Chapter 35 Influencer
\-Bianca-
Watching Celeste scramble like a headless chicken was exactly the beginning of the payback I’d envisaged all week.
Because of her, I missed my feature in the magazine. Because of her, I lost endorsement, and because of her… Lucien was now farther away from my reach.
God, I resented her.
I walked over to the electrician, slipping him a couple of bucks.
“The max I can hold off the power for, is thirty minutes.” He grinned, counting the cash with the glint of a greedy man.
“That’s enough time to wreck some havoc. Fine by me.” Without supply, it meant a great deal of her pastries would be ruined.
I watched the electrician walk off to explain things to her. He said something about a small fault that would take at least an hour to fix.
Seeing her run her fingers through her hair with frustration was a delicious sight.
From the corner, I exchanged a look with Sue. She was my inside man or woman—either way, I had agreed to pay double of whatever Celeste was paying.
She had unplugged the freezers on purpose, and even now as she shared in their distress, I had other plans for her.
All I had to do was give the signal. For now, I just wanted to tease Celeste.
I strutted over to her, amusement etched on my face. “Hi, again, Celeste.”
“What do you want?” She frowned, gritting her teeth. I laughed internally. What a sorry sight.
“I see things aren’t going as planned… You look like you could use some help.” I smirked.
Her expression darkened as she stepped forward and closer to me. “You’re behind this, aren’t you?” Her eyes searched mine like she wanted to see the lie in them.
I scoffed, taking a step back. “Do you have proof? Or is this some…baseless accusation?”
Her jaw clenched, and her eyes widened like she wanted to pick a fight. This small woman’s got some nerves, I thought.
“You think this is funny, huh, Bianca? I put my whole effort into this, and all you’ve done since you came here is try to ruin it! This is business, this isn’t some personal vendetta—”
“Oh, for fuck sake, you’re so wordy,” I said with an eye roll. “I get it, you’re upset. I’m upset too. I didn’t get my column. I didn’t get my man, and it was all your fault—”
“So it’s all my fault that you’re a pathetic bully who seeks validation from strangers online?!” She snapped, loud enough for the entire setup team to turn in our direction.
Fuck her.I hated how those lines hit hard.
At that moment, the planner, David, arrived. He had probably heard the noise from outside.
“What's going on here?” he began.
The electrician explained the situation, and I watched as David's expression turned panicked. But just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared, and he came up with a suggestion.
“The venue has backup generators for situations like this, right?”
“Uh-I…” the electrician stuttered, darting his eyes in my direction.
I quickly looked away.
“Yes we do,” he finally said. “I’ll put them on right now.”
Damn it. I fumed. What is this? Some sort of fairy godmother moment? Every single thing I try, she slips through like she’s untouchable!
I let the moment pass, let her be now and I’ll strike again.
When the gala officially started, I caught Sue’s eye and gave her a small nod. That was the signal.
I watched in the corner, sipping a glass of champagne as she moved to the dessert table, sliding the allergy cards beside the beautifully displayed macarons and financers.
It was just a tiny, innocent move, but once those pastries got into the wrong hands, I knew they’d be deadly.
The music swelled. Guests laughed. People mingled, clinked glasses, took bites.
And then—
A sharp gasp. A glass hit the floor, shattering.
Someone fell to his knees, clutching his throat, then another. I smirked. Rich people and their allergies.
“Nut!” The second person choked.
The room froze. Screams cut through the chatter.
Someone rushed to their sides. “They’re allergic to nuts, does anyone have an EpiPen?”
Celeste stood, mortified. Finally. She thought she could control everything. She thought she was untouchable.
Someone quickly offered their EpiPen and saved two lives, but for Celeste, it was over.
She was now nothing but an incompetent loser.
From here, I watched Fae storm towards her, eyes blazing with fury. “What is the meaning of this,” she demanded, “are you trying to kill my guests?”
“Miss Winters, please believe me, I don't know how all this happened.” Her voice trembled. “I placed those cards myself—”
“Now how can I be certain that the rest of this is safe for consumption?”
She fell to her knees, begging.
This was more exciting than all I had planned out. I smiled to myself.
At the same time, I received a text from Sue.
“I'm sorry, Miss, but I can't do this.”
“But you already did, you're going to get in trouble if you say anything.”
“People almost died. I could go to jail.”
I raised my head to see her in the crowd that had gathered, hands trembling by her side.
She gave me an apologetic look, and I returned it with one that said, "Don't you dare."
But it was too late, she had the mind of a chicken, and I was foolish to trust her.
I set down my glass, heart sinking as she walked to Fae, whispering something in her ears.
Fae froze, her expression turning dark as she turned in my direction.
She marched up to me, eyes never leaving mine.
“Is it true?” she questioned sharply.
I let out a dry laugh. “I don't know what you’re talking about. I don't know what she said either, but none of it is true... Come on Fae, why would you believe a common staff over me?”
She glared at me with eyes cold enough to kill.
“First you tried to cut the supply and now the desserts—”
My brows furrowed, “How did you—”
“You underestimate me, Influencer,” she spat.
“Security,” she called. “Throw this woman off the premises, now.”
My pulse raced. This was crazy. How did it end up like this?
As I was dragged back, my eyes locked with Celeste’s across the hall smiling smugly.
Something in me snapped.
“I’m going to get you!” I screamed, struggling against the guards. “You hear me? I’m going to get you!”
She didn’t flinch. Just stood there, smiling like she’d already won.
“I’m sorry!” I yelled, but no one listened.
I'm going to get that bitch someday!