Talk Of The Town ✔️

16

Anya stood on the porch. Her arms crossed beneath her chest. Kiara steered the car and stopped in front of her. Head aching with tension, she opened the door and occupied the passenger seat.

"Hey, where are we going?" Her ecstatic cousin asked.

"Connaught Water"

"Are you kidding me? That's more than an hour's ride, excluding the countless congestions we'll encounter. We won't be back before nightfall."

"You promised you would return me two favours anytime I ask. We are going there, no further questions asked."

"Do you have a secret rendezvous?"

"Shut up, Kiara."

"Fine, not in the mood to talk, got it."

Music played on the radio throughout the entire ride. Kiara bobbed her head now and then, mumbling the lyrics. Anya pressed her bag against her stomach, staring outside and tracing invisible patterns on her blue jeans. Her face grew pensive as they crossed another mile. Lucky for her, Kiara hasn't asked any more questions. It still doesn't change the fact that she is about to meet the ultimate cyberbully of London City.

"Parking is full," Kiara stated as she stopped the car by the roadside.

"There is a cute coffee shop about five minutes back there. It's on Queen's Road. I'll join you later."

"No offence and no snooping, Anya, but this looks dodgy as hell."

"I have a pepper spray."

"So, you will meet a guy you've never met."

"Kiara, please, I have a personal life. You are returning a favour by dropping me here."

Nodding, she said, "No need to join me at the coffee shop. In thirty minutes, to be precise, I'm returning here. I don't care if you don't like it because, God forbid, if something ever happens to you, they will blame me."

Anya appreciated her cousin's concern, though she couldn't show it.

Connaught Water is a tranquil place surrounded by green and yellow woodlands. It's perfect for a morning run or an afternoon walk, likewise getting trapped or stabbed with no one to hear your cries unless some nature enthusiast is nearby.

Anya couldn't spot one person despite the parking lot being full. She clutched her black cross-body with both hands and walked the trail surrounding the water. All of a sudden, a squirrel dashed in front of her.

She jumped back, covering her mouth. Two more followed, nipping on something. Heartbeats thundering, she lowered her hand and massaged the back of her stiff neck. That's one kind of a jump scare.

A few jittery minutes later, she spotted someone in an oversized black jumper, matching trousers pulled up to the knees, sitting on a rock and dipping their feet into the murky water. The vast hoodie covered the person's head. Crunching leaves announced Anya's presence. The person didn't bother to look at her and ordered.

"Sit on that rock, Anya Sheriff."

It is her.

Love Venom, in the flesh, sitting in her arm's reach.

She pointed to the rock on her right, leaving about five feet between them. Swallowing some saliva, Anya obeyed her. She still clutched the bag against her tightening stomach. Weird thoughts raced. Paranoia suffocated her.

Love Venom is influential. Anya is pretty much defenceless in her presence.

"Chill, Anya, I'm not going to hurt you, at least not with my bare hands."

The sweet yet cold voice rose goosebumps on Anya's arms. She looked around in case someone hid in the woods, ready to attack her.

"What do you want from me?" Anya asked, voice cracking.

"I was the talk of the town before you came along. Everyone talked about me, sent me dirty secrets of their enemies, and praised me for exposing those brats. Some took bad publicity as good publicity. It made more people talk about them. Then, you arrived like an unannounced tempest, wreaking beautiful havoc everywhere. They all praised you. I could count the number of people who dislike you on my fingers, and I have millions of followers. Well, all good things must come to an end."

Beads of sweat dotted her forehead despite the chill in the air. Anya tugged the neckline of her cashmere jumper a bit down.

"You are going to do what I will order you, or I'll have to put this evil plan into action."

"What do you mean?"

"I have enough evidence and skill to portray Noah and you in a bad light. I'll accuse you of being a social climber. You used Brody. You romanced him for connection with producers and directors. Noah, your knight in shining armour, became a possessed lover. He punched and threatened Brody for being a gentleman. He is losing his mind over you, and you are enjoying the attention on all sides. I'll turn Brody into the hero and Noah into the villain."

Tears filled her eyes. She spoke in a suffocated whisper, "This is wrong. Noah protected me while Brody-"

"You are taking all the fame, sweetheart. You did it before, and you are doing it again."

"What"

"You know what you did, Anya Sheriff, and now you will pay."

"No," she shouted, words tumbling out of her lips. "You can't do this. Noah is kind and respectful, while Brody is a waste of space. Who cares if he is more famous than Noah or if he is a legitimate actor? Brody is a terrible person. He drugged me. You know it if you sent me that clip or what could have happened to me if Noah hadn't arrived on time.

"Okay"

Anya couldn't see her face due to the hoodie hiding it, but she placed a bag on her lap and pulled out a pistol.

Anya gasped. Her body shook as she looked around for a person to call for help. No one aside, a few ducks were in their vicinity. She bunched the hem of her jumper in her hand, late afternoon sun rays becoming dizzying for her.

"I could shoot you except, it wouldn't bring me joy. Your misery is my joy. I keep enough tabs on Noah Malik's locations at all hours. Since I know you are not his girlfriend, Noah Malik is currently at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester. He is meeting with some football players. They'll have a sportswear ad coming soon. One shot is enough to send you into a spiral of frenzy. No pun intended."

Anya bit her lips, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I give you a month to ruin your reputation. Fail to do so, I'll ruin Noah Malik like this," she threatened, snapping her brown manicured finger.