Page 94 of Highland Getaway
She beams over at me, and I slide down my seat, horribly aware of the curious stares I’m getting from everyone in the room. The video definitely does not show anything even close to what Sabrina’s just described; but some members of the crowd have recognised themselves in the background now, so they’re fully invested.
‘Rosie entered the Chrysalis a mere shadow of the woman you see standing on top of this car,’ says Sabrina. ‘Mousy. Shy. Scared of her own shadow.’
I attempt to slide even further down in my seat, wondering if hiding under the table is a viable option, or if she’ll just come over and pull me back out.
I wouldn’t put it past her.
‘But now look at her,’ Sabrina goes on, pressing another button on the laptop.
A video of the beach appears on the screen, the sea almost completely blending into the pouring rain. Then a black pony emerges from the spray, mane and tail flying, as I thunder along the sand to the rescue of Bex.
‘Oh, my God,’ I whisper, sitting back up so quickly it makes me light-headed. ‘That’s the video I promised Bex I wouldn’t post.’
I get quickly to my feet, barely noticing the chair falling over in my panic.
Bex is going to hate this. She’s never going to believe I had nothing to do with it. She’s going to hateme.
‘This video has only been up for a few hours,’ says Sabrina triumphantly. ‘But it’s already been liked and shared over half a million times. Followers of the hotel’s account have loved following Rosie’s journey from a mousy little nobody to the woman she is now.’
There’s a small ripple of applause from the slightly bemused audience.
I think I’m going to cry. Or throw up. Or throw up while crying.
‘Oh, come on,’ says Hunter loudly. ‘That’s a bit much, don’t you think? Mousy? Shy?’
He stands up, and the entire room seems to hold its breath.
‘Rosie Winter couldn’t bemousyif she tried,’ he snorts. ‘And if she was scared of her own shadow, that’s only because you lot bullied her mercilessly. Not to mention what you put her through, Dougie.’
At his table, the Laird raises both hands in aya got megesture.
‘As for being a nobody,’ Hunter goes on, his eyes searching the crowd for me. ‘This woman is not a nobody. This woman, in fact, has more bravery and integrity in her little finger than ten of you combined. This woman is asomebody. And I know, because I’ve seen it over and over since she got here. So if you want to call her any more names, or put her down the way you’ve been doing for days, you’re going to have to go through me first.’
He folds his arms across his chest and widens his stance as the room explodes into a flurry of cheers and applause, which Sabrina silences by tapping a knife against her glass again.
I’m so busy staring at Hunter – slightly blurrily, thanks to the tears that are filling my eyes – that it takes me a moment to focus on her instead and, when I do, I’m surprised to find that, instead of the fury I expected to see on her face as the recipient of this rousing speech, she’s actuallysmiling.
‘You’re absolutely right, Hunter,’ she says, smugly. ‘Rosie is all of those things, and more. Which is why it gives me the utmost pleasure to announce that the first ever face of the Chrysalis is .?.?. Rosie Winter!’
Chapter 38
All around me, people are clapping and cheering, but I don’t care. I know this can’t possibly be happening – and, if it is, it’s only because of that stupid video of me on the beach.
That video is the only reason I got enough likes to win; and it’s a video that should never have been posted.
That means that, as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one true winner here, and it’s not me.
‘Where’s Bex?’ I yell, pushing my way through the crowd of people who’re all gathering to congratulate me. ‘She’s the person who should’ve won the stupid competition, not me.’
‘Oh, no,’ Sabrina assures me, the crowds parting to allow her and Luna to get to me. Luna’s smiling at me too, as if this was their plan all along.
This is obviously some strange kind of fever dream I’m having; and I really need to figure out how to wake up from it now.
I need to find Bex.
I need to speak to Hunter.
Oh, God, I really,reallyneed to speak to Hunter.
