This chapter will be in the third point of view. WARNING, there are themes that might upset some readers ahead.
Susan was not the best model out there, she didn't have the grace and eloquence as Dreya or all other praised models for decades then and to come.
She was bound to compare herself to the best in the business and try to improve upon herself in every way possible but there were times she felt this clenched goal of hers were miles and miles away.
She wouldn't let her shortcomings stop her though. They were actually that little push she needed in life.
She worked her hardest to get to where she was. The sleepless nights, gruesome exercises and strict diet were never easy but if it guaranteed her the fame and recognition she so sought for she was ready to risk it all.
''This is it, this is finally it she thought as the offer was handed to her. Finally it was her turn. Even though she was bluntly told by Germain that the only reason she was picked was due to her relation to Melissa and Anthony's insistence on having her do the gig.
Nevertheless, she chose not to see it that way.
It was merely convenient for family to be there for each other, to support each other and help one another grow. It took her by surprise that the same man who her cousin had painted black had extended a firm hand to have her on board the project but that was enough to convince her that Anthony wasn't much of an asshole as she had thought.
With this opportunity given, she was going to show the rest of the world what she was capable of and climb the ranks. The spotlight was finally going to hers and hers alone.
However her aspirations wouldn't last long as her world came crushing down once more.
'' I said you are to be on standby till further notice'' Germain sneered and she froze on the spot, her once bright smile dropping slowly. She blinked rapidly trying to bring herself to understand what this potbellied man had just blabbed.
She was briefed by her manager, who was in a questionable foul mood considering how elated he was with Melissa a few minutes ago, on which project, be it the billboard or the website photoshoot would be taken by individual model.
But of course Susan's notable inexperience and comparison was not spared in his dreadful speech.
''What d-do you mean by that?!" Susan exclaimed trying her best to keep her voice calm and collected. Looking around to be sure no one had heard and then turned back to Germain, an annoyed expression on her fair face.
This was definitely not what she was expecting to hear.
Not only did they completely cast Dreya's dark unforgiving shadow over her but they had placed her on stand by. She was to be a substitute.
What happened to her being on the frontline? She couldn't believe how he had just simply flushed away all her hopes and dreams with just mere words. Mere words that left her lost and empty.
Nothing was making sense and the smile on Dreya's face as Germain spat the news to her face was making her blood boil. Was she the reason why this was happening? What else did she want to take from her?
Now she was nothing more than a damn useless substitute. There she was in the middle of one of the biggest events of the decade and her dreams were slipping through her fingers right there and then.
What did she do to deserve this?
Her life was already a mess and she couldn't help it if she wasn't as lucky as her miserable cousin to get a rich man to doll her up and take her out of her misery.
She had tried to hide it but she hated every single bit of it.
From the moment Melissa's wedding was announced to every moment she'd call her to go shopping just cause her rich stupid husband had pity on her sorry ass and wanted to treat like a human for once.To the moment Melissa would call and ramble about her childish problems with her marriage and how he has a mistress.
Of course he has a mistress, who would want someone as sorrowful looking as her.
She deserved as much glory as Melissa and yet she was stuck right at the bottom, barely able to pay her rent.
Nonetheless she was aware her dislike for Melissa stemmed from envy and she tried her best to get over it bit that seemed rather impossible considering she was now everywhere from the news to the tabloids.
Susan felt she did nothing wrong, she didn't deserve this.
She did nothing to deserve her parent's separation, she did nothing wrong to deserve all the nights locked up in her room, a pillow over her ears to drown out the sounds of her mom wrecking everything in her sight just because she eloped with a gambler who had stripped off everything and left her with a child.
She thought things were changing for the better, she thought finally she could work things out. Now she was back to square one.
''Well apparently I just received intel that it's just one model we really need and it was quite obvious who's the better one amongst you'' He grumbled with a snicker and the look of disgust and bewilderment wasn't easy to hide on Susan's face.
''So that's it? You're just pushing me aside?! This is fucking ridiculous!" She scoffed and could feel her chest get tight, a thousand thoughts raced. There were tears in her eyes but she wasn't going to look weak in front of them.
