C5 CHAPTER FIVE - BEGINNING OF WOE
Clarissa turned in bed and yawned as she opened her eyes. The natural rays of sunlight filled the room, and Clarissa squinted as she tried to get up from the bed.
She checked the time, and it was 10:30 am. She walked towards the ensuite bathroom to wash her face and caught her reflection in the mirror.
Mascara streaks were all over her face, and she was still in the dress she had worn the day before. She could still smell the champagne on her dress.
“Ding Dong, Ding Dong.” The doorbell rang.
She was not expecting any guests so she wondered who it was. Feeling groggy, she walked to the door. She glanced at the doorbell camera and saw her childhood friend and BFF, Cassandra Collins.
“Cassy!” Clarissa shrieked as she opened the door.
“Rissa!” Cassandra giggled as they embraced.
“You were in London the last time we FaceTimed, and you said you won't be in town till Summer. Why are you here? This is a pleasant surprise anyway.” Clarissa said happily.
“I had to book the next flight immediately after I saw the news. Where is your phone? I have been calling, and you got me so worried. Are you okay?” Cassandra asked, concerned.
“My phone has been on DND since yesterday. What news did you see? The news about the break-up? Yeah, I dumped Rob.” Clarissa replied, lowering her voice.
“Yes, I know that already. I am talking about the other news.” Cassandra whispered.
“What other news?” Clarissa asked looking confused.
“This news, Rissa.” Cassandra held up her phone. A blog posted;
“In the early hours of today, ‘Gretchen Austin’ was rescued while trying to commit suicide. She jumped down the 26-storey blocks of apartment some meters from her house. Luckily, someone had sighted her early enough to call the paramedics and the police. Thankfully, they were able to make a soft landing for Gretchen. She’d passed out and was taken to the hospital."
"At 8 AM, Gretchen regained consciousness and was questioned during psychological intervention. She reported that she had decided to take her own life because ‘Clarissa Earhart’ her friend and colleague had supposedly been bullying her at work."
"She also referred to the viral video of Clarissa pulling her hair and pouring broth all over her at a restaurant yesterday. Gretchen claimed to have other proof in the form of a voice recording, this was submitted and broadcasted by the AMVC's broadcasting department."
"In the recording, Clarissa can be heard saying mean words to Gretchen. These further confirmed that Clarissa might have been bullying her ex-friend and colleague.
While we await confirmation of these claims, let's wish Gretchen a speedy recovery."
#GetwellsoonGretchenAustin #Youareloved
Swipe left to listen to the recording. Clarissa swiped left with shaky hands and listened:
CLARISSA’S VOICE: You are such a terrible person, Gretchen. You have always had your filthy eyes on what’s mine. And just so you know, you will die trying to be me cause you can never be me.
GRETCHEN’S VOICE: Wha… What exactly do you mean, Clarissa? I get that you are not in a good state of mind due to whatever is causing you distress.
CLARISSA’S VOICE: Anytime I am a mess, you will always be a worse mess. I will always be ahead of you. Let that sink into that damned skull of yours, Gretchen Austin.
“No, no, no, I need my phone!” Clarissa muttered, shaken up.
“Rissa, calm down, please. I know something is not right. You are not a bully. You despise it, and you fought for those kids during high school days.”
“I swear that the recordings were altered, Cassy. I saw her with Rob yesterday, they were fucking. I confronted her at the restaurant yesterday, and she was being a bitch. And, And… that video, she poured the champagne on me. I got pissed and I poured the broth. But, bullying, suicide? I don't have anything to do with that.” Clarissa said in a rush, she was hyperventilating.
“Sit here, I’ll get you water and a paper bag,” Cassandra said.
Clarissa breathed in the brown paper bag and sipped some water. “Thank you, I feel better.”
Cassandra picked up Clarissa’s phone and warned, “Rissa, I want you to be as calm as possible. I believe you. I know that Gretchen’s just being a nuisance. But the moment you unlock this phone, giving up would not be an option. Promise?”
“Promise,” Clarissa muttered weakly. She collected her phone and unlocked it. She had missed so many calls and voicemails. Instagram notifications came in non-stop.
Then she saw a mail from her talent management agency and recalled that she had yet to inform them of her short break.
Clarissa clicked on the mail, and read it. It was a dissolution agreement notice. Clarissa froze.
Her phone buzzed. It was an iMessage notification, an audio message from one of the Agency’s reps. She clicked on play.
“Good day, Miss Clarissa! Due to the ongoing claims about your personality, I’m sorry to inform you that your contract with the agency is at this moment dissolved. Your office is under surveillance as I speak. You have been restricted from coming to the office starting now, Ma'am."
"Your black card has been blocked with immediate effect. Your ongoing projects and scheduled shoots have been handed over to another photographer, Ma'am."
"Your summer exhibition has been canceled as all sponsors have withdrawn. Lastly, you are to drop off the company’s car in three days. I will mail you the formalties, Ma’am.”
Clarissa screamed and Cassandra watched, her eyes wide open in shock.
"THERE IS A PROBLEM!" Cassandra exclaimed.
