1 CHAPTER 1 - BESIEGED

ELISABTH surely knows what she wants, ever since she was a child, yet it wasn't something she usually gets supported doing. People say that 'it's good to know what you've wanted to do earlier', but they always have overlook the circumstances. Yes, it is good if the people you expected to support you gave you a heads up, but what about those on the other side? In their case, to know early leads to earlier suffering in silence. Perhaps, their saying is just way too generic.

She knew right away that she will gonna be an actress. She loves the attention, the spotlight, the recognition, particularly when it's something about what she accomplished. That's definitely something she yearn— So, she took the risk and left college to pursue her dream that's full of uncertainty. It wasn't something feasible to do, which she had already admitted to herself and to the people around her long ago; However, you just intend to indulge yourself deeper into those things that give you pleasure doing. Elisabth wasn't the type to chain herself into drudgery for the sake of practicality, even if it leads to completely disobeying the person who created her. She's gonna make sure she will be the one to choose her path.

She craves the public-eye.

And now, she's getting it. But this fame comes with an another fame, as multiple eyeballs pierced in her soul like daggers; Definitely, the kind of spotlight that could torment her emotionally. Her confident physique was shaken a bit— albeit expecting 'that' question would be thrown again at her the moment she walked in this studio— still the low blow quite cracked her facade.

There's just only one question that could make her this nervous. Nonetheless, what makes it worse is she still have to play it cool if she wants her career to still keep going. She didn't spend almost a decade in this industry in the dark light, stepping on stairs made of broken glasses to reach the top, just so it would shatter this quickly.

"So, are you and Vane dating?" Crissy, the host asked for the second time. This could be hinted at as a playful question, but Elisabth knew better. It may be 'just' a question, but it felt more like an interrogation. In one wrong answer, all of her hard work could be gone and left with dumps. She was just getting the praise and she can't let it turn into an insult.

Crissy may have a famous show but she has a reputation of humiliating her guesses as comedy skits. It's not like this is the first time that someone asked her that in front of the media; She's tired of hearing it to be honest albeit getting still anxious. Much more when it came from Crissy Kayline, she can't help but feel nervous. What would this retard comedian pull this time?

She could only hope that she'll get used to it, although slowly, that answering it would be already so flawless, or even much better if they diminish the ideology already.

Elisabth let out a nervous chuckle, it almost sounded like little 'hehe', "Well, this isn't a new question," she let out shrugged as a sign for nonchalant to make it more convincing. She expected this, the same question equals the same answer. She practiced the script, she could pull this off, and get over with this.

"Well, that's the everyday life of celebrities for you," as usual Crissy pulled a lame joke. Funny how the crowd only cheered in order to not humiliate herself— it was a horrendous sound, really, almost force like. "We might get a different answer this time, who knows," the devious host added, which caused Elisabth to refrain herself from rudely raising her eyebrows— not when they're on national television. Instead, the young woman fake giggled— riding with whatever evil Crissy's planning. She would beat her in her own game, Elisabth thought.

"I'm afraid to say that... there's no different answer.." she heard soft snickers from the crowd in the studio, but she couldn't care less. She looked right through the camera like she's speaking to the audience instead, making sure to keep her demeanor calm yet serious, clearly putting an end to this she called a 'bullshit'. "So, I'm gonna say it all again. We're great friends because of connections. We're not dating at some sort. We just happened to meet in that restaurant. We talked about some part of our lives, then that's it," that phrase ended with a smug smile. She just has to keep everything cool. A lie could be a truth when you're confident enough.

Crissy scoffed and playfully raised her eyebrows, which could be perceived as an innocent gesture— but that doesn't ease Eli. She sensed how Crissy hid her deep smirk in that playful demeanor. This made Elisabth think that Crissy does have things under her sleeve; The thought itself made her skip a beat as she mentally cursed. 'Oh my god, just let it go!' holding herself back to yell these words. At this point, she knows...

She has to expect the worst.

"Well, I'm sure as hell that making out isn't what friends do, right?" Then multiple pictures appeared in the large screen that's used to advertise the show at their back. Some pictures of them cuddling, kissing, and doing some couple things. The room filled with gasps and whispers from the crowd, and then they eyed her and the picture on the screen, like they are presented with some good meal that they are bound to devour. She, who also gaped at the screen in with shaky hands which she tried to hide under her thighs, she tried her distress with a weak chuckle as she calmed herself for a moment. She felt her heartbeat start beating at an abnormal speed, gulped and took a deep breath— hoping that anxiety wouldn't swallow her right here, right now.

