Chapter 6 Alice In Trouble

"Oh no, what is this?" Monica's sudden outburst echoed through the room, capturing the attention of the entire audience and leaving Alice visibly shocked.

"Alice, why would you betray me like this? The dress you're wearing isn't my design. As my contest model, why wear someone else's creation?"

The stage was in disarray as Monica's shouts and tears disrupted everything, leading to the abrupt cessation of the entire performance.

'So, this was Monica's plan to ensnare me?' Alice thought with regret, acknowledging it was futile to cry over spilled milk at this point.

It wasn't just Monica's wailing that attracted attention; the commotion escalated as she accused a high-profile Hollywood actress, garnering a large audience.

Breaking news reached the media: a lesser-known designer accusing a famous celebrity. Even the organizers and judges were left in disbelief.

Alice's career kicked off as a model on the ramp, winning several contests before making a seamless transition to Hollywood, where she excelled yet again. Her remarkable journey from a model to a top actress deserves applause.

After a considerable hiatus, Alice's return to the runway as a model sent shockwaves through the industry. The accusation further plunged her into an abyss, leaving the organizer grappling with how to handle the media frenzy and paparazzi who had already stormed the stage.

"Miss Alice, is it accurate that you chose the wrong attire?"

"Was it a strategic move or an unintended error?"

"As a well-known actress, what prompted you to take on a modeling role? Is there a financial setback?"

"Miss Alice Cooper, can you provide insight into why you're not refuting the designer's claim? Is there substance to it?"

"Is it correct that this was a deliberate act on your part?"

"What led you to betray your ex-designer and an old friend from the hometown?"

Alice was taken aback. Her connection with Monica was a concealed secret shared only among the closest confidants. How did the reporters uncover it? Monica, even more than Alice, detested the idea of it being exposed. Who manipulated the situation for both of them?

Uneasy with the barrage of questions, Alice rubbed her forehead. A savior appeared as Skylar took the stage with crew members, consoling Alice by holding her hand. Meanwhile, Ella stood steadfastly by Monica's side.

While the security team attempted to control the unruly media, the questions directed at Alice persisted. As the celebrity, any vague news linked to her would undoubtedly garner more TRP for their channels than the uproar caused by Monica.

"Was there discord between you and Monica? Any lingering personal conflicts?"

"Breaking News: Alice Cooper, the actress, reportedly betrays her old town pal."

"Alice Cooper parts ways with her designer, opting to grace the runway in a different ensemble."

"The designer breaks down on stage as her model dons the wrong outfit."

"Designer Monica Parker finds herself deserted by her model and friend, Alice Cooper."

Despite the relentless questions from reporters and journalists, Alice maintained a stoic silence. It's only a matter of time; she must endure the chaos. Soon enough, she plans to exact revenge on Monica.

In the midst of the tumult, Monica's phone vibrated, ceasing her cries as she checked a text from an unknown number: "Great job; continue the act."

A sinister grin played at the edge of Monica's lips, catching the attention of just one person in the audience. That person reciprocated with a smirk, glancing at their phone screen, where they had just sent a text that Monica had observed.

"Alice, you won't rest tonight, just like I couldn't when..." The woman mumbled to herself.

She stowed the phone in her purse, rose gracefully, and made a stylish exit from the auditorium.

On the stage, as security grappled with the unruly media, another loud yell captured everyone's attention. Designer Sophia emerged, having previously caused a commotion in the lobby, now unleashing it in front of the audience.

"Oh my goodness, that's my dress! Alice Cooper is wearing the dress I created."

In the greenroom, Sophia raised a fuss while searching for her main outfit which was missing. Her anger flared when she found it on the stage, worn by Monica's model.

The revelation from Sophia left many, including Alice and Skylar dumbfounded, but the reporters were buzzing with excitement.

"Miss Alice, can you confirm if you're indeed in another designer's outfit?"

"Why the choice to wear the incorrect outfit?"

"Did you intentionally opt for someone else's designed attire?"

Questions from the media inundated Alice, overshadowing everything else, yet Sophia proceeded purposefully toward Monica.

"Monica, this is all your fault. You haven't fixed your habit of stealing. You're still shamelessly taking credit for other people's designs and outfits. It's outrageous." Sophia screamed with indignation, and Monica was left floored by the accusation.

