Page 38 of Waste
“Where the snow is pristine?” Drew asked sarcastically.
“What? No, I saw it,” Mirry insisted.
Shelley started to feel bad.
“You are a scheming liar. What did you do? You’re trying to make me look awful. Well, it won’t work! I’m Mirry Moor, and you’re insignificant!” Mirry yelled at Shelley. And Shelley didn’t feel terrible anymore.
“Miss Moor, I don’t need notoriety and plastic surgery to be content in my life,” Shelley retorted, and several watchers chuckled.
Mirry turned puce. “At least I’m not a nobody!”
“And I’m quite happy being me. The people surrounding me want to be around me for me, not for whatever fake fame I could bring them. You do you,” Shelley said. “Can we go inside now? I’m cold, and her attention-seeking woke me up out of a sound sleep.”
“Sure, come on. I’ll make some hot chocolate,” Drew offered. He wrapped an arm across her shoulders and began leading her back away.
“This isn’t over. I saw a monster, and I’ll prove it,” Mirry yelled after them.
“Mirry, grow up. No one here believes your tall tales or pathetic attempts at recognition. Jesus, you’re a TV star, not a Hollywood star. Talk about ego,” Charlie stated, shaking his head. He followed after them as people murmured and began moving back to their own chalets.
“I’m not lying!” Mirry shrieked, but nobody was paying her a blind bit of notice. If Shelley had turned around, she’d have seen Mirry’s eyes narrow.
Drew/Ghoul
“Shit!” he muttered as he stared at the link Marie had sent him. He ground his teeth together and peered out of the chalet window to see if the paparazzi had descended yet.
“What’s wrong?” Charlie asked. Without a word, Drew passed him his phone.
“What the hell?” Charlie exclaimed as he read the article.
“Mirry Moor is named as the informant,” Drew growled out. “I’ll be contacting resort management and having her thrown out.”
“That little bitch. The damage is done,” Charlie stated.
There was a picture of Shelley leaning against the door, her broken arm and ankle in their casts. She was smiling at Drew and Charlie, who were standing with their skis. Drew was closest to her, and his hand was touching her face. Drew recalled the moment. It had happened the day after he’d visited Shelley as Ghoul. A strand of hair had blown in her eyes, and Drew put it back. But it looked like a tender moment between them.
The headline screamed, ‘Drew Martin’s cosy love nest.’ It went on to state that Drew had been seen in Charlie and Shelley’s company, although it didn’t include their surnames or Shelley’s name. It also didn’t mention they were siblings. The inference could be that Drew was having a raging orgy, or he’d shacked up with one or the other of them.
Drew gritted his teeth. The whole scenario had been portrayed as a dirty secret. Mirry had spoken about how close he and Charlie had appeared, while the mysterious woman was rarely seen, which caused Mirry concern.
Mirry came across as a reasonable, decent human being. Drew and Charlie both knew better. They realised that Shelley’s whereabouts were now known, too.
“We’re going to have to leave,” Drew said grimly. “But not before I watch that bitch tossed out on her ass.” He picked his phone up and dialled a number.
“Brother,” Killian answered. “I’ve seen the article.”
“Killian, I want her forcefully removed and in full view of the media. Make it known Mirry’s a lying snitch,” Drew ordered.
“Done and done,” Killian replied.
“Thank you,” Drew said, and meant it.
“You’re welcome.” Killian hung up.
Drew and Charlie both looked up as Shelley hobbled into the living area.
“What’s wrong?” She demanded to see their faces.
“Take a seat, Shels,” Charlie muttered, rubbing his face.
