The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 105 Play The Angel Joy My expensive acting lessons were finally paying off. | had the people at a standstill. Everyone looked on, seemingly frozen in time, eagerly awaiting my response.

If only my acting coach could seenow, he’d probably be impressed. It was such a pity | couldn’t send him a video of this to show him how much progress | have made. Maybe after all of this was over, | could cover and we could laugh about it over a bottle of his favorite Italian red.

During the first four weeks of our almost four month acting course, | believed Francesco, our instructor, was a hack. That was until one of his beloved students, an A-list celebrity, cknocking on his door, interrupting our private lessons at his posh Beverly Hills estate.

For the first time, Xavier sat starstrucked, blushing to the roots of his hair, while mustering the courage to meet the female celebrity. She politely waited for him to say something, noticin e moving, however nothing seemed to cout of his mouth. | smiled r while | took Xavier by the elbow to urge him to his feet so we could e famous actress.

ntinued to struggle with his words, | nudged him gently with my elbow, hoping provide him the small push that he needed. It worked. He finally said hi. As much as ed to laugh at his reaction to her, | didn’t want to embarrass him. Plus, | knew acesco wouldn't approve especially when such an important person was with us.

So, | continued to smile politely instead and waited for introductions.

“She is one of my masterpieces,” Francesco exclaimed in his thick Italian accent and high- pitched voice, obviously proud of what the actress has accomplished. “Just like you, she did not know how to act. But look at her now, an award winner.” He picked up a paper bound screenplay from a table nearby. “Come. Let us give them a sample.” “Of course, Francesco, but there is no need for a screenplay,” the female actress said, waving off the paper bound manuscript. “I'm guessing this one needs sencouragement?” She eyedwith interest.

“Si,” Francesco answered in his native Italian, the disdain apparent in his voice. | was having trouble from the very beginning. “This one is not interested in movies. She wants to learn. how to lie.” The actress nodded her head, acknowledging the situation.

1/6 CHAPTER 105 Play The Angel “You're an honest person,” she said. “In my line of work, | appreciate honest people, however Francesco here hates your type. He believes honest people have difficulty playing pretend.” She sat down on the couch across from Xavier and |, gesturing to Francesco with one hand for something to drink while with the other, she motioned for us to sit back down. “You have to see it in a different perspective. Pretend isn’t a lie, it’s imagination. As we all know, imagination is conjured by our psyche and whatever is created by our mind can’t all be a lie.

Because if it were all a lie, than all of it would be impossible to achieve. Right?” “Right,” Xavier answered quickly, without even taking the moment to think. | turned to stare at him, my eyebrows raised in shock. Xavier was obviously captivated by her, hanging on to her every word. | actually felt a bit jealous.

Unlike Xavier who was eager to please, | paused and contemplated her words. After several moments, | finally nodded my head in agreement to her argument. What was impossible decades ago was possible now. Thanks to innovation and little imagination.

you want to learn to lie?” She asked, leaning back against the cus hions.

nce,” | told her honestly while trying to lie. | kept a straight face and made sure my vas devoid of all emotion. Her eyes scrutinized my appearance while | gazed at her, ty praying she would think | was lying.

ou almost had me, but | can see the iciness in your eyes. It’s an improvement nonetheless.

What did he do to you?” She asked.

“They,” | corrected her. “They raped me.” | tried to control my anger as | answered her, but | felt my face heat up.

The actress shook her head in disbelief, not expecting the answer | gave her.

“I would want vengeance too,” she said apologetically as Francesco cwith a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses in his hands. “Francesco, she has deep-seated anger.” “I know, but she must learn to control sof that anger if she is going to face them,” Francesco said.

“What's your name?” The actress asked.

“Joy.” The actress smiled, amused.

“You are such a contradiction. You have such a beautiful face and you are blessed with a nwhich means immense happiness, but in reality, you have so much anger and hate 26 CHAPTER 105 Play The Angel inside. Tell me, Joy, what will make you feel happy again? She asked nonchalantly.

“All of them dead by my hand,” | said, smiling warmly. This tshe clapped her hands.

“Now that sounded like a lie, because you used your attributes to shield your true intent,” she remarked. “I guess now you know why I'm here. Francesco calledover to show you your the necessary tricks to fool your audience. But to tell you frankly, your pretty face and pleasing voice should be enough to fool anyone. All you have to do is play the angel, Joy, and they will never suspect that you're the devil.” “Play the angel?” | asked.

“In slasher films, the killer is usually the one who everyone least suspects. The goody two shoes, the innocent virgin, the prettiest girl, the cool guy. All of them share one distinct characteristic... they are perceived by the audience as either perfect, naive or angelic.... intrinsically good. And that, Joy, is what you need to portray. To be the one who everyone least suspects. An angel.” The actress’ words echoed as | looked down at Liam's pleading gray eyes. He didn’t know I killed those men at Marla’s. No one knew. Truly, | am the one who everyone least suspects.

