The Sinister Screen Queen

Tanya snatched the newspaper off the table with a scowl, her fingers tightening around the page as she saw what her father had thrown at her.

There it was. A grainy photograph splashed across the top corner… Tanya, Keira, and Allegra mid-laugh, stepping out of a sleek Lamborghini.

Flashbulbs lit their faces like fireworks. Tanya stared at it in silence.

John Pendragon said nothing. He watched her, his knuckles whitening against the armrest.

"Well?"

Tanya finally looked up, lips curling into a crooked smirk. "We still didn't get the front page."

John sat back slowly, disappointment heavy in his features. "I thought… maybe that wasn't it. But then—God, Tanya!"

He shook his head, his voice quieter now. "I didn't want to worry your stepmother. You shouldn't be doing this here, under this roof."

"Why not? Because it ruins the image? The perfect little breakfast table? The perfect little daughter??" Tanya's brow furrowed, frustration rising.

John's hand slammed against the table, silverware rattling. "Because you're dragging Keira into this now!"

"She wanted to come. I didn't force her!" Tanya snapped. "Don't put that on me."

"Another excuse." He growled.

"That's all I ever hear… one after the other. Do you even realize what you're doing? You're drawing eyes, Tanya. Dangerous eyes. Not just paparazzi."

"The wrong kind of people might start to notice."

Tanya rolled her eyes and threw the newspaper back onto the table. "The press is nothing. I've dealt with worse."

"I'm not worried about the press." He said sharply, voice low but steely.

She blinked. That stopped her. "Then who are you worried about?"

A long pause. John didn't answer.

He just looked at her, tired in a way that sat behind his eyes, like something old and heavy had been sitting on his chest for too long.

"I'm just asking you not to cause any more trouble." He finally said. "No more scandals."

Tanya crossed her arms, her chin lifted in stubborn defiance. "I have things I need to do."

"I'm not going to lie about who I am or hide away like some… Stepford daughter."

John stood abruptly. "This isn't about you! For once in your life, just stop being so selfish and listen!"

"Just… do this, Tanya."

The words hung in the air.

Tanya's chair scraped back with a screech as she stood, fury flickering behind her eyes. "Selfish? You think I'm selfish?"

"You're the one playing house like nothing ever happened. You've got your nice, clean life here and I'm the mess you want to forget.

Her voice cracked just slightly, but her stare didn't.

"You've forgotten me!" She spat.

She turned.

Storming toward the door, her shoes thudding against the floor, she reached for the handle… hesitated.

Her hand tightened.

Without turning around, she mumbled. "I'll leave Keira out of it. I promise."

And then, with a final, trembling breath.

SLAM

The door shook on its hinges.

And John was left alone, the newspaper photo still staring up at him like a ghost