Vanessa Blank Romane & Geschichten

--- During lunch, I quietly observed her. --- She barely touched her food. Checked her phone repeatedly. And glanced around as if expecting someone. --- Interesting. --- Very interesting. --- Then she suddenly stood. --- And left. --- Without hesitation, I followed. --- Carefully. --- Discreetly. --- Vanessa eventually reached a quiet section of campus near the athletic field. --- Then she stopped. --- A few moments later, another person arrived. --- A man. --- Young. Professional. Expensive suit. --- Not Victor Kane.

Vanessa scowls at Mom. ****

“And now, whether it is today, or tomorrow, or next week whenever…Debrassy will keep coming back until he finds out the truth for himself.” As she opens her eyes, bright and blue, with the lights of the tower shining behind her, she looks otherworldly as she tells me her deepest truth. “My name isn’t Addison Archer,” her voice is small but strong. “I am Vanessa. Vanessa Addison Vandersteele and for some reason, the Debrassy family wants me dead.”

Every drop of blood drained from my body. Vanessa.

Not interfering. Just watching. Because this wasn’t about who she chose. It was about who she was becoming. --- Later that evening— When the awards were announced— “Second place… Vanessa Hale.” The applause felt distant for a second. Then real. Daniel smiled widely. Adrian felt pride swell in his chest. Vanessa walked up. Accepted her plaque. And for the first time in years— She felt seen for something that wasn’t attached to a man. When she stepped down— Both Adrian and Daniel stood waiting.

“I’m Adelina and I’m calling from KlasyRhodes fashion home, Luanda. We need you to create some designs ma. We want to put up a fashion show and we need new unusual foreign designs.” Could she just stop with the madam thing, Chava had cringed one of her fists already; she didn’t like to be addressed with ‘ma’. Luanda? That was an African country and the caller didn’t sound like a regular client. Where did she get her contact from? “OK, my name is Chava or you can call me Miss Ava.” She smiled. “OK mad--sorry, Miss Ava. How much is your rate?” “When is the deadline? And how many designs?”

Thirty. Kira was thirty today. And her family had done all of this. For her. Vanessa threw her phone onto the passenger seat and started driving again. Fast. Too fast. She didn’t even know where she was going until she found herself heading toward the coast. Toward the water. The letters in the sky were still faintly visible, pointing the way like a beacon. Vanessa followed them. Twenty minutes later, she pulled up to a private dock. There were other cars parked nearby. People standing around, talking, pointing at the sky.

“Bianca…” “I—I was just protecting Leah!” she stammered. “Making sure everything was real!” Santos smile widened. “Interesting way to protect family." Bianca sank into her chair, embarrassed and furious. Santos turned away from her and paused near Vanessa. “You must be Vanessa. The one with the movie role. Vanessa lit up like a Christmas tree. She leaned forward, showing off her cleavage with a seductive smile. “Yes! I’m so glad you recognized me, Alpha. I’ve been in some big projects, you know. Maybe we could talk about—”

Born on February 16, 1999-Died on February 16, 1999. It was the same birthday as Chantal and Diana. "Can anyone please tell me what's going on?" Vanessa was pale. Her body shook, hands trembling. She was feeling light headed. Chantal was still dumbstruck and could only hold her mother's elbow in support. She was confused at her grandmothers' reactions. 'They both have known about this? Why did they have to keep it from us?' "Let's go home first." Elaine said. She beckoned the butler to assist Vanessa in going back to the car.

“Even if it means exposing your past?” *** Meanwhile, elsewhere… Vanessa Blake sank into her plush armchair, swirling a glass of wine that glowed like liquid fire beneath the lights. The corners of her mouth lifted into a cruel smile as she tapped one heel to the rhythm of the music filling the room. “Perfect… simply perfect,” she drawled, her gaze glued to the tablet in her lap. News headlines screamed across the screen, plastered with photos of Daven and that woman. Callister Group CEO Caught in Scandalous Affair in SunCity.