Since Emily Thorne had arrived at The Hamptons, Victoria had felt there was something different about the new girl in town. Victoria knew from the beginning that Emily could not be trusted. The way that those hooded brown eyes of hers would look right through you, the way they would make you feel like she was always watching – Emily was most certainly hiding something.

Everyone assumed that Victoria despised Emily, for this was what Victoria was trying to make everyone believe. However, Victoria was a brilliant actress when circumstances required. It was all an act. She didn't hate Emily; she knew exactly how she felt towards the girl, yet she could not admit it to herself. She had tried to convince herself over and over again that she hated Emily Thorne. She repeatedly told herself that Emily was a cunning and deceitful woman with ulterior motives, but it was no use.

No amount of false hatred or pretending could erase what Victoria really felt. It was Victoria who was hiding something.

"You okay, babe?"

Emily jumped. She hadn't noticed Daniel standing behind her.

"I'm fine," she replied calmly. "Just feeling stressed about everything that still has to be organized for the wedding," Emily was a fabulous liar.

Daniel sat down next to her on the steps. "Hey," he smiled. "Everything will work out just fine. This is going to be the best day of our lives,"

"Yeah, I know," she kissed him on the cheek. "You always know how to make me feel better." Emily felt like laughing out loud. It amused her to think that Daniel was totally oblivious to the fact that their wedding day was going to be one of the worst days of his life. Little did he know that he would soon be watching his dear mother being arrested for the murder of Daniel's newly wedded wife.

Suddenly, Emily's phone rang.

"Hello, Emily. It's Victoria,"

"Victoria," Emily took a deep breath.

"I am calling to confirm that our plans for shopping tomorrow are still in order,"

"They certainly are," replied Emily, faking a smile. "Tell Charlotte I'm very much looking forward to it,"

"Wonderful. Have a pleasant evening, Emily."

Hanging up the phone, Emily felt a chill run down her spine. Shopping with Victoria and Charlotte was the last thing she wanted to be doing when she had so much to organise, but Victoria had insisted that Emily have a day of indulgence and retail therapy to calm her pre-wedding nerves. Emily had agreed without hesitation. She needed to spend as much time with Victoria as possible before the wedding to make sure that everything would work out correctly for her plan.

"Listen," started Daniel. "I know you two don't get along very well, but I hope that after the wedding we can smooth things out a little,"

"Oh, you mean your mother?" replied Emily. "I can already feel that she is beginning to like me more, Daniel. After the wedding, things will be just perfect."

She turned, hiding her smile.

Emily stared at her reflection in the enormous, wall-sized mirror. Victoria and Charlotte sat outside her changing room, waiting eagerly as Emily tried on dress after dress. Black, red, blue, patterned, striped – it felt as though she had tried on everything in the store so far. Emily had collected her wedding dress several days ago and now she needed the perfect dress for the reception being held afterwards. However, nobody but Emily and her allies knew the reception would turn terribly awry. Nobody but Emily and her allies knew that the entire night, and the lives of all involved, would be destroyed by the sound of gunshots and the smell of blood.

"What do you think of this dress?" Emily said innocently.

Victoria and Charlotte glanced up.

"You look so beautiful," said Charlotte with admiration, her large eyes shining as she smiled.

Emily observed herself carefully in the mirror again. Out of all the dresses she had tried on, she felt that this one was best suited to her. It was a tight-fitted dress that hung just above the knees. It was as black as the midnight sky, with white detailing across the shoulders and bodice.

"Your opinion, Victoria?"

Emily felt Victoria's dark eyes scanning her body in the dress. She suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable and vulnerable, as if Victoria was analysing and judging everything about her.

"It looks fabulous." Unbeknownst to Emily, Victoria's heart was pounding.

The two women looked at each other coldly. Not a word was exchanged, but it was as if a thousand words had been said. Emily then purchased her dress and the three decided to stop at The Black Olive Café. They drank coffee and ate expensive sandwiches while discussing wedding table arrangements and the weather.

Victoria and Charlotte arrived home. Together they walked into the dining hall together to find Conrad and Daniel in the middle of a business-related conversation, with paperwork and folders spread out across the large table. They were discussing Grayson Global's latest investment prospects. Conrad stood and grinned as he saw his wife and daughter enter the room.

"Ah, good afternoon, my two darlings. I suspect that your spontaneous outing was a success?"

Victoria smiled and poured herself a cup of tea. "That depends on what you mean by 'success', Conrad. Perhaps Charlotte would like to share her thoughts about the day,"

Charlotte glared at her mother. "Sometimes I just don't understand you,"

"What do you mean, Charlotte?" replied Victoria.

"You were the one who organised this trip today, yet you made it miserable for Emily with your unfriendliness. I can see through your lies – you didn't think any of those dresses looked good on her. You made her feel so uncomfortable!"

Victoria rolled her eyes. "How dare you, Charlotte. I will soon be that woman's mother-in-law. I have to make an effort with her whether I desire to or not,"

"Yes, I know that, but you can at least be nice about it. No matter how much you dislike Emily, she is part of our family now,"

"Come on, Charlotte. Lay off," started Daniel. "Try not to worry about it."

Victoria stormed up to her bedroom and took a seat at the end of her king-sized bed. She felt confused, ashamed and angry. She ran her hands through her long, silk-like black hair, sighing in frustration. She could not deny it any longer – enough was enough. It was true that everyone believed she hated Emily, but only Victoria knew exactly how she felt towards the young woman. Images of Emily in the dresses at the store returned to Victoria in flashbacks. The way her body looked in the wall-sized mirror. The way the black, lacy material hugged her curves. Her slender, manicured hands. The secretive desire she felt. The strange, intense longing. The envy she had of both Emily and her own son. The fact that she could not get Emily out of her mind.

Suddenly everything made sense. Victoria closed her eyes.

I want her. And I am going to do whatever it takes to have her.