Claudia stormed inside her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Her chest was raising and falling as fury consumed her. She had never been this angry in her life until a few moments ago. She felt like ripping her own heart out, because it was wrenching so much, she couldn't bear it any longer.
Grabbing the vase, she threw it at the wall, watching as it shattered to the ground. But that wasn't enough to calm her anger. She needed to do more.
She reached for the lamp beside her bed and shoved it away. She took her anger and frustration on every piece of furniture in her room, yet it wasn't still enough. When there was nothing else to break, she collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down her cheek.
He really married her. Alexander really chose Anna over her.
All this time, she had believed she was the perfect woman for him. She had everything: beauty, charm, connection. She molded herself into the kind of woman Alexander would want by his side. And yet, he tossed her aside without a second thought and married her sister behind her back. That useless little nobody. Why? Why did it have to be Anna? She wasn't better than her nor was she prettier, than why?
The door creaked open and her mother hurried in.
"Claudia…" she called, rushing towards her. "What have you done?" But Claudia never lifted her head. Even now she hated her mother, she hated to see her face.
"Don't touch me!" She snapped, finally looking up as her mother knelt before her.
"You knew didn't you? You knew he was marrying Anna and you let it happen!"
"Claudia…"
"No!" She shrieked. "I don't want to hear it. You stood there and let Anna take everything from me! You let her humiliate me!"
"It wasn't like that," Irene insisted, her voice soft, yet firm. "This wasn't my decision."
Claudia wiped her tears with the back of her hand. She knew it was anyone's decision except Alexander. That was why he sent her away on that trip, so she wouldn't see what he was doing.
"He used me, mother…" she sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Claudia. Let's talk about this later. You need to meet someone now. They are here," her mother said as she reached for her to touch her, but Claudia pushed her away and scrambled to her feet. She wasn't meeting anyone. After they had married her sister to her fiancè, they wanted her to see someone else? That was impossible. She wouldn't surrender just like that. She wasn't raised to surrender but to keep her head high and remind herself who she was. "I am Claudia Rae Steele. I don't lose. I never lose. And I won't let that piece of trash reap what I have sown for years."
Her mother stood up as well, her expression shifting to concern. "Claudia, listen to me," she said carefully. "You can't do anything to her. You need to forget about him. Don't act rashly."
For a moment, Claudia was amused, before a hollow laugh escaped her throat. "Since when do you care about Anna? You never did before. Why start now?"
Her mother remained silent, but Claudia could feel that silent, it spoke volumes more than words. But that was none of her business. She would do whatever she wanted and no one would stop. And Anna… "I will make Anna wish she was never born. Watch me."
"No, Claudia, come back here. You have to meet master Tristan Yates!" Her mother screamed, but Claudia grabbed her purse and walked out of the room, ignoring her mother. She didn't even care about her perfect makeup that was now ruined with tears. None of that mattered. Anna would pay for everything.
****
Claudia arrived at the popular gentleman club in the city and headed straight to the VIP. There was this person she needed to see, even though the thought of seeing him again made her skin crawl, she didn't mind as long as it was helpful.
The glass door opened on its own and as soon as she stepped inside the dim room, the choking smell of cigarettes enveloped her. Claudia didn't like it here, but she went further anyway, scrunching up her nose in disgust to stop herself from throwing up.
"Well, guess who we have here," the deep voice resonated through the room, making her halt. Claudia turned to the direction of the voice and there he was, sitting at the table, engulfed in the spoke that was coming out of his cigarette. His appearance didn't change a bit from the last time she saw him. He was still the same gangster looking and covered with tattoos.
"I never thought we would be meeting anytime soon, Miss Steele," he continued.
Claudia eyed him and went to sit down beside him.
"Well, I never thought I would be needing you after you ruined your last job. But it seems fate always has its way. Don't you think, Sandro?"
"There you go again with those melancholic words," Sandro smirked. "Let's put fate aside and go straight to the point. Why do you seek me?"
"Good. I have a proposal for you," she offered.
Sandro smile widened. "Should I be happy?"
"You should, because you have to anyway." She opened her purse, brought out a picture and slapped it on the table.
Sandro took the picture and stared at it, his eyes shining with admiration. "She is a beauty," he confessed.
Claudia's chest tightened. "I never asked you to tell me that," she snapped. "It's a job and you know what to do."
"Of course I do," he assured. "When will I be getting my payment?"
"Until the job is done," Claudia said and stood up. "And make sure you don't ruin it like the last time, otherwise you won't be getting any, understood?"
"Yes, boss," Sandro grinned, showing his perfect set of teeth that had turned black from cigarettes.
Claudia nodded, satisfied and made her way out of the club to her car. Now, let's how you will escape this Anna.