Chapter 9: Anna's Mission

ELIZA'S POV

I stepped out of Vinton Crost's kitchen, feeling a tight, bright energy in my chest.

I'd been afraid that I would require more time in the Vinton's household to carry out my devious little revenge. But everything was going even smoother than I expected.

The almighty Vinton Crost wasn't so formidable after all.

I began to make my way towards the living room, ready to take a long walk and use that perfect disguise to call Father.

But as soon as I stepped into the living room, I found Anna seated gracefully on their aniline couch that was so startlingly white I wondered whether it was even meant to be sat on at all.

There was a woman opposite of her, who looked a little awestruck in Anna Crost's presence. I couldn't blame her. The Spotlight Magazine had once named Anna Crost the most beautiful woman alive.

Pity that the media only always looked at the outward aspects of celebrities and not the traits they carried within.

Beside the woman was a large recording tape, as well as a small camera perfectly positioned to capture Anna Crost.

What was this about?

“Come, Eliza darling.” Anna called out in a sweet voice. Her smile was wide, disarming and utterly deceptive.

I frowned but stepped towards Anna anyway. I couldn't disobey my new boss and risk being fired.

As soon as I was close enough to her, she dragged me down hard, and I landed on the white couch beside her with a plop.

I turned to her, shocked at her audacious action. But I found that irritating smile still fixed on her face and her eyes still on the woman in front of her.

“Mrs. Prescott, please, meet Eliana Reed, the wonderful girl who saved my daughter last night from those depraved men.”

Eliana? What the hell was it with this woman and getting my name wrong?

Mrs. Prescott, a short woman in a suit and press badge, smiled warmly at me.

“Miss Reed, what you did last night was absolutely courageous. It's a real pleasure to meet the young, unassuming woman who played the hero at Tilly Crost's party last night.”

The woman's words rushed through me, making me feel warm and guilty all at once.

She thought I was the hero when I was in fact nothing close to that. An actor, maybe? A poser? An angry daughter who was chasing vengeance for her mother's death? Yes.

I forced a smile and shrugged. “It was nothing at all. I'm just glad that Tilly is safe and that no one was harmed during that whole fiasco.”

The journalist nodded. “I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions. I am from the PrimeView network, and this interview would be used solely for the coverage of the incident from last night.”

I opened my mouth to politely decline, but Anna beat me to it.

“Oh, she doesn't mind at all. This interview is necessary, you know? My daughter was almost kidnapped on the day that she celebrated being born. And it almost happened right under our nose, despite the strategic and different security measures we've put in place. As a mother, I want the details to be out there so other parents can know how to protect their children.”

I gaped at Anna. Was she serious right now?

Mrs. Prescott nodded, and her eyes were suddenly filled with pity.

“Oh, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Crost. I understand that this might be difficult for you.”

“Oh, you just can't.” Anna broke into a loud, dramatic sob. “As a first-time mom, I was completely terrified at the thought of any harm coming to my innocent daughter.”

She sniffed, and I tried not to roll my eyes. The journalist quickly offered her a box of Kleenex, and she dragged one out and blew delicately into it.

“Are you recording this?” Anna suddenly asked.

The woman's eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I'm sorry, I thought this was a more personal moment that you wouldn't want captured.”

“Please, go ahead and record. Like I said, everyone needs to learn from this.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes again. Of course, Anna Crost was simply doing this for attention. She wanted to be the center of attention. Which wasn't my problem anyways since her goal wasn't interfering with my mission.

“Alright, Mrs. Crost. Thank you for agreeing to do this with me. We're officially live, and I would like to ask a series of questions.”

“It's a pleasure, Mrs. Prescott. Last night felt like a horror movie, but I'm so glad that it ended the way it did, with my daughter safe and sound.”

“That's wonderful, Mrs. Crost. I'm glad your daughter is safe too.”

We introduced ourselves again to the camera, and the main interview began.

“Okay, Mrs. Reed. The journalist began, turning to me. Anna shifted uncomfortably on the couch. The attention was off her.

“Can you tell us what exactly happened last night and how you ended up in the middle of it?”

“Of course I can. I was hired to serve at Tilly's birthday. And this was a job I was more than happy to do. I didn't anticipate that anything bad would happen. But when it did, I just knew I had to—”

“Eliana was really at the right place at the right time. We owe her so many thanks. Not only have we decided to hire her as our daughter's full-time nanny, but we've also rewarded her in cash.” Anna interrupted.

My mouth dropped open in shock at Anna's blatant lie. But Mrs. Prescott was too fixated on Anna to notice my expression.

Anna continued to lie to the camera without shame.

“Right now, Eliana has become family. She is already bonding with Tilly, and I have no doubt that they'd have a great time together.”

“That's so wonderful.” Mrs. Prescott smiled widely. “You're just as kind as the media says, Mrs. Crost. And I'm so glad that you could make time out of your busy schedule to sit with me.”

Anna smiled winsomely at the woman.

“It was nothing.” She waved a dismissive hand and then grabbed my hands too and pulled me towards the camera. When I tried to pull my hands away, she leaned towards me in a pretentious act of kindness to remove a stray thread from my hair.

“You better play along, or else you'll be leaving behind the journalist as soon as her ass is off that couch.”