Naomi

I can't believe I did it.

After signing the contract which legally bound Julian and I together for a year, he went ahead to make good on his promise.

I received a call the next day from Brian, stating that the company was no longer in crisis.

Some anonymous person donated a large sum of money to keep us afloat for the next couple of months while we sorted out the mess that Rose had landed us in.

Since I already knew all about it, I simply pretended to be surprised but as soon as I hung up the phone, I fell back into bed, feeling dirty and unclean… like I had just sold my soul to the devil.

Rolling over in bed, I hugged my pillow as I thought back to the conversation we had yesterday.

Julian wanted something, proof of what we had just done aside from a legally binding contract, but I firmly put my foot down.

Due to how horrible my parent's marriage was, I made a vow to choose the best partner and marry once.

Besides, there's no way I would pull my family and the media into this farce of a relationship.

Julian didn't completely agree but he could eat shit for all I cared.

Rolling up the covers above my head, I snuggled into my pillow determined to sleep and take my mind off everything… even though it's only temporary.

Earlier, I had called in sick, so I had a day off work to process what had just happened and brace myself against the circus show that my life was about to become.

Unfortunately, I didn't have that luxury.

Less than two minutes into my rest, my phone buzzed against my thigh, interrupting the little peace I'd been able to summon up.

I closed my eyes, intent on ignoring whoever it was, but it just kept ringing.

With an annoyed huff, I threw back the covers, reaching for my phone. “What?” I grunted into the speaker.

“Looks like I was right,” Celeste drawled. “You're holed up in your room, avoiding the world.”

I propped my back up against the headboard. “You know me so well.”

“Of course, I do… you're my best friend.” She said matter-of-factly. “Which is why I can't let you sit in that big house by yourself, driving yourself crazy with all sorts of thoughts.”

“If you think I'm stepping out of this house, then you don't know me so well.” I joked, closing my eyes.

“Come on, Mimi.” She whined. “It would be good for you to leave the house.”

As she spoke, I heard cars honking in the background. “Where are you? It sounds busy.”

“Yeah, I'm on my way to have a quick lunch with a client.” She said with an annoyed grunt. “The damn man insists on meeting with me before signing off on the project.”

“Sounds like an important client if you for you to leave your precious office.” I chuckled, getting up from the bed to stand at the window.

“Unfortunately, he is, but enough about me. Why don't you head over to my house?” She suggested. “I'll be done in an hour or so and then we can meet up for brunch. I've hired a new chef and he makes some mean ls…”

The offer to down delicious cocktails already caught my interest. “Okay, then.”

Celeste laughed. “Fine, just don't start happy hour without me. I'll be back soon.”

It took me about roughly thirty minutes before I could pull myself together to have a shower and get dressed.

Her house was only ten minutes and I got there in record time.

“Hello, Miss Sinclair. Welcome.” Her butler, Marcus welcomed me in warmly. “Is there anything I get for you?”

“Nah, I'm fine,” I tell him, handing over my coat. “I'll just wait around until she's back.”

Marcus is quite familiar, so he doesn't bat an eye as I strolled through the house, settling in the living room.

I grabbed a couple of chocolate bars from the fridge, munching on them, until my hair snagged on a nail on the couch.

“Dammit!” I cursed, tugging on the strand. “I thought I told her to fix this damn chair.”

Eventually, I had to pull my hair out.

Frustrated, I went up the stairs to her bedroom, searching for some hair ties.

I'd left mine at home, not expecting I'd need it.

Spotting Marcus on my way to the bedroom, I informed him. “In case Celeste gets back, tell her I'm in her bedroom.”

Her bedroom was the third room to the right and as soon as the door swings inward, I'm transported to a fairy tale princess bedroom.

The walls and furniture are all pink, with a mild sprinkling of white and beige to lessen the shocking color.

I remember teasing Celeste about her choice of style and that memory brings a smile to my face.

Heading for her vanity mirror, I searched the table for a hair tie.

There was none.

Next, I checked the drawers.

I found nothing of importance in any of them.

Sighing in defeat, I straightened, placing my hand on the nightstand.

Unfortunately, I moved too fast and knocked over her digital clock as well as some files.

“Shit, shit, shit!” I cursed, dropping to my knees to clean up the mess.

While picking up the file, one in particular catches my eye.

Or should I say the headline?

Curious, I scanned its contents even though a part of me knew not to invade people's privacy, my eyes widening with every detail I consumed.

The document outlines a deal between Celeste and Julian's family, offering payment for 'damage control's

The shocking thing is, Julian's name wasn't on the paper...

His grandfather was.

I froze, the shock paralyzing my limbs as several questions flew through my mind.

First of all, why was Celeste accepting payment from Julian's grandfather?

Also, what damage were they trying to cover up, and why would she keep this a secret from me?

While my brain was churning through these questions, I heard the front door click.

Celeste's voice floated in, casual and jovial. "Naomi? I'm back."

Quickly, I shoved the documents together, my heart pounding as I went to place them back on the desk, my heart pounding.

During my haste, my eyes snagged on a handwritten note at the bottom of the document:

'Once the contract has been signed, make sure Naomi never finds out the truth'.