Chapter 3: From Fame To Shame

My widened eyes watch the sheathed sword still in his hold. This could only mean one thing. He was mistaken about me, and now he had to make sure he kept the happenings of tonight a secret.

"Why then are they after you?" He muttered to himself. "There has to be a reason the shadow demons are targeting you!" He paced for minutes, and I suspected he was moments away from ticking.

I stood from the bed and grabbed the wine bottle from the dresser. After taking a long sip, I passed it to him. He raised a brow at my gesture. 

"One last drink before I die by your hands? It's clear I'm not the Ember-whatever-you-called-it witch." 

"I can see that, but Khal is never wrong. There's something I'm missing, and listening to you yap is not helping."

I still held out the hand holding the bottle. "You said they eat humans, too. Maybe I pissed off the gods and the universe. I tend to drag a lot of attention because of my social status."

He refused the bottle after three more attempts from me. I returned to the bed and helped myself with everything. I might as well be drunk while my heart was being ripped out. 

"Hey, what is your name?" I slurred, leaning over the pillow and propping myself up with my elbow. "I didn't catch yours. It would be a shame if I didn't before I die. You were so perfectly created."

He turned to me. I missed the view of his broad back and delicious-looking shoulders. But his face and biceps were a pleasant replacement. It was the alcohol talking, but at least I was numb on the inside and immune to my raging emotions.

My jaw slacked while watching him approach. I thought this was it, but he only helped me cover a breast that had popped out of the blanket when I leaned over. His hand grazed my skin. Heat creeped up my neck. I hadn't even realised it. At least I would actually die of embarrassment.

"Cage. Jonathan Cage."

I nodded like a drunk, struggling to keep myself up. I still felt the burn of his touch on my breast. Just a whisper of it, though. But it was there. The alcohol also made the spot between my thighs throb with liquid heat.

I shook the wild thoughts away, giggling under my breath for a second. Even in danger, my mind still wandered off to sex.

"You know what, Cage? How about you give me one day to make everything right? I would write my will and a suicide note to Ever." I spoke on a whim, rambling through my thoughts like a broken record. "Let me wrap things up before you kill me. It's the least you can do for coming into my perfect life and ruining it."

"And if the shadow demons get to you before I do? What happens then?"

I made a thinking face, still slurring. "I'll hire you as my body guard for twenty-four hours because I'm rich and famous. Just one day. Only you can kill me, Cage..."

I drifted into sleep. There was so much trouble around me when my eyes were open, but while closed, everything disappeared into a black void. 

The next morning, I woke up still breathing. Cage was nowhere to be found. My life seemed back to normal, but I couldn't shake off the thought that he could actually come back in twenty-four hours.

I tied my bathroom robe again, rushing to the door after I heard a knock. Pulling it open, I found two men with ID's revealing that they are from the police station. 

"Sorry to bother you, ma'am. But we found your car bashed and empty with your cell phone underneath the driver's seat."

I snatched the phone from his hand before he could even finish talking. I could finally speak to Ever. But then I couldn't possibly tell her everything or else she would be in danger, too.

"I've been looking all over for it. My bouncer dropped me off, and I must have forgotten this in the car."

"Street footage and the black box from your car are missing. We assume the driver is, too."

"Oh, my God. Hank is missing!" I tried my best to keep a neutral-worried face, but I overdid it. "Where could he be?"

"We are currently investigating to know the status of Mr. Hank's whereabouts, but we implore you to be careful."

The detectives said that and left. I knew they hadn't found Hank's body. It didn't mean it didn't happen. Someone cleared the scene before the cops could arrive. 

Ever was already calling the second I turned my phone on. 

"Blue Meyer, what in the world was that stunt you pulled yesterday? I heard nothing from you or Hank!" 

"Ever, calm down." I sighed, walking towards the fridge to get some juice. "I'll explain everything at the office. See you in a few—"

I turned to the kitchen island, and the glass jug instantly slipped from my hand, crashing to pieces on the marble tiles. There was a handwritten note facing me. I picked it up. 

"Twenty-four hours, Blue. Clean up your life before I take it." 

Cage had left me a note. 

"Hello? Blue?!"

I pressed the end button as I practised my breathing. Everything was still heading south. I didn't realise I had said all those things during my drunken state last night. How do I give up Fairy Beauty? My blood and sweat.

My heartbeat accelerated as I ran to check every room in my architecture-styled duplex. He wasn't here, but I couldn't help the feeling that someone was watching me. 

An hour later, I took an Uber to work after calling a sudden press conference. Fate wanted me dead. I was only stalling because no one could help me now.

Ever met me depressed in my office ten minutes to the time. She seemed worried.

"Blue, talk to me. What is happening? This is unlike you. You don't run from your parties and call sudden press conferences." 

I sat behind my desk, hanging my shoulders as the ache in my head swelled. I had no response.

"Do you feel stressed again? Should I call the shrink...what can I do to help you!"

I snapped, already on my last buttons. "There's nothing wrong with me, Ever!"

"You are lying."

"I don't need help. Now leave!" I screamed, and Ever finally budged, storming out of my office. 

I bent my head and placed them in my arms on my desk, crying pitifully. What did I do to deserve this? I wasn't so strong like I acted the previous night. I didn't want to die or lose my company. My life was still worth living. 

Yet I sat up, wrote the note to Ever, and emailed a new version of my will to my lawyer while crying.

When it was time for the press conference, I walked into the room on wobbly feet. 

The reporters were already seated, waiting anxiously for what I had to say. Just yesterday, I was celebrating a new season for my beauty Empire. Today, I was about to deliver shocking news. 

I climbed the stairs and walked to the podium. After clearing my throat, I began.

"On this day, the twenty-fourth of January, I, Blue Meyer, is stepping down as the CEO of Fairy Beauty. Ever Dawson shall not only step us as the face of the empire, but as my replacement."

The reporters went wild. Their cameras flashed at an alarming rate, and the pool of questions I received was drowning me.

"I—" 

A flash struck my eyes, and at the instant, I recognised the shift. The questions stopped coming as everyone stared in awe. They were all staring at me. At my eyes.