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Chapter 9: Unseen Bonds
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 1: Please lie to my father
Violet stepped inside the darkened bar, her heart racing with trepidation and exhaustion. She had just finished a brutal day of being a background actress, barely scraping by enough to pay the rent. Her life wasn't glamorous by any means, at least not yet, but at least she had Tony-or so she thought. For three long years, she'd looked after him through thick and thin, whenever he needed help and nobody else was there to provide it. Now, Tony had invited her here, claiming that he had something very important to tell her. She saw him at a small table; his new suit shone in the low light. He was different-confident, even arrogant. Violet came up to him with a hopeful smile, but it faded away when Tony hardly noticed her. "Hi, Tony," Violet said, sounding ambiguous. "Violet, sit down," he replied coolly without looking at her. She slid into the chair, feeling the weight of something ominous settle in the air between them. "What's going on?" Tony sighed, adjusting his cufflinks like h
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 2: Dad Am Back
As Violet peered at her reflection the next morning, she could feel the anxious churn of her stomach. What had she gotten herself into? The surreal conversation with Clyde the day before kept replaying itself in her head. She couldn't shake off that gnawing doubt. This was insane, wasn't it? She was about to lie to a dying man, telling him she was his long-lost daughter. For what? One million dollars a day? She bit at her lip, tying a loose ponytail with shaking hands. With the rent overdue, the electric bill precariously on the verge of a cutoff, and Tony's cruel rejection fresh within her mind, she knew she didn't have a choice. This was her ticket, the break she'd been waiting for all these years. By the time Clyde showed up to collect her, the nervousness was worse. His black sedan was ushered to the front of her dingy apartment complex, shining under the morning sun. She paused for a second, then stepped outside and slid into the passenger seat. "Morning," she muttered, softer
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 3: No Turning Back
Violet stood in the hallway of the hospital, still raw from her encounter with Clyde's father, Richard. She had barely managed to process the weight of what she had agreed to when a loud, haughty voice echoed down the corridor, pulling her back to the present. "Well, well, well, isn't this a surprise," the voice was sharp, full of disdain. Violet turned around in time to see two women headed toward them. One was older, in a cut-to-fit suit that screamed money, her chin held high as if she smelled something rancid on the soles of people's shoes. The other one was much younger, almost a carbon copy of the older woman in a designer suit with an icy expression to boot. Clyde straightened up beside her. "Sharon," he said in a low mutter, not concealing his annoyance. "Eva." Violet said nothing. She didn't have any idea who these women were, though by the look on Clyde's face, it wasn't going to be a pleasant meeting. She came to a stop in front of Clyde, where the older woman Sharon g
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 4: A Memorized Script
Violet stood by the large window of the West Estate, staring out into lawns so well-manicured they extended far beyond what she would ever have dreamed possible. It still felt surreal being here, living a life of luxury she'd only ever seen in movies. The plush carpet beneath her bare feet was soft, and the scent of polished wood and fresh flowers filled the air. Everything in this place screamed wealth. But to Violet, it wasn't home-it was just another set, another role to play. She turned away from the window as the study door creaked open. Clyde walked in, a large envelope in his hand. His expression was serious, the playful smirk she had seen a few times now replaced with something far more businesslike. He held out the envelope toward her. These are the papers I was telling you about," he said, all business. "I need you to commit them to memory. This is your backstory." Violet reached for the envelope hesitantly, already feeling the weight in what was inside, even before open
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 5: Sister At Home
Violet's heart raced as she stepped into the sleek, marble lobby of her father's company, West Media. Today was her first day officially at the company, and though Clyde had prepared her, she couldn't rid herself of the butterflies clawing at her insides. She had woken hours earlier, had practiced her lines from the carefully written backstory by Clyde, and had run over her role in her mind over and over until it felt real. She was the long-lost daughter of Richard West, Clyde's sister, and soon everyone would know.She took a deep breath and moved toward the elevators, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Clyde's instructions replayed as she rode up, floor by floor, toward the upper offices. "Stay calm. Be confident. You're a West now," he'd said with that slight smirk that was becoming familiar. But before she could get her bearings, the elevator doors opened and she found herself standing face-to-face with one of the people she had hoped never to see again.It was Tony, h
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 6: A Scheme Unfolds
The day following her tumultuous first experience in West Media with Tony, Violet got to the office early, anxious for a second chance. Clyde had reassured her that she belonged here, but a little voice inside her remained apprehensive. She hadn't missed the poison in Tony's eyes when Clyde had presented her as his sister, nor had she forgotten the ignominy of his trying to bodily throw her out. Little did she know her troubles with Tony were just beginning.She had just reached her new office and was heading toward it when she passed by Clyde's assistant, who greeted her with a smile. "Good morning, Ms. West.She returned the greeting and swung open the door to her office, settling in. The room was eloquent, as Clyde had it put together for her; she'd barely gotten her bag down when the phone on her desk began ringing.It was Clyde."Violet," he said, all business. "I need to see you in my office, please. We do have some things we need to attend to."Violet's heart fluttered slightly
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 7: Unveiling the Lies
The air was dead in the hospital room as Violet sat beside her father, adjusting his pillows and brushing imaginary creases from his blanket. Clyde sat nearby with his laptop open but found his gaze drifting to her time and again. He was taken by her commitment, her endless patience, and the warmth she brought to that cold, sterilized room.Violet, dear," he murmured, extending a frail hand toward hers. "You don't have to do all this. The nurses can do it for me."She slipped her hand over his, smiling. "Father, I want to do this for you. I haven't been around to take care of you for so long. Please, let me make up for it, in any way I can.".Just as her father was about to say something, the door creaked open, and into the room trooped Sharon and Eva, their faces smug with satisfaction, yet at the same time thinly veiled with irritation. They were both carrying a stack of papers, which Sharon clutched tightly as if it were a treasure. The tension in the room became immediately palpab
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 8: Hidden Agendas
Morning sunlight seeped through the grand windows of the dining room at the West estate, casting a warm glow upon the elegantly set table in silverware and fine china. Violet slowly entered the room, her eyes taking in Clyde, his stepmother Sharon, and half-sister Eva, who were seated. Upon the table lay an eerie presence of contrived politeness hanging in the air, like a separating wall.As Violet sat, Sharon looked up with an inimitable smile painted on her face. "Good morning, dear Violet. Just discussing how important it is to make you feel part of our family.".She allowed a polite smile to stay in her expression, but her guard was up immediately. Violet knew Sharon and Eva meant nothing like welcome after their confrontation at the hospital. There was calculation behind Sharon's sweet words.Eva was sitting next to her mother and lent in with as much feigned warmth. "Yes, we want you to feel right at home, Violet." Her hand was under the table, playing with something.Clyde's ey
Latest chapter
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 9: Unseen Bonds
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 9: Unseen Bonds
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 8: Hidden Agendas
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 7: Unveiling the Lies
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 6: A Scheme Unfolds
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 5: Sister At Home
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 4: A Memorized Script
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 3: No Turning Back
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 2: Dad Am Back
