𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘'𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 | 𝐍.𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐗𝐓𝐎𝐍 |

chapter eleven | "slut!"

One Month Later...

AUTUMN BENET

"Morning, girly," Wynter says, getting in the same elevator as me. She was sporting a shoulder length burgundy wig with bangs. Her makeup was bold and she had on a chocolate brown fitted t-shirt, caramel brown colored pants, and chocolate brown knee-high boots.

I smiled at her, pressing the number 8 button. "Morning, Wynter," I replied. "How are you?"

Wynter gave me a confused look. "I should be asking you that question." she says.

"What do you mean?" I asked, shaking my head in confusion.

Wynter handed me her phone, and when I looked at the screen, my eyes widened and my heart sunk into my chest as I read the headlines from TMZ, TheShadeRoom, and even New York Post...

VOGUE DESIGNER, AUTUMN BENET SEEMS TO
BE NBA PLAYER, NIC CLAXTON's NEWEST FLING!

NIC CLAXTON's FORMER FLING, MADISON BAXTER, SAYS, "She's just another slut for him to run through. I of all people know that nobody can tie him down."

My heart sank as I read the headlines, but when I read the comments from off TheShadeRoom, that's when I really began to feel sick to my stomach.

user1: of course she's sleeping around with nic since she got hired to vogue none of her shit has sold. she needs nic for clout lol.

iampenelopegardner: WAIT A COTTON PICKIN MINUTE! WHAT Y'ALL WON'T DO IS THIS.

user2: imagine sleeping around with nic claxton just because you can't do your job right.

user4: women open their legs for ANYTHING omg.

My heart sank straight into my stomach as I read over the multiple times. It didn't matter how many times I read over them, or how many times I scrolled, each time...it stung. It was like getting stabbed with a knife straight to my chest. Repeatedly.

I couldn't believe that this was actually happening to me. At the beginning of my career in fashion design...THIS is what happens to me? My personal life was exposed to the media...and people were slut shaming me for a blurry picture of Nic and I in Washington, D.C.

Is this what it was like to be known? Everyone watching you and judging based off what they see on the outside? If so, I hated it and I wanted out. How was I getting slut shamed for being seen out with a guy? Was there something that Nic wasn't telling me? What about his reputation made me being seen with him be automatically slut shamed?

"Are you okay?" Wynter asks me. "I think you stopped breathing for a moment?"

I looked down at my phone, and one by one texts from the groupchat started rolling in and with each text, my heart sank deeper and deeper.

When the elevator opened, I practically sprinted all the way down the hall until I reached my office, slamming the door shut and locking it. I took a seat at my desk and opened my phone, immediately going to the bustling groupchat.

* * *

boats and hoes unite🤺

white chocolate 🍫
autti, are you okay?