Top Secret ✔

Chapter 22 || Tongue Tied

698! We're at #698 in teen fiction! OMG! AND WE'RE ALMOST AT 4K READSSSS

And since this is the 22nd chapter, you all know what to do! *randomly starts screaming* I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M FEELING 22!

(Ignore me, I just received a wonderful PM from a follower and I'm still a little hyped up)

Chapter dedicated to : @xXFakeALaughXx for all her constant support! Thank you very much!

Chapter 22 || Tongue Tied

      I tried to wrap my head around what I had just heard. It didn't make sense, but at the same time, it was the missing piece in the puzzle.

No wonder Colton hated Maria so much.

I gasped at the sudden realisation. Everything made sense now; Colton's hatred towards Maria, the picture that both Colton and Maria had. Thinking about it now, I wondered how I didn't realise it before.

The clues were all laid out in front of me and I didn't realise it at all.

A sudden thought came into my mind. Should I confront Colton about it? Or should I just pretend that I was clueless about the whole incident?

It seemed like the decision was made for me right there and then, because the door opened to reveal a very stressed-looking Maria. I gasped when my eyes met hers. She looked startled as well but then she instantly ushered me into her office.

I followed willingly when she pushed me into one of the chairs and took a seat on her own.

"Look, Anne. Whatever you do, you can't tell anyone about this, alright?" she instantly asked.

I was about to deny having knowledge of anything but the look of her face said it all; she knew that I knew, and all that's important to her is for me to keep my trap shut.

I nodded when I realised that she was still expecting a reply.

"I know you're getting close to Colton and I won't scold you for keeping it away from me. You wouldn't have known anything if you weren't standing outside the door anyway." she pointed out. "Was I really talking that loud?" she questioned.

I wasn't sure if it was a rhetorical question but I just went for the safer option to answer her but she beat me to it. "Nobody can know." she muttered softly.

Watching how everything's turning out, I couldn't help but see Maria from a different perspective. Maybe something had happened to her for her to be the way she is today; removed and alone. Sure, she could've all the friends she wanted since she is some sort of fashion mogul and all, but out of all those, can she name any true friends at all?

"I had no choice." she spoke out of a sudden.

I wasn't expecting her to just tell me everything, but then again, maybe she just needed someone to listen. You can argue that all the while there are constantly people listening to her instructions; be it her PA, her writers or even her editors. But who is actually listening to what she has to say or how she feels?

Maybe she wanted to feel vulnerable. All the while she had been surrounded by people who puts her on a pedestal makes her feel like she's this perfect human being in their eyes and to them, she'll never mess up.

"I was too young, Arianna, only 16." she continued. I was shocked when I finally heard her call me by my full name for the first time, but didn't ponder about it for too long.

"I was reckless and didn't really think about what I was doing." she sighed. "It was a mistake. He was a mistake."

Does she realise how hurtful her words can be? If this was how she had talked to Colton, no wonder he didn't want to see her.