An image of Liam's dead body seated in front of his desk flashed through my mind, blood. dripping from a wound at the back of his head inflicted by his own gun held tightly by one of his limp cold hands. On his desk his tablet lay showing the headline of the town’s newspaper announcing his involvement in the rape of Joy Taylor as well as the death of young Joan Summers via documents found from the coroner's office. Liam Cohen’s death would be deemed a suicide, wiping the last of the Cohen bloodline from this earth.

With him and his father gone, | would inherit everything.

Just thinking about it madevery happy. So happy, tears began to well up in my eyes again.

Now all | had to do was say yes.

Say yes, Joy.

“Y-yes, Liam... I'll marry you.” My voice was barely audible, but as soon as the words cout of my mouth, everyone erupted in an ear-splitting applause.

Liam slipped the diamond ring on my finger. It was a perfect fit. | could see the smug satisfaction in his gray eyes as he stood up and twirledin the air.

3/6 CHAPTER 105 Play The Angel When my feet finally hit the pavement again, | glanced at Xavier, Sebastian and Cristos. Xavier looked on like a proud mentor while Sebastian and Cristos looked extremely happy.

The three of them, including Dan, congratulated us to the absolute joy of everyone.

*Engagement party at my house later,” | told each of them as they kissedon the cheek.

That's right... Play the angel....

The angel of death.

Noah While everyone cheered, | froze. | didn’t know how to react to what | just heard.

It wasn’t possible. Virtue said yes? “Well, she said yes,” Jack said, sounding defeated. “We better go over and offer our congratulations. That's what friends do in situations like this. We hope for the best.” | shook my head. | couldn’t be happy for them. No, this was all a lie.

“This is probably a farce... just to get Liam votes for his re-" “You think Virtue of all people would agree to take part in a ploy so Liam can get reelected?” Jack asked, cuttingoff. “Liam ask her to marry him and she said yes in front of so many witnesses. There is no way that this is a scam,” Jack argued.

“Jack, he asked her at the grand opening of her store knowing there would be a crowd. And ow Chip and let’s not forget that Chip was with Dan when he picked up the ring. We all know Virtue are practically inseparable. It’s impossible she didn’t know that this was going to happen,” | reasoned out.

“So crya river, Noah,” Jack scoffed, not wanting to listen to any of my arguments. “If whatever you're saying is true, then maybe they won't get married. Until then, let’s be good men and offer our congratulations.” He gavea sideways glance, his brow furrowed. “What is it with you anyway? Aren't you seeing Nicole?” “No. Nicole and | are just-" Jack chuckled, my denial expected.

4/6 15:09 Sat, Mar 30 CHAPTER 105 Play The Angel Remember that Christmas during our freshman year in college when Cris started dating Lisa? Nicole broke into his car and slashed his leather seats,” Jack said. “I, on the other hand, you know made the mistake of sleeping with her after Liam and Cris’ victory party and do what she did when | told her it was just a one night stand? She went to my mother at her school and told her | had an STD. Sure, she didn’t do sh it like that to Liam, but that’s because Liam has enough power to bury her. So, if you don’t love Nicole, you better end it.... now. She'll probably put snegative reviews on your website, but hey, you're the only contractor in this town.” | wanted to laugh, but | kept a straight face. | didn’t want Jack to know | knew about all that.

Of course | knew Nicole had abandonment issues and | also knew all the problems Nicole gave them after they used her and threw her away. | was the one who helped-her do all that s hit to them. Cris had to spend so much money to have his car fixed while everyone stayed clear of Jack not wanting to catch whateve r sexually transmitted infection he had, | had so many clever ideas, yet my cleverness never seemed to work on Virtue and Chip Why is that? Anyway, | wasn’t worried about Nicole. | had her where | wanted her.

“Con,” Jack mumbled as he nudgedin the ribs. “Let’s act like gentlemen and congratulate the newly engaged couple.” “Sure,” | said, knowing there was nothing else | could do for now. If this was a lie like | believed it to be, no wedding will happen. They'll just keep telling people what they want to hear until they get sick and tired of lying.

But then again, if this wasn’t a lie, | had to do something before they say their | do's.

| had more tricks up my sleeves.

1 Virtue will never becMrs. Liam Cohen...

on saranten Over my dead body.

516 Sat Mar 20! CHAPTER 105 Play The Angel Chapter Comments Morgan POST COMMENT Noah is most likely the one who gives Pete his orders... | wouldn't underestimate him.

Elizabeth Johnson | can’t fathom Noah out. Pete is a degerate sick psychopath, Chris is a weak sick abuser, Jack and Liam are both pathetic cowards Noah seems to be more calculating...

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