She was going to stand her ground, this was the final straw. Germain had used her one too many times. She deserved better and she was going to get it by hook or by crook.
''You know what take your shit job! I'm done with this nonsense. Germain, you're nothing but a two face, putrid dog with no sense of direction or aim in life being used as a puppet for such mediocre cause,'' Susan blurted with a look of pity on her face as she slowly looked up at Dreya who looked rather amused herself.
''And Dreya.....where do I even begin, you're such an insecure stupid bitch, pushing upcoming models into your shadow just because you're scared one day when the stage is set, the spotlight won't be on your fucking screwed face anymore but on someone better. You're pathetic honestly and that's sad. 'm done with your bullshit'' With that she bolted past them and into the crowd.
Her chest felt tighter than before and all she wanted to do was get out of the damn hall and cry her eyes out. She wasn't okay and she was not going to deny it.
''Susan, where are going? Susan! '' She heard someone call from behind but she didn't care.
''Dreya isn't the pathetic one, I am'' She thought as she finally got to a hallway far from the sight of the engaged crowd.
As she glanced across the reception looking for an abandoned spot where she could breathe, she noticed her cousin walking up the stairs with one of the male staff.
The mere sight of her seemed to only infuriate her the most. There she was the wife of a powerful man, clothed in nothing but the most expensive garments and jewelry. She used to be nothing, now Susan could hardly believe the woman before her.
Her blood boiled and she bit the insides of her mouth before dashing in the other direction ignoring the staff member trying to ask her if she needed anything.
She found a tiny corner at the end of a hallway and slid down to the floor.
Crouching into a ball, she tried to ease the pain by rubbing on her chest softly but that proved futile.It first came as a drop, staining her face and the next thing she knew, she was sobbing quietly in pain.
''What did I ever do wrong? Why can't I just be okay for once? Why won't the pain ever stop? When will it ever stop?" She cried and tried to gain control of her heavy breathing but she could feel her resolve crack little by little.
Memories of her childhood begun to flood her mind. She desperately tried to stop them from spilling in further but it seemed as if she was fixing shattered glass with tape. She clenched onto the gown she wore and bit in a scream. She had to recuperate and get back in there. She couldn't let them think they had won.
She opened her purse in search for a tissue she could use, only to freeze on the spot as she felt she was no longer alone.
An stretched hand stuck out a handkerchief and she looked up to meet his emerald green eyes.
''How long have you been there, Nicholas?" She managed to let out.
''Well long enough to know you're being too hard on yourself.'' He answered and placed the handkerchief in her small hands.
''You don't know me, you know nothing about me to even say that'' She retorted and clenched onto the handkerchief, tears in her eyes once more threatening to fall.
''Perhaps....but I do know something though. It's okay to not be okay, Susan. Life can get really shitty. It's okay to feel tired, it's okay to want a break, it's okay to want to cry, it's okay to want to pull your hair out and yell cusses at the beach and its okay to start all over again, as long as you start better than the previous one.'' He bent down in order to look her straight in her eyes.
Taking the handkerchief from her hand, he gently wiped away her tears and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Once he was done, he rose to his feet and offered her a hand. She hesitated for a bit then placed hers in his. He pulled her up carefully and then patted her head. ''You're only human, don't beat yourself up''
This only seemed to bring tears in her eyes once more and she grabbed the handkerchief from his hand to blow in.
''You never saw me crying, got that Cole?" She blurted and he grinned wholeheartedly with an nod.
''The party got pretty boring real quick, want to go out for a walk?" He asked her as his eyes went in the direction of the event as though he was searching for someone.
She nodded as a reply. Half of her wanted to waltz right in and show them she was still standing but the other half just wanted to get far away from them.
And since the latter guaranteed her a walk with camera boy, it was an easy pick.
They walked out through the exit to a huge lounge area outside with a pool and for the first time in a long time, Susan felt heard by someone.
*
Meanwhile at the other side of the hotel, an enraged CEO paced round trying to gain control of the disturbing situation at hand.
Anger seeped through him, rising by the past second as the news that will shake the course of F. RAMIREZ INVESTMENTS reached him. His thoughts raced from the prototype he had been desperately working on for more than a decade to the innocent lives Chase had taken for granted.
