The Cate Blanchett Case {Cate Blanchett}

24~The Complete And Utter Downfall Of Everything Professional

I know some people said that eyes were windows to the soul. If they were, did it mean my mother had no soul? I hadn't known anything other than that cold and evil stare, not once in my 26 years had I ever detected a sliver of emotion in those eyes that were so like my own.

I hated looking like her, looking at myself was like looking at another one of her. I also hated it because I had none of the discernible features that could have been my father's. I had never known him, my mother had made sure of that. It was the only thing she actively took part in when it came to me, to make sure I never learned anything of my father.

I liked to think she did it for her own personal gain, not knowing my father meant that I couldn't escape her and therefore had to stay and be the daughter who loved her mother to no end. Out of her own spiteful heart she isolated me from others and made sure I could never have another point of reference that wasn't her.

Seeing her, now, sat at the head of a six chair table, it made me angry. She'd always been the boss of everyone else's life, she made everyone believe they had a choice until it turned out the things you were doing were only benefitting her. 

I realised this on my 12th birthday, she'd surprisingly taken me to Disneyland, I'd never been before and I hadn't really wanted to until she mentioned it. She'd convinced me that we'd spend the whole day together and have fun, that was really the only reason I'd wanted to go. Turned out it was all a lie and she'd only decided to go to Disneyland on business, trying to sell her high end technology to them.

After that I just went along with whatever she said, coming to the conclusion she'd never change. It was just something I had to accept.

I looked away from my mother as Cate laughed at something Robert had said. I smiled slightly at her, she was so extremely beautiful, casually conversing with Robert and his son as if they were good friends. 

Robert and Jack were like twins, if I didn't know Jack was Robert's son I would have thought so. Both had strong features that defined their faces, sharp jawlines and light grey eyes that displayed not a hint of contempt.

They both seemed charismatic, maybe Robert more than Jack. Jack was more reserved and shy, I'd catch him stealing glances at me as if he wanted to strike up conversation but just couldn't find a subject.

My mother sat in silence, opting to watch everyone converse. She thought she was above idle chatter, she didn't believe in it, she only spoke with malicious intent or business. 

It was when I glanced over at Cate again that I felt her pointy stiletto heel jab me in the ankle, it had shocked me so entirely that I let out a quiet yelp of shock and reached down and grabbed my ankle. Looking back up at my mother with accusing eyes, she simply arched and eyebrow at me and then her eyes flitted over to Jack.

I felt Cate's hand slide onto my thigh, she was sat to my left. She'd heard me and was obviously confused, I didn't look at her, despite feeling her eyes on me. Inconspicuously, I gently pushed her hand off of my thigh.

Suddenly, the calm resolve I'd been keeping was deteriorating. She was figuring it out, she might as well have figured out a whole portion of it by now, she wasn't an idiot. I'd been the idiot, I'd invited Cate without thinking. 

Scenarios played out in my head, each as bad as the other. My mother running to the media and telling them that something was going on with Cate and I, knowing her she'd exaggerate it. She'd tell them that Cate had dragged me into it and I was just an impressionable young person, Cate would be in ruins.

"Excuse me," I said softly, before abruptly standing up. I heard my mother scoff before hearing another chair scrape across the floor, I exhaled as I made my way to the bathroom.