Chapter Ten
Claudia could not believe her and Carly's half-baked scheme was working. Here they were, in Manhattan, at a Crimson gala, ready to tear Kate Howard's life apart. For good, this time.
The ballroom where the gala was being held was full to bursting with A-list fashion moguls rubbing shoulders with one another, each of them already on their second glass of wine.
"Where is Kate?" asked Carly, sneaking over to Claudia, who was once again incognito. Except this time she wasn't a sneaky super agent. She was the last thing she had ever expected to be in her entire life: a waitress.
Claudia smiled, balancing a tray of hors d'oeuvres on one hand as she talked to Carly. "She had some car trouble," was all she said.
Carly frowned. "Wait, I didn't know you knew anything about cars."
Claudia smirked. "I don't."
Carly grinned along with her. Claudia was an evil genius. She loved it. "So, how's waitressing going?"
"It sucks," said Claudia, shifting her weight from her right to her left foot. "My feet are killing me. Remind me to have your job next time."
"It's not my fault you didn't wear good shoes," Carly said in an "I-told-you-so" voice, shaking her head.
Claudia couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Good shoes? Carly, open your eyes. These are Armani originals. They don't even make them anymore."
"I mean, shoes you can stand in for more than five minutes," snapped Carly.
"Look, I had to put on a stupid outfit for this," said Claudia, gesturing at her oversized blouse, straight black pants, and black apron. "The least you could let me do is wear my own shoes."
"Fine, but stop complaining to me about it," said Carly.
"I let you wear my Versace dress," said Claudia. "Don't make me regret lending it to you."
Carly hugged the dress protectively to her. This had been what Claudia was talking about when they had slashed the outfits in the warehouse. When Kate saw Carly in Claudia's dress, and Claudia right beside her, she'd be too confused to understand how it had all happened.
"Look, Kate needs to get here soon," said Carly. "These people aren't going to wait much longer."
"They will if we give them something to gossip about," said Claudia.
"I thought we weren't starting that until Kate got here," said Carly, confused.
Claudia shrugged. "Look, I'm not sure what I exactly did to Kate's car. I cut a few wires, that's it. She could be awhile. Just start now, and hopefully they'll all be drunk and angry enough to give her hell."
"How do we know they'll get angry?" asked Carly. "Remember the model party? They were drunk and happy."
"Which is why I always have a plan B," said Claudia.
Carly just stared at her. "You never have a plan B."
"This whole experience has not only been fun, but educational," said Claudia, reaching into one of her apron pockets and pulling out yet another mixed CD.
"You and your mixed CDs," said Carly, taking it from her and looking at the songs listed on the back. She was shocked by some of what she saw. "Whoa, you are so not bonding with my kids over music."
Claudia grinned. "Ya like?"
"This is worse than the model party," said Carly, just staring at it.
"You're welcome," said Claudia, smiling. "Now, go start your rumor spreading. I have more drinks to spike."
"What is it with you and lacing people's drinks?" asked Carly. "I mean, I know you're a sociopath, but really?"
"Relax," said Claudia. "It's tequila this time, not Monster."
"Tequila?" asked Carly. "What's that gonna do?"
"Make them drunker, faster," said Claudia. "And they'll probably have more if you would start your part of the job."
She was right. If Carly didn't hop to it, not only tonight, but the entire week would have been a waste. This was what it was all leading up to: Kate's final downfall. And if she didn't do her part, it wouldn't happen.
Carly made her way over to a man and a woman, who were holding hands and staring around the room, obviously bored out of their minds.
"Hi," she said, wanting to make conversation. They both turned towards her, taken aback by her directness. "I'm Carly, one of Kate's editors. Enjoying yourselves?"
"Not really," answered the man honestly. "When is Kate getting here?"
"Who knows?" said Carly. "I mean, she normally likes to wait 'til after the party to shoot up, but maybe she changed her routine."
The couple just stared at her, neither of them knowing what to say. Finally, the man broke the silence, saying, "I'm Joseph Buckman, and this is my wife, Wilma. I work in advertising for Crimson."
"Oh, right," said Carly, sifting through the insults that she and Claudia had prepared on their way to the gala. "Wow, Kate's told me a lot about you. But I don't think it's all true. If you hadn't said your name, I'd have no idea you had hair plugs." The couples' faces fell slack. "I mean, they look so real, you can barely notice. Kate was going on and on about how fake they were, but you really can't tell." She turned to the wife. "And it looks like you've finally gotten over your bulimia. I'm so happy for you." The wife covered her mouth in shock and disgust.
