~BOOK ELEVEN~

~BOOK ELEVEN~

(24/4 12.20am)

Who is the winner and who is the loser?

The sun rays was indeed welcoming every single paparazzi, guests, and the waiters. It warmed everyone in that very foyer unleashing an aura of harmony and pleasureful. The seat next to the star, Zoe was still empty. Now and then, she checked her mobile phone in case if there were any message or a call or something. It looked as if she was expecting something or maybe even someone. Then Miss Zara, Zoe's manager requested for one last question before the session was over. This was the time. It was the time to get to the most ultimate question. The last question. It has got to be something very deep and a twist and not just any other question like "What did you feel about the song?" or "Do you think you did enough for the song?". It has got to be than just about the song. It has got to be something that gave all the other paparazzi, reporters, guests and even the waiters to be all ears to get every single word uttered by the star herself. 

     "Ah, Sarah! You made it! I was expecting you! At last you turned up!" yelled Zoe from her seat getting up as soon as she saw her housemate entering the foyer. 

Sarah, though having a party to celebrate their another-successful-issue-publication had to go to the Zoe Miranda's latest debut release press conference. As she arrived at the foyer and being noticed by her friend, Zoe, she got a little more excited. Well, she thought she could get a shot in getting her to answer a question, and if was definitely going to be about her love life and that she had also planned to create some sort of controversy. The thing is, Zoe had another plan.

     "So Sarah, since you finally came, I'd like you to have the honour to ask one last question before this conference is over. You would like to, right?" Zoe said.

Zoe's phone vibrated with a beep and she smiled at what she saw in her phone.

Sarah thought this was the time. She knew this was the time to take her rival down. A friend can be a foe at times, regardless of time, place, and even the situation. After all, in every competition, there is ought to be one winner and one loser or perhaps losers. And so, in this case, Sarah knew that she will win and her good friend, housemate, Zoe is going to loose.

     "Oh yes! Sure, I would like to have the honour! Its always thrilling to be the last one to give the question. It creates a little more suspense and curiosity. Oh ya, not to forget...." Sarah was just about to finish her line when:

     "Oh hold on Sarah. Give me a minute. Ladies and gentlemen, friends and everybody, today, in the release of my new single, I would also like to release, well not exactly release, but to announce the love of my life, the shadow behind me all this while, the backbone I always depend on, the man of my life...Brandon, could you come up here?" Zoe said proudly and loud enough for everyone to hear.

Brandon smiled all the way up on stage. Let us not forget, he has been planning a course on to destroy her. In case if you do not know, Brandon was left by his mother for another man at the age of three. Apparently this woman who left him had to transform from a butterfly into a moth, in other words a rich man's wife to a full time housewife during the recession. This man had a daughter and that little girl who was also a victim of abuse by this moth was no other than Zoe herself. So, Brandon clenched his fists and then let it go and walked up with chests up to take his seat beside Zoe.

Sarah was silent. She could not believe what was she seeing at the moment. She squinted her eyes and drank the champagne in her glass to the last so that she would think that it was just a dream or a vision. However, it did not seem like a dream to her, even to Brandon. To Sarah, it was unbelievable. She was taken advantage upon. She was treated merely like an object of humiliation. And to Brandon, it was an opportunity that had been granted to him.  He knew the plans were working. His search all this time hadn't gone to waste. Although he could not get the real woman; his mother, but a child who stole her love that was supposed to be for Brandon himself was more than enough. He smiled all the way up.

Cameras were flashing. Guests were clapping. Everyone was indeed warmed not only by the sun rays but by the acknowledgement of Zoe Miranda's man. Well, everyone except for one. Sarah.

~BOOK TEN~

~BOOK TEN~

(7/4 12.52am)

Champagne and Red Wine.

The entire event had been in a all white and green theme. The entrance of the music studio that recorded the original track of Zoe's latest single had this arc made of twigs and metal wires. Long green pointy leaves were draped over the arc and then white lilies covered the tiny visible spots left by the leaves. The scent from the lilies made you wonder about the sweetest thing you have ever had in your life. A white velvet carpet had been placed just right outside the front door to invite the important people and guests. Well, Zoe Miranda was the person to be highlighted here. The white carpets had dark green borders at the edges and sides with tiny gold printed geometrical shapes. It looked rather like a Persian carpet. After all, it was just for the theme and also the event. The carpet did nothing much but being made into a pathway for all these important people to walk on. Glass heels, wooden wedges, and black polished shoes left slight footsteps on the white piece of material. It ought never to be used again. Poor carpet.

At the foyer a mini platform had been installed with a long table and four chairs. They had this long white satin cloth covering the table with sea green tassels dangling at the bottom. A vase of the same white lilies and the same white green pointy leaves was placed on the table. Mics were set up.A wine glass with white wine, better known as champagne, again to fit the theme.  Four metal chairs. One for Zoe herself, her manager, Miss Zara, her recording studio manager, Mr Humprey and the other was empty. No one knew whom was it for, but it was just empty.

Paparazzi's, reporters, journalists, and other people were all gathered and seated at the wooden benches provided right in the middle of the foyer where the ceilings were transparent and the sunlight rays glamorously passed through the panels and warmed everyone to a sunny mood.

Everyone was there. Even Zoe, her manager and the place's manager too. Three people but with four chairs. And after everyone settled, the host made his appearance with a sneak peek of one of Zoe's previous hit song. Everyone giggled including the beauteous Zoe herself. She took a sip of the champagne and then took out her mobile and messaged someone. With a smile, she stuffed the phone back into her clutch and paid attention to the gorgeously looking host.

"Hellloooo everybody. Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the debut launch of "Show Me" by the one and and only, the gorgeous, the sizzling, the demure elegant, the diva, the greatest of all, Zoe Miranda!!!" he said.

The fellow journalists and reporters clapped and then cameras began flashing 30 times a second.

"A bit exaggerating, isn't he heh?" Miss Zara whispered to Zoe while adjusting her spectacles.  

Zoe was just laughing the whole while. The seat beside her remained happy. She was not anxious about who was supposed to seat on it. It seemed she knew the person. Or  maybe, reserved the person the seat.

She was only smiling and laughing the whole time. The warm sunny rays from the sun did warm everyone up, including our Zoe Miranda.

Meanwhile....

The staffs and the General Director of Socks was already there. They were munching on tidbits and drinking red wine. Sarah was there too. Though being shocked of the response given by her best friend, housemate, Zoe, Sarah remained professional. She does not let her personal events rupture her mind during at work. But deep in, Sarah had a plan. Another plan. 

"You like him eh? Well we shall see who does he choose over?" Sarah monologued and sipped off the last bit of wine of glass before reaching for more.

"An artist who had been abused mentally and physically with nothing more to live on besides the grudge on her mother which was the reason why she became an artist or a chief writer for the top three magazine in town whose life maybe simple with nothing much besides to live as a future world renowned magazine editor-in-chief," again she spoke to herself while pouring the bloody red drink to her glass.

"Sarah & Brandon Co."

That was the name of their future magazine company, thought Sarah who had been planning all this.

It was a plan indeed. A plan soon to succeed.