Chapter 11

Gabrielle
"I can't believe it mom. How the fuck did I miss this!" I yell angrily, more at myself than at my mom who looked a little terrified at my outburst.
"Do you think they're actually going out?" She asks and I scrunch my face in disgust.
"God forbid mother!" I forbid sharply, feeling completely disgusted with the idea of Ella and that Liam guy dating. That's definitely a bad combo.
I would not have given a crap about them dating if I didn't just find out whose son he was and knowing that fact, I can't allow such a disastrous relationship to blossom.
Liam Helton was literally gold in the fashion industry and of all the women he had to cross paths with, it had to be my dumb sister? Is God finally showing his true colors?
"How can you be so sure? Something could be cooking up between them," my mom voices out worriedly.
"If they were an item mom, I would be the first to know through Mia cause as we all know Fabian can't shut up. So I'm positive they're just friends." I assure her.
"For now, sweetie," she retorts and I scoff.
"That kind of relationship between them will never happen mom cause If Ella ends up with that guy, all my attempts to be the successful twin will go straight to hell and I will not let that happen mom. Never!" I yell furiously and storm out of the private room my mom had pulled me into after what happened with Liam and Ella.
The show was about to start so I had to go join my models to make sure they were no mistakes and partly to spy a little on AT but that was practically impossible since they were in a different room and I can't pass off as Gabriella since everyone knows we're wearing completely different outfits and I am slightly taller with heels.
"Sweetie, we're number 11 which means we're still far off so let's just go watch the show for now," Mm mom says and on our way back, mom taps me gently to show me something and when I look, I see Liam and a tall blonde chic making out down the hallway.
"Mom, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I ask in excitement like I just got a gift from Jesus himself. I guess God still loves me.
"Sweetie, the heavens are on our side!" She laughs wickedly and I waste no time in taking several pictures of them.
"What are you going to do?" Mom asks and I smirk.
"I'm gonna sell this to a very sharp reporter I know, Ann Harvey and she will help me spread the word of this beautiful relationship. Watch out mommy dearest cause this is just the beginning, I'm gonna make this blonde chic so popular with the media, she's gonna thank me for the rest of her life." I reply and she high fives me immediately.
"That's why I love you sweetie, you're definitely the smart one." She compliments and we both laugh and quietly walk away.
*****
Third person pov
The show had commenced and everyone felt anxious and excited seeing how tough the competition was.
Eliana was quite thankful that she wasn't to judge this alone because the work would have surely taken her last breath seeing as the designers had brought their A game on.
She and the other judges had started to condemn slight mistakes and overdone outfits but at this rate that wasn't helping them since everyone's work showed great effort.
It was finally AT's turn and Gabriella felt her stomach flip continuously as she watched the great work of other designers. Was she scared? No.
Was she nervous? A hundred percent.
But was she confident? Definitely
Many thanks to Martin and Fabian as well for being the great friends that they are and repeatedly telling her soothing words that really did boost her confidence.
"Fabian, your dress is up!" Martha squeals as they watch the model walk elegantly in Fabian's royal blue chiffon side slit dress with a belt to match. The competition had two concepts: Light coloured dresses and dark coloured dresses and Gabriella and Gabrielle had ironically been put on the concept that fitted their personality.
The judges look impressed with the dress most especially Eliana and that filled Ella's heart with joy watching her friend's work stealing the show.
Gabrielle's eyes did not leave Ella as she watched her sister smile like she was having the best time of her life which made her furious, suddenly an idea pops into her head and she smiles slyly to herself, immediately sending her lover a text to meet her in her private room.
"You're so done for Ella," she mutters slowly to herself with a satisfied smile and quickly explains her plans to her mother before zooming off to go execute it.
Gabriella
I gazed proudly at my dress, watching the judges' expressions as some looked amazed and a few had no particular expression but at least no one looked irritated or bored which was a good sign.
Fabian and Martha squeeze my shoulders in excitement and immediately Jake and I walk down the runway stopping midway to give a slight bow of respect and appreciation before heading backstage to be bombarded with genuine and false congratulations and hugs, but well not everyone hide their jealousy cause Trisha hasn't stop giving me the 'ugh I hate you' look.
I ignore her as usual and Fabian and I leave backstage to go enjoy the rest of the show.
☆☆☆☆
"Gabriella, I need to talk to you!" Jake's voice hissed angrily and I panicked a little at how harshly he spoke to me.
Fabian, on hearing how Jake spoke to me bolts after me, ignoring Mia's scornful comments.
We go back to the room backstage and everyone looks beyond furious, some look surprised whilst the likes of Trisha look very happy and satisfied.
"What's happening?" I stutter nervously only to receive a deadly slap from Annie Helton herself and in case you don't know who that is, she's Liam's mother and the chairwoman of the company.
"How dare you do this to us young lady?" She yells at me furiously and I don't realize when tears strolled down my face even when my offense is still unknown to me.
"May... I... know what e..exactly I did wrong?" I stutter tearfully, my legs feeling wobbly but luckily Fabian was there to hold me.
"Mom, step back and let me handle this!" Liam spoke up for the first time since I'd walked in and an angry looking Anne walked out of the room but not before glaring at me for the last time.
"Everybody out except you Jake!" He yells angrily and everyone bolts out but I stop Fabian from leaving since I wasn't sure I could handle this alone.
"He can't leave," I mutter quietly and he agrees to let him stay.
"Sit down Gabriella," he pointed towards a seat opposite me but since I couldn't move from the shock, Fabian pulled the chair towards me and made me sit down.
"You're currently being accused of trying to seduce a judge to score points. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Jake says suddenly and I deadpan.
"Gabriella would never do that, she didn't even know any of the judges!" Fabian quickly defends me since I was too dumbstruck to speak.
"You need to let Gaby explain herself," Liam glares angrily at Fabian and I snap.
"Do you really think I would seduce a judge? You think I would stoop that low? Come one you two, I don't even know which one of them you're talking about!" I retort back in frustration.
"I'm talking about Josh Sandler, the main judge who happened to report a few minutes ago that you tried to seduce him just because you wanted your company to win and now we're on the verge of getting disqualified!" he yells at me and I flinch a little.
"I don't even know who he is!" I yell back and he chuckles dryly.
"Well, he seems to know who you are and they are going to disqualify us! Do you have any idea what harm such disqualification could cause us? Twenty five good years of my family's hard work could crumble just because you!" He yells, sounding so frustrated that I didn't know what to say.
I felt lost, like I was suddenly thrown into a pit of darkness and I didn't know the way out. What could a commoner like myself say to make anyone believe me, especially if my accuser is a powerful judge and I was so ordinary no one would mind pointing fingers at me and throwing me to the gutter.
Somehow I'm not very surprised by this. I actually started to feel happy forgetting I was born with the most unlucky star in the world.
My mom hates me, my very own sister would throw a party if I die, my dad left me alone in this world to deal with them both without even leaving something I can rely on and now the job I'd started to love so much is walking away from me and as usual I can't defend myself. I'm stuck and no one can help me.
I hate this world, I really do and all I want to do right at this moment is to just die.
"I'm sorry Gabriella, but you're fired." Liam mutters calmly and those were the last words I heard before the whole world went jet black around me and I could feel myself falling into a deep slumber.