She kept shooting daggers at me through the rearview like I'd stolen the scarf right off her bony shoulders. All because of a scarf - can you imagine? As if I've got nothing better to do than stash away designer accessories. Please. The only silk items in my possession are a few unhappy hand-me-downs from Cousin Paul's mysterious singles cruises. As for Daniel, I'm not sure who he was trying to defuse the situation for - Olivia or himself. Maybe both.

Whatever the case, I was excited to put some distance between us. Nothing ruins a drive like someone's lingering stink-eye. I tried to busy myself with the scenery but there wasn't much to see aside from rolling hills of nothingness. Even the radio was no help, stuck on some pop station that only played the same five songs on repeat.

Ben, for his part, stared straight ahead like a guy who'd seen it all before.

My curiosity got the better of me. "Hey. Ben, can I ask - what's the deal with this scarf Olivia was talking about? Daniel doesn't actually sew, does he?"

He chuckled. Oh, this man could actually smile. "God no. He knows how to sew of course..his grandma taught him...and I don't know if I am allowed to tell you much but Olivia and Daniel are friends since childhood. And, that scarf is just something Olivia likes to keep in the car..."

He trailed off, thinking. "You know, I'm not actually sure where it came from or why she's so attached to it. But she insists it brings her luck or something, so she freaks out even if someone touches it".

I cocked my head, still not quite understanding. "But why does she think I took it? I've never even seen this scarf."

Still, that was no excuse to make wild accusations. "I get the stress, but falsely accusing people isn't okay. She could've just asked if I'd seen it."

Ben shrugged. "With Olivia, who knows? She tends to assume the worst in people. I wouldn't take it personally." He flashed me a reassuring smile.

After what felt like five years, we pulled into Silver Screen Studios.

Daniel's flashy mobile trailer was definitely larger than my childhood home. I saw Daniel emerge looking every bit the movie star thanks to Olivia's beautifying efforts. Though from where I was standing, he looked a bit stiff and uncomfortable, like he was wearing a very ill-fitting tuxedo underneath that perfectly tailored suit( although we chose it together). Together...was she jealous??

While they preened and primped, I stood around feeling like the ugly stepsister at Cinderella's ball. The stylists buzzed around Daniel, fussing over every strand of hair like it owed them money. I had to resist the urge to swat them away and say "He's not a sculpture, you know! He's a person!"

Luckily Stevo, God bless his soul, came to my rescue. "There's my girl!" he bellowed, pulling me in for a squeeze that made me feel like a ragdoll.

Stevo gave me the rundown while we power-walked across the lot. I tried to keep up as best I could in my borrowed Louboutins, wobbling like a newborn fawn. The tasks themselves didn't seem so bad - field some calls, grab Daniel a sandwich, coordinate with the venue - but it was hard not to feel overwhelmed with Stevo's rapid-fire delivery.

"And most importantly, keep Olivia away from the mini bar!" he added with a wink. You could set your watch to that man's comedic timing.

~

With the pre-gala preparations complete, I found myself in the quiet of Daniel's trailer bathroom. It was about the size of a walk-in closet, or as my Aunt Mildred would say "a closet that got ideas above its station." Glancing in the mirror, I surveyed the stark contrast between my morning attire of jeans and a top and the sleek black dress I now wore( thankfully I packed it). It wasn't a gown plucked from the racks of Paris Fashion Week, but more like something you'd find on a discount rack at Marshall's. But it was dry-clean only and covered the necessary bits, so I figured it would do just fine for this shindig. A quick touch-up of my makeup later, and I was ready!

Stepping outside, I was blinded by flashing lights and whirring cameras. You couldn't move two feet without accidentally bodychecking some reporter or photog scrambling for a money shot. Daniel looked as smooth as ever in his tux, though he may as well have had a bullseye on his back the way the paparazzi descended. I played backup as best I could, dodging elbows and equipment like I was in some demented three-legged race. At least I didn't land flat on my face - yet.

By the time we arrived at the gala at Terminal 8 Studios, my feet were screaming. I nearly kissed the ground when I kicked off those stilettos, loans or not. The venue was everything you'd expect - lavish, over-the-top, and probably cost more per plate than I make in a year.

As for me, I was content to fly under the radar, enjoying the free food and drinks from a safe distance. With any luck, I figured I could get through the night without any additional accusations. What more could possibly go wrong?

I saw Daniel working the room like a true pro, schmoozing sponsors and posing for pictures. Based on Olivia's death grip around his arm, I guessed the scarf incident was water under the bridge. She was glued to his side, inserting herself into every conversation like a third unwanted wheel.

Inside, the charity event was a veritable freak show. Daniel's co-stars were there schmoozing up a storm, though between you and me I think they cared less about the kids and more about primping their own profiles. That's when I spotted her - Veronica Sinclair, looking snatched in some sparkly green getup.

What fresh hell was this? As far as I knew she had nothing to do with Daniel's movie charity, yet here she was cozied up to him for all the world to see. Just when you think you've got the plot tied up in a neat bow... I glanced at Stevo for pointers but he was zoned out staring at some auction. What was with those two anyway? One day they were ripping each other's clothes off, the next they looked ready to throw down. I scanned the crowd but saw no sign of Olivia, whom Daniel had left behind in her van over an hour ago. WHAT THE HELL ??

