In one of Sicaster Broadcasting Company's many offices, Charlotte is gloating. Most of her colleagues are gone because it is lunch hour, leaving her free to indulge in her sadistic glee.
It is rather delightful to see how the media is attacking Raylen Vale as a spoilt, heartless, irredeemable, and philandering man who cheats on the mother of his only two children. Moreover, he is clearly not the least apologetic about it given how he has made a mockery of the press conference.
He has gone from being one of Sicaster's most beloved darlings to its public enemy number one seemingly overnight.
Charlotte is especially delighted that she has played a part in the ruination of his reputation. After all, it is his odd response to her question that the media is obsessing over.
But this is not enough. Far from it.
She is not completely satisfied yet. How can she be? A reputation in tatters is obviously not a harsh enough punishment for taking a life.
Moreover, Raylen Vale does not seem like someone who cares that much about what others think of him. The media attention may annoy him, but it's unlikely to bother him much.
She wants him to hurt.
But if she is completely honest with herself, she is not sure how to carry out the next step of her revenge. She knows she needs to get closer to him if she wants to truly get under his skin, but there are no job openings at his company that allow for such proximity.
At least, there were none when she last checked a week ago. She is beginning to feel foolish for checking every week for the past few months. It seems like she is not doing anything except depending on luck.
She is also too poor to meet him outside of work. They do not frequent the same places and are not invited to the same events. They belong to two different worlds. Likewise, Delaney did not belong in Raylen's world.
Deep in thought, Charlotte nibbles her pencil and hugs her knees.
As she mulls over her lack of options, Bethany returns quietly to the office.
She is trying to be subtle by wearing a large jacket, but Charlotte immediately notices the little black dress she is wearing underneath.
The little black dress and the black stilettos. And a bracelet of what appears to be diamonds.
'Bethany,' thinks Charlotte as she admires her colleague, 'is vastly overestimating the masking capability of that jacket if she thinks it's hiding how hot she can be.'
"Beth," she calls out, surprising her colleague. Bethany flinches a little and drops her folder as if she expects the office to be empty. When she turns to face Charlotte, she looks… guilty.
"Oh, Charlotte!" she replies with a slight shake in her voice as she reaches for her papers on the floor. When she bends down, Charlotte catches sight of something sparkling around her neck. "I didn't see you just now," Bethany adds. "You're really so small."
Charlotte's lips curve into half a smile. This is something she hears a lot. Delaney was petite as well. "I am small, yes. It is easy for me to hide."
"You are," Bethany repeats with a little laugh.
She seems more relaxed than she was a couple of seconds ago. Charlotte takes this as a sign to continue the conversation. "Where were you this morning? I didn't see you around."
"Ah, I took a half day leave. I had something else to do."
Her lack of elaboration only makes Charlotte more curious. It seems rather odd to go on a date on a weekday morning. "Can I know what you had to do or is this something you prefer to keep private…?"
Bethany is silent for a few moments. Then she sighs and says, "Well, it is not anything particularly private, but I hope you won't spread it either. I just interviewed for another job."
"Another job?" asks Charlotte as she eyes Bethany from head to toe. "I thought you went on a date or something. You're dressed so prettily."
"Hahaha, no, I didn't go on a date. But I do thank you. I had a hard time deciding what to wear." Bethany beams at her. "It's a special job, you see. I thought I should try to look my best."
"A special job?" prompts Charlotte, already worried that Bethany is going to find her nosy. Luckily, she does not seem to mind.
"Yes, a special job. It's a PR role at Vale Enterprises."
"Oh?" Charlotte tries her best to hide her sudden interest and surprise. "No wonder you're dressed so well. I wish you all the best."
"Thank you. You should consider applying there as well. It will certainly pay better than this place." To Charlotte's relief, Bethany no longer appears guarded.
"I'll think about it," replies Charlotte even though she knows that she does not, in fact, need to think about it. She's secretly thanking her lucky stars while trying to swallow her guilt.
Bethany is so open with her that she feels bad for assuming that she is out to seduce Raylen. She still thinks that Bethany is overdressed for an interview for what seems like a normal office job, but surely Raylen is not personally interviewing the candidates.
This only adds to the general guilt that has been lingering at the back of Charlotte's mind. Even though she has been doing it for months, she still finds it so strange to form relationships with Delaney's face and Janus's name.
She knows why she is feeling guilty. At the end of the day, she is lying to everyone she meets in Sicaster except for Marianne by masquerading as someone else.
Where is the real Charlotte supposed to be and go? Home? She can't stand that haunted place. School? There are so many people who know her as Charlotte Sackville-West. Work? These people are Janus's colleagues, not hers.
Besides, the real Janus Allister died as a baby twenty-one years ago.