Masked woman

“How can you say that…the wedding is in a week!” A yell came from Christian's father. The room was in the utter silence that even Emily kept her head lowered.

“I'm not interested…and I'm old enough to make my own decisions,” Christian said seriously. He decided to spend his life with Shania, no one would separate him from the woman he loved.

“What's this, huh…the decision was made months ago…think about our family reputation,” Madeline chimed in, not believing what she was hearing. They had a family reputation to protect. The Smith family were cruel when it came to their daughter. Ashley was a top model. Everything she did affected her career and brand. Her marriage to Christian was postponed once. People were talking badly about her.

“Do you think this is a joke…”

“A joke is forcing me to marry a girl I don't want… I'm in love with someone else,” Christian said without any regrets, shocking everyone in the room. Emily only smirked and played with her nails, while Evan scoffed disdainfully.

“Love? Who is that girl huh…tell me…are you willing to sink our family all because of a woman" George couldn't stand it. He pardoned his son for the first mistake he did not make again.

“George, calm down… I'm certain this is a joke…he'll come around soon,” Madeline coaxed her husband to take heart. On the other hand, anger boiled within her. She feared such a day would come.

“Ace, go and freshen up… I'm sure after that…you'll come back to your senses,” Madeline said, nodding at Christian to go upstairs. Unfortunately, Christian wasn't having it.

“Madeline, I respect you very much…but I'm in my right senses…this wedding is off,” Christian said, knowing he respected Madeline as he would his biological mother. But the decision of marrying was solely up to him.

“Cousin, don't be stubborn… Ashley is a beautiful woman…why not marry her?” Evan chimed in for the first time since Christian arrived.

“You don't understand… I love someone else…she's the one I'll marry,” Christian said and turned to leave when George stopped him.

“You are not leaving this place, son…your marriage with Ashley is still on…”

“Uncle…why not ask him who the girl is… I'm certain…cousin has his reasons” Emily said shrewdly, like adding fuel to a fire. Madeline's eyes flashed with rage.

“You'll meet her soon…” Christian smiled and turned to walk away suddenly. Emily turned on the TV. The volume was loud; however, that didn't make Christian stop. What made him halt was the news being broadcasted.

“Isn't that Shania?” Evan exclaimed as everyone turned toward the flat-screen TV mounted to the wall. Christian's heart raced as he walked closer to see what was happening.

“Oh my gosh…she's that masked woman! That stripper” Emily exclaimed dramatically, getting everyone's attention.

“The local sensation that every man desires has been unmasked,” Christian's knees weakened as fear washed over him. The scenery he was seeing was too frightening. The shocking expressions on everybody's faces were visible enough to tell, they didn't expect such a thing.

“This can't be?” Madeline muttered as her hands moved to her mouth. Emily had a smirk plastered on her face while Evan watched with amusement flashing in his eyes.

“There must be a misunderstanding…don't believe what the media put out there” George said, walking up to his wife.

“She…how could,” Madeline stammered in desperation as George held her in his arms. Her daughter was that filthy woman.

“Calm down… I'm sure this isn't it…we'll talk to her,” George coaxed softly. Christian didn't waste a minute longer but stormed out of there.

“Shania,” he muttered and ran outside, hoping nothing happened to her. Who the hell posted such pictures? And most of all, who told the media his location? No one knew where his villa was. So many reporters had swarmed his place. Shania was in danger.

____

On his way to his apartment, Christian tried calling Shania, unfortunately, she wasn't picking up.

“Damn it, baby, answer the damn call,” he was frustrated, even when he called Travis to rush to his villa. He was still restless. Whoever did that was trying to ruin Shania's image. He wasn't going to allow them.

“Do you want me to sue your TV station…how dare you!” Christian yelled over the phone. Luckily, he knew the owner of the news station who posted everything and made fake slandering news.

“Take everything down or get ready to shoulder the consequences,” it was too much, Christian disconnected the phone and tossed his ear pods away.

Soon he arrived at his villa. To his surprise, there were no reporters around. He spotted Travis and Danny talking to some security men.

“There you are…how can you be so careless,” Danny said, rushing to Christian as soon as he parked the car and stepped out,

“Who the fuck did this?” Christian said and hurried inside.

“No idea… I rushed here once I saw it,” Danny said, but Christian didn't even pay attention to him when he rushed inside. He went straight to the living room, but he didn't find Shania.

“She's in the…” Danny started only to get pushed aside by Christian who stormed upstairs without paying him any attention.

“Of course…stupid man,” Danny frowned. He came in time and protected Shania from the angry mob of women. It wasn't a big deal why people were throwing stones at Shania.

“Travis, let's find the rat,” Danny said, turning to Travis.

“Already on it,” Travis replied, showing Danny his iPad. Of course, Danny was going to make the person who did this suffer.