I plopped on the couch tiredly. Throwing my shoes wherever it lands. My head felt like it was splitting from two. And I needed Ibuprofen as soon as possible. I was laying on my back when a pair of eyes stared at me from behind.

"Don't ask how I got in. I have keys, remember?" I rolled my eyes at her and stood up from the couch to check what she needed.

"Do you want coffee?" she asked, rummaging through my cupboards for mugs.

"Yes please. Mugs are in the second drawer to the left," when she found what she was looking for. She set up the espresso machine on the kitchen counter. She must have probably brought the machine from her apartment.

"White Chocolate Mocha?" she asked. I nodded in reply and watched her make it.

If Aurora is into baking, Noelle makes great coffee. Noelle used to work as a part-time barista when she was in college. She worked to pay off her student loans since her mom couldn't send her and her brother to school on her own.

Both her and Aurora created the menu for The Array. Noelle for the drinks and Aurora for the pastries and desserts. Noelle would often come to the café to train new baristas whenever she has the time to do it. According to her, her "coffee concoctions need to follow a certain precise order". That is how much she thinks highly of her creations.

"You should be the one who started a café, not me," I told her while she carefully added whipped cream onto my mug and handed it to me.

"I don't have the time for it. It's enough that you have The Array to exhibit my coffee," she nodded for us to move to the couch and turned the TV on for F.R.I.E.N.D.S. It is her all-time favorite series. She saw it multiple times already and even memorized some parts of the episodes. She even once asked me to call the café, Central Perk, when we were thinking of a name for it.

"You didn't have to bring your machine in here. I have a coffee maker," I said, sipping on the coffee.

"I know. I just prefer using that instead of your outdated coffee maker," she said with her eyes fixated on the television.

"I just had coffee you know,"

"I know. I knew from the moment you left the office that you would be heading to The Array. It's where you always go when you're upset," The Array was never a secret to my close family and friends. They have always known it wasn't built for business. It was built for me.

"You need to let that out, I'd listen,"

The night went by with just me ranting it all out to Noelle. She listened to all of it and only spoke when I finished. Afterwards, we just talked. Talked about everything. How things went for us. How horrible things could be. And what we hoped the future could be.

"You bought a cake?" Noelle asked when she went to make us a second cup of coffee.

"No. It was given to me as a thank you,"

"Red Velvet, as always. Can't you have chocolate some other time? Actually, the next time you visit the café. Bring me a whole of Aurora's chocolate heaven cake!" Noelle said, bringing over a tray of the sliced cake and coffee.

"Who gave it by the way?" Noelle asked

"One of the baristas at the café. He thanked me for providing the books for her sister,"

"It's a he!" Noelle exclaimed, almost knocking the mug off the table.

"Oh, don't make this an issue. I met his sister at the café. She has second hand books that seem unreadable with its condition. I told her she could have whatever book she needs from the company. Then, he made the cake and gave it as a thank you gift,"

"It looks like sloppy work. But I guess, I just got used to cakes made by Aurora. What's his name?" It does look a little disheveled but Aurora's cake has always been a perfection. The taste doesn't seem to differ though.

"Axon Lewis. His sister is Devon Lewis,"

"He's new, right? I could come and visit him to check his barista skills and probably train him,"

"Really? I know you. You just want to see how he looks," I said, rolling my eyes and earning a nudge from her.

A few more episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S and we were dozing off after finishing one more cup of coffee and the rest of the cake. Our dinner would have been a dream. Coffee and Cake. Anyone would have thought that we'd be awake the whole night after 3 cups of coffee but Noelle made them decaffeinated. But soon enough we were crashing on my sofa and slept.

I woke up to a freshly brewed coffee in my kitchen with a note from Noelle telling me she went home to get ready for work.

Sighing, I dragged myself back to my room to get ready. It sure will be a crazy day today. My assistant scheduled a press conference this morning. What an amazing way to start my day. Note the sarcasm.

