CHAPTER 7
Days later, I had just stepped into the salon, the smell of perm and nail polish filled the air. My eyes drifted over the sea of hairdryers and mirrors, when I heard a voice, cold and venomous, behind me
“Well, if it isn’t Ms. Perfect,” Vera purred, her painted lips curling into a sinister smile. “And here I thought you only showed up when there was a camera nearby.”
I tensed, feeling the sting of Vera’s words as I turned to face my rival, my eyes meeting Vera.
“Vera,” I said, my voice low and calm, “I am not here to argue with you.”
Vera’s eyebrows arched as she laughed loudly like a cat. “Oh, please. Spare me the platitudes. Everyone knows you only care about yourself.”
I started to get angry, my jaw tightening. “Careful, Vera. Your jealousy is showing.”
Vera rolled her eyes, a scoff escaping her lips. “Jealousy? Hardly.
My patience snapped, my voice rising as I faced my nemesis. “You have been jealous of me since the beginning,” I said, my anger flaring. “Always trying to tear me down, to steal my spotlight. But it won’t work. I’m better than you, stronger than you. And I won’t let you drag me down.”
I was not done yet. “The truth, Vera? Let’s talk about the truth. The truth is, you’re nothing more than a cheap imitation of me. You copy my style, my mannerisms, even my career moves. But you will always be second best, a pale shadow of the woman I am.”
Vera’s cheeks flushed, a mixture of fury and humiliation washing over her. She stepped forward, and raised her hands in threatening gesture. “How dare you! I am my own woman…”
I shot out my hand, slapping Vera across the face with a resounding crack. “You thought you knew me, Vera? I didn’t leave you alone out of fear. I left you alone out of love for him. But now that I have crossed that line, don’t dare me!”
I walked out and in that moment, I knew I was done with the whole nonsense.
I went to another salon and got my hair done. After that, I swept into Dimitri’s lavish mansion like a vengeful queen, my heels clicking on the polished marble floor as I made my way through the hallways to the lounge where Dimitri was cuddling with Vera. The look in my eyes was cold as ice, and it sent shivers down Dimitri’s spine as he turned to face me.
“Andrea?” he said, looking at me with disgust. “What can I do for you?”
I smirked. “Nothing. There is absolutely nothing you can do for me. You are useless!” I retorted.
“I can see you have grown wings. You coward!” He replied.
“I am just here to inform you,” I continued, my eyes red with anger. “You have been living a lie. You have been taking credit for my investments, my accomplishments, my hard work. And I let you. Why? Because I loved you. But I am done with the lie. I am done with you.”
Dimitri and Vera’s laughter echoed. “Andrea, I was done with you a long time ago.” Dimitri replied. “But, wait, What do you mean by I have been taking credit for your investments?”
“My name is Andrea Silverstone, and I am the heir to the Silverstone fortune.” I said, my voice laced with fire. “Luna Andrea, CEO of Silverstone Enterprises.”
I watched as Vera and Dimitri’s jaw dropped, their eyes wide with shock. “You?” he stammered.
“Oh yes,” I said, my smile a wicked delight. “And now that you know who I am, you should also know that Charles Paul is the fake name I used to buy the shares in your company, I am the real owner.”
Dimitri’s shock transformed into a smoldering rage, his eyes narrowing as he struggled to contain his fury.
“Why?” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “Why the pretense?”
My tone filled with disdain. “I wanted to submit to you, to see if you could love me for who I really am, not just for my money. And thankfully, your behavior has confirmed everything I needed to know.”
“Wow, so you are the anonymous CEO, who chose to work from underground?” Dimitri asked, still in disbelief.
“And you are the most lousy, criminal Alpha-director whom I overlooked because of love!” I said raising my Silverstone gem passed from generations as proof.
“And now, I am done with you.” my voice was like a dagger, piercing through the thick tension in the room. “I am going to leave, You and your puppet Vera better watch your backs.”
Vera, annoyed at my words, stepped forward, her hand raised in a threatening gesture. “How dare you call me a puppet!” she snarled, her eyes flashing.
But before she could finish her sentence, I struck my palm, connecting with Vera’s cheek with a resounding smack.
“You?” I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. “Oh, I think you forgot, Vera,” I snarled. “You don’t mess with me. Not after what happened last time.”
Vera’s face was a picture of rage and humiliation, her hand rising to touch the red mark on her cheek. “Dimitri will never love you!” she declared.
“You are nothing more than a pathetic little lapdog, desperate for a bone from Dimitri. You can have him.” I replied as I pushed their glass picture frame from the table. It hit the floor and shattered into pieces.
As the sound of shattering glass echoed, the staff of the mansion came rushing in, their eyes wide with alarm.
My expression a mask of calm determination, I turned to face them, my gaze sweeping over the room.
“you all,” I said, pointing at the maid and guards. “You allowed yourselves to be used to humiliate me because you thought I was nobody. But you were wrong.”
“I’m not just Andrea the rejected mate, or Andrea the housewife, or Andrea the victim or Andrea the babymama.” I laughed.
“This is a lesson to you all,” I continued, my voice stern but compassionate. “Never look down on someone, for you never know what power they may hold.”
With those final words, I turned took my son and my belongings and left the house, leaving the stunned gathering in my wake.
