This story is a mini-sequel to "The Wicked Step-Daughter". To find out how Avani was hypnotized into a mommy's girl for Madeline, check out that story!
This is the first in a series of short stories I am writing that spin off established characters from my other stories. Are there other characters or stories you would like to see expanded on in a short story like this? Let me know in the comments!
I hope you enjoy this story!
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Two years ago...
Avani Rao heard her coming long before she arrived.
Avani shook her head while carefully checking her lipstick for smudges. Zofia had never been very good at controlling her impulses, so it certainly wasn't out of character for her to scream at Avani's bodyguards. But Avani would have thought that her rival had better sense than to make a scene at a high-profile event like the Froberger Gala.
As she listened to Zofia's heated, lightly accented voice arguing with her bodyguards outside of the bathroom, Avani's only reaction was a small self-satisfied smirk as she painstakingly reapplied her mascara in the mirror. Let the stupid little slut dig herself deeper. No matter how justified Zofia's anger was, the scandal rags would tear her to shreds if she melted down at the fashion industry's biggest social event of the year.
The door to the bathroom burst open, admitting a wild-eyed Zofia Serafin and two disgruntled bodyguards.
"Sorry, ma'am," said one burly, chagrined man, trying his best to herd the advancing blonde woman back out of the bathroom without touching her or her expensive-looking silvery dress. "We'll take care of this."
Avani sighed, dropping her makeup back into her clutch and snapping it closed. "It's fine. She's here now, she might as well stay. Leave us alone for a moment." The two bodyguards retreated, blustering and apologizing. Avani mentally noted their faces as they left so she could fire them later, then turned her attention to the furious blonde attempting to confront her.
Zofia Serafin was in some ways the archetypical model. Thin but not bony, gracefully slim with long legs, small pert breasts, a captivating, classically beautiful face, and deep blue eyes that seemed too intense to be real. Her enthralling beauty had once made Avani envious. After all, as a brown girl with a curvy ass, Avani didn't have the typical look that most fashion houses wanted.
But there was no reason for jealousy anymore. Not now that Avani had definitively won.
"You," said Zofia, almost white-faced with rage. "How could you?" Even completely distracted by anger, she was still annoyingly perfect, not one sleek blonde hair out of place.
Avani just gave her a pitying look. "I have no idea what you are talking about, honey," she said dismissively.
"Don't you play dumb with me, Avani Rao," snarled Zofia, her perfect mask finally cracking as her lip curled up to bare her sharp white teeth. "There's only one spot for a new designer in Accardi's Spring show. And it was mine. Right up until you stole it."
Avani shrugged languidly. Zofia was totally right of course. Avani and Zofia were both struggling to break out of modeling into designing and, like she had said, there was only one spot for a new designer in the Accardi show. Avani could buy all the sweatshops she wanted with her daddy's money, but prestige was harder to obtain: getting into that show had been crucial. So Avani had done what was necessary to ensure that her designs would be in that show rather than Zofia's.
"Well I hope you enjoy it, Avani," said Zofia, her eyes shining with hatred. "Because I will get my chance. I'll make it big. And when I catch up to you, you'll have an enemy for life."
Avani laughed airly, striding up to Zofia with the swagger of a woman confident in her victory. "But you aren't going to catch up to me, you peasant," she hissed. "Because I told everyone what happened in the dressing room after our show last week."
Zofia froze, her face a mask of disbelieving shock. "You didn't," she said numbly.
"I did," said Avani smugly. "And no one is going to want to take a chance on sponsoring a lesbian fashion designer right now. God, think of what she might do to the poor girls in the dressing rooms! The scandal!"
"But, but you... I'll just tell everyone what you did too!" said Zofia, her bright blue eyes wide and for some reason hurt as they stared into Avani's. Involuntarily, Avani's mind flashed back to that night. Her lips on Zofia's, their hands tangled in each other's silky hair. Fingers softly slipping down between each other's legs, finding the willing wetness there... She shook her head to dispel the memory. There was no point in thinking about that.
"Who will they believe? The woman who just successfully launched her own fashion line? Or the newly blacklisted lesbian?" said Avani cruelly, turning toward the exit.