"What to wear in front of those life sucking demons?" I said rummaging in my closet for something decent to wear. I don't want to give the media an idea to make another issue about me by writing about the way I dress.

"Aneara! Are you awake?" Noelle called from downstairs. I'm still trying to get used to her habit of coming into my apartment uninvited.

"Upstairs," I yelled and soon clicking of heels were heard from the stairs and into the hallway to my bedroom.

"Wear the navy-blue dress. It fits you," Noelle came in seeing me choose between two dresses and choose for me before pushing me into the shower.

My getting ready to work morning involved a lot of Noelle pushing me to wear and do things because according to her I move too slowly. But how would you have the energy to face those fame hungry monsters waiting for me at the conference? I'm just not in the mood to debate again after yesterday's argument with my parents. Whom I believe is coming to clear the issue with me since it does involve them too.

The drive to the hotel where the conference is to be held is the longest drive I've been on. It was simply agonizing to come to a place where you'd be judged from head to toe and how you do things. As long as the media is around, I really would never find peace.

By the time Noelle and I reached the venue, I was blinded by the constant flashing of cameras and microphones held close to my face. Both my parents, Mindy, Loren, and my PR Team were already present waiting for me to come up and start the conference. I even told Mindy to arrange a team of security just for when things get too aggressive in the process.

"The conference is about to start. Before any other questions, Ms. Murray would like to clarify the main issue as to why this conference is arranged," one of my PR said before all attention was averted to me.

"It has come to our attention about a revolving scandal of me and a man who was referred to as my "sugar daddy". I would like to clarify that all assets and success from The Book Hollow all came from my consistent hard work through the years. I built The Book Hollow from scratch and no man has helped me to achieve it all. The man involved in this scandal is my father, Alfred Murray. My parents are not often seen by the public as per my request to shield them from the prying eyes of the media. In the 10 years I have lived in San Francisco, this is the first time they came into the city to visit me. I hope this will put this issue to an end. Thank you,"

I placed the microphone down and I could see hands rising in the air. Sighing deeply, I prepared myself for the questions I'm about to be bombarded with. One of my PRs pointed to one of the reporters and he didn't waste time reaching for the microphone set in front.

"Ms. Murray, is it true that The Book Hollow is bound to open its 100th branch within this year?" Thank goodness for a work-related question. The conference may have been arranged because of the scandalous news but the Public Relations Team took it as a way to promote the company as well as the upcoming grand opening of the store.

"Yes, the rumors are true. If things go smoothly as we expect it to. The branch is guaranteed to open next month," once satisfied the reporter went back to his seat. A few more questions and I was gladly answering each of them since all questions pertain to my company.

We were onto the last reporter and I must say, it was definitely not the least question.

"Ms. Murray, I guess I'm not the only person curious but is there anyone special in your life today? Specifically, in your dating life," I took a sharp breath and calmed myself before answering the question. It's always these kinds of questions that trigger me the most.

With a forced smile I answered as decently as I could.

"I don't have anyone special at the moment. And I would be very glad if you respect my decision to never talk about it in public ever again. I am a businesswoman. Question me anything about my company or my success in my field of work. I would gladly answer each and every one of them. But I am not a celebrity nor a public figure. My life outside work is private and I intend to keep it that way. So please stop making any unnecessary issues or scandals to make me open my private life more to the public," and with that I stood from my chair and whispered to Noelle to handle everything else.

I kissed my parent's goodbye and I exited the venue with Mindy and a few of my security team. It wasn't easy to leave the place as reporters seemed to be unsatisfied with everything they heard of me today. I guess, there wasn't as much gossip as they wanted to. People care more about gossip than actual news these days and I never really understood why that entertains them more.

I was in my company car when Mindy asked where we were heading and I could think of only one place.

"The Array please," with a nod my driver drove off to the café. I badly need my peace and I think that is the only place I could find it.