Alessa woke up later than usual and took her time to get ready. She wore a slightly revealing pink dress, which had spaghetti straps and showed a little bit of her cleavage. She also did her makeup in the hopes that Kyle would come to breakfast today. Unfortunately, when she got there she didn't see Kyle. Only Madison and John, John looking worried. “What's the matter?” Alessa asked, taking a seat next to Madison. “Kyle isn't up yet. He is always the first one up.” “Oh, did someone try waking him up?” She asked, feeling silly for asking such an obvious question. “Why are you so dressed up? And why do you have such dark lipstick on?” Madison interjected. “It's a new color I bought. I wanted to try it.” Alesaa quickly lied. “Why are your boobs so out?” Madison continued, causing John to choke on his bite, and Alessa to fold her hands over her chest. “They are not,” Alessa yelled. “For anyone else, this is normal, for you—you might as well be naked.” Madison laughed.
Despite Kyle’s insistence that Alessa couldn't help their wedding, Madison volunteered Alessa to take Aspen for her dress fitting. “I am not going. I can't stand that woman.” Madison said as they left the PHAT office during lunch. Madison was in the process of begging Alessa. “I thought you and her had the same ideas for your weddings and you wanted to help her first?” Alessa shot back.“That was before she called you a servant!” Madison yelled. “Come to think of it, I hated it when Kyle called you that too. They must be perfect for each other. Both, arrogant!” Annoyance stirred in Alessa’s chest at hearing someone call her man arrogant. “I am not going!” Alessa retorted. “She took my dress this morning, remember?”“I am not going either. She called me an assistant!”“Oh, how dare she call you that! It's the lowest form of insult!” Alessa sarcastically said. “Ugh—fine. Neither of us will go!” Madison stomped her foot. “Screw her. She can ruin this wedding for I care.”“Don't say t
Alessa staggered back into PHAT, eyes puffy red by this point. When Madison saw Alessa walk through the door, she rushed to meet her.“What happened?”“Kyle told me to leave, so I left,” Alessa said. “Why are you crying?”“I am not,” but Alessa knew her puffy eyes and gruff voice betrayed her.“Did Aspen say something? Kyle?” at Kyle’s name, Alessa’s lips began to quiver. He had been calling her since she left, but she could not answer. She was too upset, and she wasn't sure if she had the right. “That jerk! Why is he always making you feel like this? I've had enough of this!” Madison yelled, and again Alessa didn't like someone calling Kyle a jerk.“He told you he didn't want me involved. Why did you send me?” Alesaa yelled back.“What? I didn't. You volunteered at the end there! I never forced you to go.” Madison retorted.“I don't want to talk about this anymore. I won't be helping Aspen with anything going forward.” Alessa sternly said, spilling some of her hurt onto Madison, w
Madison said nothing but walked toward her room, Alessa following behind her. Once they were inside, she turned on Alessa. “How long?” Madison simply asked.“Since John’s birthday.” Alessa honestly answered.“So when he was supposed to be finding a bride to marry, he was wasting his time with you?” Madison’s anger finally cracked. “Well, he is getting married now. You saw that kiss. He is serious about it. I am just a—” Alessa swallowed hard, just realizing her real role in Kyle’s life. “I am just a distraction.”“You know there are some articles with videos of him holding your hand and one of the workers said Kyle was there to buy you something.” Madison went back to being calm. “But he didn't. He ended up following through. Kissed her and bought her a dress. She is the one he is throwing a gala for and is going to marry.” Alessa explained. “He's been telling John he isn't sure if Aspsn is the right fit. Today after Aspen's behavior, John agrees. Which might mean, Kyle won't go t
“The Penthouse? You want to spend the week there again?” Kyle asked Alessa as she rolled out of his bed, trying to sneak out. Madison and she had come up with a plan—well Madison had. Alessa was still slightly against some of the things Madison wanted to do, but the one thing she didn't mind from Madison’s suggestions was having Alessa and Kyle hide out in the place they felt the safest. “Yeah, why not? We were there for almost a week last time. It was the best, don't you think? Plus we have a trusted person there who only blabs to James.” Alessa rolled her eyes. “James can get a wall to talk.” Kyle laughed. “You wish is my command then! Let's do it!” Alessa smiled trying not to think about what came after, she pecked Kyle on the lips and began walking away from him, but Kyle stopped her. “I should really go, I know Madison knows now and she's agreed not to tell anyone but more people can still find out if I keep going in and out of your room.'' plus Madison had also agreed to hel
There was only one night left before the gala and Alessa was determined to spend it at the penthouse, but her plans were mangled by an unknown number’s text.“Please meet Mr.Jason Merlin at Cafe Julu at noon today.” What had Madison done? So when lunch rolled around, Alessa, who worked out of the penthouse today, against her better judgment, went to Cafe Julu, where she not only found Jason sitting at their table but Madison as well.“What are you doing here?” Alessa barked at Madison. “He is not safe to be alone with!”“We are at a restaurant full of people, it will be fine.” Madison rolled her eyes. “I am all caught up on everything that went down with you two by the way. Seems like you were keeping more than one secret from me.” Madison snipped in a whisper.Alessa said nothing but took the seat furthest from Jason, just like Kyle taught her.“There is a bar some of my girls work at. I can set her up there. It’s one of my—on books establishments so no funny business there.” Jason
After another sleepless night, the day Alessa had been dreading, for more reason than one was here. She got ready in her dark purple dress that barely covered her chest or her bum and not the beautiful red dress that Kyle had gifted her. Everyone else had left for the venue and Alessa was to come later with Jason, as per Madison’s instructions. Why was Alessa still following that, she didn’t know. The sad part was, she was looking forward to having Madison out of her life after this. “What the hell are you wearing?” James hollered at Alessa from behind her, as she made her way out to get into Jason’s limousine.“Why aren’t you at the gala?” Alessa asked.“I don’t support what Kyle is doing, so I am not going to go. I am team Alessa all the way.” James raises his hands in a cheer. Alessa couldn’t help but smile, then she remembered what she was about to do. “You’ll change your mind soon James.” She softly said. “Very unlikely. Now why are you dressed like this?”“Because Jason like
The first three months at the bar went by quickly. Alessa learned from Martha, the owner, the basics of being a bartender. It didn’t seem like rocket science—at least at this bar where she was mainly pouring cheap beer or cheap whiskey. Then she got busy moving into the apartment. James thankfully used visiting his mother as an excuse and came down to help Alessa move her things in. Alessa's room was slightly bigger than her servant's room at the mansion, but it still felt foreign. It could just be because she hadn’t been able to sleep more than two or three hours a night since she got here. After all, nighttime was the only time she couldn’t keep her mind busy. During the day, she was running and moving. Working from six in the morning to ten at night. Then, taking Madison's advice she enrolled in an online school for hospitality. All of this chewed up her day, but at night, while she lay in bed, she had no choice but to relive the horrible thing she had done. No choice but to wonde