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213 - THE RED CARPET

2025-08-12 00:02:13

Sarah stood in the kitchen of her penthouse, staring at the trays of food on the counter. Cold bagels. Lukewarm coffee. Leftover fruit from yesterday, cut and rearranged on a silver platter. This was not what she wanted.

“It’s fine,” she muttered to herself. “They’ll come for me, not the food.”

Kara hovered in the corner, clutching a tablet. “Ms. Chen, the catering canceled. The payment didn’t go through.”

Sarah’s eyes snapped to her, sharp and cold. “Shut up, Kara. It’s fine.”

The penthouse was cold, the giant windows showing the gray city outside. The dining table was set with the best plates she had, but the cheap food looked out of place under the crystal chandelier. She adjusted the flowers in the vase, forcing them to look fuller than they were.

Her phone buzzed. Damien’s name. She answered immediately.

“Damien. I need you here,” she sa

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222
Sarah stood in the editing suite, arms crossed as the team finalized the cuts for her “redemption documentary.” The screens showed her smiling in charity clips, posing in designer dresses, helping children at carefully staged events. Soft music played in the background. “This is it,” Sarah whispered, her eyes fixed on her glowing image on the screen. “This will fix everything.” Kara, standing nearby with a coffee cup, forced a smile. “The pre-orders are looking strong, Ms. Chen.” Sarah smirked, adjusting her watch. “They’ll see I’m not done.” The premiere was set for a luxury downtown cinema, red carpet rolled out, lights flashing as influencers and minor celebrities arrived, tagging: “At the #ChenDocPremiere.” “The Queen is back.” “#ChenRedemption.” Inside, staff handed out champagne, and screens looped Sarah’s smiling face with the tagline: “Sarah Chen: Risi
221
Sarah stared at her reflection in the dressing room mirror, pressing a powder puff against her cheeks to hide how pale she looked. Her hair was curled, falling softly over her shoulders, her lipstick a soft pink to appear “approachable.” Today, she wasn’t playing the ice queen. She was here to be the inspiring comeback story. “Ms. Chen,” Kara said softly, checking her notes, “the influencer panel is ready. You’re the final speaker.” Sarah nodded, forcing a small smile. “They will see who I am.” The panel was set up in a trendy downtown warehouse converted into an event space, with neon signs and white leather couches on stage. Rows of influencers and young entrepreneurs filled the audience, phones ready, livestreams open, ring lights blinking. Above the stage, a large screen displayed: “Building Back: A Conversation with Sarah Chen.” Soft music played, and laughter fil
220
Sarah stood in front of the full-length mirror, pulling her hair back into a sleek ponytail. She wore a black power suit with a thin gold chain around her neck, trying to look like the Sarah Chen the world once feared. Her hands shook slightly as she fixed her collar. “This is it,” she whispered to herself, her breath fogging the mirror. Behind her, Kara stood holding a clipboard, her eyes tired. “Ms. Chen, the live auction starts in thirty minutes. The camera crew is ready.” Sarah turned, forcing a confident smile. “Good. Today, we get Chen Industries back.” The event hall was filled with bright lights, rows of chairs facing a long glass podium. Cameras were set up at every angle, streaming the auction live across the country. Staff moved around with headsets, testing mics and adjusting lights. Sarah walked through the aisle, heels clicking, ignoring the whisper of “Is that her?” from one of the c
219
Sarah zipped up her cream puffer jacket, the cold mountain air biting her cheeks as she stepped off the private shuttle van. The luxury retreat lodge loomed ahead, cedar wood walls, glass windows reflecting the snowy pines. She forced herself to breathe, letting out a fog of warmth into the crisp air. She glanced behind her, watching influencers step out, pulling their designer bags, live-streaming the snowy scene. “At the Chen Influencer Retreat!” “Queen Sarah’s back, babes.” “#ChenComeback.” Sarah’s lips twitched into a smile, adjusting her beanie. Today would be the start of her real comeback. Kara shuffled beside her, holding a clipboard, breath clouding the air. “Ms. Chen, the spa packages are confirmed. The chef is ready. The social team says the posts are live.” Sarah nodded, scanning the hashtags on her phone: #ChenRetreat #QueenReturns #LuxuryWeekend
218
Sarah sat in the green room of the TV station, her legs crossed, tapping her heel on the floor. She wore a sleek navy dress, her hair freshly styled, her makeup flawless, lips painted a confident red. The lights above buzzed softly, the air cold on her skin. Kara sat across from her, clutching her phone. “They’re almost ready for you, Ms. Chen.” Sarah glanced at her reflection in the mirror, forcing herself to smile. “I’m ready.” She had to be. Outside the room, the crew bustled, cameras being checked, lights adjusted, the low hum of the live audience on the other side of the wall. Sarah’s phone buzzed on the table next to her water. She picked it up, hoping to see Damien’s name. Nothing. She set it down, ignoring the twisting in her stomach. “Tonight, we fix this,” she whispered to herself. The producer knocked softly, poking her head in.
217
Sarah stood on the balcony of her penthouse, staring at the empty rooftop prepared for tonight. Strings of fairy lights glowed above a long white table set with candles, fresh flowers, and gold-rimmed glasses that caught the dying light of the sunset. The city skyline blinked around her, uncaring, as she forced her shoulders to relax. She checked her reflection in the glass door, smoothing her hair, adjusting her black dress that hugged her body tightly. Her lips were painted a soft red, but she still felt pale. “Tonight is the night,” she whispered to herself. “They’ll see I’m still powerful.” Kara walked onto the balcony, holding her tablet, checking the RSVP list for the tenth time. “Ms. Chen,” she said quietly, “most of the influencers confirmed. We have fifteen major names coming.” Sarah nodded, not looking at her. “And the champagne? The catering?” Kara hesi

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