A failed public hearing

Chapter 48 A failed public hearing I didn't lift a finger; all I did was prep and get ready for the public hearing. Selena had seen to the venue and had said she spoke to a few of the journalists she knew. However, when I walked into PurpleGlitz conference hall that afternoon, everything felt suffocating. The amount of journalists in the room was up to a hundred with each of them settling their cameras down,ready to take every of my steps and words into writing I knew what I agreed to but, what was before my eyes was much more than I had expected and in that instance, my heart began to race. I thought about the possibilities of ditching the whole thing and running away. I took one last look at Selena and the crowd before cleaning my sweaty palm on my clothes. Selena on the other hand seems to have read through me because she walked towards me and patted my back. 'Don't even think of backing out now. You've prepared for this moment, not let anything take it away from you." She said softly and sweetly. I nodded and took a look at the piece of paper in my hand. I've prepared what to say and I've imagined how I'd expose Myra and make Royce see that his decisions are full of mistakes. Now that I'm here I can't make my efforts a wasted one. 'I can do this," I muttered under my breath and walked to the podium where a giant microphone stood. I dropped the paper in my hand on the pulpit in front of me and faced the crowd of journalists. Immediately they saw me, the volume of murmurings in the room reduced. I adjusted the mini microphone attached to the lapel in front of my dress while flashlights from cameras began to come from every angle of the room. Taking a deep breath, I began to talk. 'Good afternoon everyone, I'm Britney Robben, wife to Royce Robben of RoyBen Hotels and Suites. It is with great sadness that I stand before you. I wouldn't have done this ordinarily but I simply can't stand and watch all that I've worked for go down the drain." As I said this, the murmur that had earlier reduced rose again and they all began to exchange glances wondering what all that was about. 'Myra," I began and they all began to flash lights again, 'is a manipulator and a fraud. Everyone here is aware of how she came into the society and somehow she managed to become an associate of my husband. Thereafter,she found her way, sadly into my husband's office life. She came to me posing as my friend and I allowed her do that. Unfortunately for me, she has now oust me from my husband's life. Currently, he's filing for divorce because Myra has made him turn his back on me and our child," I said, rubbing my hands over my still flat stomach. 'I trusted Myra with everything I had and welcomed her to my home. I didn't know she was a green snake under the grass, waiting for the right time to strike. After making my husband see no more reason to be with me, she has been going around and parading herself as his fiancée while I , the real wife, is about to be thrown out. I trusted Myra…" I said again and broke into tears. 'Right now, I don't know what else to do, my husband is too blinded by her spell. That is the reason I'm currently doing this. A problem shared, they say, is half solved. I don't want to be silent about this and even if Royce eventually divorce me, I want everyone to know my tale of trust and betrayal." I said finally and began to clean my face with the tissue I held. ‘Do you have any proof for this?' ‘Miss Cullen, is a woman of integrity in society, are you sure Myra really seduced your husband?' ‘Who do you think is at fault for this, your husband or Myra?' The journalists bombarded me with a series of questions while I stood there, not knowing which one to answer first. I was still in this position when I looked up and I saw Royce burst in. They saw that I was looking somewhere and they followed my gaze. The attention shifted from me to Royce in an instance. ‘Mr. Robben,are your wife's allegations really true?' ‘Are you beguiled by the beauty and fame of Miss Cullen?'' ‘Are you getting a divorce because of her?' Royce paid no attention to them and walked his way through all of them. His assistant followed closely behind him and managed to barely catch up with his long strides. My gaze and Royce's gaze met, I didn't need to be told, he's furious at the hearing. Without saying anything,he got to me and dragged me off the podium. Journalists began to take series of pictures as I half ran and walked behind him. Royce however came prepared because some men in suit prevented the reporters from following us. Royce didn't stop until he got to the hallway and then released my hand which he had held tightly. 'What the actual hell are you thinking about,a public hearing?" He screamed. 'What I should have done ever since I noticed the abnormalities in your relationship with Myra!" I replied. 'Are you this dense?" He asked, raking his hands through his perfectly styled hair and ruining it. 'Do you think this is going to change anything because it certainly won't. It's like exposing gasoline to an open fire! I'm sure my company's shares is going through hell right now" 'I don't care what happens to the company. I just want you back, I won't let that harlot take away what I worked for with my blood and sweat." I said and moved to him, holding his hands. 'Myra is only playing with your head and heart, Royce. Nothing good will come out of this." 'She can use me as much as she wants as long as she respects every of my decision and she's willing to give me whatever I want" he said 'From what I see, she's not giving you anything, she's using you and playing around with you like a piece of chess but you are too blinded to see any of it" I retorted. He wrenched his hands away from me and moved closer. 'You know what you look like right now? A nuts case. A jealous woman who has no life outside her marriage. I'm sure the whole nation has seen your desperacy now. Congratulations Britney," he said, clapping his hands, 'this hearing of yours is nothing but a sham!" 'Of course it isn't, at least, I got your attention and the attention of the whole of New York." I said and then moved closer to him too. 'If you know what is good for you, you'll withdraw the divorce or I'll make sure to tell the world about all the atrocities we committed together, especially that of Bella." I threatened Royce's face hardened as I said this and he stood still for a while. Throughout this time all we did was stared into eachother's eyes, filled with enmity and silent threats and then he broke the silence. 'Why don't you try it Britney? If you think anyone would believe the nonsense you'll say, then you really have no idea about this world. It's going to be my word against yours and trust me when I say I'm going make you look really stupid. Not only that I'm going to paint you as an attention seeker, a bittered and lonely woman. I dunno what you think you are Britney, but you are nothing without me at the center of your plans and if you think you can destroy my plan, I'll make sure to finish you first. Now, if you would excuse me, I have a wedding to plan," he said,patting my cheeks and leaving me alone in the deserted hallways. I watched the back of his head as he walked away and continued to whistle. My feet wobbled and I grabbed the nearest wall to steady myself, wondering what I had put myself in.