46

Back in her condominium, Bethany quickly put a call across to Erica, while standing at the balcony gazing at the stars.
Her eyes were fixed on the sky as she waited for Erica to pick up the call.
While waiting a smile soon crept into her lips as the events of the past few days have been a great advantage to her mission.
Now, all the attention has been turned on Erica, who was supposedly bullied by Danica's actions. Due to all of these, Danica would be so hellbent on carrying out damage control to rectify everything, but with the way things are between Zayn and Danica, Zayn wouldn't bother helping her out at this time.
The only person she can choose to turn to for help at this period is only Erica–If she acts good toward Erica, she might help her to clean her name and regain her reputation. Otherwise, she might get thrown out of the fashion industry due to this.
Thinking of this, Bethany couldn't stop herself from smiling.
The loud ecstatic voice from the other end of the line jerked her back to reality.
“Where are you lost, Bethany? what's running through your mind like a sneaky snake at this time?” Erica asked rolling her eyes as if Bethany could see her.
Her voice was so loud that Bethany quickly removed the phone from her ear as she shook her head dejectedly.
After a while, she put it back and listened as Erica scolded her.
“Bethany, I'm not letting you off so easily this time. How could you make me take the fall for your future like this? Do you even know how much of my reputation has been ruined by this news? I can't believe you got me entangled in a situation with that witch, Danica, Do you even know how sneaky that lady can get? What if she ends up hurting Jenna and me? what will you do then? And even that old lady, Cecilia Meyer is after my life as a hungry lion. What have you done to me, Bethany?” Erica yelled nonstop as her tone was filled with grievances and feigned annoyance.
Bethany just kept quiet as she continuously yell put her anger, she knew that Erica was right about her reputation being ruined. What if her future lover finds out about this?.
“Now, you tell me, who would want to have anything to do with a woman like myself, who had gotten herself entangled in a love triangle with the fashion goddess? And she even had a child too? Don't just go quiet like that, Bethany, say something!” She screamed at the top of her lungs as she noticed that Bethany had gone cold on her.
Bethany was so shaken by her words but she quickly dispersed it as soon as she came as she didn't want anything to weigh her down.
She composed herself and said in a cold voice.“Will you stop your nonsense right now, Erica? Do you want to show Danica how weak of a woman you are?” She asked with a hoarse tone.“If you don't want to continue with this. Then, it's fine. I will disappear from here like I never existed”. She threatened.
When Erica heard this, she was startled as she had never expected Bethany to react this way–The truth is, she was just pretending to be a whining child and tried to tease her, but she didn't expect that Bethany would take it this way.
After screeching out, Bethany too was rendered helpless. after reflecting on her words, she didn't mean to go overboard like that just now but she did.
Thinking of this, she felt about it and ran her fingers through her hair as she tried to suppress the hatred in her heart that kept nudging her to do things out of the ordinary.
She opened her eyes after calming herself down. Then, she tried to sound a little gentle as she apologized to Erica. “I'm sorry, Erica. I didn't mean to tell you like that just now. Don't take what I said to heart, please. I was so stressed out about everything happening right now, and I'm sorry if I got you both involved in my problems” She apologized.
Erica felt her heart clutching upon hearing these words from Bethany. Bethany had spent the lady a few years being stoned hearted that she had forgotten all about being apologetic, and when she apologized–its always for an ulterior motive; She had learned to be strong through the hard way and now she isn't ready to let her newfound self being softened again.
Hearing her apologize sincerely this time, Erica was pleasantly surprised. How could she continue to hold grudges against her?.
Trying to suppress her urge to cry, she said in a soft voice.“ Hey, what are you apologizing to me for? You should never make me look like a villain by apologizing like this, alright? It's not your fault that we ended up like this but it will be our fault if we don't fight
against this, so you see, you don't have to sound so pathetic because of my words. You know how much I joke around, right?.”
