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Jack: _Right? So fun_.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Cassie: _I feel soooo hungover now_.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Sarah: _LOL, you shouldn't have had so much wine, you lush_.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Cassie had gone out with Sarah and Jack. Cassie. Not me. How had I not seen this coming? Even with the hints I'd dropped about Greg, Cassie had wormed her way into the trinity. I'd stupidly thought Evie or Dalia might try for the spot. It didn't matter that neither wanted it. Well, maybe Evie did. But our intern? That's what all the Sarah doppelgänging was about. Cassie was trying to steal Sarah, to have her all to herself. And worse than that, she was fucking succeeding! Sarah was choosing her over me. I let it sink in. All my work was for nothing. My face burned with fury and hurt. I felt my eyes water. _Deep breaths, A. Keep calm. You can't cry at work. Pull it together and fix this mess_. Was Sarah so damaged that she wanted to befriend Cassie? Of course not; she was perfect.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I argued with myself in a bathroom stall. I had known. No, I didn't! This was bad. Wait, could this be good? I heard a flush and covered my mouth in horror. I thought I was alone. Someone had heard me. I froze. I waited until I heard footsteps go to the door and leave. Then I waited even longer in case anyone was outside, ready to ambush me. Trust no one, especially not at a women's magazine. After twenty minutes, I decided it was safe.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"That was a long break," Sarah said. She was in boss mode, eyeing my time away.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I shrugged. "Had a meeting."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"With who?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"None of your biz, babe." I winked at her. It was my new thing. I wanted it to say, _See? I'm easy and cool and so much fun. I'm a winker_.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Well, it couldn't have been an interview, because that outfit is such a don't."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

End of conversation as I stared glumly at my leather-and-denim jeans, silk blouse, and Helmut Lang blazer. Was she right? Of course she was. Sarah's taste level far surpassed mine. But I couldn't let her know she had wounded me. That would be like giving up. I had to play it cool. Chill.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Totes!" I winked again, this time also flashing a thumbs-up. Nailed it.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I wasn't procrastinating dealing with Cassie, I swear. Considering how small the suspect pool would've been if I'd done it while everyone was away, I had to wait. Timing really was everything. So you see, I had to let this happen. I told myself that several times. I had to let her become Sarah's new Lisa. I had to. Yes, this was part of the plan.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Still, I was seething. But to pass the time that night, I watched and rewatched footage from Greg's office. Sarah had set up her oh-so-secret cameras to send feeds to her email. I tried to watch them sooner, but seeing that much of Greg made me nauseous. (I breathed a sigh of relief once I checked the camera locations while Greg went to Paris. There weren't any aimed at me.) They were bulky and large, comically obvious. A binder cam sat on Greg's desk, a plug snaking out underneath. Another protruded out of a plant. How he hadn't noticed them yet was beyond me. But Sarah must not have seen the feeds yet, because there Greg was, fucking Cassie on his desk while his so-called girlfriend was in Europe. I needed Sarah to see it. I needed her to unleash her wrath on Cassie.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

But she didn't.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Instead, the worst thing ever happened: Sarah walked down the hall holding Cassie's hand. They were planning a weekend away. To Miami. Just them and Jack and not me. That seeing-red thing happened again. Like, literally, everything was coated in red. As if a layer of blood was dripping everywhere. Have you ever felt that mad? It's overwhelming. Even my fingers were angry. My chest hurt. My head was pounding. Was I dying? Was this the way it all ended? Popping arteries over Cassie-fucking-Sachs? I had to calm down. Dr. M was right. He said I was transferring my frustrations onto the intern. But, like, she _was_ my frustration.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

It was time to fight back. I started small. Over the next week, I stole a few key items from Sarah's apartment (a pair of Gucci boots, Jennifer Fisher jewelry, and a new Chanel bag) while she was at showroom appointments and left them in Cassie's desk. I also sneaked in a few times to mess up her bedroom (after lying on the bed for a bit, inhaling the smell of her hair lingering on the pillow) and flood the bathroom.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I hinted again that Cassie and Greg had seemed close while she was gone.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Yeah, she mentioned," Sarah said. "They just talked about me."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I wanted to scream, _Look at the video!_ But I managed to hold it in.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

