Lavish | on hold

22 | Illusion

"You heard everything didn't you?" Victoria sighed, directing her attention back onto her mother once Liam had left the room.

Mrs.Sterling nodded, maintaining the same expression that she had fixed onto her face when she had originally walked in. "When you brought the news to me, I made it very clear of my expectations."

"I thought about it."

"And?"

"And I realised that I'm not going to reject this baby that could possibly be the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Although the fact that Victoria was standing her ground made her feel powerful, the furious glares had forced her to mentally scold herself for not keeping this from her mother longer than she had.

"You are making a great mistake, Victoria." Mrs. Sterling pointed at Vic's petite bump with disgust, her face saying it all. "When are you even going to tell your father about this?"

"I'm not." She spat, turning away from her mother and facing the window that overlooked their backyard. "Now he's not the only one with a secret."

Although the two ladies weren't looking at one another directly in the eyes, the strong silence from her mother made it apparent to her that she was not wrong at all.

Eventually her mother spoke. "I-I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

The denial brought a sarcastic smile to Victoria's lips. The Sterling's were known for protecting their skeleton closet at all costs, no matter whom was threatening them or what the consequences were. They feared nothing and no one, only Victoria thought that they should begin to fear her.

"Of course, you don't." Victoria scoffed, barging past her with newfound confidence. "Just remember, where there is smoke there is always a fire."

–

Portia walked into the hip new coffee shop that recently just opened, bowing her head from paparazzi that were hunting to see what she was wearing and who she was planning to meet.

"Vultures." She thought to herself as she walked in, scanning the room filled with the latest tunes and a strong scent of coffee beans until she found Claudia subtly waving to a clique of girls that appeared to be admiring Claudia's ensemble.

Claudia could never do anything wrong when it came to her taste in fashion. Portia never understood how she knew what trends were in before the trends were plastered in social media. She was always the first to bring them in and the first to throw them out, causing others to follow in her footsteps. Today she had decided on a business casual, a white and blue striped shirt that she had purposefully placed off her shoulders to wear as a bardot alongside white skinny jeans with one small tear just above the knee paired with white Christians, a white Chanel bag and matching Tiffany & Co necklace and earrings that are on display as a result of her messy up do.

Claudia's entire look caused Portia to look back at her fashion decision in shame, even though she had created a friendship with Claudia it did not make her any less intimidating to be around.

"Exactly fifteen minutes late, Portia." Claudia looked up from checking her crystal customised Rolex, gesturing to the mimosa she had ordered on Portia's behalf. "When will you stop becoming so predictable?"

"Oh, come on." Portia took a seat, suddenly remarking the fact that it was only the two of them sat at their table. "Where's everyone, I thought this was a group brunch."

"I lied." Claudia shrugged, placing her phone down to look Portia directly in the eyes.

"Okay.."

"I lied because we need to talk and I knew you would show up if I told you Tate was going to be here."

Portia aimed to fire back in disagreement but only managed to gulp her mimosa down instead. Every single time she had a private conversation with Claudia, it always involved bad news.

And she knew that it was not going to change this time.

"This love triangle PR stunt is getting completely out of hand, don't you think?" Claudia asked, it being clear that there was only one right answer.

"Maybe but isn't this what we want from our status?" Portia leaned back into her chair and turned to wave at the paparazzi that were taking consistent shots of the two of them. "Buzz, Fame, Our names in the public's mouths?"

"Not when it is creating damage."

"All press is good press."

"If you were right then you wouldn't be blocking all social media sites to keep you from doing something stupid again." Claudia gritted her teeth to keep her perfect smile in tact, keeping the paparazzi completely clueless about the subject of their conversation.

After watching the paparazzi get chased away from the exterior of the cafe, Portia's smile twisted into a dark frown. "How on earth do you even know that?"

"I know everything about everyone."

Portia rolled her eyes at the sound of another one of Claudia's mysterious statements before leaning towards her with a smile that almost matched hers. "Well Queen C, if your aim was to get me backed out of this major deal then you're wasting your time."

"Oh, no no." Claudia giggled, forcing Portia to feel uneasy about what she was going to say next. "That was not my aim."

"Then, I'll see you lat-"

"My aim was to inform you that we want nothing to do with you or your major deal anymore."

"We?!"

"Myself, Victoria, Giselle and Milan."

Portia scoffed in disbelief, glaring at Claudia with anger pumping through her. "You can't be serious."

Claudia lifted up her phone, swiftly typing before turning the screen to her. "Look, Portia."

Portia snatched the phone from her grasp and scrolled through the social media sites herself, holding back all of the words she so desperately wanted to say.

"When you originally joined, I warned you that I handle the image of this group and how we look towards the public. I have given you chance after chance and supported you through every hardship you have faced but enough is enough."

"You're letting me go but keeping Milan, you know her plans and I have shown you nothing but loyalty!" Portia banged the table with frustration, causing others to stop and stare at the two of them.

"Where ever you go, you make a scene." Claudia whispered, lifting her bag from the table and getting up to leave. "You don't know how to carry yourself in this world, we won't crash and burn with you."

Without another word, Claudia strutted out of the cafe and out of her friendship with Portia. She knew that it had a negative effect on the group but not enough damage for her to be completely isolated from them. Portia did not deserve them but she needed them.

"Just another thing that Milan has stolen from me."