Below is Chapter Six of Social Media Deception, following Rita's story after she connected with Eunice an ex-contestant who
Rita stared at her phone screen, heart pounding. Eunice had replied:
"Meet me at the café on Cedar Street tomorrow. It's safer to talk in person."
Questions swirled in Rita's mind. Why so cautious? Why not just tell me online? Yet a sense of resolve steadied her trembling nerves. If anyone could confirm or dispel her growing suspicions, it was Eunice.
An Unexpected Encounter
The next afternoon, Rita slipped into the café—a cozy spot with warm lights and the scent of fresh pastries. She scanned the tables until she spotted a young woman in a simple blouse, dark braids framing a serious face. The woman raised a hand tentatively.
"Eunice?" Rita asked, approaching her table.
She nodded, gesturing for Rita to sit. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry if my messages seemed dramatic, but you need to understand how careful we have to be."
Rita's chest tightened. "What do you mean?"
Eunice exhale, leaning in. "They watch. They monitor. Last year, I was a finalist, or so they told me. I paid fees, bought outfits…spent more money than I'd ever planned. But when the big day came, everything vanished—no final show, no announcements, just a silent Instagram page. And they blocked me when I started asking questions."
A Painful Truth
Rita's stomach churned. "You're sure there was no real pageant? Maybe it got postponed?"
Eunice gave a sad laugh. "I tried to believe that too. But once I started digging, I found more victims. People who never saw a dime of the prize money. Some got threats when they demanded refunds. Others were told to pay more for 'processing' or 'travel costs.'"
The words sank into Rita's heart, each one a blow to her hopes. She thought of her own payments: 500 cedis gone, and now they wanted 300 more. She remembered her mother's worried eyes, her father's warnings, Kwame's teasing-turned-concern. Were they all right from the start?
A History of Silence
Eunice took a sip of her iced tea. "I tried exposing them online, but they'd shut down accounts or create new ones under slightly different names. They're slippery, always a step ahead. Some contestants gave up. Others were too embarrassed to admit they'd been scammed."
Rita pressed a hand to her temple, a dull ache forming. "I can't believe I almost fell for it. This was my dream."
A gentle sympathy shone in Eunice's eyes. "I know. It was mine too. But you have to walk away, Rita. They'll keep stringing you along as long as you keep paying. They'll promise you the moon."
Doubts and Determination
They spoke for nearly an hour, Eunice recounting how her own family had discovered too late that the entire pageant was a fraud. The longer Rita listened, the more anger and shame welled within her. How could they prey on people's ambitions so easily?
At last, Eunice stood, pulling on her bag's strap. "I'm sorry to bring you bad news. But I'd rather you know now than lose more money or face more heartbreak."
Rita rose as well, swallowing the bitter taste of disillusionment. "Thank you. I… I need to figure out how to handle this."
"You'll do the right thing," Eunice said softly. "And you're not alone. If you decide to fight back, there are others who will stand with you."
An Urgent Message
When Rita returned home, her head still spun from Eunice's revelations. She locked herself in her bedroom, ignoring Kwame's curious gaze from across the hallway. Heart pounding, she pulled out her phone.
"Time to end this," she murmured, opening the chat with Sunshine Pageantry.
But before she could type, a new message appeared:
"Rita, we're concerned you haven't paid the final fee. We must finalize your spot soon. Otherwise, we may have to choose another contestant. Please respond ASAP."
Rita stared at the text, her emotions a storm of betrayal and anger. They're probably sending this to countless hopefuls, all while planning to vanish again.
Taking a deep breath, she typed:
"I have questions about your organization. I spoke to a former contestant. Why did last year's finalists never receive prizes or a final show?
She hesitated a moment, then pressed send. Her thumb hovered over the screen. A swirl of fear, fury, and determination flooded her.
A Reckoning Ahead
Late into the night, Rita paced her room, phone silent and unmoving. She knew she'd likely get either a dismissive response or no answer at all. Yet a strange calm settled over her.
She recalled Eunice's parting words: "If you decide to fight back, there are others who will stand with you."
A fight was coming—she could feel it. But for once, she wasn't afraid of losing a false dream. She was ready to protect herself, her family's trust, and anyone else who might be duped by the illusions of Sunshine Pageantry.
As the city lights dimmed, Rita lay down with a new resolve: she would not be just another silent victim. If there was one thing she had gained from this nightmare, it was the courage to speak out, no matter the cost.