ELLA'S POV As I stepped into the hallway, the chillingly familiar smell of Madame Browne's cologne flared my nostrils. The haughty smell of cedarwood sent shivers down my spine. The thought of Madame Browne haunted me, filling my insides with loads upon loads of fear. The way she stared at me back in there was haunting, her gaze flickering with malice. Her eyes, as I recalled, burned with a flicker of rage and contempt like a threat orchestrated just for me.Her jaw had dropped slightly when she found out that the president chose to support me over her. It was obvious he hadn't went against her words in years. She was used to having her way and it felt good to finally stand up to her.But the consequences of it struck at a corner in my mind. Consequences? The president had warned me about her, of how conniving she could be if things didn't go her way. I had to be careful with everything — the decorations, the guests and hosting the event.I traced my steps down the hallway, the fami
MADAME BROWNE'S P O V "Yes." I heard Ella say as I chuckled inwardly. I inhaled deeply, my deft fingers roving into my hair as I stared back at that whore, Ella. She looked innocent, smiling sheepishly like the fool she was. She had obviously said yes just because the offer to have Miss Genevieve, an award winning event host, was to her profit. But things weren't always as they seem. Instead of it to be at her profit, it turned out to be her loss. If you're also wondering what I meant, let me take you on a little trip down memory lane.*******“Grapes!” I ordered opening my lips as I a maid fed me some red grapes. The sickeningly sweet taste of the grapes spread on my tongue as I pierced my teeth through the grape.It was time. The heat from the water ravished my body in it's heated hold, causing me to fiddle here and then. The taste of wine on my lips intensified with a sour yet soft familiarity to red wine. It's metallic tinge reminded me of the scene of the president turning me
MISS GENEVIEVE 'S P O VTWO HOURS A GO.When I received a call from Madame Browne from Browne, I knew it wasn't going be good news. It never was and would evidently never be. She always reached out just when she needed you the most and she spared no freaking' excuses.She had a way of having her way. She'd remind you of your most vulnerable moments and slam her expectations at you to make your insecurities boil. People like Madame Browne were inevitable, unable to not come across in one's lifetime.And people like me were mostly their prey. As I stepped out from the elevator to her floor, I saw her assistant shuffling behind me. “Good morning Mis Genevieve.”"How's Mr Allen and—" He was about continuing when in interrupted, "We're divorced." I interrupted firmly, my feet strutting deeper into the almost endless hallways."I'm sorry fot your—" He bickered and was about finishing when I interrupted again, but this time with a firm authority laced in my tone, "I'm not here for this littl
ELLA'S POV "Yes," I said, my voice laced with anxiety. I felt a tinge of happiness somewhere in between the previous storms of uncertainty brewing in my veins. I bit softly into my lower lip sucking in a deep breath that hitched in my lungs.The weight of the situation layered above my shoulders. This offer, this help— I needed it. I could really use the help of a professional. Together, I believe we could achieve a better output with the decors and the event planning.The event would be more than it already was with the help of Miss Genevieve, the award winning event host. I surveyed her swiftly with a quick glance, her features held my gaze longer than I planned.She was dressed in a french two piece suit, her hair rolled in a bun of waves. The red hue of lipstick on her lips highlighted the soft contours of her face. She looked effortlessly graceful, with a thick air of tension surrounded her like mists to an hilltop."Perfect," Madame Browne exclaimed, her fingers playing with th
MADAME BROWNE'S POV "I have to go, it was nice meeting you Miss Genevieve." I heard her say as I rubbed my fingers against the furs of my robe. The sight of Ella giving in so easily was delightful— just the way I had planned it. I resisted the urge of letting out a dark chuckle, to cackle at the scene in front of me. Ella, as supposed, had fallen for the plan like a baby enticed with a lollipop. But the only thing different was this wasn't a lollipop, it was an alliance that would be the drastic end of her.The thought of watching Ella fail in front of everyone was surely going to be enjoyable. I want to watch her fail so badly, to watch her little plan crumble beneath my hold and have the president see that through her idea for a small event and realize it was just another recipe for disaster.That I, Madame Browne, was right all along. Just when they thought things couldn't get any worse, the news would pick it up and the headlines would fly. My plan was to secretly invite the m
ELLA'S POV I closed the door behind me; the soft click sounded loudest in the silence of my room. Leaning against the cool wood, I exhaled, dragging my fingers through my hair. My mind was in a swirl with thoughts of Madame Browne's offer, the invitation still fresh and suspicious in my mind.Miss Genevieve.An award-winning event planner known for orchestrating the most extravagant and talked-about celebrations. People paid fortunes for her touch of magic-part showwoman, part perfectionist. And now she was being offered to assist me. It wasn't even framed as a polite suggestion. No, Madame Browne had looked at me with a smug curl on her lips, as if she had played her winning hand.I knew better. Nothing Madame Browne did was ever without strings attached. Accepting her offer was like walking into a trap with open eyes, while refusing it would only make things worse. She was a powerful woman, more than I wanted to admit. She would make my life miserable if I opposed her openly. I did
MADAME BROWNE'S POV I swirled the wine in my glass, watching as the liquid caught the last rays of the evening sun. The balcony looked out over the estate gardens—perfectly manicured, each hedge and blossom precisely where it was supposed to be, a testament to my taste and control. There was something soothing about sitting here high above the chaos that I so ably cultivated. The world looked small from up here, manageable. Just like people.A gentle rap sounded from the double doors behind me. I didn't turn around. "Come in," I called lazily, enjoying my sip of wine as the cool breeze kissed my skin.The door creaked open and the sound of heels clicking announced Genevieve's entrance."Madame Browne," she said, her voice silky polite, just like I had trained her.I gave a faint smile to her reflection in the glass. "Ah, Genevieve. Finally. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten how to walk."She laughed softly, as if my insult were a compliment, and practically glided further into
MISS GENEVIEVE'S POVThere's a little kick in it, watching things come undone-especially when the person who's keeping it all together has no idea you're the one tugging at the seams. That was the just kind of satisfaction I was after this morning. Madame Browne had given me my orders and, as always, I intended to follow through with precision.I sank into the leather seat of my car, the soft drone of the motor dulled by my mind as I sped in the direction of the McKinney mansion. Deliciousness played in my mind, knowing Ella Rocci was out there in ignorant bliss with a storm heading her way. The fact that she actually thought she had the reins was humorous. I could almost taste the humiliation.The mansion's gates rattled open mechanically, and I pulled into the circular driveway. The air around the estate was pristine, too perfect-the kind of atmosphere that would smother rather than soothe. Roses in bloom wafted up toward me as I stepped out of the car, heels clicking sharply agains