LUXURY

＂ Ｔｈｅ Ｌｏｖｅ Ｗｉｎｓ Ｅｖｅｎｔ Ｆａｉｌ ＂ (1/4)

Erika Felix laughed crudely at the widescreen LG TV in front of her, pausing her lazy channel surfing to watch ABC 7 news cover the new buzzing headline; 'When Rich Kids' partying gets out of hand.'

The camera panned over kids shaking profusely in cashmere cloths on the dock of Venice Beach, jeering hysterically at the massive beauty of a yacht being pulled on to the opposite dock by a forklift. Erika leaned forward on the Felix's sectional ivy-colored Modern Luxury Summit couch just in time to get a glimpse of Paisely Mont Vernon and Jacqueline Lexington just off to the side of the camera, freezing in their towels but still looking absolutely gorgeous as they drunk from blue mugs of hot chocolate.

The whole scene looked like some kind of frozen get together Erika wasn't invited to - and she hated it. The whole point of sinking the yacht was for them to die miserable.

Then Erika's annoyance only grew when the Barbara Bui-clad reporter strutted over to her former friends, tapping the teeth-chattering Paisely to face the camera.

"Paisely Mont Vernon, daughter of famous 80s supermodel, Daisy Scott was one of the lucky few who made it off the yacht without damaging her Rolex watch," The reporter paused to chuckle but no one else joined in. "But not before calling her chauffeur and getting a helicopter at the scene before even the ambulance could show up. How did you feel when you realized the yacht was sinking, Paisely?"

Paisely's blue doe eyes diverted to something off camera before she swallowed nervously. "I guess I was a little scared."

"And what helped you clear your mind of fear in time to get help?"

"I don't know...I just...kind of...got help.."

The reporter frowned before quickly forcing a rueful smile and turning to the camera. "Paisely Mont Vernon has been named the hero of this tragic yacht story and will be awarded at the Lexington Love Wins Event taking place at the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel tomorrow night."

"Are you kidding me?" Erika gasped at the screen as if she were waiting for the reporter to answer her.

"As for the rest of this story, while there have thankfully been no deaths, over ten kids have been rushed to the hospital after trying to swim back to shore and nearly drowning-"

Erika turned off the TV, chucking the remote and throwing every satin silk pillow in her range at the expensive screen. Then with an exasperated sigh, she literally pulled at her auburn locks - before realizing what she was actually doing and quickly sinking back on to the Ivy couch again.

Erika liked to think she was completely sane but ever since her social death, every once in a while, she fell off the deep end. However she couldn't help it. Her world was spiraling out into some shrine for Paisely and while she knew she was the anti-Christ of prep school, now everyone else had caught on too and had shunned her out of her own kingdom.

Reliving the night became the urge Erika had to throw up the croissant she'd just had for breakfast.

"Miss Erika?" She heard the thick accent of the house maid, Griselda, before the heavyset woman was in front of her, looking tired and wearing the, 'I hate my job,' look as usual with a glass cup of water in her hand.

She handed the cup to Erika.

"What is this for?"

"To calm your nerves, Miss-"

"I am not some kind of head case." Erika snapped, tossing the cup over her head and not even cringing when she heard it shatter on the glossy pearl floor. Groaning in annoyance, she gathered up the Vogue Italia magazines she'd thrown on the Tudor coffee table and headed for the doorway.