TW: This Chapter contains substance absue, consumption of alcohol and mild swearing. Reader discretion is advised.

EVELYN

Shit. I ran out of pills. Wasn't the best thing that could happen to me right now. But as I stared into the mirror, reaching out towards the silhouette behind it, the rotting soul behind the perfect portrait, I felt pity looking at her. She stared at me, I stared back. I wondered, which one of us was the real Evelyn James? What had gotten her to this moment in time? Why had she lost every little part of herself that made her Evelyn James? Why had she dug her own grave? Why was she on the verge of overdose, a pill or few away from truly falling?

If only I knew.

I finished every last pill in the container, several more than what I'd wanted to. Now, somehow, I still wanted more. The rush, the thrill, I barely remembered or even felt it hitting me. It was enough my first time, it usually was. But now? I needed something else. Something raw, pure, intoxicating. I reached for my purse on the counter only to notice it had fallen onto the floor, and was still soaking wet. Most of the contents had fallen out so I reached for the flask.

68%. How comforting. I lifted my hand to open the lid and-

The flask fell to my side as I felt a strong force knock it from my hands. I felt a figure standing to my right, a little taller than I was. Maybe she was wearing Christian Louboutin. She was towering me by over five inches and I knew Jimmy Choo didn't offer so much height, yet.

"What in fucking Hollywood are you doing here, Eve?"

I looked up at the booming voice. Shit. Kevin? Why was he here, in the ladies' room, of all places? Had I called him?

"Babe, what are you doing here?" I took a step closer. He was warm. I was cold.

"I should be asking you that. What are you doing here?"

"Kevin, my outfit is fine. It's yours that needs serious attention. Pairing those two brands in this quarter is fucking messed up. Their engagement got cancelled plus the merger's on hold, who are you trying to send mixed signals to? Show up in Gucci for all anyone cares, it's classic. What is wrong with you?" I ranted

Kevin Callaway sighed. If I wasn't drunk, and high, and about to get drunk again, I probably could've told that he was pissed as shit.

"James. I want you freshened up in two minutes and back at the fucking ceremony because I do not want to be involved in any scandal whatsoever - especially not tonight. So you are gonna pick up that bag I bought for you, throw it in the bin, wash your face, and get your ass sat back on the seat next to me. Because I am not going to tolerate some adventurous little journalist thinking they're gonna make it big in the world, see you like this. I would've been with you any other night babe. But not tonight Evelyn. Not today." Kevin was seething.

I watched as he turned around and walked away, his body chained by grief and anger. I sat there on the floor picking up the contents of my bag. How low you've stooped, Eve. How low indeed. I couldn't remember how I got here, really. It's hilarious how much I've changed. When I was younger, Mama used to call me 'precious' when I made her happy. Now I'm high or drunk all the time, unless the cameras are rolling. If Mama found out... I don't know what she'd do.

Sometimes I looked at Kevin and wondered why he stayed. The fool's hopelessly in love. He won't know what's coming - he deserves so much more than me. He means well, I know that. I'm not good enough for him, and he deserves someone who didn't disappear behind bathroom doors. He deserves better... I should be better.

I picked up my bag filled with all my things in one hand and the flask in the other and headed to the bin. I threw the Chanel in with zero hesitation; it wasn’t important. I stared at the flask in my hand, my grip tightening around it in resistance to Kevin's words. I couldn't disappoint Kevin... not like this.

When I was younger, Mama used to call me her 'little angel'. Too bad I'd grown up to listen to the devil on my shoulder. A shame, really.