Chapter Four

The Scandal

Elena's POV

It's been a few days ever since my steamy encounter with the stranger from the bar, I had never told anyone about it. I had promised myself that I would take the secret with me to the grave but one morning changed everything, placing my carefully curated world that I had built over time on the verge of falling apart.

On a Monday morning, I was in the kitchen doing the dishes as usual. Ever since Dad's death I've literally become a slave in this house. I do everything from sweeping to mopping, I also did the laundry but I didn't let it get to me. It was all about survival and I couldn't care less about the maltreatment I was receiving from my step mother and my step sister.

Today was no different for my stepmom and stepsister. They were attending another extravagant gala event.

“Elena.” My stepmom, Selena, called from behind.

“Yes.” I said, I rinsed my hands beneath the running water cleaning it on the apron tied on my waist as I turned towards her.

Selena looked at me from my feet to my head, her expression filled with disgust. “Sophie and I would be attending an opening event by the Vanguards and we won't be home early today. I want the whole building to be sparkling when I return.”

“Yes ma'am.” I said, slightly bowing my head.

Sophie, unaware of our conversation, walked into the kitchen, her eyes fixed on her phone. “Mom, the Vanguards are actually launching a new fashion brand today called “Aurielle Couture” I think that's why we were invited…..” she paused, her gaze fixed on mine.

“I already know you blabbermouth!” Selena yelled.

Why was Selena angry? Didn't she want me to know where they were going?

“Oh Elena. Good thing I saw you, I was looking for you. There's a pile of clothing somewhere in my room, I need you to do the laundry and be careful with where you lay those fingers on in my room.” Sophie said, her gaze returned to her phone.

“I'll do just that.” I said with a smile on my face, a fake smile. I was months older than Sophie but because she was my stepmom's biological daughter she had some immunity over her, if not for Selena I would have ripped her apart.

“Let's go.” Selena said, her hands patting Sophie on the back as they left the kitchen.

“Oh my God, the vanguard's heir is so attractive.” Sophie said, her voice echoing down the hallway as they both left for the event or launch party, whatever it is called.

I finally finished washing the dishes. I washed my hands with running water as I walked down the hallway to my room. I placed my phone on my bedside table as I took off the apron I had worn earlier.

Ding! Ding!

A notification popped up on my phone screen. I was hesitant at first, I didn't want to open it because I didn't have a lot of friends so who would definitely be texting me? No one!

I ran my hand through my hair walking into the bathroom. My fingers twisted the faucet, and icy water gushed out. I splashed it over my face, the cold biting into my skin, chasing away the remnants of sleep and tears. I stared at my reflection on the mirror positioned above the faucet. A stubborn strand of hair kept falling over my face, no matter how many times I tossed it behind my ear.

Ding! Ding!

My phone rang in the room breaking the still silence that had encapsulated me. I twisted the faucet, drying my face with the towel hung above the faucet. I picked up my phone only to see that it was a blog post notification. The headline was written boldly in caps.

“The Desperate Bride: Elena Bennett’s Shameless Chase for Fortune!”

“Billionaire’s New Toy: Elena Bennett’s Dirty Secret Exposed!”

“From Nobody to Gold Digger: Elena Bennett’s Climb to Luxury!”

Elena Bennett? I was startled. This couldn't possibly be me right? A huge part of me wanted to ignore the message, wanted to pretend that it's unrelated to me but the small part of me that was curious took control of my limbs as I clicked on one of the blog posts. My jaw dropped. It was there, many of them. Pictures. My face was on them too. They were pictures of the stranger and I in the bar, the stranger and I walking into the hotel, the stranger and I in a compromising position.

My phone slipped from my grip and smacked the ground at the sight of our compromising pictures, its screen kissing the rough surface. How did they get this? This must be AI generated, someone must have orchestrated the scandal.

Ding! Ding!

The notifications kept coming in. I was hesitant at first but I bent down to pick up my phone that was lying on the floor with the screen facing the cold hard floors. I picked it up, my hands flew on my mouth as I read through the post content. Who was responsible for this? The writer painted me as a whore and a prostitute! Words failed me. All I could do was stand there, my hands trembling over my mouth as I read the cruel, unfounded claims those writers had so carelessly spewed. Each sentence was a fresh wound, tearing me apart with ruthless precision.

My eyes darted to the comment section beneath the post. It had thousands of comments from people who know nothing about me but had a lot to say because of the privilege of owning a smartphone. My grip tightened on my phone as I read through the comments.

“This is the first time I'm seeing her. I never knew the Bennetts had another daughter. She must have been a total disaster and maybe that's why we're only seeing her for the first time. What a slut! She's bringing shame to the Bennetts!” Alfonso_Kjay commented.

“Look at her. I bet it runs in the Bennetts bloodline. I heard her mother was a whore who got pregnant with Dr. Reginald's child after a one night stand. Like mother, like daughter.” Laura Grant commented.

“The Vanguards again? It's no news. Elias had always been known to be a reckless playboy. I've encountered him in one of the bars in New York City and he is a full time womanizer. I can't believe his father is leaving his company in his hands.” Jose Ray Bayon  commented.

“Isn't she the daughter of the Bennetts? So sad she has brought great shame to her family name.” John_243 commented.

My leg felt weak, my heart felt heavy. I didn't notice when my legs collapsed. I fell on the floor, tears rolling down my cheek. What would happen when stepmother finds out about this? She's going to kill me. All my life I've been trying not to get on her bad side even if she hated me but now with this scandal, she would kill me.

While in tears, my mind went back to the comment. The Vanguards? I picked my phone reading through the comment that mentioned something about the Vanguards. The name Vanguard sounds familiar, I must have heard it from somewhere before. Oh! I heard it from Sophie. The pieces began to fix themselves up. So the strange man I met at the bar the other day was Elias? Elias Vanguard? Heir to the Vanguards Conglomerate Group.

Knock! Knock!

A loud resounding knock from outside my room rippled through the still air. Who was that? Selena and Sophie were out already and wouldn't return till it was night time. Who could that be?

I curled myself up in the corner of the room. Someone was definitely after me or maybe I was just overthinking.