lips were full with a slight pout to them. With the no-dating rule hanging over her head, Sorsha was labeled as shy when in reality she was withdrawn.
"Sorsha, open the door," her father knocked again, pulling Sorsha from her thoughts.
She splashed some water on her face, giving herself one quick glance in the mirror before turning to unlock the door. Since it was just the two of them, she didn't bother putting a smile on her face.
"We should be on Pluto in about three days." Noah frowned at her as he spoke. "This shuttle goes faster than the rest. I want to be in the hotel a few days before the party." He turned his back on her, walking away, with Sorsha following him, like expected. "I have a dress ordered for you. I'm told it is in the latest fashion for both Pluto and Earth, so you will be looking very elegant. We should only have to stay on the planet for about a week at the most." Noah swung back around to her. "I'm confident I will have their vote just as I have in the past."
Don't cry, don't cry, she told herself.
"I'm sure you will." Sorsha kept her voice even, but inside, she was falling apart. She didn't know how much longer she was going to be able to live like this, always in a crowd but separate and alone.
"Excuse me, sir."
Noah turned to speak with one of his cabinet members, forgetting Sorsha once again. She felt that sense of loss because of how easily he dismissed her from his thoughts. He never saw what was right in front of his eyes, never saw her pain of rejection, her loneliness or the hurt he caused her when he put her out of his mind so quickly. Sorsha often wondered if her mother had been treated the same way.
Sorsha had never known her mother. The woman, who had given birth to her, had died due to complications shortly thereafter. She couldn't help but wonder if that was the reason her father treated her the way he did.
Knowing her father no longer needed her, she went to her side of the room. After pulling the large curtain to separate the room, she pushed the button to extend her bed. Another painful thought came to her as she changed from her clothes into a long white nightgown. Would her father even remember? The night of the big party was also her twenty-first birthday.
Sorsha had given up praying to God. When she was younger, she had prayed all the time, asking God to send her someone who would love her, a knight in shining armor to stand up to her father for her or just be there when she needed a warm body to hold her. Year after year went by with no one showing up, making Sorsha feel both God and her father had abandoned her.
Her watch read midnight. Her father still hadn't come back to the room, not even to tell her good night like he used to. Rolling over onto her side, facing the wall, Sorsha tried to go to sleep, but sleep seemed to be out of the question. This time she knew what was troubling her, and it didn't have everything to do with her father. Sorsha was tired of it all. Tired of his role in the government. Tired of being told what to wear, when to smile, whom to talk to. Most of all, Sorsha was tired of not knowing what it was like to be with a man. She needed to experience life. Her only trouble was how could she tell her controlling father she no longer wanted to be a part of his world but have a life of her own?
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Sorsha has everything except love. Kade has almost given up on finding his bride. When the two meet, they discover how deep love can run.
