The Queenbee’s Downfall

6: Braise and Pace Part 1

Chapter 6: Fry and sly

"Ms. Caitlyn, over here!"

I paid attention to the report of GBC. “Yes?”

It seems like my charm isn’t pretty much useless after all. The cheeks of the guy went red as I continue to stare at him intently. Huh. Even if how many times my haters try to destroy me, my existence is still impeccable and inevitable.

"U-uhm—"

"Don’t talk if you’ll only stutter! You’re just wasting our time!", the woman angrily shouted before looking at me. "Ms. Montero, is it true that you've been doing drugs for the past two years?"

I badly want to slap all of their faces. How can they throw questions like that? Do I look like a walking skeleton with dark circles under my eyes? If I’m not educated and well-mannered, I would’ve shoved one kilogram of drugs in their mouths.

"Where's your proof with that statement?", I asked.

I can’t let them notice that I am starting to get irritated, especially when Vaughn decided to broadcast this interview live. The ratings, definitely, skyrocketed. For the past years, they never do live broadcastings, only now. And they decided to try this kind of upgrade with me, huh? Sneaky little witches.

"Next question," I glanced at the reporters carefully.

They’ve been shouting for me to give them attention. And it’s starting to annoy me. Seriously, didn’t they do any background checking?

One thing I hate the most is being too loud. It ruins my mood—

My eyes stopped at a reporter who has been quiet the whole time as if she doesn’t have any intention of joining the hungry crowd. How weird. She’s a reporter, but why does she seem like a scared bunny?

When our eyes met, I can see the emptiness in them. She’s looking straight into mine, yet I can’t see any reaction. Only then did her eyes widened as soon as she realized that I am staring directly at her. As she averted her gaze, that’s when I realized everything.

This is every broadcasting companies' tactics!

They did thoroughly scanned my background. They probably knew how easily pissed I am when I come face to face with people who are too eager at something, and they must’ve planned to piss me off for this issue about me would go viral. Completely ruining my reputation.

A hot idol with a hot scandal will increase their stocks. And if I did let myself fall into their stupid tactic, people would think that I am guilty of everything that they accuse me of.

Now I know why actors and actresses are calm when it comes to nasty reporters.

But why? This only happens when one wants to cover other big mediums.

Yes, that’s right. This is another tactic to cover something that could shake the world. But, what is it?

I gazed at Vaughn who had been silently watching the whole interview. I have noticed him glancing at the reporter who had been quiet the whole time, he’s been doing that now and then. There are times that his eyebrows would crease into a thin line, and his calling for his staff did not escape my sight.

My eyes suddenly darted at the school’s logo that’s engraved on his uniform. Something clicked inside me, and the memory of Mommy blabbing about her House Arrest experiences flashed inside my head.

"House Arrest is great. You don’t need to isolate yourself in one room and write, ‘I won’t do it again’ on two pieces of paper. In this kind of punishment, you’re free to do whatever you want. The only downside of it is you’ll take home printed-out activities with you, and you will be given 3 days to finish everything. And one more thing...“

Mommy’s so talkative, can’t she see that I am watching the news and uninterested in her stories? She’s been telling those multiple times already. Doesn’t she have any new stories to tell me?

"Good evening, from Studio 1 Newsroom at Eagle Press-Con Headquarters, good to always being with you, I am Chloris Rivera, reporting for Eagle viewers. Students, teachers, as well as people around the world are questioning the school’s purpose in advertising the channel for the reason that, if students inside Liberty University had been doing illegal matters, why is the school not taking action? With this, people had been tweeting, and I quote, “#TellUsTheTruth” and it became the most tweeted hashtag today. And for that, here is Daniela Marasigan reporting from Liberty University to get the side of the Principal. Daniela,”

“Good evening Chloris, we just want to apologize that we weren’t able to get an interview with the principal, however, students volunteered to help us get information with regards to this issue. Watch this.”

“It’s already 4 in the afternoon and students have been gathering outside the faculty building. You can see how eager they are in waiting for someone to come out of the front door, however, sweat, exhaustion, and lack of hydration are noticeable on their faces. Some of the students here had been waiting for 3 days to get the side of their principal, and they even went too far as camping outside the building. Though guards tried evicting these hardworking students, they still failed,

“For instance, Mary had been eager to convince the principal in revealing the truth to them. Upon interviewing her, we discovered that the commotion they’re giving the school is not because of sharing information regarding Heath Evans, the heartthrob of the school, but because of their Queen, Caitlyn Montero.”

‘Why are students hanging around outside this building when it’s already school hours?’

‘Can I speak Filipino? It’s my first time studying the English language, I’m a scholar, you see..’

‘I’m sorry, we’re broadcasting this around the globe. It’s okay if your grammars are incorrect.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Yes. As long as we can still understand your sentences.’

‘Okay. I’ll try.’

‘Okay, my question is, what crossed your mind to skip classes and stand outside the Faculty building?’

‘Uhm... we wouldn’t even do this if it wasn’t for that broadcasting club, who kept on publishing made-up articles ruining people’s lives..’

‘Oh, you mean, Eagle News Corporation?’

‘Outside the school, they’re a corporation. But in this school, they are still a broadcasting club. Designed to publish facts about the LU and not hire students to stalk the heartthrob of the school.’

‘Why does it seem like, you disagree with how ENC runs the club?’

‘I already said it, right? ENC keeps on publishing fake news. They are airing internationally. It’s unrighteous and unjust of them to spread biased and made-up articles. Our Queen is a great woman. The truest of all evil here is the school because they let the club operate how it wants, they’re not even supervising Eagle Press-con’s channels and publications.’

