I See Red

Chapter 4: I See Red.

Austin Lowell, you messed with the wrong woman.

Today, Austin was going to be smiling and spewing lies through his crooked front teeth at Senator Grant Whitmore's press conference after tarnishing my image and reputation the way he did?

Absolutely fucking not. Not if I can help it.

My car's speed limit had gone in the red and I was deaf to Uncle Marcus's calls that came every two seconds. I'd forgotten he said he was dropping by today.

Well, I'm not picking up until I've done what I have in mind. Knowing my uncle, he's only going to try and convince me not to.

Hell no.

Because of that sorry excuse for a man, I spent the whole night explaining everything to a confused Raymond, over the phone at three in the morning. It was all a huge lie crafted by his wife and my ex-husband to make themselves seem like the victims.

Austin had gone on national media, painted me as the villain, claimed I had slept with my cousin’s husband? The audacity. The evil.

The worst part? The press had eaten it up. Just another juicy scandal. Just another jilted woman in a designer coat and expensive lipstick.

My hands were shaking. From rage. From humiliation. From finally snapping.

My hands were still shaking as I marched through the double doors of the downtown Hilton ballroom. The room reeked of lies and old money—senators, their plastic-smiling skinny wives, donors in glittering watches and shoes made for trampling on the truth.

On stage, Austin was right where he loved to be—behind the podium, flashing his politician’s smile, standing just behind Senator Grant Whitmore, who was spouting empty words about family values.

“Family values?” I yelled. “You want to talk about family values, Austin?”

The press was here. Cameras. Microphones. And I was in a pair of ripped jeans and a black tank top that I didn’t plan to wear out of the house. My hair was in a french plait and I didn't even have any make-up on.

But I walked straight down the aisle.

Austin caught sight of me from the stage. His smile flickered. “Serena, not here—”

“No, Austin. Exactly here.”

He raced down the stage and grabbed me by the elbow. “Shut up and get out, Serena. Do not create a scene. We'll talk about this later.” He hissed.

“Get your filthy hands off me!” I slapped him.

“Serena, we can talk about—”

“Don't Serena me!”

The microphone screeched as I grabbed it out of Senator Whitmore’s hands.

Gasps echoed. Phones went up. A few interns tried to stop me, but I stood my ground, eyes locked on my ex-husband.

Delaney was even present in the audience. Perfect.

“You want to tell lies, Austin?” My voice didn’t shake. “Tell the press I slept with Delaney’s husband?”

Austin’s jaw clenched. “This isn’t the time—”

“Because you didn’t think I’d speak up? Because I was the silent one in our marriage?” My voice sliced the air. “You were the one screwing my cousin in our bed, even before the divorce, and when I walked in, you had the audacity to look offended!”

Senator Whitmore’s eye twitched. The press ate it up.

“I was a virgin when I married you, Austin. I never touched anyone else. And you didn’t just cheat, you plotted a smear campaign to ruin my image and career.” I let the words hang. “You spun it. You spun everything. Just like your speeches. Just like your promises. Fake.”

Someone whispered “Jesus Christ” behind the cameras.

Austin took a step toward me, trying to keep his voice low. “Serena, you need to walk away. You’re making a scene.”

“No. I’m giving you one.” I looked at the Senator. “Senator Whitmore, sir, my ex-husband used to tell me how much he despised you. He said you were a criminal and a no good cheat. He told me about your mistress in Tokyo and the other one in Michigan. He always lamented about how difficult it was cleaning up your reputation and prepping you for campaign after the numerous assault allegations against you. Your wife filed a lawsuit against you anonymously with Austin's help for domestic violence and assault. You see? I'm not a liar. But he is.

He also said his job is only easier thanks to the fat paycheck.”

Austin gasped louder than the press and the senator's wife. “Serena! What the fuck is your problem?!”

“You're my problem. You started this, I'm just returning the favour.”

“Do you know what you just did?” He whispered. “Why do this here, Serena?”

“Oh, but it was the perfect place for you to lie?” I barked. “To smear my name, ruin my career, trash me so you could keep your fake-clean image?”

I shoved the mic back into the senator’s hands, who looked like he might faint. Then I turned, strutted past the shocked faces and murmurs, and as I passed the conference table littered with expensive corporate “thank-you” baskets, I paused.

There it was. A bottle of twenty-year-old Glenfiddich scotch tucked between chocolates and dried fruits.

I grabbed it without hesitation.

“Consider this compensation,” I said sweetly, flashing a smile at Austin as I lifted the bottle. “You already screwed me over, might as well let me drink for free.”

Then I walked out.

~~~~~~~

At home, I kicked off my shoes, poured two fingers of scotch into a glass, and then skipped the glass entirely and drank straight from the bottle.

The sting was glorious.

I laughed. Loud and bitter and wild.

“I guess I should request an autograph now.”

I glanced at the doorway to where Kyle was leaning with his arms folded, watching me in amusement.

“Go away, kylie.”

He walked in and sat on the couch right in front of where I sat cross-legged on the floor.

“I saw you on TV… that was badass, roomie.” He grinned, taking the bottle from me and taking a gulp.

I snatched the bottle from his hands. “I just told my ex-husband and a senator to shove their fake values up their asses in front of six cameras and thirty reporters.”

Kyle blinked once. “So… a fun night it is.”

I kept on drinking.

“Slow down, sweetheart.”

“Don't call me that.”

“You look like you murdered someone,” he said casually.

I lifted the bottle in a mock toast. “Worse. I committed political suicide.”

His brow twitched. “What happened?”

I took a long swig then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Austin aired a video of me hugging Delaney’s husband and implied I was sleeping with him.”

Kyle blinked. “Are you?”

I glared at him. “I’m a virgin, Kyle.”

That made him pause and sit straighter. “That makes no sense. Weren't you married?”

“I was. Still didn't change anything. Five years of trying… I was stupid to think he was faithful.”

“You aren't stupid.”

“I am. Frigid, naive and stupid.”

He frowned, “You're not frigid, Serena. That's bullshit.”

I shrugged. “Not that it matters. The world already decided I’m a whore.”

Kyle slid off the couch and came closer. “You're shaking.”

“I’m angry.”

“You’re drunk.”

“I don't care.”

I put the bottle to my lips but Kyle pushed it away.

“Stop.”

“Get lost, Kyle.”

I placed the bottle on my lips again but he snatched it away, this time replacing it with his lips.

I froze… but only for a minute.