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"I have a seat assignment, and I'm going to use it. The rest is your problem," I said, moving toward the seating area. Standing would be social suicide. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.278127 | 6.6 |
"Wait, sorry, we double sat, it's our fault. We have a new seat for you. Lauren, can you walk her in?" The Lauren-bot looked expectantly at her intern, a young girl who was holding a cup of coffee. A bot in training, baby Lauren guided me to my third-row seat (kill me) and then spilled her coffee on me when she tripped on her way back out. Disaster. I got up and walked out. A few eyebrows raised, but there's only so much one girl can take. This was not the best start to the most glamorous week of the year. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.278434 | 6.6 |
I sat in the car, driving around the block over and over until the show was done. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.278741 | 6.6 |
"There you are!" Sarah exclaimed, climbing into the back seat. "Why didn't you wait for me?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.279048 | 6.6 |
"Because that idiot intern spilled coffee all over me, and I needed to dry my dress." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.279355 | 6.6 |
"Stop! She didn't!" Glee filled her eyes as she giggled helplessly. My face was burning. Sarah was laughing at me. She snorted with glee, her eyes tearing up. I was a joke to her. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.279662 | 6.6 |
"Kill me now. Thank God I'm wearing a cape—it covers most of it." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.279969 | 6.6 |
"Why are you wearing a cape? Aren't you hot?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.280276 | 6.6 |
"We all have to suffer for our style, Sarah." I sniffed. _Keep it together, A. Never let them see you upset_. I wanted to scream, but I didn't. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.280583 | 6.6 |
The PR firm sent me a bouquet to make up for the show, but the damage was done. Someone was going to have to pay for this. I hated when Fashion Week started on such a bad note. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.28089 | 6.6 |
Tomorrow would be better. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.281197 | 6.6 |
It was just one week. I could get through this. I could deal with Sarah's moods and tantrums, the seating snafus, and the relentless pace. I could do this. I was even wearing more comfortable shoes, now that block heels were in for the season. I'd learned my lesson on proper shoe attire from Diana. (See? We both learned something that night. And wasn't that the point to life? Dr. M would agree.) But the constant pushing and shoving to get into a venue, the catty comments about what the audience was wearing, and the seat stealers were all getting to me. I was drained, and it was only day two. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.281811 | 6.6 |
On the bright side, Greg was loving my blog posts. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.282118 | 6.6 |
"They're just so real." He'd jumped into the car with me and Sarah, wanting to chat about our coverage. Sarah was forced to sit up front with the driver. I could feel waves of hatred emanating from the passenger seat. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.282425 | 6.6 |
"Well, you wanted vérité." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.282732 | 6.6 |
"Awesome. Just awesome." His hair didn't move as he spoke, slicked and gelled into a black dome. I stared in fascination, all the while digging my nails into my palms. The pain was freeing. Greg continued talking, but I didn't hear him. I felt only relief as the pounding in my head eased. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.283039 | 6.6 |
"Don't you agree?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.283346 | 6.6 |
"Hmm? Oh, yes." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.283653 | 6.6 |
"Great, then let's do a photo diary for Sarah. That will be a perfect addition." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.28396 | 6.6 |
Sarah beamed, thinking she had stolen an opportunity from me. But this was, as Greg said, perfect. The last thing I needed was to have my photo splashed all over the site. Not all attention was good attention. Not everyone wanted their every nail color, outfit choice, and hair part posted for posterity. What if one of Mariana's old friends recognized me? Disaster, that's what. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.284267 | 6.6 |
"I think that's a fantastic idea!" I raved. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.284574 | 6.6 |
"I'm so glad you agree. I was so worried." Sarah reached back to pat my knee. "I didn't want to steal your thunder. I mean, your little blog is doing so well." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.284881 | 6.6 |
