Uncrowned Princess

43

The aroma of grilled seafood and tropical fruits filled the air, but Isabella found herself picking at her food, her appetite diminished by the weight of her secrets.

Across the table, Claudia caught Isabella's eye. For a moment, tension crackled between them, a reminder of their ongoing cold war. But then, surprisingly, Claudia's expression softened. She exchanged a quick glance with Stephanie, who grinned and made a silly face, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Claudia cleared her throat, addressing the group. "So, I picked out a movie for us to watch later. What do you guys think?"

The suggestion was met with a mix of responses. Some groaned, shaking their heads.

"No way, we came here to party, not watch movies!" Leo protested.

Others seemed more amenable to the idea. "Actually, a movie sounds pretty chill," Bea chimed in.

As the group debated, Claudia's gaze landed on Isabella. "What about you, Iz? Are you in for a movie night?"

The question caught Isabella off guard. She had been absently pushing a piece of grilled pineapple around her plate, lost in thought. At the sound of her name, she looked up, her fork clattering against the plate.

For a moment, Isabella just stared at Claudia, surprised by the normal, almost friendly tone. It was so unexpected after weeks of cold shoulders and thinly veiled hostility. The group fell silent, sensing the underlying tension between the two girls.

Isabella swallowed hard, acutely aware of everyone's eyes on her. "I... uh..." she stammered, then took a deep breath. "Yeah, okay. A movie sounds good."

Claudia nodded, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. "Great," she said simply, before turning to continue the conversation with Stephanie.

The chatter around the table resumed, but Isabella remained quiet, her mind whirling. What was Claudia playing at? Was this a genuine olive branch or just another mind game?

As she picked up her fork again, Isabella couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.

The living room of the beach house was bathed in the soft glow of ambient lighting as the group settled onto the plush sofas and armchairs. The excitement of the beach party had mellowed into a comfortable, lazy atmosphere. Isabella found herself wedged between Leo and Bea, a bowl of popcorn balanced precariously on her lap.

Claudia, a sly smile playing on her lips, moved towards the large flat-screen TV. "Alright, everyone ready for movie night?"

There were murmurs of agreement as Claudia pressed play and settled back into her seat next to Stephanie. The screen flickered to life, but instead of the opening credits of a movie, a familiar setting appeared.

Isabella's heart stopped. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized the gleaming lobby of her family's hotel. And there, in crisp uniform, was herself, efficiently moving between guests with a professional smile plastered on her face.

A maelstrom of emotions crashed over Isabella. Shock gave way to disbelief, which quickly morphed into a sickening mix of betrayal and fear. Her cheeks burned with humiliation as she watched herself on screen, the secret she'd been so carefully guarding now laid bare for all to see.

The room fell silent for a moment before erupting in surprised exclamations.

"Wait, is that...?"
"Isabella?"
"What the hell?"

Claudia's voice cut through the chaos, dripping with false sweetness. "My, my, Iz. Looks like your 'corporate job' is a bit more... hands-on than you led us to believe."