~

As the venue emptied out, the cleaning staff swarmed like ants whose hill had been disturbed. Plates and glasses disappeared faster than crumbs at a picnic. The stagehands deconstructed the set like an erector set in reverse.

Even amid the hustle and bustle, I remained Daniel's 'chaos coordinator'. Which is a fancy term for helping with odd jobs. I packed water bottles into cases like sandwiches into a lunchbox. I did a sweep to make sure Daniel hadn't left any personal items strewn about, though the best I found was a lint roller and a handful of breath mints. And I fielded a call from a frazzled publicist who'd lost her sunglasses.

You'd think I'd be exhausted after wrestling all those tasks, but instead I felt a strange sense of accomplishment. Like a kid who stayed up past their bedtime without dozing off once. I'd not only survived my first gala for Daniel Hunter, but had somehow corralled all the chaos without everything completely flying off the rails.

As the place wound down, Stevo caught my eye across the room. When he gave me a nod, his smile still managed a sliver of warmth. "Ready to call it, Emily?" he asked, voice as ragged as my pantyhose after a long day.

I nodded, my own smile feeling more like a grimace. "Absolutely. My feet are begging for mercy."

Stevo leaned in, lowering his voice even though the rumbling cleaners drowned out everything else. "You did great tonight. Daniel wouldn't have made it ten minutes without you."

I blushed, "Thanks, Stevo. High praise from you."

His eyes softened. "Let me give you a ride, it's not safe alone so late."

I patted my purse pocket looking for my car keys that I abandoned back home. Silly me. But I was hungry for some peace and quiet to digest the night's strange scenes. "I'll grab a cab, don't worry about me."

My mind was full of unanswered questions about what happened that evening. The events had been very dramatic and confusing. First, Olivia suddenly disappeared from Daniel's side after 'missing scarf' incident. No- it was after he went to the van for the final touch-up, until then everything was right. Then, Stevo and Veronica acted like they didn't know each other well, the way they avoided eye contact. But I knew what I saw in his office that day. AS IF. And finally, Veronica was basically glued to Daniel's side all night.

It all left a bad taste in my mouth. There was a difference between the nice, relaxed Daniel I interacted with yesterday and the complex situation that seemed to surround him with secrets.

~

I swear, that man flirts more in one evening than the entire population of West Virginia combined! It was Olivia this and Veronica that, not a word for me unless he needed another drink fetched. Honestly, the man has no loyalty. No sooner did Olivia flounce off than he was off chasing the next skirt, priorities completely out the window. You'd never catch me abandoning a friend stranded in LA! Nope, he drove off into the night without so much as a farewell wave. The least he could have done was see me to the door.

Some people have no sense of decency.

I let out a big sigh as I walked down the dark street. All the bright city lights made my eyes tired. I wished I had taken Stevo's offer for a car ride, but I didn't want to bother him so late. My legs were sore from all the rush of the day. The LA night air felt cold and my dress was too thin, I wish I had changed back to the top and jeans but I was too tired to change once more. I rubbed my arms to keep warm.

There weren't many taxis at this hour. I hoped one would come soon. At the corner, I pulled out my phone to check. Maybe a yellow taxi light would rescue me in the dark. Sarah had sent a message. She said sorry for acting weird before and that she felt better after sleeping. I was glad she was okay. I texted back that I'd be home soon and joked about waiting for a cab out here alone.

That's when I heard it - the crunchy sound of feet on gravel behind me. My heart started pounding in my chest. I clutched my phone tight and looked around for who was there. The steps got louder as the person came closer. My breath caught in my throat and a scream tried coming out. But before I could turn around, a sharp pain stabbed my belly.

The world spun upside down. I gasped and fell to the hard ground, letting out a cry. My mouth tasted weird and I saw blood on my hands. Looking down, silver scissors stuck out of my stomach. Not any scissors but sewing scissors. Polished neon fingernails held them in place. I knew who the hand belonged to.

"Olivia?" I whispered, not believing it was her. Her face twisted with anger.

"You shouldn't have interfered," Olivia hissed through her teeth. Just then, tires screeched loudly as a car slammed its brakes near us. Olivia looked scared and mad at the same time.

A sleek black car's headlights shone on us. Daniel jumped out, looking worried and upset. "Emily!" he called, rushing over.

Olivia shook, still holding the scissors in me. But before she could pull them out, tall Ben appeared by her side quick as a snake. He grabbed the scissors and threw them away into the night.

Olivia started blabbering fast about something, but everything sounded fuzzy to me. Daniel knelt down and hovered his hands over the wound. "D-don't worry, Emily. Emily...we'll get you help. Stay awake, okayyy?" he said in a scared voice that gave me a jolt.

The pain in my stomach got worse. I tried focusing on Daniel's face, but everything started fading to black. My eyes felt heavy and the last thing I heard was sirens screaming in the distance before I drifted away.

~