Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur)

The top trending article of the week is scathing. The headlife reads: "Even Alpha's Son Prefers Plano Prodigy Over "Future Luna!"

The backlash is even worse than I feared. If there was any doubt before that Veronica and I have some kind of secret feud, it's certainly gone now. Some people even think that Miles is secretly Veronica's son, not mine.

But even if people don't believe that nonsense, the general consensus is still that I'm making a serious faux pas by enrolling Miles at Wellington. In fact, my approval ratings have dropped again. The numbers are still above 70%, but they're going down by the day. They dropped more than 5% just since yesterday.

Meanwhile, people are clamoring to say that Veronica would make a far better Luna and mother. They claim that she wouldn't make mistakes like this, that she is a genuine person and I'm not, that she knows how to act as a wealthy person. They even think that I'm taking advantage of my recent fame and getting too big for my own head.noveldrama

But as much as it stings, I know that public opinion isn't always rational. People love a scandal, particularly when it's a rivalry between women. It's the oldest story in the book, and the fact that Arthur is being conveniently left out of all of this isn't lost on me. As if choosing to send our son to a particular school wasn't a decision that we both made.

Either way, I know I have to get ahead of this nonsense before it gets out of control, so I use my day-now that Miles is at school, I have a lot more free time during the morning and afternoon-to come up with the next step in my plan.

The Ordan Public School Fund that Veronica runs is large and well-known. A partnership would bring legitimacy to my project and put to rest any notion of a feud between us. Plus, it would be a much more effective way to actually help the kids who need it.

For my next event, I decide to organize a major fundraising gala. With Veronica's contacts and my position as the future Luna, we could attract serious donors. And the media would eat it up-the supposed rivals joining forces for a common cause,

Over the next couple of days, I draft up a proposal. I want it to be perfect so Veronica will have no choice but to accept. I plan to paint several large artworks of my own to auction off for charity, and contact some other Ordan artists-Hunter being one of them-to auction off their work as well.

Alice agrees to let me use the Marsiel Gallery space for the event, which will also be a boon for her business. We even discuss the matter with the director of Abbott Gallery, who offers to help with advertising. Everything is going according to plan.

Once I've prepared a solid proposal, I make an official appointment with the Ordan Public School Fund for an interview with Veronica. I don't want to show up unannounced at her penthouse again, dressed in sloppy work clothes while she's utterly perfect, so I give myself enough time to prepare.

On the day of the interview, I dress in a pristine blue dress and heels, my hair pulled neatly back and just a minimal amount of makeup. I make sure I have all of my materials organized, then head to Veronica's charity headquarters with my chin held high.

Somehow, of course, the paparazzi have gotten wind of this I make sure to smile the whole way up the front path to the headquarters, just so my "sour" face can't be captured on camera again.

Acting like this makes me feel more like Selina than I'd like to admit. But this is what the people expect, and it's what I've been training for for months now. If there was one thing Selina had going for her, it was her way with manipulating the press to avoid public backlash. I guess it's not so bad to take a page out of her book in that

regard, not just for my sake, but for Miles' as well.

When I arrive, a secretary is waiting for me in the spacious of-the-art facility to a gleaming office with floor-to-ceili

Veronica is sitting at the head of the table, looking perfect "Iris," she says, gesturing to the chair all the way at the of

regard, not just for my sake, but for Miles' as well.

When I arrive, a secretary is waiting for me in the spacious white lobby. She leads

me through the gorgeous, state-of-the-art facility to a gleaming office with floor- to-celling windows and a long glass conference table.

Veronica is sitting at the head of the table, looking perfect as ever.

"Iris," she says, gesturing to the chair all the way at the other end. "Please, take a seat."