Chapter 6 You Know It Begins Now

• Sierra’s Pov
• I froze.
• Of course, Brandon’s choice.
• The one who smiled with perfect teeth, hair, and everything else, while my world crumbled before my very eyes.
• My heart thudded so hard, and my hands turned sweaty at the mention of her name.
• I stood immediately and smoothed my dress, and Violet grabbed my arm gently with a certain look in her eyes that I knew was pity.
• “Do you want me to…” Violet began.
• “No, let me do this myself,” I whispered.
• Vanessa didn't wait to be let in, she breezed in, with shoulders high as though she owned the entire house. Her heels made an annoying sound across the marbles as she walked.
• She wore red again, a pale body-con that outlined her curves.
• And as she drew closer, the smell of jasmine filled the air.
• She smiled as she came to a stop right in front of me. And I could tell it was the same rehearsed smile from the ballroom.
• “Well hello, Sierra.”
• My knuckles tightened at her mention of my name, and I thought to hit her, just as images of the next morning papers flashed before my eyes, screaming my disgrace.
• “Rejected Sierra Vaughn, fights the Carrs’ chosen one.”
• The thought vanished from my mind immediately.
• “I thought to check in on you, after everything,” she said so softly, as though she’d never hurt a fly.
• Violet’s shoulder brushed mine as she stepped between us.
• “You’ve got some nerve showing up here after that sick ass move you pulled!”
• Vanessa turned to her instantly.
• “Relax little tiger, I come in peace,” then she looked at me. “I came to talk to Sierra.”
• Her voice was low and pitiful, almost convincing, and I wondered why she was acting so coy.
• Perhaps something in my expression convinced her that I was forever the fool.
• I swallowed hard.
• “Talk? About what, Vanessa? Haven't you done enough?”
• She smiled deviously again, and my stomach turned.
• “It depends on what you think I did.”
• I laughed then, but it did not reach my eyes.
• “Oh, I don't know. Maybe stealing my fiancée on the night of our supposed engagement party? Maybe kissing him in front of my family and half of Manhattan?”
• Violet spoke again.
• “Get out before I…”
• “No, Violet,” I cut her off and stared at Vanessa. “She wants to talk, let her.”
• For a moment, we stood there without as much as a word, and I noticed that Vanessa’s eyes, which always seemed to sparkle when she called me her best friend, looked so empty now.
• “You think Brandon was yours to lose?”
• My heart began to beat wildly at her words. I was sure I’d misheard her.
• “Excuse me?”
• She took another step closer, and her heels still sounded like a disaster.
• “You say that I took him from you. But Sierra, you never really had him.”
• I tried to steady my breathing, but failed. Because I could feel blood drain from my feet as the cold climbed into my toes, like ice.
• “What are you talking about?”
• “He was placed with you. You, my darling, have been a placeholder from the very start.”
• “Placed?” Violet put in. “What the hell does that even mean?”
• Vanessa ignored her and her pitiful gaze settled on me.
• “You think that love had anything to do with it? That the Carrs care about your heart? They cared about your last name… And someone… someone with more power than you’ll ever know. They even made sure you’ll never cross paths with the wrong man.”
• I stared at Vanessa in confusion.
• “I don't…” I stammered. “Goodness, what are you even saying?”
• Vanessa was so close now, so close that she opened her mouth and I smelt the mint on her breath.
• “I’m saying, Sierra, that you were kept away. From someone who wasn't supposed to find you.”
• “But he found you anyway,” she added.
• It felt like the room shifted and in that moment, I forgot how to breathe.
• “Who?” I managed to ask.
• A half smile curled her lips.
• “You’ll find out. Soon enough.”
• “Enough of your games, you brat!” Violet yelled right before she came between us again. “You think you can just waltz in here, throw cryptic nonsense at her and…”
• But I barely heard the rest of Violet’s words. My heart had begun to pound so hard that I could not hear anything else.
• The wrong man? Kept away?
• But he found me?
• Last night’s memory flooded my brain, and mind.
• I pictured him….
• The devilishly hot stranger as he whispered “Be careful what you wish for,” just before…
• I nodded my head, and my knees threatened to give way.
• No it couldn't be.