"Oh hun! It must be so awful for you… catching them like that…and a week before your wedding! I'm so sor-"
"Ugh, just hand me my silver pumps, will you? They're over there by the armchair."
The blonde scurried over to the opposite side of the living room before peeking over her shoulder at her friend who was angrily folding her pristine blouses into the suitcase. The blonde would have been shoving her items into the bag while sobbing something ugly, but not the other woman. She was, as always, calm and collected. Everything, even when angry, had to be perfect.
"But you can't really blame the girl… I mean he is rather charming… AND a good lay… AND the son of the most powerful man in the country… so he really is irresistible," the blonde offered as she lifted up the chic pair of silver shoes. Silence. Shit what had she just said? She swallowed uneasily as she felt the cold stare of the woman across the room.
"Excuse me?"
"I mean… I… Uhm… Well… I would-" she sputtered uneasily.
"Did you sleep with him?"
The blonde could feel the venom that laced the other woman's words before turning to meet the cold and calm glare. The blonde instantly regretted ever opening her mouth, ever coming here to the apartment.
"I… uhm… it was an accident, I swear! I would have never done that to you… I mean it I-" she broke down under her friend's intense gaze.
The other woman smiled at her but it wasn't a sweet smile. The blonde knew that smile well. The blonde had watched her do it a million times and never imagined it being directed towards her.
"Oh Vanessa… Do I need to explain to you how sex works?" Vanessa shook her head, looking down at her shoes. She wanted to crawl out of her skin. The woman approached her, slowly. "Well I would hope not, since you know perfectly well it was not an accident."
"Ali! I swear it wasn't … it didn't mean anything I swear! He loves you! Everyone loves you! It was a slip up, ok? I regret it. You were out of town and he … well he wasn't getting anything from you. Oh Ali… please … I couldn't resist and-"
"My maid of honor… my best friend… sleeping with my fiancé behind my back. Well this is certainly a cliché," Alison put her hand out for the shoes. Vanessa handed them to her uncertainly. Alison took them, her eyes boring down on the blonde in front of her.
"And after all I have done for you… Well, what's in the past is in the past," Alison's smile was back on her face as she turned sharply from the blonde.
"Miss, we really should be going. We can't be late to the luncheon with the Ambassadors."
Alison smiled sweetly at the bodyguard, "Sorry, Robert, but I won't be joining them. But I'm sure Vanessa here would like to go, wouldn't you, Nessie?"
Vanessa was taken aback, "I uhm… no… Alison… I-"
"I'm sure Jeremy would love her company. She's no longer needed here."
Vanessa's fear of her friend was pushed aside as anger bubbled up inside of her, "Alison! It was a one-time thing and it was before you two were even engaged! You have to forgive me for that."
Alison turned to the blonde girl, her red lips poised in a snide smile, "Oh but Nessie, I thought you loved going to luncheons? After all, that is the reason you're here isn't it?" Alison stepped forward towards the girl, "After being friends for so long, you should know that I don't like it when people keep secrets from me. Especially ones involving my fiancée." Vanessa gulped as Alison stepped closer.
"Oh Nessie, you wouldn't even be here right now if I hadn't taken pity on you all those years ago. The fancy parties, your amazing clothes, the attention from the media; it's all because of me. No one would care about little Vanessa Myers if it weren't for me. I created you."
Vanessa bit back the tears that began to form in her eyes, "That isn't true. You're just mad because your boyfriend wanted me more than you! You're just a pretty girl on his arm. You can't please him like I do. I at least have a real body!"
Alison waved her comment away, "Please. You always want what I have. So given the chance to sleep with, as you put it, the son of the most powerful man in the country, you jumped at it. How many times is it now, Vanessa, that you've had my sloppy seconds? " Alison's smile disappeared as she stalked towards the blonde.
"And just as easily as I created the darling Vanessa Myers, I can also destroy her," Alison hissed, "You will regret ever crossing me."
Vanessa's legs were weak as she tried to stand her ground, "Your Queen Bee act won't work on me."
"Oh Hun," Alison laughed softly and shook her head before turning back to Robert.
"Robert, will you be so kind to escort Miss Myers to the luncheon? Oh and when you see Jeremy, give him this," Alison slid the diamond studded gold band off her finger and put it into the palm of Robert's hand, "and tell him that he is an asshole. You can put it in quotes so you don't get in trouble."
Robert nodded and exited the room not before casting a sorry glance at Vanessa, legs wobbling ever so slightly in her heels.
Alison looked down at her with disdain, "You can go."
Vanessa tried to muster up an intimidating glare, "You are such a bitch! You always have been one! No wonder no one really likes you. 'America's Sweetheart'? More like a fake cold hearted bitch," she sneered. Alison shot her an unforgiving smile as the blonde triumphantly left the apartment.
Alison waited for the distinct sound of the door slamming shut before she collapsed onto the white couch next to the half-full suitcase. She pinched the bridge of her nose trying to maintain her calm as she felt an unfamiliar burning behind her eyes. She pushed down the wrinkles on her green dress and reached for her phone that sat on the glass coffee table.
Her manicured fingers scrolled through her contacts before deciding on one to call. Tapping the number, she flipped her perfectly curled brown hair out of the way as she brought the phone up to her ear. After a few rings, a familiar voice answered.
"Hi Daddy, Can I come stay with you for a few days? Some… something went wrong and I just…" Alison's voice wavered over the phone, "I have my bags packed and I can just drive over. You don't need to leave work…. Thank you, Daddy. See you tonight, bye. I love you too."
Alison hung up and dropped her phone onto the cushion beside her. She stood up and continued meticulously folding a cashmere sweater before putting it into the suitcase.
"My apologies," Alexander Pierce slid his phone back into his pocket as he turned to the holograms, "My daughter: wedding issues, as usual. Now we were talking about Project: Insight, yes?" He smiled charmingly at the other members of the World Security Council.