Blank Space

4

"This is it..." Karlie nods as Sean fills her in on Selena's proposition. "This is the story we've been waiting for."

"No, this is insane." Sean refutes her. "I'm not doing it."

"I can just imagine the headline: 'Sean O'Pry - My Life On The Inside Of Taylor Swift's Heart'."

"Don't be ridiculous!" he grunts. "It's foolish, risky and practically impossible to pull off. I'm gonna call Selena and put a stop to this madness. How did you find her anyway?"

"Oh, we're old friends." Karlie explains. "She's a top-notch private detective. I knew she'd be perfect for the job."

"Well you can tell her there is no job." Sean huffs and folds his arms assertively. "I'm not doing it."

"Mr O'Pry, what did I tell you yesterday?" Karlie's tone turns snappy. "There are thousands of people who would sell their soul for an opportunity like this. To publish a story so secret and scandalous is any journalist's dream. And you're just gonna throw it away?"

"But if I go delving into Swift's private life, I could get sued and lose my job!"

"If you don't bang out a good story before next week, then you'll lose your job a lot quicker." she reminds him. "So what's it gonna be?"

***

Selena slides the magazine across the table of the coffee shop. Sean lifts it to his eyes: it's an issue of the British Glamour magazine, folded at the page What To Expect From the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

It's that time of year again! The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is approaching fast, and the models and performers alike are preparing for the most magnificent display of lingerie to hit the world stage!

Set your planner, mark your diaries, stock the fridge with copious amounts of Galaxy and watch the likes of Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, and Behati Prinsloo take part in runway spectacle.

The show will include performances from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and Hozier, plus pink carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world's most celebrated fashion show.

The girls have checked into their hotel, no doubt getting pampered ahead of the catwalk extravaganza next week. What have they been doing all day? Sleeping off the jetlag? Sight-seeing? No. The gorgeous ladies have been creating mayhem in the Victoria's Secret UK store on Bond Street.

The girls have even been getting support in the shape of Taylor Swift, who is of course performing tomorrow night. The singer was reunited with her supermodel BFFs as she touched down in London. This year will be Taylor's second time performing at the show - she must have impressed the Victoria's Secret bosses first time around.

Will she do a duet with her best mate Ed Sheeran? Will she slap her BFF, Victoria's Secret supermodel Cara Delevigne on the bum as she walks down the catwalk? Only time will tell...

"The Victoria's Secret Fashion takes place in London on December 2nd." Selena concludes. "And you're gonna be there."

"What? Modelling?" Sean scoffs.

"Don't be stupid." she scowls. "You're gonna be doing what you do best: taking notes for your article on the new line of VS lingerie. Then, at the afterparty, you swoop in and make your move on Miss Swift."

"And how do you suppose I get to London, never mind enter the building?"

"It's all sorted." Selena confirms. "I've booked a flight for you and your assistant to fly to London for the night. You each have backstage passes to interview the models and get up close and personal with the performers."

"Well at least if this fails, I'll have an article on lingerie modelling to show." Sean shrugs.

"Oh, you won't fail. I believe you can easily work your magic on Swift. She's a hopeless romantic who wears her heart on her sleeve. All you need to do is use a little charm and she'll fall head-over-heels for you. You just need to appear genuine with good intentions."

"Of which I'm neither, right?"

"Correct. I look forward to our next meeting."

Selena stands up and strolls casually out of the coffee shop, leaving Sean to revise the issue of Glamour alone with a chocolate-sprinkled mocha. This stranger had just offered him the trip of a lifetime served on a silver plate. While the opportunity was to be seized without haste, Sean could not help but wonder how she had managed to snag these backstage passes. What was her deal with Taylor to begin with?

He discards the paper cup in a nearby bin and heads back to his apartment to start packing for his big trip to the British capital.

***

The sunlight streams through the French windows of Woolworth Mansion's second-floor study. It is a grand space, walls lined with bookcases brimming with leather-bound romance novels, and an antique mahogany desk with a velvet throne.

Taylor Swift sits in a golden blouse, peering over a collection of envelopes. She opens the first with a sour expression, knowing exactly what lurks inside.

Dear Noah,

Right now, it's pretty crazy, and I don't know how to stop or slow it down. I know there are some things we need to talk about.

But we can't let this go on. Taylor is my friend and I cannot betray her in this way. I love you, but it's wrong and needs to stop.

I promise I will always love you. But my loyalties lie with Taylor.

Love Black Bow.

Taylor felt the blood boil in her veins and tears fills her eyes as the name taunts her mind: Black Bow. This filthy little strumpet, whoever she may be, had preyed upon her boyfriend, which had inevitably led to his death. What made the pain even more agonising was the truth that one of her close friends had stabbed her in the back.

She squints at the handwriting on the paper, but cannot identify its owner. When she found the backstabbing bitch, she would learn that stealing other people's toys on the playground won't make you many friends...