THE VIDEO THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

EMMA PRESCOTT.

No one warned me that a petty act of revenge against Sophia Lockwood would cost me my entire life. Hello, my name was Emma Prescott and this was the story of my life.

Monday came and I was so excited. Today, the d******d of the video was going to be complete. Today, I would finally stop being bullied by Sophia Lockwood.

I hid from everyone, standing under a tree. My bag sat on my shoulder, my fingers on the screen of my phone. The video and finished downloading. Excitement sprang through me. Finally, Sophia would have no choice but to leave me alone now.

Although I had lost my first time to Herth Lockwood, the weight of being bullied was heavier.

I clicked on my screen and the video unfolded before my eyes.

The next second, the smile that spread on my face turned to awe. What? I choked.

The adrenaline I felt disappeared, replaced by stress within seconds.

My eyes kept going wide as the video played out in front of me. I stood rooted to the floor, my senses sharpening into terror.

Dread flowed through me like liquid lead.

What had I done? How come I couldn't remember this moment with him?

The video on my screen didn't show a scandal. It showed a death sentence. Doom. I couldn't explain it in words and I swear, I couldn't show this video to anyone either. It was not what I expected.

Suddenly, a heavy hand dropped onto my shoulder. I flinched, spinning around to find Chris standing behind me. He wore a crooked smile.

“You got the video?” he asked, his eyes darting toward my phone.

I stepped back quickly, hiding the phone behind me. The movement was too sharp, too fast. And this cause the wrist watch behind my pocket to fall to the floor.

Clink.

The gold-encrusted Patek Philippe hit the concrete, its diamonds catching the sunlight. Time seemed to freeze. Chris’s eyes didn't just move; they locked onto the watch with the intensity of a starving animal.

“What the hell is that?” He breathed, his voice dropping into a low, greedy hush.

I scrambled to pick it up, but he was faster. He snatched it from the ground, cradling the five hundred dollars masterpiece as if it were a holy relic. He looked from the watch to me, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“This is a Patek philipe,” he whispered, his thumb tracing the intricate dial.

“Erma, how did you get this?” He raised his head, meeting my eyes and suddenly, he widened them.

“You stole this from Lockwood?! You were supposed to be filming him, not robbing him!”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing.

“I didn't do it, Chris,” I said, my voice trembling.

“I didn't sleep with him. I… I got cold feet. I saw the watch on the nightstand while he was in the shower and I just took it. The video is nothing. It is blurry. I just stole the watch and ran.”

Chris’s eyes narrowed, his gaze darting between the priceless gold in his hand and the phone behind my back. He didn't care about my dignity or the "plan" anymore. The sheer value of the metal in his hand seem to catch his attention more.

“You stole this?” He let out a breathless, jagged laugh.

“You stupid, lucky bitch. This is worth more than a hundred blackmail videos.”

“Chris, just take it,” I pleaded, seeing the glint of pure evil in his eyes.

“Take the watch and go. We don't need the video. Just leave me alone.”

He didn't even look at me. He was too busy rubbing his thumb over the gold, his eyes glazed with a "lottery-win" fever.

“Oh, I’m taking it. But you? You’re coming with me. If I’m going to fence a five-hundred-thousand-dollar watch, I need a fall girl in case the cops show up.” He grabbed my arm, his grip bruisingly tight.

“Come on!”

I cried but he didn't let go and I know he wouldn't so I just followed him hoping this would end quickly and then I could escape.

He dragged me toward his car that he had parked right next to a sleek, white SUV. My heart stopped.

Sophia Lockwood stepped out of the vehicle, and behind her were her two minions. She looked like a queen in her designer silk, her eyes landing on us with a look of pure, concentrated disdain.

“Don’t tell me you’re fucking Chris now, Erma?” she laughed. Her minions joined in, their voices sounding like grating, high-pitched croaks in my suddenly sensitive ears.

“Let’s go, Chris,” I whispered, looking around frantically. I could really hear everything right now and I hated the sound.

“Ah, leaving so soon? Is the trash taking itself out?” Sophia mocked, stepping into my path.

“Sophia, shut the fuck up!”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Sophia’s smile didn't just fade, it died. I didn't mean to say that. It was almost as if someone else had said it through my mouth.

“Did you just… tell me to shut up?” She raised her brows, her heels clicking on the concrete as she approached me.

By default, my body began to shake. Every part of me that she had defiled in the past began to scream at me to fall on my knees. To beg her like the queen she was. I was mad enough to tell her to shut up. Mad indeed!

Suddenly, Chris’s hand was in my hair. To save his own skin and stay in Sophia's good graces, he slammed me down to the concrete, forcing my knees to hit the hard ground.

“She is sorry, Miss Lockwood,” Chris said, his voice oily as he tucked my stolen watch into his own pocket.

“She has lost her mind. She wouldn’t dare disrespect you. We had a little argument earlier, that must have made her lose her senses!”

However, Sophia moved closer. She lifted her designer heel and pressed it firmly into the center of my back, pinning me to the floor.

“Bitch,” she growled without remorse.

“Hilda, do you still have that cigarette?” She looked over her shoulder

“I think I know exactly where the butt belongs now.” she continued

My heart jumped into my throat. The scent of burning tobacco filled my nostrils instantly.

“No,” I whimpered.

“Please, not again. Don't do this to me again!”

I cried but she did not stop. Rather, she mounted pressure on my back, pressing deeper until my lips were puckering with the floor.

The next second, orange sizzling butt was pressed into my arm, and Chris helped out, putting me in place as she rammed the butt into my skin.

“Fuck… no!” I cried, shutting my eyes as the pain spread through me yet again.