The next day, I'm head-deep in my work. It’s almost lunchtime.
'I have a, um... meeting. Will you be fine for a few hours?' Ace asks.
‘Yep. I want to catch up with Cleo at some point. I’ll find her and have lunch with her.' I smile. Ace kisses me on the forehead and leaves. I have been going to all his meetings. Strange he doesn’t want me to attend this one.
Stretching my arms out, I stand and take the staircase to the ground floor. I'm not comfortable being in the elevator on my own; the stairs will be the better option for now.
Cleo runs up to me and embraces me in a tight hug.
'Funny, we work in the same building yet we never see each other,' she jokes.
'We have to make more of an effort to see each other. Also that's why I'm here. I'm hoping we can have lunch together.'
'Sure. I’m having lunch with the receptionists and a couple of models across the road. Come with me. You know the models. Have you met the receptionists?' She asks.
My mind flashes back to when I threw cold tea at Carol.
'Yes, actually. They know me very well.' I frown.
'Great! Let’s go!' Cleo grabs my arm and pulls me along, crossing the road. Lunch is of course at Cafe Charm, the go-to cafe for Pure Fashion Industry employees.
It's good because I get to see Hailey and Mr Fulton. We enter the cafe where a table is reserved for us. I wave at the ladies as we approach. They’re all happy to see me except for Carol. But I expected that.
'Cora, Ruby, Lana, Emma, Tracy. It’s good to see you all again.' I smile. Carol is clearly unimpressed seeing me, but the feeling is mutual so I just ignore her and sit down.
'I knew you wouldn’t mind if Zurielle joined us for lunch.' Cleo smiles. Hailey prances over to our table.
'Hello ladies!' She beams. 'Zurielle!' She squeals.
'Hi Hailey.' I hug her and sit back down.
'Zurielle, girlfriend of a billionaire CEO, is best friends with a lowly waitress of all people.' Carol smirks.
Hailey, the rest of the women, and I, gasp, shocked at her disrespect.
'I beg your pardon, Carol?' I glare and give her my full attention. Hailey is refraining from slapping Carol unconscious.
Carol ignores me and looks at her menu, humming. The nerve of her! Hailey takes mine and the ladies’ orders, but not Carol’s. She walks away and Carol huffs.
'I’d like to order!' She yells. Hailey has no intention of taking her order. The ladies and I snicker, while Carol sits there fuming. Hailey walks past our table to take orders from other customers. Carol continues to try to get Hailey’s attention.
Eventually giving up with Hailey, Carol mutters, 'bitch' just loud enough for Hailey to hear as she walks past. Hailey comes to a halt, faces Carol, and looks at her in an eerily disturbing way. It even worries me. Hailey’s frown turns into a sarcastic smile.
'I’m sorry. Your order is being made,' she says, sarcastically before walking away to the kitchen.
'What the hell is with that freak? She never took my order in the first place and the way she just smiled at me was like something out of a horror movie,' Carol complains.
'That freak is my best friend, Carol! I suggest you apologise to her for your rudeness. Otherwise, don’t come crying to me when there are consequences because of your rudeness with her,' I scold. Carol huffs and crosses her arms. Hailey returns with our food and drinks.
'Here’s your order.' Hailey says, pouring a glass of ice-cold water over Carol’s head. Horrified, Carol looks at Hailey as the water drips down her face and back. We all burst into laughter.
'How dare you! I am reporting you to the manager.' She stands up to leave the table. I stand up and glare at her.
'No! You will sit back down, right now Carol, and you will apologise to Hailey, this instant!' I warn.
'What are you going to do about it?' She asks, angry.
'You really want to know what I will do?' I smirk, making her uncomfortable.
She sits down, says 'sorry', and looks away, ignoring all of us, while we eat lunch and drink our lattes. Hailey returns back to her duties, smiling at her victory. Cora clears her throat.
'So, I was thinking that maybe we could all go on a weekend glamping trip together soon. We can paint our nails, make face scrubs, do yoga, drink wine and roast some marshmallows.' She looks at us, hopeful.
'That sounds like so much fun!' Cleo shouts.
'Yep, count me in.' Ruby smiles.
'Me too!' Lara and Emma agree.
'I suppose...' Carol mumbles.
'What about you Zurielle?' Cora asks.
'Oh, I’m not sure. I’ll have to speak to Ace about it.'
'You really need his permission?' Carol asks in a snarky tone.
'Actually, no I don’t. But Ace usually plans outings for us for the weekends, so I’d like to ask.'
'We can go this weekend or next weekend. I’m flexible.' Cora smiles.
'Either suits me.' Emma smiles.
'I’m cool whichever way.' Cleo shrugs her shoulders.
'Okay. I’ll text you tonight after I’ve spoken with him, Cora.'
'I look forward to it.' Cora smiles.
'Oh! And bring Hailey along too!' Cora offers.
