‘It's all part of the plan’
‘what plan?’
I remembered the events from the other night and the news about the ridiculous affair with the bodyguard.
Those pictures of us in a compromising situation were all taken when I passed out and the whole world would believe these fuckers except I think of a way out of my situation.
But what?
I dug my fingers into my palms at the sight of the satisfaction evident on Ivan's face. No, I won't let him win.
I won't let the Andersons bring me down like this. Besides, I'm the only one permitted to shine and not let them trample on me.
“Miss Naya?” Another interviewer brought me out of my thoughts as I looked around me to see that all eyes were fixated on me.
Ivan soon came up to me and leaned in to whisper to my ears. “So, my little birdie, what are you gonna do now?”
Then he brought his eyes to meet mine but I didn't let my anxiety show. I concealed it with everything in me.
I turned to the interviewer and nodded slightly at him to go on with his question.
“Yes?” I mumbled under my breath as I mentally pleaded with myself not to lose it in front of these many people.
“Is it true that you cheated on your husband, Mr Ivan Anderson with this bodyguard, while still being married to him?” The second interviewer asked as I looked into the eyes of the people present whilst the flashing of cameras continued.
“No, it's not true.” I said confidently and glanced at Ivan who was also under the spotlight.
“Within the past months of being married to Mr Ivan Anderson here…” I gestured to him. “Even though I admit our marriage wasn't on a bed of roses, I actually did love my husband and have never done anything inappropriate to taint my feelings for him. So, I didn't cheat on Ivan Anderson like this man claims.” I pointed back to the bodyguard as I began to hear series of mumblings in the room.
“So, what about the pictures that pose as evidence against you?” The second interviewer asked as I nodded at the thought of something.
“Those are false too.” I said.
“How so?” A reporter asked as I sighed and my eyes met Mrs Anderson’s cold ones as if she was warning me to speak no further but I resolved to. Because I yearned to get over this whole mess as soon as possible.
“One night, on August 15th and on my way back home after meeting my ex-husband in one of ANDERSONs brand hotels because he didn't come home for days, the bodyguard offered to drop me off…” I trailed off as I revealed what really happened including the fact that I was drugged and kept locked up in the vehicle against my will.
“That's most definitely when those compromising pictures of me and the bodyguard were taken.” I finished as I saw Ivan from the corner of my eyes run his hand through his hair in obvious dread and frustration.
“Do you have any evidence to support these claims?” The interviewer asked as I shook my head.
“But…” I said almost immediately. “I want to clearly and without further doubt, refer to the dashcam of the vehicle as evidence. That is, if the Andersons will be willing to cooperate with further investigation.” I stated as I felt my eyes water.
No, not now. Not now, Naya…
I berated myself.
Ivan looked like he was lost in thought and his mother frowned at me.
“We'll get on it.” An ambitious looking reporter said quickly and left the room alongside his followers.
Mrs Anderson looked restless for a moment before she beckoned on her goons to probably give them certain instructions.
The thought that they would have seen it coming and must have gotten rid of the dashcam to cover up their tracks made me uncomfortable but I was glad that I'd given the press something important — a possibility to take into consideration.
But then I thought of anything else to say or do to support my claims.
“Miss Naya, do you perhaps remember the plate number of the said vehicle?” The first interviewer asked me with a glint of hope in his eyes.
Who's this person that makes me feel like he's the only one in the room that is on my side?
I furrowed my brows in thought for a moment and then I decided to disclose the plate number to the vehicle that was always designated to pick me. It was risky, but if I'm lucky, it'll be the same vehicle from the other night.
I felt it was better to bank on my intuition for a way out.
The vehicle was similar, if not the same to the one I was familiar with.
“Yes I do.” I spoke confidently. I had been too exhausted from the intimate session with Ivan and the proposal for divorce that I didn't bother to look closely. But then again, the rain had contributed to my obliviousness.
“Can you tell us?” A reporter said as I shook my head.
I silently prayed that my intuition was on a good point. So here it goes…
“RBC1254, is the plate number.” I blurted as Ivan’s guards hurriedly out as well as the reporters.
“Thank you for your response, Miss Naya. Could you all give us a moment while we look it up..”
The room became chaotic with gasps, mumblings, whispers, and side talks.
Ivan who already looked disheveled, approached me obviously trying so hard to control his nerves.
“What the fuck are you unto?” He asked as he grabbed my arm in a way that would make everyone believe his nails dug into my skin.
“You should know better, Mr Ivan Anderson. That you and your family are the worse kind of human beings that I have encountered.” I spat as his clenched his jaw and tried to stable his breathing.
“The dashcam is missing!” Someone shouted from the entrance as my head snapped to the person in surprise.
“Still got any ideas up your sleeves?” Ivan breathed out as I glared at him.
He moved away from me and I clenched my jaw.
Was I wrong? Is it another vehicle? What should I do?
“Miss Naya, the dashcam you claimed to be an evidence is missing. What do you have to say about that?” The second interviewer asked me as I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Well, I decided to use the situation to divert their attention from me.
“I understand the situation at hand, and the question is, why would the only evidence to prove my innocence be missing if there was absolutely nothing to hide? Hence, I suggest the Andersons should be investigated for confiscation of evidence.” I stated.
The cameras continued flashing in my direction.
“Miss Naya, are you implying that the Andersons are not particularly on good terms with you? Is your relationship with the Andersons strained?” A reporter said as I waved it off.
“Nonsense!” Mrs Anderson spoke as the cameras rolled to her direction. “No such thing exist between Naya and the Andersons, except for now, Naya here, is trying to go against the Andersons by making such claims.” She said as I blinked at her.
I scoffed, as expected from Mrs Anderson.
“Miss Naya?” The first interviewer called as I turned to look at him.
“Do you have something to say about that?” He asked as I rested my gaze on Ivan.
“The claims that I cheated on my husband while we were still married like I said before, is false. However, the claim of cheating also stands, except that I wasn't the one who cheated and disrespected our marriage.” I stated and glanced at the interviewer who furrowed his brows at me in question.
“It was Ivan Anderson, my ex-husband, who cheated on me with his little bimbo, Flora Michaels.” I said with a mix of amusement and nausea.
Ivan's eyes were fixated intently on me and he looked beat. His gaze questioned my resolve and I bit my lip at the turn of things.
“Mr Ivan Anderson?”
“Mr Ivan Anderson?”
The reporters called out to him severally, but he and I stood there on a stare drill and battled for dominance.