Yet again, I stared at the woman. I now remember where I saw her. So that’s the reason why she’s so familiar. She’s Mary, the girl who was interviewed by that Daniela the other day.

I mentally chuckled.

When a rat, indeed, is caught by the predator, it’ll be desperate to escape as it stumbles upon the danger that’s about to come.

My beautiful grin gradually flashed all the people in this Auditorium. I noticed how stunned the reporters were, even Vaughn, while the others were irritated. I mentally scoffed. Did all of their plan fail? Boohoo, stupid creatures.

“What were your questions again?”, I asked. Their voices boomed in all the corners of the Auditorium.

“Ms. Caitlyn! Do you accept the legalization of abortion in the country?”

“If you ever discovered an article that’s written by me regarding that matter, then you may consider it as a yes,” but then again, I’m no blogger, and my fans know it. I couldn’t even do properly in Essays, it’d be funny to have a blog. Good thing I don’t take low scores seriously, I even post the content of my report card.”

I winked at the woman as she fell silent.

Caitlyn, Caitlyn, the only way to survive this chaos is to use your charm.

I giggled when the cameraman fainted. Now, this is so much fun!

“Next question please.”

“Witnesses confirmed that you sell drugs, do you claim yourself innocent about taking drugs and influencing others?”

I pouted. “That question can be answered by a 5-year old kid, especially that topic is being discussed up until now.”

Some sniggers can be heard as the guy slumped in his seat out of embarrassment.

“Wow, who could’ve come up with KBC’s questions? They seem like they never studied Journalism.”

“Yeah. Maybe that’s the reason why their channel isn’t that attractive.”

My grin widened at what I heard. They’re trying to embarrass me in front of everyone? Okay, I’ll take that challenge. I didn’t know interviews are this entertaining and fun.

But I shouldn’t celebrate just yet, it’s too early. I still have a lot of people to embarrass in front of many viewers.

“Are there any questions?”, I innocently asked.

“Me! Pick me!”

“Sure. What’s your question, dear?”

“A famous gang revealed that you were involved in their illegal firearms trading, do you claim this to be false?”

I tilted my head. “It seems like that gang wants to be locked in jail for them to share that statement, you should give your source to the police so that toxicity may decrease throughout the world. Am I right folks?”, I winked at the camera, and once again, the cameraman fainted.

Two down, one to go. One more and this interview will be over.

“Ms. Caitlyn! I have a question!”

Surprising as it seems, Mary just raised her hand. What kind of question could she throw at me?

“Spill it, girl,” I said.

“Is it true that... you’re the reason why your f-father died?”

It was as if an angel had passed by, causing them to be silent. I noticed how cautiously the smirk on Vaughn’s face flashed while he stares at the monitor, that I’m sure the grin curved on my lips slowly disappeared.

I secretly, yet with caution, signaled Fawn and Talulah to not go out of backstage when I noticed their movement at the corner of my eye. Them running towards me would make everything worse.

The reporters can’t know that these girls are important to me. Certainly, even my friends wouldn’t escape these starving monsters, ready to claw any people that could give them information.

“What makes you say that?”, I asked after a while.

“A former f-fan emailed it to me... “ I can hear the uneasiness in her voice.

“Where’s your proof?”

She fiddled with her phone while the trembling of her hands is very noticeable. I badly want to glare at Vaughn but I can’t. This revelation would create more steam if ever the camera caught the sudden change in my expression.

Mary walked to the last standing cameraman before placing her phone just in front of the camera. I paid attention to the small TV installed below the stage, just in front of the reporters, where I’ve been watching my beautiful self.

I read the conversation on the phone. The name and picture of the girl were mentioned multiple times in the chatbox, the reason why it was blurred. It was a conversation between me, allegedly, and a fan of mine.

I restrained the smirk that wanted to escape my lips as I retain my poker face. I kept my cold and serious stare to let the world see because I want them to know who they’re messing with. Involve my loved ones, and I’ll let hell cross their paths.

“This is an example of a Slanderous act, anyone who attempts to create malicious content would be subject to violating the morality and integrity of one’s self. I will see you in court, Mary.”

Her lips turned pale as she looked at me in the eye. The color in her face disappeared as fear registered in her eyes. She couldn’t even utter a word, nor counter what I had said. I felt pity surging through my bones, making me slightly weak, but I forced myself not to feel any sympathy towards her.

Involving my deceased father was a low blow, she must pay, even her companions, for creating such fake and malicious evidence just to humiliate me to the public.

However, I did not expect what the last cameraman acted. All of us were shocked when he ran towards the stage and kneeled in front of me.

“I am b-begging you... please, don’t sue my sister.. she’s our only hope in pulling hs out of poverty. I’m begging you. She’s not at fault, it was me! Sue me for defamation or cyber libel, just not her... I’m begging you. Throw me in jail. Lock me behind bars for eternity... ” his face was covered in tears.

Pain, fear, and regret were evident in his eyes as I watched him plead me mercy. An act that could melt the coldness of my heart. In all my life, no one has ever kneeled in front of me. Beg as if their lives depended on the words that may come out of my mouth, just to save someone’s reputation.

It wasn’t my intention. I never even planned on suing Mary, I was just trying to scare her. Letting her know that she shouldn’t attack someone like me. I was inflicting fear, just as how she was frightened by the person who made her do what she had done.

But I never hoped for someone... to the point where one would be kneeling for my mercy.

Before I could even help the man stand, he was dragged out of the Auditorium by the LU bodyguards. The voice of the emcee bidding goodbye to the viewers was faint in my ears.

Too faint that the cameraman’s remorseful eyes were still inside my head, never wanting to leave my conscience.