The young woman gulped an another one, "Ahm.."she helplessly laughed. All of the script and confidence she practiced earlier are all gone. All that's left is fear, panic, and wanting to end all of this. "Why are we even talking about this? I'm here to promote my upcoming series, right? Right?!" Unfortunately for her, she was too desperate to avert the topic that she momentarily lost control over what words were coming out of her mouth.

"Oohh, she's avoiding the question!" Crissy clicked her tongue and playfully shook her head in disappointing manner.

"Crissy! Please.. I—" Her words were abruptly halted as she heaved a breath, and swallowed the lump in her throat, contemplating the next thing she'll say.

The pictures shown on the screen weren't the ones that reached the internet that caused turmoil in the media—these ones are noticeably new. They were on vacation in Milan, Italy last spring; She bit her lower lip to stop it from trembling— from what she saw, the shots were taken while they lazed in cabana of hotel. But Vane made sure that no one would snitch out about them being together before they left, and they were the only people within that area that time. Elisabth also took note how professionally taken the photos are— and it came from Crissy's hands somehow made it more questionable. Has someone given it to her? Could it be...?

The thought made the twisting knot of anxiety in her stomach worse. 'Possibly...'

A snap of the finger sent her back to earth. "Okay, maybe someone could help you to answer this," those words itself seemed to confirm all her assumptions. Elisabth breathing shortened, she felt like she was about to faint but managed to hold her head up. That's all she can do for now.

"May we call on one of the famous male supermodel in the catalogue… Vane Whitlock!" from that moment, she felt her whole world shattered. Her eyes widened unintentionally, she knew it was captured on screen but she couldn't care. Why the fuck is he here?!

Behind the crimson curtain, a man with raven neck-length hair tied halfway in the back appeared, with his usual grace and mysterious glare. He confidently sauntered onto the stage like he owned it with a smirk, each step screamed elegance. His maroon turtleneck shirt, and gray blazer fit his fine body well; This made Elisabth quite insecure with her outfit as she only wore a plain hot pink tube, and ripped cargo pants, too casual, compared to this well-dressed man.

The audience is in awe, not surprisingly. This man is too beautiful...

But as Elisabth always noted, 'Every beautiful appearance is deceitful'.

He gazed at her and expressed his greetings to Crissy, while not breaking eye contact to hers as if he's trying to examine her pathetic reaction— Those juniper hues that once made her knees buckled. She bowed her head, still in daze— as her breathing only she could hear. She came back when she felt his knees brushing to hers; His regular sandalwood perfume reached her nostrils, as he occupied the space beside her, too close. The young woman clenched her jaw, as she forced herself to recover to slightly scoot over so that there's still a space between them.

"Elisabth was so shocked by your entrance, she almost fainted! Oh! Didn't know we have a fan girl here!" which earned a laugh from the crowd. She stopped herself from gritting her teeth, and relaxed her hand into her lap, as she regained her composure which she lost a while ago. She can beat this, a battle within a battle.

"How are you, Vane? You look happy tonight, aren't you?" He comfortably crossed his legs and rested his arms on the back of the Chesterfield sofa, subtly intentionally brushing his fingers into her exposed shoulders that her loose locks could barely cover.

"I'm pretty much alive today," he casually answered, giving her a sideway glance. Cold, calculating, look as he gently tapped his fingers gave shivers in her body. She has been with him for three years. He may appear amused and proud but his eyes scream impassiveness.

"Oh, I've seen your recent photos a while ago. They're gorgeous."

"Really? I thought it wouldn't be enough," he said as he noticeably stared at her. That doesn't go unnoticed by Crissy; The host grinned, "So, going back to the question which this quiet lady failed to answer. Are you and Elisabth dating?" she basically more like declared this than asking. Elisabth looked back at Vane, eyes pleading— hoping he'll cooperate this time. He just smiled sweetly at her, eyes twinkling. She cursed under her breath, as if already predicting his next move. 'Don't say it, don't say it', she inaudibly said, which was a failed move as there were thousands of viewers that could read lips.

Strangely, a cold air crept between them that made her shiver. She felt Vane's hand move from her shoulders to her cheek. "Are you cold?" He took off his blazer and placed it on her shoulders, while he kept his right arm underneath to rub her shoulder, in an attempt to warm her. Smirking, he turned to Crissy. "I think that answers your question."

Elisabth felt like she was swallowed by a whale, everyone was in uproar, the chaos, the gasped, then the rest was blurred.