"Oh, no, I don't mind. I hate having my photo up. Besides, the idea suits you better. Fewer words for you since you aren't much of a writer." There were two methods for dealing with Sarah: compliment her or make her feel insecure. Negging was a totally appropriate workplace mode of conduct. If she felt like a loser, I could control her. If I made her feel lame, maybe she'd forget about anything Lisa told her. Then Sarah would see how great I was, and we could start hanging out seriously. The idea of hanging at Sarah's apartment, playing dress-up, was almost overwhelming. I wanted her to say to me that I was perfect, I was everything she wanted in a friend. There's nothing wrong with that. Nothing. Besides, I didn't exactly have time to write her diary on top of my own work this week. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.285188 | 6.6 |
"I can write, but—oh, hey, are you bleeding?" She recoiled. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.285495 | 6.6 |
"What? Oh, I cut myself. Paper cut." I had recut my palm. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.285802 | 6.6 |
"Oh. On what, your invite?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.286109 | 6.6 |
"Um, yeah. My invite. You should totally wear your new necklace in the photos. It's such a unique piece." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.286416 | 6.6 |
She brightened. "O-M-G, you're so right!" I had already seen three copies of her Diana necklace at the shows. Whatever Sarah wore turned to gold. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.286723 | 6.6 |
Sarah was getting more attention from the photographers than I was at the shows, which was dandy. Today she was wearing a shirt that looked like it was made from every crystal Swarovski had and a leather skirt paired with Uggs stiletto boots up to her thighs. It screamed, "Please take my photo!" She was vying with the bloggers for a coveted street-style shot. Sometimes she won, but often they did. I'd opted for a more sedate look—my usual all black, this time a Vivienne Westwood. And after shows, I ran quickly to the waiting car we'd ordered instead of standing with Sarah, which annoyed her every time. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.28703 | 6.6 |
"Um, that was so rude," she said after the Mary Ann Mark presentation. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.287337 | 6.6 |
"You were having your photo taken, Sarah." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.287644 | 6.6 |
"So? You could have waited and held my purse." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.287951 | 6.6 |
"I'm not your assistant, so no." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.288258 | 6.6 |
She glared at me. I had said the wrong thing. Besties shouldn't make friends do grunt work. It never works out. Just look at Paris and Kim. Sarah was going to have to see me as on her level, and she would. Soon enough. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.288565 | 6.6 |
"Whatever, I'm your boss." She sniffed. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.288872 | 6.6 |
Her mood soured even more when she was forced to sit second row on day three. (I'd lost track of which day of the week it was. Time only moved ahead according to Fashion Week days.) I was next to her and loved it. For a brief moment, I had what I wanted. Sure, it wasn't front row. But Sarah and I were _together_. At the finale, I was planning on grabbing her arm. Like friends do. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.289179 | 6.6 |
Directly in front of us was the new blogger _du jour_ : Zhazha. She was Russian royalty, from Siberia, so the story went. And she milked her persona for all it was worth. Zhazha was wearing a giant fur hat, despite the eighty-degree temperature outside. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.289486 | 6.6 |
"W-T-F. I can't even see anything!" Sarah muttered loudly enough for the Russian girl to hear. "Why does she need that giant babushka hat anyways?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.289793 | 6.6 |
"I think it's a fur kubanka." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.2901 | 6.6 |
"How do you even know that?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.290407 | 6.6 |
I shrugged. "Do you want to trade seats?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.290714 | 6.6 |
Sarah glanced at me with disdain. "No, I want _my_ seat. Excuse me. Excuse me!" She tapped Zhazha on the shoulder. The hat turned. "Could you remove your hat, please? It's impossible to see over it." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.291021 | 6.6 |
Zhazha glanced at Sarah before turning to look at me. I half smiled. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.291328 | 6.6 |
"No. It's my outfit," she replied, her accent thick and luscious. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.291635 | 6.6 |
"Are you serious?" Sarah's jaw had fallen open. She wasn't used to being told no. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.291942 | 6.6 |
"Sarah, just switch with me. It's so not a big deal." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.292249 | 6.6 |
"No! Um, fur lady? Do you even know who we are?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.292556 | 6.6 |
I dropped my head into my hands. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.292863 | 6.6 |
