Tell It Like It Is
Chapter 16
It didn't take Lizzy long to remember why she hated this office. She hated the sticky leather chairs that were impossible to get comfortable in. She hated the stupid receptionist that looked down on her just because she wasn't wearing Prada. She hated all the pictures of Melanie Slaide, with every famous person the girl had ever met, that were plastered everywhere. But most of all, she hated that while she was waiting to get into Melanie Slaide's office he walked out of her office with a smug grin.
"Christian?" she called from her seat as he walked, or really more like swaggered, past her.
The skinny man whirled around and looked at her, his grin not flickering for a moment. "Lizzy. What's up?" he said smoothly.
She shot him a questioning look that was wasted on someone of his drug status. "What are you doing here?" she asked standing up to make her presence seem more intimidating. "Please say you're not writing a book. You can't even spell your name."
He grinned again and quirked his head to the side, coincidentally in the direction of Melanie's office. "You know how it is."
Lizzy frowned, her eyebrows speaking volumes. "No, I don't think I do. Please enlighten me."
He just smiled slimily and lifted his eyebrows in unison. Then lifted them again.
"Are you implying you're fucking Melanie Slaide?" she asked, a bitterness causing her to almost spit.
He licked his lips and lifted his eyebrows again. "I didn't say a thing," he said smoothly as he winked at Melanie's receptionist and turned to go.
It was lucky for Christian that Lizzy's rapidly forming homicide plans were smashed when Melanie popped her head around the door to her office and smiled rigidly. "Lizzy! I'm so glad you're here!"
As Lizzy's attention was diverted, Christian slipped into the elevator with one last grin.
"Come into my office," Melanie said smiling and gesturing inside of the magnanimous room. "It was an unexpected surprise when you called me. Is everything going to plan?"
Lizzy wandered into the room, not knowing what emotion would be suitable for such a situation, but still trying as hard as she could to remain passive. But, her anger got the best of her. "No it's not going to plan!" she spat.
Melanie's face dropped and her disgusting smile melted. For a moment Lizzy thought she actually detected panic behind her eyes, but she was quickly diverted by the sight of Melanie's slightly smeared lipstick. Melanie Slaide was, if nothing else, supposed to be impeccable. She was to have the perfect job, the perfect fiancé, the perfect clothes, and, above all, the perfect makeup. So why on earth was little Miss Perfect smeared at the edges of her Berry Red lipstick?
"Lizzy, please have a seat." Melanie tried warily to calm the brightening spark of anger that crossed Lizzy's face.
"No," Lizzy shot back sternly. "I won't do anything."
Melanie pierced her lips. She'd only ever met broken Lizzy. She had no idea what she was getting into.
"Are you sleeping around on Will?" Lizzy asked, her eyebrows concentrated, her arms crossed, her eyes focused. She put everything she had into the glare she shot Melanie. She'd hated her from the beginning and no longer had any reason to pretend she didn't.
That's when Melanie snapped. "Listen you little, used-clothes, non-waxing slut. I know Will must have been crazy to date you in the first place, but you should know there is no way in hell he would ever leave me for you."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Lizzy asked calmly, but her face still stabbed with undeniable anger.
"I'm talking about you trying to steal my boyfriend!" Melanie practically yelled, her voice going up three notches.
"Excuse me, but I am not trying to take Will from you. I couldn't give a damn about Will. I came here to break my book deal so I could get away from Will… and you." Lizzy glared harder, but her face concealed a flicker of a smile. In an evil way she loved watching Melanie's composure jump out of the window and commit suicide. "And by the way he's your fiancé, not your boyfriend."
"It doesn't matter what he is, as long as you know he's mine. Not yours!" It was as if a beast had been released. As Melanie's anger finally escaped, her entire appearance seemed to melt with it. Her dark shiny hair pulled loose from its trendy twist and her smearing makeup framed her face in a mask, as if the cover-up had finally been ripped off and this monster lay inside.
"You sound a bit insecure about that. Are you completely sure?" Lizzy was loving this far too much. She'd been a shell for far too long and finally destroying the woman she hated with all her being brought out the devil within her that she'd hidden for all too long. It was safe to say she was enjoying every minute of it and her face creased from an angry glare to repressed laughter and mocking.
Melanie pulled on her hair in frustration causing it to stick out at all angles. It no longer resembled the primped locks of a fashionista, but the unruly mass of a lion's mane. "You fucking little slut bag."
Lizzy couldn't help but smile this time. "I'm not so sure what a "slut bag" is, Mel. Could you refresh my memory?" Melanie glared, and Lizzy's smile grew. "It can't be that hard, I'm sure you have a mirror we can use to illustrate your point. No? How about a picture of yourself? You're such an egomaniac you're bound to have at least a dozen."
Melanie was struck silent. She hadn't expected Lizzy to reply with wit. Insults she could have handled, but she did not like people laughing at her. "Get the fuck out of my office," she declared with monotonous anger.
"Oh so does this mean the book deal's off?" Lizzy smiled as she grabbed her purse that she'd dropped on one of the many chairs in the office. "That is so heartbreaking." Her voice dripped with a girlish, mocking sarcasm that Melanie couldn't even ignore.
As Lizzy reached the door she heard Melanie call out to her. "It must suck to know that your ex prefers the company of another woman. Or shall I say two of your exes."
Lizzy stopped for a second, but refused to turn around and show Melanie that her comment was not lost on her. She'd picked it up and finally knew the truth about Will's relationship was confirmed. She'd noticed something off about them, but now it all fell into place. Will's relief about Melanie's trip. Will kissing her outside her apartment. Christian's cocky grin after him and Melanie had disappeared at the restaurant.
Obviously things were even worse beneath the surface.
As she passed the confused secretary and entered the elevator she didn't know what she'd say once she got there, but she suddenly knew exactly where she needed to go.
I know what you're going to say. I know what you're going to say, but say it anyway.
The next chapter is the one that this whole story was dreamed around. I loooove it. You only get to read it if I get reviews!
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