"Excuse me?" asked her husband, patting nervously at his hair. "Where did Kate get these ideas?"
"I don't know," said Carly, trying to contain her smile. "Ask her when she gets here." And she walked off, leaving the couple to stare at each other, anger evident all over their faces.
Carly walked over to two men talking in a corner, resisting the urge to do a little victory dance. When she reached them, she maintained her composure, saying, "You guys enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes," said the one man. "Is Kate planning on getting here any time soon?"
"She should be here by now," said Carly, glancing at the door. "The Saturday guy usually only lasts fifteen minutes or so."
"I'm sorry?" said the second man, not grasping the rumor yet.
"Oh, right, you wouldn't know," said Carly. "I'm one of Kate's editors, so I know almost everything about her. How do you guys know Kate?"
"We're in charge of the syndication of the European version of Crimson," said the first man. "I'm Mason Bridges, and this is Seth Bremen."
"Oh, wow, it's such an honor to meet you," said Carly, shaking each of their hands.
"So, what's this about the 'Saturday guy?'" asked Mason.
"Oh, right," said Carly, eager to gossip. "Well, ever since last year, when Kate's marriage to that mobster went downhill—you know, Sonny Corinthos?" They both nodded. Everyone knew. "Well, Kate's been feeling quite…lonely…since the accident, so every day, after most people leave, she has a, um…different male acquaintance to…give her some company."
The men just stared at each other. Neither of them had been expecting this.
"So, Mason and Seth," said Carly, letting them figure the rest out for themselves, "it's so great you could come. And together. You know, I personally believe that everyone should feel good about their choices, and here you two are, not afraid of what people might think."
"What are you talking about?" asked Seth.
"It's okay, I don't judge," said Carly. "I think it's a shame that people do. Kate's prejudiced, you know. I'm surprised either of you made it that far up in the company. You must be very good at what you do."
"Hold up," whispered Mason. "Are you saying that Kate thinks we're gay?"
"No need to be ashamed," said Carly, trying so hard not to laugh. "Wear it loud, wear it proud, I always say."
"But we're not gay," said Seth quietly, hoping no one would hear.
"That's not what Kate said," said Carly in a sing-song voice as she turned and walked away.
The rest of the rumors were just as big of successes as the first two. Carly believed that she'd lowered the self-esteem of twenty people, broken apart five couples, and caused everyone else to eat almost all of the hors d'oeuvres Claudia was serving, or to not take another one. No matter what lie they had been told, everyone had had at least two more glasses of Claudia's tequila-spiked wine by the end of Carly's rounds.
"We rock," said Claudia, leaning against the wall with an empty tray, watching as people argued, complained, and cried over the rumors that Carly had spread. Carly stood next to her, proud of herself, when the guest of honor made her not-so-fashionably late entrance.
Every head turned towards the door, with Claudia and Carly blending in with the well-to-do crowd, not ready for Kate to see them just yet. The room was deathly silent, a few people leaning on chairs and each other for support.
"Thank you, everybody, for coming," said Kate, looking frazzled. "I'm sorry I'm late. I had some car trouble."
"Yeah, car trouble," sniggered Mason Bridges. "We all know what you were doing. Or should I say who?"
"What, you just start spreading rumors about people's sexuality and then show up late to your own party?"
Before Kate could say that she didn't know what people were talking about, someone else shouted, "Yeah, and since when have I cheated on my wife with you? I don't even like you!"
The shouts kept coming. "You think I'm too skinny? Take a look in the mirror, whore!"
"And you think my layout skills suck? Try looking at your own crappy magazine!"
"Who gave you the right to tell lies about some drug addiction I had?"
"Yeah, we all know you do heroin!"
"People, please!" Kate shouted, as the entire group, minus Carly and Claudia, started to converge on her. "I have no idea what any of you are talking about!"
"I'm quitting!" someone yelled.
"So am I!"
"I'm going back to Couture! At least Giselle knew how to treat her employees with respect!"
"You have no right to spread rumors about anyone! You were about to marry a mobster, for God's sakes!"
Kate just stood there as everyone made their drunken steps forward. She looked over the crowd, trying to find someone to help her, when her eyes landed on Claudia, in her waitress garb and awesome shoes, and Carly, in the Versace dress. Her face turned red in fury. Over the din of the complaining employees, her voice was lost, but neither Claudia nor Carly could mistake what her mouth said. "You."
Claudia and Carly each gave a little wave to Kate, embraced each other, leaving Kate to fight off the crowd on her own.
Finally, the Glacial One had gotten, not just a taste, but an overdose of her own medicine.