3. Revenge Served Cold

MARISSA

“Somebody! Security! Get this woman out of here! There is a beggar lurking around the premises!” Tina shouted so loudly that several heads turned at once. Her voice shook with rage, and she looked so flustered that it was almost entertaining.

She was trembling, her face blotchy with anger and confusion. Watching her lose control felt like a reward I had earned.

“Beggar?” I repeated, raising my brow slowly. “Do I look like one to you?” My voice carried that mocking tone I knew would cut her deeper than anything else.

Tina opened her mouth, closed it again, then took a few harsh breaths. She stared at me from head to toe, but instead of finding anything insulting to point out, she only looked even more confused.

The guests began whispering.

“Oh my, listen to Tina calling her a beggar,” a woman whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “But she does not look like one at all. Look at her dress. Look at her jewelry. Her skin is so smooth and her body looks like what supermodels try so hard to achieve.”

“Wait. I recognize that dress,” another person said. “It was shown at the Monterio Fashion Week last week. It was the one that topped the entire show and replaced the veterans. I heard it is not even on the market yet. But she is wearing it.”

More whispers followed.

“Then does that mean she is not an ordinary woman?” someone asked. “Maybe she is Queen. The designer everyone talks about but has never seen.”

“There is nobody like Queen,” a girl said breathlessly. “She is on another level. And I heard she will attend tonight’s event. She is finally going to show her face.”

All their voices drifted straight to Tina. Every single word slammed into her like a slap.

Her hands curled into fists. “I do not care,” she snapped. “I have never seen her in Greenville. She is a nameless bitch. A desperate con woman who wants attention.”

“Just because you are too slow to recognize people who are far above your league does not change the fact that you do not belong in my class, Tina.” I smiled lightly, enjoying the panic she tried to hide.

“You crazy bitch, I will…” Tina hissed.

She grabbed a glass of champagne from a nearby table, lifted it, and was just seconds away from throwing it at me when someone stepped directly into the path of the drink.

The liquid splashed across silk.

A stunned silence fell.

“How dare you!” the man thundered. His voice rumbled across the entire hall.

Tina froze. The color drained from her face. “Mr Smith… I… I did not mean to….” The glass slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a sharp sound. I quietly looked away, hiding a smile.

People gasped.

“Have you gone crazy!” Donovan Smith barked at her, shaking the champagne off his clothing with clear disgust.

“Mr Smith, I am so sorry, this woman…”

I didn’t let her finish when I chimed in with a very low voice.

“Mr Smith…This crazy woman came at me and accused me of things and I was terrified and…”

I let my shoulders shake slightly and lowered my gaze. I was acting, and they were all falling for it.

“She attacked you?” Donovan pointed at me with outrage. “My honored guest?”

The crowd murmured louder. Tina looked like she was about to collapse.

“What is going on here?” a familiar voice asked.

My entire body stiffened for a moment. I turned.

Tristan.

His expression was shocked, almost panicked, and he hurried over to Donovan without even noticing me at first.

I kept my breathing steady. I felt like rushing at him and hitting him till he bled. Inflict times ten of the pain he gave me over the years. But that wasn’t the plan. I had waited ten long years. I had better ways to make him bleed.

“Mr Smith, are you alright?” he asked quickly.

“That woman dared to attack my honored guest,” Donovan said, jabbing a finger toward Tina.

The room exploded with whispers, and Tina’s face broke apart in pure horror as everyone stared at her.

Tristan had not seen me yet. He turned to look at Tina.

“Babe, it was a mistake. I was trying to make sure…”

“What have you done! Spilling drink on Mr Smith! Do you want Vance Fashion House to suffer!” Tristan snapped at her.

Oh wow. I watched in relish.

Tristan was capable of yelling at his sweet girl and humiliating her like this, I thought.

This was only the beginning. I would torment both of you so badly that you would wish you never used me in your sick game.

“Tristan, believe me…”

“Shut up!” Tristan berated as Tina shrank back.

Tristan turned to look at Mr Smith.

“Mr Smith, please forgive my girlfriend’s rudeness. I beg you. If there is any way for me to make up for this, I promise I will do anything.” Tristan joined his palms together.

Whispers grew through the crowd, and some people flashed their cameras at them, trying to capture the highlight of the event.

Tina, the belle of the night, the supermodel and queen of Greenville, was about to lose her throne all because she had angered Mr Donovan Smith. Of course she would never imagine a day like this would come.

“Forget about me. This woman here is very important to me. And your foolish and clueless girlfriend dared to attack her!” Mr Donovan pointed at me as I quickly feigned a distressed look and held my head.

“Mr Smith, it is fine. I do not want to be the reason for a mess tonight. I will just leave and…”

“No. No, you cannot! Please, I beg you, Miss Walters.” It felt like Donovan’s world was about to crush when I suggested leaving.

“Miss Walters?” I heard Tristan repeat as he turned to look at me.

Our eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, I felt it. I felt that he recognized me. And instead of the joy that comes when your beloved sees you, I felt only rage.

“Beg her! Beg for her forgiveness or I will make sure Vance Fashion House burns before the night ends!” Mr Smith’s voice thundered again.

“Marissa?” Tristan called out, uncertain as he began to walk toward me.

I did not flinch. I did not show any emotion. I only smiled.

“What? How is she Marissa?” Tina asked with a shocked look.

“Marissa, is that you?” Tristan asked again. “How do you look so different?”

“Do I know you from before?” I asked, tilting my head as if his gesture made me uncomfortable.

“What trick are you trying to play, Vance? If she walks out of this room tonight, then you will see another side of me,” Donovan threatened again.

That is it, I thought with a smirk.

I just need to walk out of this room, express extreme anger, and that one move will crush everything this man holds dear.

Revenge had never felt sweeter. And yet, we had not even reached the peak.