He gritted his teeth angrily as he paced around the corridor.
Why didn't he see this coming? Why did he let his guard down?
He should have been more careful, he should have seen this coming a mile away but no....there was nothing to do about it now. It was all up in flames and there was nothing he could do about it.
He stared at the ceiling as the correspondent kept rambling on the phone, a million thoughts driving him to the edge.
What was going to be his next step of action? How was he to explain to his father? Anthony wasn't one known to fail, yet Chase had gotten the better of him this time and he couldn't wait to get his hands around his neck.
''What do you mean by that?! How incompetent can you fucking be?! You were to guide that prototype, you were to keep it safe. To keep all those people safe!" He lashed out the assistant manager of the German branch.
Anthony had never felt so much anger in a quite a long time. All those injured lives and it was all on him after he vowed to never repeat the mistakes that bound him to his fears.
''We're really sorry sir, we're currently trying to get the situation under control. We were lucky we received an anonymous tip with extreme urgency to leave so we had no casualties_"
''Is that supposed to calm me down? Tell me, you want me to fucking smile and congratulate your incompetency?!" Anthony flared and clenched his fists in pure anger.
''Idiotas estúpidos de mierda'' He gritted through his teeth.
This wasn't how the night was supposed to go, he was supposed to be by Melissa's side all night, basked in her glory, enjoying her company and showing her off like the crown jewel she is.
Yet here he was stranded outside dealing with an explosion that occurred in his German branch as an assumed result of leaked gas pipes.
An excuse he wasn't buying, this was undoubtedly Chase's doing but what on earth was he going to gain by pulling such a risky move?
What was his motive for risking the lives of many others? He knew Chase was reckless and thoughtless, inhumane to be exact but never had Anthony ever wanted to deliberately kill someone.
He loosened his tie and ran his hand through his hair in distress, he knew it was the doing of that snake, it but he needed to be level headed and not jump into conclusions.
He was getting calls from all over and it was just only a matter of time before the news of his ignorance and ineptitude got to his father.
Hanging up on the correspondent, he growled an incoherent cuss word and tried to calm himself down. Melissa was having a great night and the last thing he wanted was to ruin it for her with his poor state of mind.
Ignoring the next calls, he recomposed himself and set out to find Melissa then apologetically ask if they could retire earlier than expected.
He could barely contain himself. The man responsible for arson was right in there and yet he had to remain composed even though Chase was ready to ruin numerous lives for his own personal.
''I just need to find Melissa'' He thought and walked into the hall. Walking past a crowd, ignoring many and keeping an eye out for the scoundrel, he got to the spot he had told her to wait for him but she was nowhere to be found.
His brows scrunched in confusion as he glanced the room but his crown jewel was no where to be seen.
He figured she had probably stepped to freshen up in the washroom and he quickly felt guilty for leaving her all alone. It wasn't entirely his fault but he couldn't help but put the blame on himself alone.
If he only he had been more proficient like those before him. He had always questioned his way of ruling the dynasty and looked down on by his father especially but there was nothing in his possession he didn't work for.
Nothing he didn't deserve and yet his father didn't spare him the insults, the mockery.....the abuse.
Scanning the adorned room, he realized something wasn't sitting well with him, a piece was out of place and his heart sunk realizing Chase and Melissa were no where to be found.
''Mierda'' He exclaimed and quickly raced out of the hall into the reception area, frantically scanning the place for an astonishing gold gown, praying, wishing to catch a glance of her, hoping he didn't fail to protect her too.
Moving towards the hallway on the right, he tried to calm himself down, telling himself she was fine. That her golden smile that lit up something inside of him was still intact.
Ever since they had met at the bar, when she was vulnerable and sought him, a random and total stranger for support he couldn't help but panic.
What if she needed someone once more, what if she needed to be held and comforted once more but is taken advantage of?
He could've actually been a terrorist that night, he could've been a bad person wanting to harm her. How could she had been so naïve?
How could she had trusted someone like him who had shed so much blood?
The urge to protect her grew from then, but who was he to be selfish with her? Only to figure out they were to be married and his urge turned into nothing but misconception which further developed into him wanting nothing but to see her be her best self.
