INTERVIEW!

Lyra’s POV:

The lights were far too bright.

They always were in places like these, always harsh and unforgiving. But for once, Lyra did not mind. Instead, she allowed herself to thrive in it.

She sat tall in her chair with one leg crossed over the other, her posture was perfect and her chin was slightly raised. She knew what the cameras loved and they absolutely adored angles like that.

She knew, because she had practiced.

Across from her, the interviewer smiled brightly, though there was a flicker of tension in her gaze as she stared at Lyra.

Lyra stifled a smile, that meant her charm was walking.

“So,” the female interviewer began carefully, “There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Vera Gold’s sudden marriage to Sylas Gold. As someone who we know is close to both of them. Do you have anything to say?”

Lyra smiled, it was slow, sharp and calculated, just as she had practiced.

“Oh,” she leaned in further, “I have a lot to say.”

From the corner of her yes, Lyra could spot Evan shiting nervously beside the camera crew. She could feel his uncertain gaze on her. He was nervous and uncertain about all this.

A flash of disgust almost crossed through her eyes. He was weak.

Lyra ignored him and focused just enough on the interviewer while also showing just enough of her cleavage to pull in the male audience she no doubt knew were already captivated by her.

“Let’s stop pretending, shall we?” she said as smoothly as she could, “I have known Vera since we were kids, and once, I even considered her my best friend, and that means I know her more than most people. She might be quiet on the outside, but she is a desperate vixen underneath.”

The interviewer’s smile faltered, she obviously hadn’t been expecting that reply.

“Lyra-” she started, her tone faltering,

But Lyra wasn’t done, so she cut in.

“Vera is a liar, a manipulative bitch and a-”

“Oh, alright now, Ms. Let’s not-”

“-homewrecker,” Lyra snapped, her voice rising, “She was engaged. Engaged. And somehow, she ends up getting married to a billionaire in just two weeks?”

There was movement behind the cameras now. The producer was gesturing to the interviewer and the urgency behind his gestures. It was obviously a warning of some sort.

But Lyra frankly didn’t care. In fact, her smile grew wider.

“Women like Vera don’t climb up fast unless they spread their legs,” she added, every word that left her lips was dripped in venom, “Let’s not act like she has ever earned anything in her life.”

“Okay,” the interviewer quickly cut in, clearly still startled, “We are going to have to stop you there, this-”

“No,” Lyra said sharply, her eyes flashing, “You asked me a question, and I am going to answer it.”

Lyra was glad that she had insisted on a life show, or else, she was pretty sure that her interview would have either been censored or cut off entirely.

The interviewer’s expression tightened, and Lyra could spot the throbbing veins on her forehead. She was getting pissed, “Ms. Lyra.” she hissed, “We will not allow defamatory messages on our-”

“Defamatory?” Lyra chuckled, “Oh now, even the media stations are protecting that vixen? Interesting.”

Finally, the producer could no longer have enough and he shouted.

“Cut the feed.”

Those words were final, and the red light of the camera turned off seconds after.

For a brief second, after all the cameras and lights were turned off, no one moved.

Then, all hell exploded.

“Lyra, you can’t say things like that on air—”

“That’s a legal issue waiting to happen—”

“We’ll need to apologize—”

Voices kept on overlapping around her. Lyra was annoyed, but she sat on her chair, completely satisfied.

She was satisfied because she had seen the way the interviewer panicked when hearing her words and the way the crew scrambled to start damage control.

That meant one thing, she had hit where it hurt.

Exactly what she wanted. She needed her interview to be explosive if she was going to get the reputation and exposure she wanted, and she was pretty sure that she was going to be a hit.

***

Evan caught up to her the moment she stepped outside the studio.

“Lyra,” he hissed as he reached her, “What the hell was that back there?” he asked with a strained voice,

Lyra did not stop walking, her heels kept on clicking sharply against the polished floor as she headed towards the exit.

“What?” she finally slowed and asked when they stepped out, “I only said the truth.”

“That is not the truth,” Evan snapped, “And you know it. That was just you being out of line.”

That made her stop walking entirely. Slowly, she turned to face him.

Out of line? Her lips curled as she glared at him.

“How was I out of line?” Lyra stepped closer and narrowed her eyes at him.

Evan froze, he was obviously still pissed, but the anger in his eyes had lessened.

“That bitch humiliated you,” Lyra continued, her voice dropping now, “In front of everyone and the whole world. And you are worried about being out of line?”

Evan's jaw tightened, “That’s not-” he tried to explain, but he was quickly cut off by Lyra.

“She married him, Evan,” Lyra’s words came out sharper now, “Just weeks after leaving you. And she married a billionaire. Just like that.”

There it was, a tiny crack in her voice that showed just how jealous she was.

Evan noticed, for once, he was finally perspective enough to realize what was happening.

“Lyra..” he started, his tone more cautious now.

But before he could continue, she started walking away, and this time, she picked up her pace.

They were in the open air now, and the city buzzed around them, it was loud and alive.

Behind her, Evan kept calling for her, but she refused to answer him.

Instead, she reached her hand inside her purse and brought out her phone.

“I need to post something to my new followers,” she muttered under her breath, a genuine smile on her lips.

“Lyra, don’t—” Evan stretched out his hand,

“Shut up, Evan,” she hissed, and that actually shut him up.

But just as she was about to start typing, a composed voice made her look up.

“Excuse me, Lyra.”

The voice was smooth, and distinctively feminine.

She looked up and froze. The woman standing in front of her was stunning. But it wasn’t her appearance that made Lyra pause. No, it was her eyes.

They were cold, sharp and assessing. Like she considered Lyra to be beneath her notice.

“Do I know you?” Lyra asked with furrowed brows.

The woman smiled, this was the kind of smile that promised something very dangerous.

“My name is Sarah,” she said as she took a step forward and stretched out your hand, “And I am here because I have use for you.”