Carol lets out a grizzling moan.
'You have to be kidding me? Really Cora? After she just poured cold water over me?' She argues.
'In Hailey’s defence - you deserved it.' Cora shrugs.
Carol exhales loudly, and looks away, annoyed.
'Thanks Cora. I’m sure Hailey would love to join us,' I say.
We pay the bill, I hug Hailey goodbye, and we return to Pure Fashion Industries.
When it's almost time to go home, I look at the clock and Ace enters the office.
'Wow. That was a long meeting.' I frown, and he kisses me on the lips.
'I didn’t go to a meeting.' He smiles.
'What are you talking about?' I ask.
'You’ll know soon enough. I have a surprise for you at home.' He closes my laptop and takes my hand. 'Let’s go.' He smiles, and leads me out to the elevator, excited to get home.
'What is it?' I ask him.
'You’ll have to wait and see.' He winks, and I playfully roll my eyes at him.
The elevator doors close, and I concentrate on taking a few deep breaths until we are on the ground floor. Ace smiles at me, happy that I am focusing on my breathing while in the lift.
We arrive at the penthouse in his Lamborghini, before he opens the front door, and pulls out a blindfold.
'You need to wear this.' He smiles, placing it over my eyes and tying it up, before taking my hand and leading me inside.
'Okay. You can sit down. There is a seat behind you.' I slowly lower myself, feeling a lengthy, cushioned stool.
'Are you ready?' He asks, and I smile.
'Yes.' He takes my blindfold off, and I gasp at the beautiful grand piano; I am sitting on the piano stool. My eyes well up, and I gently touch the keys and run my fingers along them, and play a soft melody. When the song finishes, I stand up, bury myself in Ace’s chest and cry.
'Thank you so much.' I sob.
'When you told Libby how happy playing the piano makes you, and you had never gone a day without playing until the fire, I knew I had to bring that piece of happiness back into your life.' My hands cup his face.
'Mr Brightly, what would I ever do without you?' I pull his face to mine and our lips lock in a fiery kiss.
'I know I would never be the same without you, Zurielle.' He tucks the loose strands of hair behind my ears and places a sweet little peck on the tip of my nose.
After dinner, we watch a movie together. Halfway through the movie, I make myself more comfortable and snuggle into Ace’s chest and fall asleep.
Halfway through the work day, I suddenly remember Cora’s offer about having a girl’s weekend away glamping.'Ace, do you have anything planned for us this weekend or next weekend?''Not yet. Do you have something in mind?' He smiles.'Cora invited me and some of the other ladies to a weekend away glamping.''Glamping?' He says and raises an eyebrow.'Yeah. It’s camping, except we do girly things like paint our nails and have facials.' I laugh.'I’ll make sure you have the weekend free to join them, but I’ll organise a bodyguard or two to go with you. I’ll ask them to watch from a distance, so it will be less noticeable. I don’t want paps sneaking around, or potential threats anywhere near you.''Potential threat?' I ask with worry.'I don’t know Mark’s whereabouts, or if he plans on staying true to his word by staying away from us. My being a billionaire puts you at risk of being ransomed by thugs.''Oh... you know what? Don’t worry about it. I think I’ve changed my mind.' I say with
Hailey is literally sleeping on top of me, like I'm some kind of teddy bear. I can feel her drool dribble down my neck. I push the strands of her brown hair off my face and roll away from her. A moment later Hailey snuggles into my back and mutters something meant for Jack in her sleep. I try not to laugh and eventually fall asleep.'Rise and shine my Queens!' Cora stands in front of our beds looking like a soldier. She is wearing cargo pants with black boots and a green tank top.'Oh... were we meant to bring clothes like that?' Hailey asks, as she pulls out ten different little dresses from her bag.'Don’t forget swimwear underneath your clothes. Unless you prefer to swim in your birthday suit and wear solid shoes and pants, or your name is Hailey, and you didn’t bring any.' She laughs, and Hailey rolls her eyes at her.'I brought a couple sets of trackie pants. Here, you can wear these.' I say, handing her a pair.I'm wearing trackie pants and a crop top with boots, and my bikini u
As the sun rises, the sound of a helicopter is heard hovering in the sky. We jump up and down, and wave our arms in the air, trying to get the pilot’s attention.We slump in disappointment, as it flies past us. Sighing, I lean against a tree.‘I’m so tired, and so hungry I can barely stay awake.’ I sob.‘It’ll be okay.’ Hailey says and hugs me. I bury my face in her shoulder and look up to see Carol giving me a sympathetic look. I grab her arm, and pull her into us, hugging them both.‘I’m sorry I slapped you, Carol.’ I cry.‘No, I should be the one apologising. To both of you. You might be a little on the crazy side Hailey, but you’re quite fun to be around and you’re definitely not a bitch. If anything, I have been the bitch. Zurielle, I’m sorry about what I said about you and Ace. I was jealous because I had a crush on Ace and he turned me down a couple of years ago,’ she confesses.‘I had no idea that you liked Ace that way. He hasn’t mentioned it.’‘I used to like him. I moved on
