ONE WILD NIGHT

s. I sat in the makeup chair, watching the artist cover the dark ci

final time. "Remember, this is your chance to tell your story.

SPEAKS OUT." My stomach twisted, but Mom's voice rang in my head, Don't you

to air," the flo

l smile masking the intensity in her eyes. She knew thi

ith Maya Collins, the Westfield University student at the center of what'

for having

e publicly denied ever meeting you. He suggested you m

s faith, of Jake's broken nose defending me, of t

th together at the Grandview Hotel. We talked for hours. He told me about feeling trapped by his family's expectations, about drowning in other people's d

ou had an intima

e two lonely people found something real." My voice g

hould people believe you instead of a well kno

nheritance, his engagement, his family's merger worth billions of dollars. I'm a scholarship student working two

ould sa

thing. I was planning to raise this baby alone b

told we have a caller who wants to respond to you

ed, but I nodd

Miss Blackwell is Alexander Stone's fia

and cold. "Hello, Elena. Thank you for

ictoria had been wait

but fake. "But these fantasies are becoming dangerous. Alexander was at a business dinner the whole evening with three re

w do you

ng in Victoria's overly smooth deliv

ask you something,if Alexander truly had nothing to hide, why did he look so guilty during t

shocked by thes

r of his child?" I leaned forward. "Victoria, tell

ere was no night

bloggers. Someone with access to my medical records, my class schedule, my family'

igger prey. "Maya, are you sugg

campaign to ruin me. Someone with money, connec

ed a little. "That's a seri

d pulled out a folded piece of hotel stationery. "Elena, I

t is

ya Had to leave early for family obligations. Thank you for the most

ough the phone, Victoria's

ictoria said, but her v

working with some blogger who first linked my pregnancy to Alexander. How else would

can't

ia's sharp intake of breat

cess to the Stone family? Money? Or just the satisfaction

is rid

out my family. The harassment at my mother's hospital. The way you've system

ve to liste

of person who runs when confronted with truth. Or you could stay on the line a

re nothing. A nobody scholarship girl who got lucky one nigh

eaned forward, recognizing the moment

you know abo

quieter: "I a

with me. Maybe he told you, maybe you had him followed, maybe you just know him well enough to see the guilt written all over his

ha

os surfaced at exactly the right moment. Turned my pregnancy into a weapon against me." I looked di

on. When Victoria spoke agai

dealing with, little girl. No

a threat,

a pr

ne wen

e. "Maya, that was... intense. How do you

ust showed the world exactly who she really is. And I think Alexander Ston

eking truth in a world of spin. But I barely heard her. My phone was alrea

stood out, from

ave no idea what's coming. Some people should

iew was over, but something told me the real war was just beginn

y had I jus