You Crushed My Heart, So I Crushed Your Empire

While picking out wedding rings with my celebrity fiancé, a paparazzi photographer caught us from behind.

Anthony Gilbert wasn't the least bit upset. He actually smiled.

"So what? Let's just go public."

Four years of keeping our relationship a secret. I thought he was finally ready to tell the world about us, and my heart soared.

But at the yacht party the very next day, in front of every camera and microphone in the room, he slid the wedding ring onto rising starlet Bianca Whitmore's finger and announced their relationship.

Watching my expression go blank, Anthony lazily blew a smoke ring.

"She just debuted. The girl needs buzz and exposure. I'm the senior here, so helping her out is the least I can do."

"Besides, can you imagine if people found out my fiancée is just some assistant who fetches coffee? How embarrassing would that be for me?"

"Stop giving me attitude. I never said I wouldn't marry you. I just can't go public, that's all. You should count yourself lucky I'm keeping you around. Don't push it."

Bianca nestled into his arms, cheeks flushed pink, looking every bit the innocent girl experiencing her first crush.

The matching diamond rings on their fingers were a silent announcement of exactly how unnecessary and ridiculous I was.

I calmly pulled out my phone and canceled, on the spot, every single one of the dozen top-tier projects I'd secretly arranged for him.

"Funny coincidence. I don't like being taken advantage of either."

"So I think I'll find a fiancé who isn't embarrassed by me."

…

The luxury suite on the yacht was dead silent.

Anthony ground out his cigarette with more force than necessary, brow creasing in displeasure.

"Vivienne Langford, say that again. I dare you."

"What does it matter whether we go public or not? We know what we are. Do you really have to be this vain?"

Even now. Even after all of this, he thought I was the vain one.

Disgust rose in my chest like bile.

"I could say it eight hundred more times and it wouldn't change a thing."

"Anthony, I quit. I'm done being your assistant, and I'm done being with you. We're over."

The air around us froze solid.

Bianca examined her freshly painted nails and let out a mocking laugh.

"Viv, why be so petty about this? In this industry, fake couples are everywhere. Sometimes the act even becomes real. It's totally normal."

"Anthony was just looking out for me because I've been struggling on my own. He only wanted to help boost my profile a little."

"But since you're so upset about it, why don't you just announce your relationship too? Here, I'll help."

Before I could get a word out, she opened a livestream on her phone.

In less than thirty seconds, fans flooded into the room by the thousands.

Bianca pouted at the camera, the picture of wounded innocence.

"Guys, you would not believe how possessive some assistants are over their own artists."

"This girl just stormed up to me, insisting that she's Anthony's real girlfriend. Honestly, it looked like she was about to hit me if I didn't agree."

"Ugh, so scary. Fine, whatever she says goes. I guess I'm the fake one then."

The moment she finished, fans from both camps flooded the comments. Every single one was aimed at me.

"LOL, everyone knows Anthony is the hottest name in the industry right now. Some glorified coffee girl thinks she can climb her way up? Delusional much?"

"No mirror at home? My girl Bianca is Anthony Gilbert's confirmed girlfriend. Some broke nobody like you actually has the nerve to show up and play the main character?"

"Lady, you better stay in your lane. Touch our girl and we'll snap those grubby little fingers right off."

I almost laughed from the sheer absurdity of it.

Bianca didn't give me a chance to speak. She shut off the livestream.

She clapped a hand over her mouth in mock surprise, eyes glittering with triumph.

"Oh no, I already told them who you are, and they still didn't believe it?"

"Viv, it seems like everyone else can see it too. You're just a gold digger trying to climb the ladder. But hey, you should own it, right? You're not going to be mad about it, are you?"