When the entire office heard Sarah yell at Cassie later, I was relieved. Some of my sabotage was working. Sarah's stolen items had appeared magically in Cassie's desk. Sarah threw her (iced) latte at her. It was glorious.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"What's that about?" Celia asked, stopping by my desk to drop off some approved stories.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Oh, just intern drama. Sarah's learning to not use them for personal errands."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Celia raised an eyebrow—or tried. Her Botox habit was back. "Does she not know we have an intern lawsuit cooking? What the hell is she thinking?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Interns demanded payment and to be treated like humans now. Things sure were changing.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"I know! I'll ask her to handle it, Celia."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"You girls are going to ruin us. And did you just scrap your diet entirely while we were in Europe? You could have at least tried, you know." She tapped her foot expectantly. Damn those cheesecakes.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"I was busy dealing with a few things, but I'll be sure to get back on the wagon," I said, gritting my teeth.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Great, let's not have this talk again, Anya."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Cassie and Sarah made up. I don't know how or why. But they were back to planning their weekend. My sabotage had been ineffective. I had been ineffective, only managing to bring them even closer together. I hid in the computer closet and sobbed.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Fucking failure! Goddammit, do better! Anya the Asshole."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I wouldn't be disturbed here, and if anyone heard me, they pretended not to. Everyone avoided the Murder Hallway still. There were rumors of it being haunted. Mulberry was the only one around to comfort me. She was sweet. She didn't have any dirt on the intern, though. Sweet but useless. I was sick of seeing that damn shoe in her face.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

To make myself feel better, I did some online shopping. Retail therapy always worked. Some jewelry, a vitamin C serum, and a new hunting knife. I couldn't wait to put my new toys to use. A sharp knife could handle anything, even a plagiarizing intern. I know, I should have just asked Evie for some serum, but she was the worst.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Cassie was a squirmy little thing. Thankfully, the park closed at night so no one was around to hear her thrash about. It was one week before Halloween, and if anyone saw us, they'd think this was a weird prank. Cassie was stronger than I expected. I really wish those boot-camp classes would go out of style—they made my life so much harder.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

But do as many push-ups as you like, I will persevere. I parked the rental van in a field past Avalon Park outside the city. Hikers would find her in a few days—I was counting on it. I dragged her out and threw her on the ground. She groaned through the duct tape.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I sat on top of her and slapped her. "Cassie, wake up. Wake up."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

She was groggy from the bump on her head. I would use chloroform, but it takes more than five solid minutes of inhaling to knock someone out. (TV shows are so misleading about that.) I picked up my hunting knife and carved a two-inch slice into her right cheek. She bucked under me, her eyes opening wide. She wanted to scream, but her lips couldn't move through the tape. I had bound her arms too. Better to be careful, right?

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Hello, princess! Good, you're up." I glared at her. Usurper. I watched the blood drip down the side of her face and into her hair. Her dyed-blonde locks looked muddy with the blood.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Did you know that in 1982—way before you were born, I know—there was a serial killer here? Well, not here. But in Long Island. Anyways, he liked to call himself the Raptor because he hunted his prey like a bird."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

She blinked at me. I was counting on her confusion from the head bump to chill her out. She couldn't move anyways. I had triple-taped her arms. Try squirming now, intern.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Anyways, his real name was Joseph Landon. And like so many pathetic male killers, he'd leave a calling card. Isn't that the stupidest thing you've ever heard?" I laughed.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Cassie's eyes searched for help.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"He'd carve the word Raptor into girls' faces. What a nutjob, right?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Cassie nodded. Finally, she was getting me. We were on the same fucking page.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"He finally got caught, but he'd killed, like, way more women than anyone ever found." She made a noise against the duct tape over her mouth. "Don't fucking rush me! What is your damage, anyways? Like, you're my intern—you work for me. And you're going to stay still and keep quiet until I'm done. Got it?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

