chapter 6

JACQUELINE

I didn't know why I was wishing so desperately for my mailbox to be empty this week. And although I knew for sure that I had mail, I still hoped for some kind of supernatural power to whisk them away. As I turned the key in the lock and pulled the mailbox open, I died a little inside at the sight of a pile of new mail, all compiled with the ones from last week. Groaning, I piled them up in my hand and unlocked the door to my apartment.

It had been such a long day at work, mostly because I had decided to take a double shift. I was beginning to run low on cash so I needed to make some more. At this point, I couldn't even afford grocery anymore. And then there was dad's medical bills as well. I sighed heavily at the thought. Could my life get any more depressing than this? I think not.

After I had undressed and showered, I proceeded to the kitchen. Of course I knew there wasn't anything special in the fridge, but I was hoping for a miracle, again. Unsurprisingly, the only thing in my refrigerator was a banana, some uncooked pasta, and some milk. There wasn't much I could do with that anyway. Tying my hair into a bun, I picked up the banana and began to peel it.

When I was seated and settled, I began to go through the bills, my heart sank deeper and deeper. We owed nearly two years rent, electricity bills, just bills upon bills. I rubbed my forehead, thinking of what to do. Ever since dad fell sick, I had been trying my best to manage everything. Two jobs, bills that I could hardly keep up with, coupled with my online courses. Since I could not go to college, I had decided to take some free online courses. But I'd been so caught up in work and dad's health that I barely had time for it.

I packed up the bills and stuffed them in a bottom drawer, then I returned to the couch, my stomach rumbling. I was beginning to doze off when I heard my doorbell ring. I wasn't expecting anyone so it came as a surprise. As I swung the door open, I grinned widely at the sight of my best friends.

"Woah, I wasn't expecting you guys today. Nice to see you!" I said as I locked the door behind them. "Look..um, about the other day, I'm really sorry for—"

"Jacqueline Williams, you are a fucking legend!" Natalie cut me off, bowing dramatically. "Teach me thy ways, mistress!"

I burst into laughter although I was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"The coffee shop, duh," Chloe said, gripping my arm as she threw her head back and laughed. "I want to hear ALL the details. Don't you dare leave anything out. What did his lips taste like? And those muscles?" She paused, moaning as she twirled around in circles.

"Jackie!" Nat nudged me. "Spill. Now. It's not everyday you get to kiss The Enzo Hernandez. You must feel like a changed woman, don't you?" She winked.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "Who?" I knew they were talking about the kiss at the café, but I had never heard that name in my life.

Natalie and Chloe gaped at me as though I had just grown an extra head. "Enzo Hernandez. Hot, dashing multibillionaire? They own Maxine Enterprises." When the confusion still didn't leave my face, Natalie clapped a hand over her mouth. "Have you been living under a rock?!"

"What? So he's like a celebrity?" And Maxine Enterprises sounded very familiar. Wait…my eyes widened. That was the company that owned hotels all around the city. Not just hotels, they owned shopping malls, bars, clubs. My jaw dropped open as everything began to piece itself together. And it was then I realized what my friends were saying.

"Y-you're trying to tell me that…that I kissed the heir of a fucking multibillionaire company?!" I swallowed hard.

"Yes, babe. Exactly. Good, you're catching on," Chloe laughed. "That's great, right?"

"Great?!" I all but yelled. "He's obviously an influential person. Oh my god, what if he decides to press charges? What the fuck was I thinking?" I paced around the room, shaking my head. Then I turned back to Nat and Chloe who were staring wordlessly at me.

"B-but he hasn't said or done anything till now. It's been a few days already. He has probably forgotten about it by now, right?"

Chloe scratched the back of her neck, moving past me and going to rest on the couch.

"Right?" I asked again, louder this time.

Natalie sighed, coming round to place an arm on my shoulder. "It's too late for that now, babes. But I don't get why you're freaking out so much. That man is sex on legs. And from the videos I've been seeing, you kissed the shit out of him," She snickered.

My heart fell. "Videos? What? How?"

"Have you been to Gossip Mill in the last few days?" Chloe asked. She had opened up a page on my laptop and she was handing it over to me.

"No, why?" Gossip Mill was the biggest entertainment blog in the country. The latest, juiciest celebrity gossip always found its way there. I clicked on the recent news, and as the pictures opened, I nearly dropped my laptop.

Fuck.

Pictures of me and the man from the coffee shop kissing were splayed all over the website. The pictures had been taken from different angles. Pictures of me leaving the shop were there too. And then I began to read the headlines. Somehow, they got worse as I progressed.

"Billionaire Enzo Hernandez at a café date with mystery girlfriend?!" I read aloud in surprise. "Where the hell did they get that idea?" I turned to my friends. "Why do these people think I have anything to do with him?"

Natalie chuckled. "He's a celebrity, babe. Wherever he goes, the paparazzi goes. Enzo has never been spotted with any woman on camera. He keeps his personal life very private. So, seeing him in a heated kiss with an unknown woman would obviously blow up the media."

"Fuck my life," I facepalmed.

My friends broke into a round of laughter. They both disappeared into the bedroom, taking off their shoes. "Come on, come tell us all the juicy details. We're both spending the night so we have time. And oh, we brought food!"

"I'll be right there!" I yelled back. Sighing, I turned back to my laptop. A picture of Enzo Hernandez was hanging at the corner of the screen. A shiver ran through me at the sight of those electric blue eyes. It almost felt like he could see right through me. The memory of the kiss still lingered on and all of a sudden, a lump formed in my throat.

I quickly shut the laptop. What the hell had I gotten myself into?