Chapter 7 The deepest cut

LYDIA.

Lydia didn't panic, that was her gift.

While everyone else collapse loudly,she learned early on how to fall inward.

She allow the damage to sharpen her, instead of taking over her emotions.

She excused herself from the summit,with a smile still intact. One nobody could tell or ever suspect something is going on within her. Well that was her profession.

In the bathroom, under golden lights, she slammed the door and press the locked button.

Then she leaned against a marble sink, and vented her frustration, she allowed the rage to crawl up her throat. She hate being seen as a liability, instead she rather cried in a close doors than being caught unfresh.

" Leila". She called angrily " that name Keeps frustrating me everywhere. But don't worry I will make you disappear again, a strategic partner?, if I won before why can't I win again". She said as she laugh softly.

" Oh I get it" she whispers to her reflection. "You always get rescued by love, and you did love men who rescue you, hmmm then let's see if he will still love you after this" she added as she pulled out her phone.

One message.

TO UNKNOWN NUMBER: change of plan, let's go back to the old target, she's been detected, let's make her popular.

The reply came instantly.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: finally, I almost get bored. Just say the word, and I promise to deliver without traces.

***

LEILA

I felt it, before I could even understood it.

The shift from people. They worship the money not the person. And memories flash back.

There was a time, when I was a mere shadow but now because of power and influence, am being honour as a princess, life they say is unpredictable.

Power never attack directly, instead it arranges the ground beneath the feet's and waits.

AIDEN hands slipped off my back as investors swarmed over him.

I stood alone for the first time in a crowd full of elites and am being claimed as one of them, not the usual errand girl.

I wasn't trembling rather was full of confidence and unquestionably audacity.

Eyes everywhere.

Some where curious.

Some impressed while some calculating.

" You did well", a woman said softly beside me.

I turned.

A tall fair elegant, blond hair pulled back sharply, her smile was polite, and unreadable.

" I'm mara voss", she said "board advisor".

I smiled back innocently, something in her gaze lingered too long.

Like she was measuring the cost of me.

" Enjoy the night" she added, already walking away. " They don't last".

I swallowed deep, and then left speechless. That cut in deep as a blade, piercing through my skin.

***

By midnight Lydia was back in her penthouse, heels discarded, phone pressed on her ear.

" Release the files", she said calmly.

On the other end, a man hesitated. " Those records are..old",.

She step in "old truths age best". She walked to the window, city lights reflecting in her eyes.

" Make it anonymous, make it believable, make it real. Leila Jones, enjoy the spotlight since you love it so much". She added victoriously.

A pause.

"Lydia", the man called out to her.

" If the frost family traces this back_".

She smiled, and then smirked.

" He won't" she said "he's too busy protecting her".

That was the mistake men like Aiden always made. They assumed things and believes money made them powerful rather it made them predictable.

***

The first headline hit at 2:17am.

BREAKING NEWS: QUESTION RISE OVER FROST'S NEW STRATEGY PARTNER.

I stared at my phone.

My stomach dropped.

Another notification, followed by another.

UNVERIFIED SOURCES CLAIMED LEILA JONES WAS DISMISSED FROM PREVIOUS FIRMS DUE TO ETHICAL CONCERNS.

Is frost enterprises risking it's legacy?

Alot of nasty comment follows.

My chest tightened

"This isn't true". I whispers in pain.

Aiden was already moving, phone to ear, voice low and lethal.

" Shut it down, bring down the news".

But damage didn't wait for permission.

I scrolled.

A photo of me, a year ago, crying outside my family home surfaces.

Captioned: A woman known for instability.

My hands shook.

" She found you", Aiden said calmly behind me.

I looked up.

"NO", I answered, " she remembered me".

***

Lydia watched the trends unfolds from her couch, silk rope wrapped around her like a crown.

" Since she loves to be on the spotlight so bad, I believe she love this so much". She laugh as she take a sip of champagne from her glass.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: the news is trending, doubt are spreading, fingers are bring point out, but Lydia don't forget, she's not destroyed, it's just DESTABILIZED.

She read it with satisfaction then with another counterattack mindset.

" Well Leila, that was step one, get ready for what's coming next" she lit up a smile.

Then typed on her phone.

This time the reply took longer then

UNKNOWN NUMBER: you sure about this ?, he won't forgive you.

Lydia replied, he doesn't need to.

She stood up, walking towards a framed photo on the wall.

Her

Leila and their father childhood picture.

She looked at it in disgust.

" She always wanted to belong", Lydia murmured " unfortunately we can't go back to those days, we were too young and naive then, we believe family meant safety. Well I will remind you what it costs to belong now". She added as she walk away.

****

Leila phone buzzed again.

This time not headline but a message from an unknown number.

Ask Aiden frost what your mother really signed with him, that night she died.....