She nodded her head slowly. Ugh, she was so annoying. I put the knife down next to her head.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"The reason I'm telling you all this is because you are a total copycat. All you do is copy people. You copy Sarah, you copy stories. You even copied Lisa by joining the fucking trinity. And the whole Greg thing. Gross! You're so damn pathetic!" I wanted to laugh, but listing each of her offenses enraged me more and more. Cassie was a shitty intern.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Her eyes opened even wider, pupils dilated. She was gearing up to fight. _Bring it, bitch_. She tried to shake me off her, but my hands were already around her throat. Her arms were still tied, but even if she could free them and scratch me, I wore long sleeves and gloves. For added fun, I was wearing my blonde Sarah wig.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"I wish you'd put this much effort into your work! Do you know how far you'd have gone?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I slapped her hard just to punctuate my sentence. Body language really helps get the message across. She was crying now, just as we were starting to have some fun. Cassie always had to ruin things. I had never loathed another human as I did Cassie Sachs.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Do you know just how much pressure it takes to choke the life out of someone? More than you realize, and at the same time, so much less. It's almost shocking, like that moment you're holding an egg and it breaks in your hands. Or squeeze a glass too hard and suddenly you have shards everywhere. It's so easy to extinguish a life this way. It's a wonder we all don't do it more often.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Watching her eyes bulge only pissed me off more. Who the fuck was she to make faces at me? This was who Sarah wanted to take to Miami? Ugh, I couldn't even. I let go and grabbed my knife again.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"You're making me do this." I raised my arm and brought the knife down over and over again. "Why [Stab!] did you [Stab!] have to be [Stab!] such a loser? [Stab! Stab! Stab!] You're not Sarah's BFF! [Stab! Stab! Stab!] I am! [Stab!] You're never [Stab!] going to work [Stab!] in this industry [Stab! Stab!] again! [Stab! Stab! Stab!] Fucking intern. [Stab! Stab!]"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I was out of breath by the end. Between lifting her and killing her, Cassie was working me out. At least I could skip the gym now.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"You'll never take my place with Sarah again."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I felt relief when it was done, when she was more blood than person. Her torso was riddled with wounds, her head nearly decapitated. I was finally getting rid of one giant problem in my life. No more idiotic intern not following my rules. No more bullshit. No more sucking up to Sarah, trying to be her bestie. Sarah had only one BFF, and that was me.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"It's me!" I screamed. No one heard me. I heard Dr. M's voice in my head, suggesting I was only trying to hurt myself by doing this. Transference or some shit. Ugh, I was not looking forward to our next session.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Killing Cassie was over so fast. I wanted it to last longer, to feel the endorphins for as long as I possibly could. I breathed in deeply, trying to make it last, feeling a wave of bliss wash over me. This was everything. I felt calm and content. No more seeing red, except for the blood. No more panic at being found out (for the time being). My head didn't hurt. Chest pains gone. And then, like most happy moments in life, the euphoria was gone. Disappointing and yet satisfying at the same time. Like a quick fuck done well.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I carved _Raptor_ into the left side of her face. On her forehead, I added the word _Intern_.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I sat back, looking at my work. It wasn't bad. Her outfit was covered in blood. What a waste. I was pretty sure she was wearing Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera. Chic. I stripped her naked, took her clothes, and pulled out her nails for later. I poured bleach all over her, making sure she was clean. Purified. Then I posed her with arms spread like wings.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Satisfied, I took a photo with a burner phone and then drove to the beach. No one ever notices a bonfire on the beach. Watching her clothes burn reminded me of Meredith. I wondered what she was up to now, all charred and dead. I wish I had marshmallows. I wiped the car down and left it in the city. I wondered if it was too late to kill Frou-Frou and bury them together.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

My eyes cracked open. Last night's workout with Cassie had left me sore and exhausted. Muscles I didn't know existed hurt every time I moved. I wanted to stay in bed. Sleep it off. But not today. Today was fashion Christmas. It was the Manolo sample sale.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

The line already stretched down the block, but _La Vie_ girls never wait in line. I went up to the door. Jack and Sarah stood two people front of me.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Um, we don't know her," Sarah muttered to the Lauren-bot with a clipboard. (Jack still waved.)

