CLAIRE
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your flight attendant speaking. We're beginning our descent and will be landing shortly. Please make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened, all electronic devices are in airplane mode, and your seats are in their upright position.
"We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for flying with us. We hope you've had a comfortable and enjoyable flight."
There was something about the air around me that felt weird as soon as the announcement was made that we were about to hit the L.A soil. I had no idea what it was all about, and I was eager to find out.
There was a sudden clench in my stomach as soon as I felt the gentle thud under my feet that hinted that the plane had touched the ground.
I was home!
As soon as the plane came to an abrupt stop, I clutched my purse with one hand, and with the other, I reached out for my daughter, the five year old sitting beside me.
I slipped my shades on as soon as I got out of the plane and the sun hit my eyes.
Five years ago today, they had been at this airport with a broken heart, and today, I was back here.
I must confess that there had been a significant change since the last time I was here, but still, everything felt the same, the air, the sun, the aura. It was as if I never left.
"You must be Miss Anderson." A deep masculine voice cut into my thoughts.
I looked up to see a man in a crisp blue suit standing in front of me, he had his hair styled professionally. He must be the chauffeur.
"Yes." I nodded.
"Your ride is here." He informed me.
I looked down at my daughter, Mia Anderson. Yes, I had given her my last name.
"Let's go." I told her gently.
Our things were moved into the trunk, and in the next moment, we were both sitting side by side at the back seat of the limousine sent by the modelling agency to pick me up from the airport.
I used the time to comfort my daughter who was staring out of the window with a long face abs her arms folded across her chest.
She never wanted to move over here, she was going to miss her old friends, her school, her old life. I never wanted to take all of those away from her either, but there was one very important thing, my revenge.
I planned to take my revenge within a year and return back to London like nothing happened, it had been meticulously planned and if nothing got in my way, a year was enough to finish off everything.
"I promise you, Mia, it won't take up to a year and we won't be back in London, I promise you."
My words seemed not to do much to assuage her.
"You would eventually do whatever you please, so don't try to coax me." She snapped at me, still keeping her eyes glued to the window.
That was the last conversation we had in the car until the limousine pulled up in front of the mansion that had been given to me for starters by the modelling agency, a clean SUV was parked in the parking lot.
This was going to be my new home from now on, at least, for the duration of the time I would carry out my revenge.
A quick rundown of what my life had been like in the past five years.
With Richard's help, I settled in really well in London, I got introduced to some friends who made things a lot easier for me, especially with my pregnancy.
I had my baby a couple of months later, though in a premature state, but she eventually turned out well.
I pursued a successful modelling career after I had my baby. It's been five years and I've thrived. And with Richard's help, I was able to secure a partnership with a modelling agency in L.A. That was all part of my plot.
"Miss Claire." A young blonde who I assumed should be a little but past teenaged age hurried out of the house.
"Welcome home, ma'am, I would like to get your bags." I nodded my head as she went over to the trunk to pick up the heavy bags.
"Let mommy help you hold that." I told Mia as we walked into the house, referring to her small backpack.
"No! I can hold my own bag." She snapped at me.
I did a quick survey on the house with my eyes as we walked in. It is safe to say that the house offered to me was one of the finest in the city.
It had been furnished beautifully to meet the taste of any high classed individual, however, I had a problem with the colours of some of the furniture. I made a mental note to change it as soon as I settled in.
The day progressed with Mia and I trying to settle into the house with the help of the young housekeeper who introduced herself as Ashley.
But the day was not for resting on my own part.
I had earlier emailed the agency to inform them of my arrival and we had agreed to sign the contract the next day.
But there were other engagements today.
As if in sync with my thoughts, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." I told Ashley who was already hurrying to the door.
"Miss Anderson?" The delivery man asked.
"You have a delivery."
I quickly signed and took the delivery to my room and opened it eagerly, already knowing who it was from.
My mouth dropped open as soon as I retrieved the contents of the delivery box.
There was a stunning black dinner gown in the box, accompanied by a note that read "wear this".
My lips curved into a smile.
Did he really have to be so formal?
In the next hour, I had washed up and changed into the elegant dress and was standing in front of the huge mirror to admire my physique.
The dress was a sleek evening dress made of luxurious silk fabric.
The dress had an open back that hung low just above my hips and the fitted floor-length design hugged my body in all the right places, accentuating my curves.
I smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
I had just finished brushing my hair to fall over my shoulders in loose curls when my onions dinged with a notification.
"I'm downstairs." Richard.
"I would be right there in no time." I texted back with a smile on my face.
"I'm perfect." I told myself as I grabbed my purse and walked downstairs.
"Richard was waiting for me by the door."
"And look who we have here." He exclaimed.
His eyes ran over my entire frame, taking in my features, not in a lustful manner, but in a way that hints at admiration.
"And look who has grown beautiful over the years." He added and stretched out his hand.
I took it as soon as I reached him. He brought my hand to his lips and planted a kiss at the back of my palm.
"Shall we?"
I nodded brightly.
We had arrived at the venue of the party, and the amount of glamour exuded there was unspeakable.
The entire place reeked of splendour as several colourful people graced the arena.
But I was not here for any of that.
Richard had moved to my side of the door to open the car door for me to step out.
And just like the heavens had served my earnest wish on a platter, a blue Porsche pulled up in front of the venue, just a few meters from ours.
The car was not my concern, but the two people that had just alighted from it.
Jason had just pulled open the car door for Stephanie, and as soon as she stepped out of the car, their both eyes had been moved towards our direction and our eyes locked for a split second.