We arrive at the penthouse, where, Martin, our chef is in the kitchen with heaps of already-made food for me to eat. I eat more than two meals. After I’ve finished, Ace suggests a shower before I sleep.‘Do I have to? I can barely keep my eyes open,’ I grumble.‘You have a bird’s nest in your hair. You don’t want the dirt on your face going onto your pillow. I’ll help you wash, then you can stay in bed and rest for as long as you want to.’ He smiles.‘For a whole week?’ I ask, and he laughs.‘If that's what you wish.’ He takes my hand, leads me upstairs, undresses me, and I step into the shower and instantly relax under the hot water. He rubs soap all over my back and down my arms. I apply double the amount of shampoo I usually would to get all the dirt out of my hair.After rinsing out the shampoo, Ace applies the conditioner and runs his fingers through my hair, to remove knots and twigs. I wash the rest of my body while Ace gets a fresh towel for me. I step out and accept the towel
I spend the next two weeks working from home until the media storm dies down.On Friday, Ace returns home, and it's the same routine as always: I stop what I'm doing, run to the door and jump up for him to catch me, and wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him passionately.Some days he carries me straight to the bedroom where we ravish eachother, or sit on the balcony with coffees, and chat, or relax on the couch and watch a movie. Yesterday afternoon we didn’t even make it to the bedroom. We ended up halfway up the staircase completely nude. Thankfully, Martin and Belinda had gone home.‘You might want to change out of your track pants. Not that it bothers me, but, I’m taking you out tonight.’ He smiles.‘Where are we going?’‘I think it’s time we visit your friends and have some fun at the Snake Pit. What do you say?’ He asks with a grin.‘Yes!’ I run upstairs, excitedly, and step into the shower. I run into my walk-in wardrobe and toss different dresses around, trying to choose
After a magical night on the Yarra River, I’m engaged to Ace, and we beam with happiness and don’t stop smiling at eachother.‘Well, Mrs Brightly. Looks like we have a wedding to plan.’ He smiles.‘We do.’‘We’ll announce it to the media on Monday,’ Ace says, kissing my forehead.Hailey, Carol and Cleo come over to the penthouse the next day with a pile of bridal magazines.‘Oh, this dress is so you!’ Hailey squeals.‘It is very nice,’ Cleo agrees. Hailey turns the magazine around so I can view the dress.‘It’s nice, but it might be a little too revealing.’‘Well, you do have a great set of boobs Zurielle, so you should totally flaunt them.’ Hailey smirks.Ace enters the room, takes the magazine from Hailey and scrunches his face up.‘Hailey, I can practically see her nipples. I’d rather not have Zurielle’s boobs on the front cover of every magazine,’ he says.‘Okay.’ Hailey rolls her eyes. I giggle at them, before Martin places a large platter of savoury nibbles down on the coffee ta
We arrive at work the next day to a frenzy of paparazzi chasing us to the entrance of the building.‘Is money really more important than love?’ A journalist asks me, shoving the microphone in my face. I push it away only for other microphones to be shoved closer.‘Do you have something you would like to say to Mark? Perhaps an apology?’ Another asks.‘How long were you dating Mark before your affair with Ace?’ I try to keep a straight face and focus on getting through the journalists, photographers and camera operators and into the building.A sense of relief washes over me once I’m inside. Many employees have stopped what they’re doing to stare at us. At least they’re looks of sympathy. Everyone who works here knows we love eachother; they see how happy we are every day, and how Ace has changed, for the better. They don’t believe the news and are annoyed with Mark for tarnishing my reputation.Lunch can’t come quickly enough; Ace spoils me with a fancy platter of different sandwiches
Our bodyguards escort us across the road to Cafe Charm. We ignore the cameras, and Mr Fulton and Hailey shoo them away.Hailey behaves extremely professional towards us, like she doesn’t know us.‘Would you like a fresh glass of water sir?’ She asks, like a proper lady.‘Sure,’ he replies, humouring her.‘And you, Ma’am. Would you like some water while you wait for your lunch to arrive?’ I try not to giggle at her put-on professionalism.‘Thank you. That would be nice.’ I smile. She curtsies awkwardly, before bringing out two tall glasses of water on a tray.‘Sir, this is the finest water in all of Melbourne. It came from the finest tap made of silver,’ she says.‘Thank you. You shouldn't have gone to all that trouble,’ he says, giving me a look.I give him a look, as we try to contain our laughter, and take a sip of the fine water, only for Hailey to stop me.‘Ma’am, please let me place this napkin on your lap, so as not to spill any water on your attire.’‘Oh, okay then...’ I say, a