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Where the hell is Cassie? Wasn't she meeting us?" he asked. Sarah only shrugged.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

The Lauren-bot in charge smiled at me. "Good morning! The VIP room is through there. Just show me your ticket, please."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I waved my sacred golden ticket like this was a chocolate factory and breezed in, ready to begin piling up my treasure. My idea of pure heaven: shoes everywhere. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of leather. I love the smell of freshly made shoes. This was zen.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I decided on a pair of black suede pumps and another pair of blue ones (to replace the ones Diana ruined); patent ones in red, aubergine, and black; a pair of loafers; and two pairs of boots. All things in moderation.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I waved at Sarah, who was giggling with Jack. _Go say hi, Anya. Stop being a weirdo_. I took a deep breath, psyching myself up to spar with Jack when the ankle boot I was holding was snatched out of my hand.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Oh, were you going to buy that?" A tall glamazon was waving my precious shoe in the air. She had almost a whole foot on me. I'd never be able to reach. She looked all of nineteen and chock full of attitude—an assistant.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Yeah, I was."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Too bad. It's mine now."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Was there no etiquette left in this world? I couldn't believe it. She turned to keep browsing, her bag full of shoes. The buzzing was back. Every second she held my boot, it grew louder. Sarah would never tolerate this shit. I glanced to make sure no one was watching before kicking the back of Glamazon's knee with my sneaker, sending her tumbling down, howling in pain. She was lucky I wasn't in boots.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Oh, I'm _so_ sorry! My bag must have hit you!" I said in a loud voice, leaning down to help her and snatching my shoes from the ground. Quietly, I added, "No, I think it's mine now. Learn some fucking manners."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

As I turned to leave, I spied Mulberry filling up her bag, her Marc Jacobs shoe popping out of her head like a fascinator.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Well, that's one way to get what you want." Jack smirked at me. His perfect eyebrows waggled, as if they were laughing at me. "Who knew you were so vicious, Anya?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Where had he even come from?

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"I don't know what you're talking about." I continued browsing. Fuck. I needed to be more careful. My lust for boots made me sloppy.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Yeah, okay, babe. But, like, that was hardcore. I approve." He did?

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Approve of what?" Sarah asked.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Of Anya turning shopping into a contact sport. Is that girl's knee broken?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"No, but she'll be limping for a while." I said it without meaning to. I covered my mouth.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Jack looked at me shrewdly. "Interesting. You know, there's a lot more to you than I thought."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Oh, please, Jack. Hey, hold my shoes, A." Sarah dumped four more pairs on top of what I was already holding. "But she's such a good minion. Right?" She grinned.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"I dunno. I wouldn't push her." Jack knew. I looked at his face. His eyes. He was grinning at me. "I mean, she did just kick a girl's ass for stealing her shoe. That's so _maje_." He winked at me. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Come on, she's a teddy bear. Right, Anya?" Then as if to demonstrate my cuddliness, Sarah hugged me. She actually hugged me. I froze. She had never hugged me before. I knew it was for show, but it still felt heavenly.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"I'm gonna go pay," I muttered, turning my fiery face away from Jack's all-seeing eyes.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Don't hurt anyone, Anya!"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Oh, I have to pay too." Sarah trailed behind me. "Don't you just love Jack?" she asked.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

I shrugged. I wasn't feeling love at the moment. Panic, fear, annoyance, and anger, perhaps. But love?

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Sure, he's great. We ran into each other while you were gone."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Yeah, I heard. Wouldn't it be great if he worked with us?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

With us? At _La Vie_? No way.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"We don't cover men's." It was the most diplomatic answer possible.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"But maybe we should. I think it'd be fab."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"What would?" I jumped at Jack's voice. He was like a cat. I needed to put a bell on him.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"You joining us at LV."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Right? It'd be to die for, girls. But not literally. Especially after the Mulberry sitch." He looked around, likely to see if there was anyone else he had to say hi to. Jack was the king of networking.

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Whatever, it's totally safe there."

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

"Well, yeah, if you have body-slamming Anya with you!" Jack snorted. "Seriously, is that girl's knee okay?"

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar