章 1: 1_Scandal
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Drenched in the rain, Ariana stood with her fists clenched as tears rolled down her eyes, the thunder boomed and lightning struck, giving color to the dark eerie night. The noisy background of cars roaming through and fro and the sounds of rain, pattering against the bridge rail she stood on.
The white dress she wore had clung to her body due to the rain, her black ebony hair drenched and dancing in rhythm with the cold wind that somehow gave her goosebumps.
"Why, why does it always have to be me, isn't the universe acting unfair to me?" She whispered, her voice coming out hoarse as she stared down at the flowing river underneath the bridge.
Her eyes were dull and devoid of light, she looked like someone whom the weight of the world was crashing down on. Ariana couldn't see the next sense of purpose and direction.
"The feeling of hope, my every waking moment, a suffering," She said again, clenching her fist tighter so that her nails dug into her skin, forming tiny red crescent moons.
''I should just end it all, end all this pain and suffering, at least I will be numb to my misery," She said and with a step, she threw herself overboard.
The memories of everything she went through for that short portion of time flashed through her mind until she finally felt the coldness and darkness of the river pull her in.
She opened her eyes and almost gasped when she saw a silhouette right in front of her, and shockingly...it was her.
The only difference was the glimmering silvery white hair dancing in the river.
For some reason, she felt drawn to the spitting image of herself in the water, it was like a reflection. She extended her arms and so did the other her. Their fingertips touched and then there was a blinding light.
.
.
.
EARLIER THAT DAY...
Ariana's POV
The Alarm rang out and I instantly shoved it down the desk, shattering it to pieces. I sat upright with a loud groan, at times I wished I could just stay in bed forever...but that could be a bad thing.
I got up from the bed, I was in my pajamas, short pants, and a shirt that matched the shorts, it was baby pink in color and I had a nightcap on my head.
I walked Into the bathroom, took out my toothbrush, brushed my teeth, and then when I was done, I extracted the nightcap, letting my wavy ebony hair cascade down my shoulders like black waterfalls.
I stepped into the bathroom and took a relaxing bath, letting the chilled water provide comfort for my tense body. When I was accomplished, I tied a towel around my chest and used another one to dry my hair as I walked to the closet.
I opened the doors of the closet, revealing a spacious room, with designer clothes, bags, and heels all over, a huge chandelier hung in the middle of the closet, and in front of the room, there was a luxurious table where I kept my bangles, watches, necklaces and rings, all my jewelries.
I ransacked my closet, looking for something to wear and I found a white dress, it was simple and it was a sleeveless dress. I took it out, and after applying some cream to my skin and moisturizers, I slipped into the white dress, I wore it with silver heels adorned with butterfly shapes and a black leather jacket. I wore a pearl necklace and earrings and also applied some make-up.
I stared at myself in the mirror and blew a kiss, I was beautiful and I knew it. I am Ariana Kiel, the hot sensation and rising star.
Abandoned by my family for being different, born into a family of blondes, I was the only ebony-haired girl with blue eyes. While my family had green eyes and blonde hair. My parents told me terrible things about how I was switched at birth and couldn't possibly be their daughter and for that, I was bullied by my two sisters, bitter souls filled with spite and jealousy.
My car screeched to a halt, without parking at my usual spot. My brows creased and I removed my dark shades, stepping out of the car. I walked to the car parking at my personal space and I looked around, there were few workers around, and at the sight of me, they started pulling away.
"Ah, damn...she's here early,"
"I feel like she's about to cause a scene,"
"Who did this?" I asked, "Who had the fucking guts to park their car in my fucking space?!" I exclaimed causing the workers to jolt.
"It--it was me, Ma'am, I'm sorry, I--I didn't know it was your personal space," A lady said fiddling with her fingers, she looked like a new employee and she looked genuinely scared, perhaps she had heard about me.
I walked up to her slowly, like a predator advancing toward its prey, step by step so as not to scare it off. I halted when I was three feet away, I heard her screech and she bowed her head lower than they already were.
"Oh, she's so gonna get it,"
"I feel bad for her already,"
I placed my hand on her shoulder and she jolted as if she was suddenly electrocuted. "Don't ever make that mistake again, darling," I said and flashed a smile, the girl raised her head, looking at me in shock and so were the others around.
Oh come on, they knew me better than that, I might be a handful, but I'm not a bully. I turned away, putting my shades back on my face and I tossed the key to the girl.
"Park up, bitch!" I said and walked away, sashaying towards the company building.
Starlight Talent Agency, the company I work for, was at the top of the ranks for being the best actress and model and I was basically, the light bulb on the head of this special agency.
"Miss Kiel,"
A voice suddenly called behind me "Mr. Lieman," I replied with a smile. He was the boss at the agency and for some reason, he was obsessed with me. He was probably in his late thirties and a hottie but not my style.
"Okay, you're just in time for the board meeting, come on in," He said, opening the door like the gentleman that he was.
"Thank you," I said, flashing a smile.
There were about right board members seated at the round table, three women and five men.
"Our stocks are rising higher thanks to you Ari, the designs you wore at your last shoot have completely sold out, keep up the good work and you have a chance of being promoted," Henry said, with a smile and I couldn't help but wink at him.
When the meeting was over, I went to the girl's restroom and while I was washing my hand, I felt a hand on my thigh. I jolted, looking straight at the mirror and it was Henry who stood behind me.
"What--what are you doing here, this is the girl's restroom," I said, trying to mask my fear, my instincts were telling me his exact reason for being there and I didn't like it one bit.
"I saw the way you winked at me at the board meeting, does the word promotion give you such joy," He said, leaning in closer to me but I pushed him back gently.
"What's wrong baby?" He asked.
"I'm sorry if you mistook my actions for something else or I gave you the wrong signals, but the last thing I want, is a relationship with my boss, I hate being the center of attraction," I replied and tried to bypass him but he held my hand with a tight grip, pulling me back harshly that my back hit the sink.
"What are you doing, let go of me!" I exclaimed.
"I'm done chasing you Ari, you know how much I like you and everything I did for you, I made you a star and now you want to deprive me of what's truly mine?" The look in his eyes wasn't that of Henry anymore, but a psychotic man, determined to get what he wanted.
"Please don't do this," I pleaded but he forcefully kissed me. I took out a stun gun from my bag and placed it on his face, shocking him.
He groaned in pain and fell on his knees, allowing me to run out of the restroom.
I hastily went to the CEO's office to try and report Henry but what I saw on the screen stunned me a lot more than the stun gun could ever could.
"Ariana, I'm glad you're here, we need to talk," He said and I hesitantly walked in.
On the news was...me, a naked video of me, emerging out of the bathroom at my house, how did that even happen, was someone stalking me in my own home?
'Was I being spied on? Who was it? What could this person possibly want?' The questions kept coming and I kept looking at my naked self on the TV, thankfully, my body parts were blurred but my face was vividly shown and my name was boldly written on the TV's news title.
And then, Henry's face showed up causing me to crease my brows in disbelief and shock.
"She tried to seduce me, but as a married man who loved my wife, I resisted the temptation...".
"...WTF?!"
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