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Laura's POV
I sit anxiously in my Mercedes, the type of luxury for which I have worked so hard. But right now, what interests me the most is the cool air coming from the car's rolled-down window. It tickles my skin, flickers my lashes, and brushes my eyebrows. This is how I like it; it kind of prepares me for what I am about to do.
What am I about to do? I am about to intrude on a coronation party and steal the queen's crown. Vanessa, my step-sister, the queen, is going to be the CEO of the company. Her crown is now mine, and I am going to claim it.
โDid you, as I requested, pay the paparazzi?โ I say to my assistant sitting beside me.
"Absolutely, ma'am. I gave them instructions and also called the media. The inauguration ceremony will be just how you want it," she responds, her face buried in her iPad.
I brace myself for what's about to happen. This is the moment I had been waiting for my entire life. The look on their faces is so gonna make my day. I am going to relish every second of it.
I hear the buzzing sound emanating from the building as the car comes to a sudden stop. Lifting my head, I see the name in big bold letters: "Whitehood Enterprise." My spine tingles at the name. I signal to the driver, and he gets down to open the door.
"Thanks, Austin," I say to him, patting his shoulder. As I take a step down and straighten my silk dress, numerous paparazzi start to focus on me. Whoa, this will be entertaining.
I catwalk into the building holding a microphone. As I enter the hall, I make my way straight to the stage.
"Madam, ma'am, who are you? You were not supposed to be here," I hear the security personnel muttering under their breath. "Hey, do not stop there!" another security staff protests. He makes no effort to stop me. Monica did an excellent job. She had greased their palms before now. They practised a little protest and resistance.
I see Vanessa standing there, giving her speech, holding a bunch of flowers in her arms. Oh, how I want to swipe her face with it. As soon as she notices me, her face is filled with confusion. Her puzzled look is soon replaced with a frightened one. Looks like she knew who I was. I am a step away from her now, and she is shaking with terror. It is as if she saw a ghost or met death. My demeanour alone is enough to raise her blood pressure.
"I will take it from here," I say to her in a low tone. I take over the podium, pushing her nub figure to the side.
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