"Yes, you're second-row person. I'm first," Zhazha said. Her voice made me dizzy. I wanted to spread it on toast and eat it. She flashed a grin at me. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.29317 | 6.6 |
"Ugh, whatever." Sarah stood, deliberately bumping into Zhazha. She stomped her way over to a PR girl. You could see her gesturing and waving her arms wildly. The Lauren-bot nodded sympathetically and then took her to a new seat across the catwalk. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.293477 | 6.6 |
"Your friend is a real bitch," Zhazha said. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.293784 | 6.6 |
I snorted. "She just likes to get her way." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.294091 | 6.6 |
"For you, I take my hat off," she offered. I declined. I liked the fur outline. Besides, the clothes on the runway wouldn't be half as exciting. "I'm Zhazha." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.294398 | 6.6 |
"Oh, I know! I mean, I've seen your blog. I'm Anya from _La Vie_. And, um, that was Sarah Taft." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.294705 | 6.6 |
Zhazha wrinkled her nose in the most adorable manner. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.295012 | 6.6 |
"She's a real bitch," she repeated. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.295318 | 6.6 |
She laughed. I tittered away with her. Fashion Week rules dictated that we gossip, we mock. Even about Sarah. The best way to communicate was to laugh at someone. So I giggled along with the Russian as she made fun of my bestie. I caught Sarah's death glare from across the runway. I was going to pay for my treachery. I shrugged back at her. What was I supposed to do? I had to laugh. It was required of me. She had laughed at me first, so fair was fair. But I quieted down and tried to look forlorn and upset. See, Sarah? I'm with _you_. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.295625 | 6.6 |
The lights dimmed, and the music began pounding. I smiled at Sarah once more and glanced down the row from her. I swore I saw Mulberry von Gratz sitting no more than ten seats from Sarah. With that horrible shoe smashed into her head. That bitch! Assistants don't sit front row, ever. I waved to her, to be polite. It was that or kiss her after the show, and no way was I going to cheek-cheek shoe-face. The music was loud enough to drown out the buzzing in my ears. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.295932 | 6.6 |
"That fucking foreign bitch!" Sarah yelled as our car pulled away. "Can you believe her? And you. What were you doing talking to her?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.296546 | 6.6 |
"I was informing her of who you were." Not a total lie. "But you have to admit she has style." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.296853 | 6.6 |
"Goddammit, Anya, you have the worst taste. That's why you didn't get the promotion, you know." Sarah wasn't happy, and it was my fault. "I can't with you. She's a roach! All bloggers are roaches!" Her eyes were wild as she repeated our joke. I just shrugged. The blogger had been nice to me. "You _would_ like her. You're a phony like her," she hissed under her breath. I felt like ice-cold water had been dumped on me. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.29716 | 6.6 |
Sarah held her phone a few inches from her face, using it to block me and everyone else out. I bet Zhazha would be nicer to work for. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.297467 | 6.6 |
I should have lavished Sarah with all my love and affection. But my phone buzzing distracted me. Detective Hopper. Didn't he know it was Fashion Week? | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.297774 | 6.6 |
"Ms. St. Clair, we've been trying to reach you." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.298388 | 6.6 |
"I know, I'm so sorry. It's Fashion Week, and I'm running around like a crazy person. Is something the matter?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.298695 | 6.6 |
"We need you to come in." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.299002 | 6.6 |
I grimaced. Now? Was he fucking kidding me? | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.299309 | 6.6 |
"Today? Because I have more shows and presentations to do." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.299616 | 6.6 |
"Yes." That's all he said. No, sorry for fucking up your schedule, Anya. Nothing. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.299923 | 6.6 |
"Fine, text me the address. I don't have it in front of me. I'll be there as soon as I can." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.30023 | 6.6 |
Sarah ignored me and my conversation. She was busy clack-clacking on her phone. I'd have to read it later. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.300537 | 6.6 |
Detective Hopper was wearing a suit. I wondered if he ever got hot and sweaty through his crisp white shirts. He glanced at my outfit, which was a bit much for a precinct visit: I was wearing a Saint Laurent minidress with ankle boots. It would have to do. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.301151 | 6.6 |