On course, she foresaw Sophia stirring up trouble, expecting the blame to fall on Alice. However, she never envisioned turning her attacks towards her, a senior who held favor with the chairman.

It was as if God had sent Sophia as Alice's savior. The moment she confronted Monica, reporters swarmed in with their probing questions. Sensing the chaos, Skylar seized the opportunity, pulled Alice out of the crowd, and briskly led her to the greenroom.

"Alice, hurry up and change; we need to get out of here," Skylar said. Alice nodded as she walked.

Now, the reporters are bombarding Monica with the same questions they posed to Alice.

"Miss Monica, is this accusation merely a misunderstanding or the truth?"

"If there's no basis, why are you facing blame?"

"As a senior designer at Pristine Moments, a leading fashion house, why would you allegedly steal designs from a junior colleague?"

"If the fault lies with you, why shift the blame onto Miss Alice Cooper?"

Monica, at first, was stunned by Sophia's unexpected entrance onto the stage, accusing her. However, she spotted Alice discreetly leaving the stage unnoticed, prompting her to devise yet another cunning plan.

'Alice, facing the media is your responsibility. Fleeing when the focus shifted was a foolish move, providing me with the perfect opportunity to exploit your absence and shift Sophia's accusation onto you.'

In her thoughts, Monica smirked inwardly, presenting an innocent victim facade in front of the media.

"I want to clarify that I didn't take any design or outfit without proper authorization. Also, I was dealing with health issues not too long ago, and you can verify this with my doctor. My assistant, Ella White, has been present since the beginning."

Monica tilted her head towards Ella, who stood beside her, and blinked subtly.

"Ella handled the situation; she escorted Alice to her greenroom. None of us knows what transpired afterward and how Alice ended up in Sophia's designed outfit. If I were guilty, why would I admit this on stage in front of judges and the audience?" Monica responded to reporters' questions with remarkable composure.

Executing a flawless act, she framed Alice as the wrongdoer and portrayed herself as the victim.

"I believe Alice Cooper could provide a more suitable answer to your question than Monica," Ella stated, looking towards the spot where Alice was positioned.

"Oh, where could Alice have gone? Has she managed to slip away, deceiving everyone?"

With a feigned shout and a show of shock, Ella redirected the entire focus of the media, judges, audience, and organizers to Alice's disappearance from the stage. This heightened suspicions about Alice.

"Dear audience, did you catch Miss Alice Cooper's abrupt disappearance? This unexpected vanishing act raises numerous questions. Is she to blame for today's incident? If not, why did she choose to evade the situation?"

"Be with us for updates, as the media delves into the truth. We'll make an effort to engage in a conversation with former Hollywood actress Alice Cooper. Stay tuned to our news channel."

Reporters delivered live reports to their news channels and ventured backstage to locate Alice.

Andrew witnessed the entire chaos on the live news channel from his cabin, angrily tossed the remote control, and rose to his feet. At that precise moment, Ronny burst into his cabin, displaying impatience.

"Boss, Miss Alice is in trouble."

"Order the guards to shield her and escort her to the parking lot. And I mean it-no news, I repeat, no news, should be published or broadcast against Alice," Andrew said it earnestly and dashed out of the cabin.

In swift motion, Alice emerged from her greenroom and made her way to the elevator. Unfortunate for her, the media caught wind of her presence, rushing to intercept. Yet, before they could close in, she found herself surrounded by a team of black-clad guards.

Quickly, Ronny led her to the elevator, pressed the button, and in the blink of an eye, Alice vanished, shielded by a multitude of guards, eluding any chance for paparazzi and the media to capture her image.

Skylar stood stunned by the unexpected turn of events. She had always been by Alice's side, with or without security, regardless of the situation. How could Alice be taken away by so many guards without Skylar having any clue?

'How come these many guards appeared for Alice? It's not like I didn't know if she would have hired a security service. Is there anything hidden?'

Skylar took a moment to ponder, swiftly removed her heels, and descended the stairs in haste. She leaped down numerous steps with remarkable speed to catch up with Alice, but by the time she reached the bottom, Alice had disappeared. All Skylar could see the distant silhouette of Alice amidst the cluster of guards.

Upon spotting Ronny at the forefront of the guard group, Alice instantly realized that her newlywed husband had organized the security detail. Andrew's care and consideration deeply moved her.