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
A few days pass and we have just had a really good session with our therapist Libby. She is happy to hear I began self-defence lessons and that I’m using the breathing techniques in moments of anxiety to compose myself.The monthly issue of Pure Fashion Magazine was released today and I can’t believe how incredible the front cover looks with Ace and I.‘Is that really me?’ I ask Ace in disbelief as I stare down at the magazine.‘Yes, you’re breathtaking.’ He smiles.‘You look so sexy in that jacket and with your hair like that!’ I smirk knowing this sexy beast is all mine.‘Do you like the cover?’ He asks.‘I love it.’ I open the magazine and flip to the page with our article.‘The story is perfect. It’s spot on. Do you think people will stop believing Mark, now?’‘I hope so.’ He sighs.We arrive at the penthouse to find Jack and Hailey waiting outside. Hailey runs towards me as soon as we pull up, and pulls me into a hug. She grabs the magazine from Jack and waves it in my face, beam
We have another conference meeting to answer questions for the media in the hope that they will stop gathering outside Pure Fashion Industries every morning and afternoon.The journalists erupt with questions about the upcoming wedding and the magazine we released a couple of weeks ago featuring our story.‘Is the story true? Or is it fabricated to cover up the intimate relationship you had with Mark Brightly?’ I glare at her and lean towards the microphone.‘The story is genuine, and again as we have already stated, I’ve never had an intimate relationship with Mark Brightly,’ I say. She goes to ask another question but I point to the journalist next to her.‘You sir, have a question for us?’ I ask, cutting her off. He smiles and nods.‘Have you chosen a date and venue for the wedding?’ He asks.‘No dates or venues have been decided as yet.’He asks another question.‘Mark says the story in the magazine is fabricated. What is your response to this?′‘Ace and I have told our side. It’s