"It's for Fashion Week," I hastened to explain. "You have to dress up." He just nodded, then led me into a meeting room. He didn't even compliment my dress. Or my legs—and they looked really good. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.301458 | 6.6 |
"Thanks for coming in; I know you're busy." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.301765 | 6.6 |
"Um, sure. Is this about Mulberry? Have you found someone?" It had been a month and a half. The police had interviewed anyone and everyone who had ever interacted with Mulberry and come up with nothing. Mulberry's parents were furious and writing editorials blasting the NYPD. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.302072 | 6.6 |
"No, I wanted to ask you about Lisa Blitz." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.302379 | 6.6 |
"Lisa? What about her? You don't think she did it?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.302686 | 6.6 |
"How well do you know Ms. Blitz?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.302993 | 6.6 |
"Not well. Just from around the industry. You know, we go to the same events. She's really good friends with Sarah and Jack Archer. Sarah could probably tell you more. Although . . ." I paused a bit for drama. It was so important to take breaths. "I think they were having some sort of fight. I don't really know, but you should def talk to Sarah." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.3033 | 6.6 |
Detective Hopper nodded. God he was pretty. The thought barely formed when I heard Sarah laughing at me in my head, calling me a phony. My shoulders tensed. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.303607 | 6.6 |
"Have you seen Ms. Blitz lately?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.303914 | 6.6 |
I frowned. "Actually, no. Sarah's been complaining that she hasn't seen her since before Labor Day. And I haven't run into her at shows." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.304221 | 6.6 |
"When was the last time you saw her?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.304528 | 6.6 |
"Me? Huh. Let me think. It was either an event or . . ." I opened my calendar on my phone. "It was at a party two weeks ago, at the Gramercy. Why? Is something wrong? Did something happen to Lisa?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.304835 | 6.6 |
He looked at me. That same look he gave me when we first met, like he thought I'd tell him everything. And weirdly, I wanted to. I wanted him to know I'd killed three people this summer. A fucking personal record. I wanted to see the awe and admiration on his face. Shit, what if he could read minds? What if he could know everything I was thinking right now? What if he could see into my brain? | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.305142 | 6.6 |
"Detective, you have to tell me. What happened to Lisa?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.305449 | 6.6 |
"She was found in her apartment yesterday. Dead." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.305756 | 6.6 |
_About time_. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.306063 | 6.6 |
I gasped. "Wait, like suicide?" I managed to ask. Always ask details about a death, but not too many. Be interested but not creepy. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.30637 | 6.6 |
"We're considering it suspicious for now. Why didn't anyone report her missing? She'd been dead for a few days." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.306677 | 6.6 |
A full week, actually. But who was counting? | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.306984 | 6.6 |
I opened my mouth and closed it a few times. I call it fish mouth, but it's good for emulating shock. Innocent people who have nothing to hide went into shock. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.307291 | 6.6 |
"You'd have to ask Sarah. I think they were in a fight or something," I repeated. This is what you did during Fashion Week: you talked shit. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.307598 | 6.6 |
"Can you think of anyone who'd want to hurt her? Was she dating anyone? An ex-boyfriend, perhaps?" | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.307905 | 6.6 |
I shrugged. I didn't know Lisa's dating schedule. "No, not really. I mean, she wasn't the nicest girl, but who is around these parts? But I don't know who'd want to kill her. That's just so . . . extreme." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.308212 | 6.6 |
"What about you? Did you have a thing for Lisa?" Me? Had I heard him correctly? | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.308519 | 6.6 |
"No, I'm not into girls." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.308826 | 6.6 |
He nodded. I knew why he was asking me about Lisa fucking around. The crotch lace. Cops are so unimaginative sometimes. | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.309133 | 6.6 |
"I heard you two didn't really get along." Silence. Bomb dropping. Who was talking about me? Who even knew about me? | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.30944 | 6.6 |
"It's fashion. No one really gets along." I shrugged. "Lisa wasn't nice unless you had something she wanted. I didn't. But beyond that, we tolerated each other." | #FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar | 0.309747 | 6.6 |