Chapter five

EMILY'S POV

The media practically blew up with stories and rumours about the tension between me and Rudy at the gala. There were multiple pictures of us holding hands and talking looking intimately at each other.

That only meant that my plan had worked perfectly. And the public was eating it up.

They called Rudy my knight in shining armour. Of course there were some speculations of it being fake. But they weren't enough to cause an actual problem.

Nevertheless, I was excited.

“This is incredible. Absolutely incredible.”.  My mother was ecstatic. “This is just a step. You need to take more action. The press might shock us with a bad review. I'm already seeing people calling the food stale”

I giggled. People would always talk. But the main thing was me and Rudy getting the public's attention. And it was working well.

He did some work in the background though. I don't know how he got those skills but they had always come in handy, so I got used to it.

“The plan is actually… working”. Rudy said as he read the other articles by journalists.

I couldn't read his expression though, it was along the lines of surprise and uneasiness.

“Are you okay”. He stood up and walked around.

“I'm fine really. Just didn't expect it to escalate so quickly”

“True but it works in our favour.”. He nodded after my statement.

“Well I'd just be on my way now. I had to stop by to check up on you and now I have some business to attend to”. He said as he stood up to get ready to leave.

Before I could say goodbye his phone chimed.

He took out his phone and stared at the notification blindly. I noticed his uneasiness.

“Are you okay?”. He didn't say anything, he just handed his phone to me.

I took the phone confused but when I saw what was on the screen my confusion turned to shock. I was mortified.

Ricardo was being interviewed by a popular news station and he was talking about the gala.

“You uhh. You were in attendance at the Cortez family's gala two days ago.”

“Yes I was.”.

“People are calling it the gala of the year. It's rivalling the other social gatherings held by any other elite family in the country.”

Ricardo chuckled at the presenter's words. As if what he was saying wasn't true.

“Why the amused look? You don't agree with me?”.

“Oh well. Yes it was nice. But I have seen better. I feel it was just a way to get the public's eye off the main thing. But I might be wrong.”

His words made my blood run cold. How dare he say such things?

“Wow. And what are your thoughts on the rumours surrounding Emily and Rudy's relationship.”

“I don't have any thoughts concerning that. But let's see what they have to offer us shall we. The drama will unfold eventually-”

I switched off the phone immediately and let out a loud scream.

“He… he has no right to do this! How dare he say such things on live television”. I strTed throwing things around, attracting the attention of my mother.

Before I knew it I broke down into tears. Why was this happening? He has already done a lot to me. Why do this too? What was his aim?

I started crying painfully. This was going to cause another social uproar.

Rudy came to my side and held me gently while my mother paced around wondering what to do.

“It's okay, just calm down. Please”. Rudy's voice was calm and comforting. But it wasn't enough to ease the pain I felt.

Not from heart break, no

But from shame. From the knowledge that my whole life was falling apart just because of one family.

And the only thing I could think of was why? Why would they do this? What had I done to deserve this?

“I'll make them pay”. My voice cracked through my tears.

“Wh-what”. Rudy asked worriedly.

My mother stared at me knowingly.

My eyes looked fierce and unforgiving. They had bitten more than they could chew and I wasn't going to continue crying. Or feeling self pity. I'd bite back. I'd strike back.

I'd show them that the Cortex pack wasn't as weak as the thought.

“They have messed with the wrong pack. They have stepped on the wrong foot”.

My mother smiled with satisfaction as the words came out of my mouth.

“You know what to do child. Make them regret the day they crossed us.” She said as her hand rested on my shoulder.

Rudy sensed a change in my demeanor. He knew they had reached their limit with me.

“Make them regret the day they crossed you. Emily Cortez”. My mother continued as she leaned into my ear.

“The Alpha of the Cortez Pack”