“I have made the arrangements for your departure tonight. You both will be going to the Maldives for a vacation for the next two weeks, you need to take a break from all the stress around here. I'm sure going to the serene environment like the Maldives will be a great getaway for you guys” Bethany said after a brief silence.
Erica was instantly surprised as she had not believed that Bethany was going to send them away on vacation when they have gotten such a great opportunity.
“What are you doing, Bethany? How can I leave now that the chance has been created? we just need to pull get more strings and we are there”
“I know that as well, Erica. However, your safety is more important than what we had planned for them, we can only make a difference if we live to see the lines. Don't worry about anything, Danica will come crawling to you very soon” Bethany said with a tone filled with confidence.
“What? How will that even happen now? Remember, Danica now hates me so much that she's out to get me as we speak”.
“Don't worry, I know Danica very well. She'll come crawling back to you for help in a few days, I'm sure she thinks that you're not aware of the fact she's behind everything that happened to you and how everyone dragged you through the mud because of her selfish reasons”.
“Even with that, I'm sure she can find a way to clear her name and restore her reputation. why would she need our help now?” Erica was still not clear about what Bethany was getting at.
“After working at the blue ridge company for a few days, I have come to a new realization that Zayn doesn't care much about Danica as he did in the past. If my hunches are right. Then, Zayn will never get involved in this matter or try to save her from doom, so who else do you think she would turn to for help if Zayn refuses to help her out this time?” Bethany asked expectantly.
Erica contemplated for a couple of seconds. she still. couldn't come up with something reasonable.
“You should know that you're the only person, she can turn to for help when all hope is lost and then, that's when we'll take the roll”.
Bethany explained.
“Wow. this is too good. why didn't I think of this matter before? Now, that you've mentioned it, I should probably go get pack my luggage for the flight. Jenna must have packed her bags by now”
Erica said excitedly as she couldn't wait to see the looks on Danica's face when she finally come begging at her feet.
“You should hurry up now”. Bethany urged.
“Godmother, we shouldn't go out later, there are bad guys out there ”
Erica suddenly heard a loud voice yell put from behind her as she turned around to see Jenna standing behind her with her hands draped around her chest.
She looks scared and unwilling as she glared at Erica with hopeful eyes.
Upon hearing Jenna's voice from the other side of the line, Bethany became quiet as she listened to their conversation attentively.
Seeing Jenna standing a few steps away from her, Erica scurried over and crouched in front of the little girl.
“What's wrong, Jenna? have you finished packing your bags? ” Erica asked with her voice trembling slightly as she tried to hold back.
“Godmother, let's not go out today. There are bad guys out there, who want to hurt us”. Jenna pleaded with a gentle voice laced with fear.
“Shush! there is nothing like that out there. Who told you such nonsense?” Erica caressed her head.
“Jordan told me about it just now”
“What? Jordan?”
Bethany was surprised to know that Jenna had gotten acquainted with Jordan so soon–That's not even the point at this time. the point is how can Jordan come up with such a thing which goes a long way about their safety.
How did he find out about this?
“Jordan must be mistaken. Don't worry about it. Nothing will happen to us”.
When Erica saw Jenna was continuously persuading her not to go out because there was a danger, she touched her head, "Hurry up and pack your things. Don't be late for the plane tonight.".
“But mommy, Jordan will not tell lies. will he? Please, let's listen to him and don't go out for the vacation now. What if he's right about all of this?” Jenna yelled directly into the phone as she had noticed that Erica was on the phone with Bethany.
“Hey, baby! don't you worry about that? Mommy has everything covered so nothing is going to happen” Bethany tried to cajole her when the little girl spoke directly at her.
“Alright, Miss Burnett. I'll go get myself ready, anyone who tries to bully us will get it from me. that's a promise” Jenna finally heaved a sigh and calmed down.
After saying this, she went back to her room while Erica and Bethany continue talking.
“Don't worry about the company. The store manager will handle everything until you get back from your trip” Bethany assured Erica.
“But.... .”