Brianna smiled at me from where she stood at the podium, the microphone poised confidently in her hand. Her eyes, though framed by a practiced sweetness, gleamed with unmistakable malice that sent an icy wave of dread coursing through me.
I forced a strained smile, desperately trying to mask the growing nervousness that churned in my stomach. My pulse raced as my fingers tightened around the stem of the champagne flute.
What the hell is she up to now? I wondered, my glare fixed on her as she met my eyes with a saccharine tilt of her head.
"I'm pretty sure by now, you're all wondering what it is I'm up to…" Brianna's voice rang out, light and airy, yet each word felt like a needle pricking at my skin.
I fisted my free hand, trying to ground myself as whispers rippled through the crowd. Brianna's gaze flicked back to me, her smile widening as though she was feeding on my discomfort.
"Well, don't worry. I'm here to clear up everything." Her voice carried an edge of glee as she pointed directly at me, her expression morphing into something almost triumphant.
The room seemed to tilt for a moment as the weight of her words hung in the air. My mind raced, heart hammering against my ribs.
"What is she doing?" Grayson's voice was low and tight beside me, his arm brushing against mine.
"I don't know," I whispered, unable to look away from Brianna.
She leaned closer to the mic, her eyes gleaming like a predator closing in on its prey.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time we all learn who Andrea really is." Brianna said before she glanced at me, "Now who really is Andrea Miller_Sorry_ so sorry, I mean Carter, oopsies…" She said giggling and a light hearted laughter sounded from the crowd.
Brianna sniffed before she glanced at me, "Now who really is Andrea Carter? She's my bestest friend in the whole wide world, my only friend and what do friends do? They stick with each other to the very end."
Her saccharine smile widened, and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"They help each other when the world turns its back on them. They cover for each other when mistakes are made." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "And Andrea? She's the best when helping people. I mean here I was thinking my modeling career will be over but she offered me a contract to come work for her company and I get it, believe me I get it. The competition is fierce these days I mean do you how many contracts my manager has to deal with in a day but I decided to help Andrea, why? Because she's my best friend and what do best friends do, they help each other and oh, oh, they are also the best when it comes to sharing things with each other." Brianna said and I Iooked around willing someone to collect the microphone from her.
Suddenly, a loud clamor erupted near the entrance, drawing everyone's attention. My breath hitched as I turned, only to see a horde of reporters storming into the hall, cameras flashing and microphones raised like weapons aimed at me.
"What the hell?" Grayson muttered under his breath, his protective grip on my arm tightening.
"No, no, no, no, let them be!" Brianna yelled, "I invited them in, I invited them in to bear witness to the beautiful friendship Andrea and I have. I mean I helped her in finding a husband, I helped her in finding her happily ever after and what do I get in return? A modeling contract!" Brianna laughed and everyone else laughed along with her, failing to recognize the pain that was beneath her voice and in her smile.
Brianna stepped forward hands stretched forward, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for Andrea. The woman who gave me everything I've ever wanted but took away the one happiness I ever had in return!"
A huge murmur went round the room as everyone turned to stare at me. I stood frozen while I heard my father whisper something about where the goddamn securities are and when stuck in a moment like this, I actually do agree.
Where are the goddamn securities when you need one? I asked myself as I forced a smile on my face. Hiking my gown up, I approached Brianna. Everyone parted ways as I approached Brianna who still had that smile on her face as she stretched her hand with the microphone.
"Oh Brianna…" I collected the microphone before she dragged me in for a hug.
"You will get what's coming to you bitch!"
To anyone else, it might look like a heartfelt embrace between best friends, but to me, it feels like a bittersweet farewell—her arms are a shield, if only for a moment, before she casts me out to face the ravenous wolves of the reporters.
Clearing my throat, I stared at the reporters who were busy clicking rapidly. "As you all know_" My voice sounded steady and I was grateful for it, "It isn't proper for you guys to be present here. I'm quite sure you are all aware that a press conference will be held tomorrow at the company but since you are all here, what the hell? Am I right?" I asked with a nervous laughter.
The silence I received in return was deafening, save for the camera flashes that kept going off. It was too bright and the effect was a migraine that was starting to form in my head. But still I smiled and decided to keep going.
"Can…can we have the first question then?"
"Is it true you offered Brianna a ten million dollar contracts?" One female reporter yelled.
I swallowed but nodded my head at her in agreement. "Yes, we did and Brianna accepted which is our greatest ple…."
"Is that money truly for a contract or payment for her to console her after stealing her fiancé?" A male reporter threw at me.
My gaze snapped to him and all the cameras went off again, "I will suggest you refrain from writing such assumptions?"
"Or what?" another one yelled, "Get daddy to take down our articles?" Someone else yelled again.
Frowning I glanced down at the reporters, "Seriously who are you people?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.
More camera flashes went off, "Do you honestly think it's fair to award a ten million dollar contract to Brianna while the rest of your models get less?"
"No, I do not think…" I tried to speak but I got cut off again.
"How do your models feel about this?"
"Did you even ask them?
"Is that the reason why they weren't invited to this party?'
"How does Grayson feel about all of this?"
"Do you make him happy?"
"Heard he can't stand your touch since he still misses Brianna an there are sightings of him still visiting Briana's mother at the hospital? Does he consider her mother more family than yours will ever be to him?"
The questions were too much, way too much for me. The noise, the flashes, people's murmurs and the fucking migraine in my head. I couldn't take It, I couldn't take it at all! It was all too much for me. Darkness begin to dance in my eyes and I felt my legs start to get shaky beneath me.
Next thing I know, I was falling down and then darkness descended entirely, along with blissful silence.
***
The first thing I noticed was the golden morning light filtering through the windows, casting soft patterns on the floor. A groan escaped my lips as I blinked against the brightness, the sunlight bleeding through the flimsy curtains like liquid gold. I shifted, attempting to sit up, but froze as an unfamiliar pressure pinned me in place—a strange, constricting sensation that set my heart racing.
I turned my head only to see that my wrist had been handcuffed to the bed frame!
"What the fuck?" I cursed out loud.
"Good, you are finally awake!"
A voice startled me and I turned only to see Grayson sitting on the chair. He was still dressed in yesterday's clothing. His hair was unruly and he was just still putting on his dress shirt but his tie hung loosely around his neck.
"Grayson what are you doing?"
Grayson's bloodshot eyes locked onto mine, a storm of unspoken words brewing behind them. My gaze drifted to the half-empty bottle of whiskey teetering precariously on the edge of the table, its amber contents catching the faint light like a sinister beacon.
"I'm only going to ask you this once_" He said in a hoarse voice as he leaned forward in his seat, "Who the fuck are you?"
***
So, anyone want to actually leave a comment on my book? Just to know if anyone is reading please? Anyone?