Kiss The Stars

Chapter 24 As Bad As It Gets

Chapter 24 ~ As Bad As It Gets

My father's men steered me and Mom away from the chaos. The chaos I made. 

The cops and ambulances have been called in because people threw wine glasses and punches at each other. Some socialites have been treated for cuts and minor scratches. They fought because they learned each other's backstabbing through Phoebe's video.

I wanted to make a 'scene' for Phoebe. Who would have thought it would come to this? 

I envisioned it correctly. Everything tumbled down. To name a few - Phoebe's reputation,  New York high society's trust and confidence for each other, possibly Mr. and Mrs. Mendell's marriage, Caleb's love for me and my entire kingdom along with it.

I can feel my mother's questioning eyes on me but I know she will understand me no matter what. I need to look for Blair first and check up on Cate too. I already know Andy and Leo are OK. They scampered away before all the commotion started. Mom grudgingly gave me her permission to go but with two of the security aides. 

I found Cate in a huddle with her Aunt Lily and at least five men from Mr. O'Connor's security team. Times like these, it pays to have burly men around you. You'll never know who is against you.

"Elle!" Cate spotted me and came running to hug me. "Are you OK?" She asked while examining my appearance.

Am I OK? I just destroyed New York's civilized high society. 

Am I OK? No. I feel like hell. I think I belong there but I am taking Phoebe along with me.

"Yeah. Are you?" I held her beautiful face in my hands. I also checked her arms for any bruise or cut. Thank goodness she is fine! Dylan will personally deliver me to hell if his precious Cate is hurt. She nodded, smiling. "Aunt Lily?" I asked. She nodded again. I will never forgive myself if my friends got hurt because of what I did.

"She is a little shaken and disturbed. I couldn't blame her. She knows almost everyone in there." Cate is now shaking her head, still unbelieving how it all went down. Her mobile phone rang and based on her conversation with the person on the other line, I surmised it is a very worried Dylan calling. 

Mr. O'Connor arrived and rushed to his wife's side. I watched with Cate as her Aunt Lily and her Uncle Aidan hug tightly. He is like a knight in shining armor. In this case, a knight in a heavily tinted Audi SUV.

Cate and I glanced at each other. We have the same thing in mind. How we miss our knights!

Cate's knight is back in San Francisco, anxiously awaiting for her return. Mine is missing in action. He will not be showing up anymore. No, not after what his evil princess has done tonight. He must be thinking the princess does not need saving. But she does. She needs saving from herself.

"We have to go."  Cate smiled at me and hugged me one more time. "See you tomorrow." I nodded. Our flight back to San Francisco is tomorrow morning. 

After sending off Cate and her family, I searched for Blair and Tony. I found them at the cafe opposite the opulent building where the event was held. They are waiting for Blair's mother who is still inside the ballroom. 

Blair is calmer now that I caught up with her. "That was cathartic. Seeing where all my troubles started..." Her voice faded. Tom, her real boyfriend, is with her now. He is soothing her back. I am glad they found each other. They look perfect together. 

Tony is on the phone with someone. When he was done, he reported that Mrs. Mendell, Phoebe's mother, has been rushed to the hospital. She had a nervous breakdown.