What a mess of things he had made.
She deserved more and he knew for sure he wasn't who she needed, with twisted tales and years of torture.
Perhaps Nicholas was best for her, he had an unwavering interest in her from the start and he didn't need to deal with Chase's antics, an abusive father, the burden of the Ramirez dynasty on his back, and a false relationship with a woman he only wanted to bring to justice for her crimes.
Walking through the emergency exit to the back of the hotel, he stumbled upon Nicholas with another woman by his side and his face suddenly fell.
''Anthony?" Nicholas mentioned his name with a confused tone.
''Wait aren't you_" Susan started only to be cut off by Anthony as he paced towards Nicholas.
''Where's Melissa?!" Anthony gritted through his teeth and stared at Nicholas hoping he had an answer, praying at least he knew where she was. Hoping Nicholas had done what he, Anthony had shamefully failed to do.
''Why ask me? Wasn't Melissa with you the entire night?" Nicholas lashed out and Susan glanced back and forth at the men confusingly.
''You know my cousin?" Susan blurted and Nicholas whipped his head almost too quickly at her.
''Your what?!" he blurted confusingly.
''Now's not the time for that, have you seen her?!" Anthony then turned to Susan.
''Umm yes yes, I saw her'' With that Anthony's heart sunk in momentary relief.
''Where?" He asked her.
''Well she was heading upstairs with this guy. I think he was a staff of the hotel or something like that. I didn't really get a good view'' She honestly relayed what she knew and that was enough to get Anthony worried even more than before.
''Fuck!!" He yelled and it was Nicholas's turn to ask what was happening.
''She's missing. I can't find Chase either and it's all my fault. He blew up the German branch a few minutes ago and I had to handle that but I come back and she's not there anymore. It's all my fault, everything's all my fault'' Anthony's voice cracked.
''He blew up the what?! Melissa is what?!" Nicholas exclaimed and Susan could hear the concern in his tone. She had so many questions but now wasn't the best time for them.
Melissa could be in trouble.
''Please, where exactly did you see her?" Anthony asked and Susan stepped forward to lead the way as the three hurriedly moved back inside.
They get to the staircase but before they can run up, they are stopped by a staff member. ''Any room reservations, sir?" He asked them and Anthony's fists clenched, ready to punch the daylight out of the slender man.
''Let me handle this, you see we're looking for a lady who happened to pass this way. She might be in great trouble and we need to find her as soon as possible. I'm sure you must have seen her,'' Nicholas tried to calmly tell him off but he wasn't budging.
''A reservation was made and a lady was escorted to that room less than 10 minutes ago but anything besides that is highly confidential as I am obliged to follow the hotel policy'' He told them nonchalantly and Anthony sneered.
''Room number please, you don't understand it's crucial that we find her'' Susan asked but he brushed her off.
''My apologies but I am in position to disclose that to you. Please leave if you're not going to make a reservation''
Advancing, Anthony grabbed the man by his collar and pinned him against the wall ignoring Nicholas's protests.
''¿Estás puto? You want to fucking die?! There's a fucking life on the line and you're talking about some fucking policy?! You will tell me where my wife is or I break your skull. And trust me,'' He threatened with a murderous empty gaze on his face,'' You wouldn't like it''
''Sir, the policy-'' With that Anthony's grip got tighter.
''Human life is quite valuable, but you see I'm past the point where I care if a fucker dies as long as it is fucking deserved. I'll leave you begging for mercy as I break you to shambles piece by piece, bone by bone and feed you to the dogs. So I'm going to ask one more time. Where. Is. My. Wife?!"
''Room 405'' He finally spat out and Anthony quickly let go of him. He slid onto the floor and tried to gasp for air.
Without sparing him a glance, Anthony raced up the stairs with Nicholas and Susan right behind him.
What they had failed to hear was the shaken man, stuttering in fear as he called Chase to tell him, they were heading in his direction and that the room number had been revealed, causing a change in plans for the McBridge.
Hello everyone, hope you had a great day. Sorry for the late update. The next chapter update is scheduled to be released in a few hours so please look out for it. Thank you for your support.