"Miss Winchester, can we go over the instructions again?"
After we left the house with Ted and Anise alongside my security details, I did not stop to catch my breath. From being tossed from one hand to another in the name of finding the right shade of clothes for my press conference to being told that my skin was too shallow and I had eyebags which had to be fixed.
Thinking that would be the end of my suffering, now I was being instructed like a kindergarten to read rules I'd been made to go over more than 50 times.
Rolling my eyes, I sighed and turned to Todd, the PR Director of Blackway Industries. "Do not read anything outside of the teleprompter. Even if you have any great thing or idea to say, keep it to yourself and stick to the script,".
"Good!" he nodded with satisfaction "Believe me, Sienna, you do not have a lot of goodwill with the people at this point and trying to play outside what we've given you would be pure suicide, so just stick to the plan and you'll be fine. Remember, if any of those reporters outside the one on that list tries to ask you a question, do not engage and you'll be fine. Okay?"
"Sure!" I nodded taking in another deep breath.
"Alright, I think we're done, so we'll start rolling in five, okay?" Todd said again.
"Alright, Todd," I sighed and watched as he walked past me. I couldn't wait for this nightmare to pass. You know, when I had first imagined that I would be fighting for my inheritance, nothing had prepared me for all of these rigours. I thought going to the press and just telling the world my truth would exonerate me but now that I see it… I wish I had listened to Monty and just walked away.
"Are you alright?" Monty appeared behind me suddenly.
"Just a bit overwhelmed but I should be able to handle it since there's a guide for me on how to speak right?"
"Don't worry!" he patted my shoulders. "This nightmare will be over soon. I'll be backstage, come find me when you're done, I want to show you something,".
The makeup team came for one last look at my appearance and then I was ushered into a room filled with reporters. As soon as I climbed on the stage, I paused and felt all the blood in my face dry off. I hadn't been expecting to see a lot of reporters present. Swallowing hard, I tried not to think too much of them as I marched towards my seat set in the middle of the stage.
"Good evening, everyone!" I started as soon as I sat on the chair and the teleprompter came on "I'm sorry that it took me a lot of time to come out and address New York, especially regarding the issues that surround my birthright. I do not have so much to say and I am a strong believer of the truth prevailing which I know in the nearest future everything will come to light," I paused.
"What I meant to say is, I am the true Sienna Winchester, born and raised by my parents, Steven and Nora Winchester. As you all know the pressure that comes with being in the business world is not an easy feat and my parents thought it wise to keep me hidden from the world. A few months ago, they died and by the instructions left on my father's will I am supposed to take over Sky Corporation as the new CEO and Sky Group as the heiress that I am but…".
"Wow!" someone from the crowd suddenly interrupted me, clapping their hands.
When I looked up, I saw it was Janice, she was dressed to the nines and even though I hate to admit it, she looked so good and almost better than me.
"That was a wonderful speech, Sienna," she said and started walking towards me. The hall turned into a frenzy as the reporters all rushed towards us with their cameras aimed at our faces. "You know, it's the effrontery for you to show up after everything and if our system weren't so crooked, you should be in jail. Who the hell does Mr Black think he is for providing an impostor and a murderer with immunity? But don't you worry my dear," she came towards me and draped her hand around my shoulders "I'll make sure justice prevails,".
The last time when I had seen her, I had been so shocked and just said the first thing that came to my mind but now that I have gotten the hang of the game, I was willing to match energies.
"Janice!" I chuckled sweetly "I didn't know the Heiress of Sky Group had time to hang out with people like me. If you are so innocent and truly who you claim to be, you should be presenting evidence – real, hard evidence and not the bunch of photoshopped pictures you've been circulating online. I'm disappointed,".
"At least there's something of me online," she took a step forward, so our faces were inches apart. "How about you, Sienna? When are you going to prove to the world that you're the real Winchester? We're tired of hearing the same story over and over. If you say you're the real Winchester, then prove it and if you can, I promise, I'll come on public and apologize for everything but I doubt because, between me and you, I'm the real deal,".
"Oh!" I laughed "There are lots of things as proof and almost a whole lot about you, don't worry Janice… or should I say Amelia…I'm going to show the world who you truly are,".
"I can't wait dear!" she laughed and turned to face the reporters. "When I heard that Sienna was holding a Press Conference in the middle of the night, I couldn't help but think of how much she's trying to regain your trust by making it worse. You pull people from their homes, people who've had a long day from their homes just to listen to you lie the more…" She shook her head "If she was telling the truth, why didn't she hold it in the morning?"
The reporters began murmuring, most of them didn't have the decency to hide their glare from me while I just stood there unable to say anything. Janice was right, I was acting like a real criminal.
"Anyways," she clapped her hands daintily "Sky Corporation has been trying to take her," Janice pointed at me "To court but she's the fiancée of New York's mysterious Mr Black and it's been so difficult. Honestly, this is the first time that trying to do the right thing is…" she trailed off with a shrug.
"But, since I cannot speak my truth in court, I have something that might interest you," she turned to the viewing board on the stage. Immediately, the lights in the hall dimmed and the projector came on.
It was a video of me and Monty walking into what looked like a café, we spent a few minutes talking before we left. Then the video cuts to Monty meeting Janice at the airport and Janice embracing him. Together they walked to a car.
The video was strange because I had no recollection of meeting Monty at a Café and how in hell's name did Monty also meet with her? The lights in the hall came on and she turned again to the reporters.
"I had the video interpreted by a lip reader and I'm going to play the audio clip for you," she said. There was static for a few seconds before a voice began to play from the speakers.
The voice belonged to me and Monty.
"Thank you for meeting me here and I know there's a lot to say but I need you to make sure she doesn't get home on the day of arrival. We'll switch cars after you leave the airport at the underground tunnel where there are no security cameras and I'll drive home instead and present myself as Sienna Winchester,".
"How about her uncle? Philip would notice if you look different," Monty said.
"He hasn't seen her for nearly a decade, you think he would be able to know who she is?" I scoffed "Men are clueless, so believe me, he wouldn't notice a thing, okay?"
"Fine! But this is riskier than I thought, so you'll have to compensate me more," Monty's voice boomed.
The audio ended and I couldn't tell between me and the audience who was more shocked. The conversation was so real, that I almost believed that I did that.
"So," Janice sighed "Monty was my father's trusted driver and it's so sad that he teamed up with Sienna despite everything my dad did with him but that is not the point here… I am the victim; it is me who was nearly killed for my fortune. All I have ever been to Sienna was a good friend but she chooses to hurt me and my parents too. Until she's put behind the bar where she belongs, I don't think New York is safe. So, I am appealing to the justice system, help me bring Sienna to justice, that's all I am asking, thank you,".
She bowed her head and descended the stairs towards the exit and as usual, the reporters all thronged after her.