FLAWLESS

CHAPTER 10

Shanelle POV

I stepped into the safe house, the familiar scent of home welcoming me. The adrenaline from the day's events was finally subsiding as I closed the door behind me. We had made it back safely, and a sense of relief washed over me. My muscles ached from the physical exertion and tension, and I couldn't wait to let go of the weight that had been pressing on me.

After a quick glance around the dimly lit living room, I made my way towards the bedroom. The hot water of the shower embraced me, washing away the grime and leaving me refreshed. I changed into fresh clothes, relishing the feeling of comfort they brought. With a deep breath, I stepped outside into the night air, making my way toward the pool.

The sky stretched above me, a canvas of stars shining bright. I settled on a lounge chair, feeling the coolness of the night against my skin. My mind was buzzing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The fashion show was only two days away, and the unease settled in the pit of my stomach. 

Would we make it on time? Would Vincent keep his word and let us go?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Vincent's presence until he took a seat beside me by the pool. The sudden proximity made me nervous, and yet there was an undeniable flutter in my stomach. 

"Hey," Vincent began, his voice tinged with a mixture of relief and frustration. "Just so you know, I'm not good with thanking people and stuff but um.....thanks for cooperating with us to find Kaden and get our money back. That son of a bitch won't be causing trouble anymore. But damn, I wish I could have finished him off myself."

His words sent a chill down my spine, a stark reminder of the darkness that resided within Vincent. I understood his anger and desire for revenge, but I couldn't help but be grateful that things hadn't escalated further. They got what they wanted, and that was what mattered.

"You're welcome," I replied softly, my gaze fixed on the reflection of the stars in the pool. 

Vincent sighed, his gaze focused on the water. 

Silence settled between us, the weight of our recent experiences lingering in the air. Just as I was about to speak, my phone rang, breaking the stillness. I glanced at the screen and saw it was my mother calling. With a sigh, I answered, bracing myself for the conversation ahead.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted, my voice filled with weariness.

"Shanelle, what on earth is going on?" 

My mother's voice crackled with anger and panic. 

"There's a video of you circulating online, about some college party that you went to. And now the media is everywhere trying to question us about it. How could you let this happen?"

I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. 

"Mom, I promise there is absolutely nothing to worry about. I just got recognized by my fans. I'll talk to Ava, and get it taken down. We'll handle this, okay?"

Her voice softened slightly. 

"Shanelle, you need to be more careful. Your reputation, our family's reputation, is at stake here. Your sisters and your father is doing enough to keep the media's attention off us, but this, you're just pulling them back to us and that it's the least we need right now."

I reassured her as best as I could, promising to take action about the video. When the call finally ended, I let out a heavy sigh and looked up, only to find Vincent's eyes fixed on me. There was a mix of concern and curiosity in his gaze.

"Everything okay?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders.