It had been almost a month since the day Emery and Diamond became friends, and it had been the best time ever for them both. Emery was happier and Diamond was more care-free. Their day at the spa had solidified everything. They decided to do everything teenage BFFs would do and have grown close since. They were inseparable, even with Emery's complicated work schedule.

Xavier couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his secretary so happy, and all he knew was that it was all thanks to this Diamond woman. He'd heard so much about the woman, he felt as if he knew who she was.

Emery had enjoyed telling him that the woman had no idea who he was and had no interest in finding out, and while he would never admit it to her, it bothered him to no end. He'd never had a woman not be interested in him, let alone seeing him.

Unlike her, he'd memorised her down to detail. He'd seen a whole lot of photos of her and Emery, and he was captivated. She's insanely beautiful and she'd managed to get a reaction out of him the moment he lay his eyes on the first picture he saw of her.

He was mesmerized by her somewhat exotic beauty. He wanted to desperately meet her, but the desperation about the situation was what stopped him. He couldn't feel this way about a woman he didn't know, and who had absolutely no intentions of knowing him either.

The holiday season was in full swing as it was a few days before Christmas. His mother was being her spirited holiday self as she organized the ball, as well as Christmas lunch. Since his birthday is on Christmas Day, it's always a double feast in the Kingston household, being his mother's house.

The whole family comes around, his cousins and relatives from his mother's side included. It's a big affair, one that he honestly wasn't looking forward to.

Things at Kingston Empires were going smoothly and according to plan. He'd secured three more deals, which concluded a record breaking sixteen deals for the year. His company was officially number one on the stocks and he couldn't be more proud.

In the past month, he'd also not gone on any dates or entertained the female species. Ever since his sister and mother's opinions, he's found it hard not to be paranoid about the females clawing him for his possessions. He'd already gone through the vilest of snakes, and he didn't see himself entertaining any more.

He just couldn't see himself settling down any time soon.

Emery's head popped into his office. "Xav, Hamish Wellington is here to see you."

That's another thing he'd changed about their work relationship. He insisted he call her informally, and she didn't have a problem with it, on condition he did the same.

He frowned. "I thought he was coming in next week."

Emery shrugged. "That's what your diary says, but the man is persistent."

"Send him through," Xavier said, trying to mask his irritation. Emery nodded and walked out towards the old man.

"Sir, Mr Kingston has agreed to see you," she said politely.

"Thank you young lady! If things don't work out for you here, send your resume to me and I will personally employ you myself," Hamish said with a smile, making Emery smile.

Hamish Wellington had dealt with many secretaries and PA's in his life, but he'd never met any as polite, kind hearted and patient as Emery. Whereas many of them would've rather fought with him and had him thrown out of the building, she dealt with him professionally before taking the situation to her boss. He couldn't have been more impressed.

Emery decided to call Diamond since she had a few minutes to spare. It was 15:39 on a Friday afternoon.

"I was just about to call you," her best friend's dejected voice reached her ears.

"You sound down. What's wrong?" Emery asked.

"I just got a letter from the bank. They're going to repossess my stuff. On top of that, the company just declared bankruptcy, which means I'm out of a job. Tuesday is my last day," Diamond explained. Emery instantly felt bad.

"Dee, you know we can all help you if you accept our help," Emery pointed out. She knew that her best friend didn't want any help and she'd only found out the reason a week ago.

"You know why I don't want help Ree," Diamond argued.

Emery sighed. "I know! I'm just worried about you."

Diamond laughed a little. "I'm worried about myself."

"Did you tell the guys?" Emery asked. She'd grown close to everyone else too. Gavin is her closest friend after Diamond.

"Their reactions will be worse, so I'll tell them on Wednesday," Diamond replied.

"So what now?" Emery couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know honestly, but I just want to forget about it this weekend," Diamond admitted.

"We can go away if you want?" Emery suggested.

"Anything," Diamond responded.

"Ok, I'll pick you up at five. We'll leave tonight and come back Sunday night," Emery said.

"Looking forward to whatever you have planned," Diamond said before hanging up.

Emery waited for the meeting between Xavier and Hamish to end. It took a whole thirty minutes, which shocked her since it was short in her books. Both men looked pleased as they shook hands.

"Treat her well Kingston! She's a keeper and someone might steal her if you're not careful," Hamish said in reference to Emery.

Xavier smirked. "She's my best asset. She's going nowhere."

"It was lovely meeting you Miss Applegate," Hamish said to her.

"The pleasure is mine Mr Wellington," Emery replied with a blush before the old man departed.

"Are you ok?" Xavier asked her. He turned to walk back into his office as she followed behind.

"You're going to have to do without me for the weekend, starting now," she replied.

"Why? What's going on?" he asked worriedly, though a big part of him already knew that whatever was going on had to do with a certain Latina woman.

"Diamond just lost her job and she's got the bank on her back. Her last day is on Tuesday, and she just wants to forget everything for the weekend so I'm taking her away," she explained.

Xavier couldn't understand the strange stirring that happened in him at the new information. He hated that Diamond was going through this by herself. Emery had already told him about her unwillingness to receive any kind of help from anyone. He couldn't understand it, and neither could he understand why it bothered him so much.

"I assume she's still refusing any help," he said knowingly.

Emery frowned at him. "It's like you know her."

"You'd be surprised how much I know about her just from you. You don't realize just how talkative you are, especially when it comes to her," he chuckled, making her blush.

"I can't help it! She's an amazing person who helped me turn my life around in under a month. I just wish her life could change for the better already," she admitted sadly.

That was the first time she'd spoken to Xavier about Diamond in such a sad manner, unknowingly driving Xavier insane. He couldn't bear the thought that Diamond was miserable in any kind of way, or that her life wasn't fine.

Emery watched him curiously and felt a small smile grace her face. Xavier may not know it yet, but he'd slowly started to fall for the woman he'd never met before. She knew the look in his eyes all too well- he was having an internal battle.

"Are you ok?" she asked him, snapping him out of thought.

He scowled. "Huh?"

"She'll be fine you know," she smiled knowingly.

His frowned deeper. "Who? Diamond?"

"Yes! Don't worry so much about her. I'll see you on Monday," she replied before walking out of his office.

Xavier was speechless as he leaned back in his office chair. His secretary had a knack for leaving him in that state after stating a truth he didn't know was obvious. He was worried about her best friend, even if he didn't know her- well physically that is, because in reality, he knew her.

He knew that her favourite all-round colour is blue, but when it came to clothing, its black and white. He knew that she loves Thai food and is allergic to nuts. He knew that her favourite place to hang out is 'Love Pink Drinks', the gay club on the other side of town.

He knew that she didn't like getting help from anyone. He knew that she loves shopping, but never has the money to splurge like the women on TV. He knew that she loves wearing lacy underwear because it makes her feel sexy.

He knew that her ideal honeymoon destination would be Tahiti. He knew that she loves baking cakes and cupcakes, and had even tasted them (they were heavenly). He knew that her favourite were chocolate chip cupcakes with chocolate cream icing. He even knew that her favourite movie of all time was Titanic because she wished she had a love like that.

He knew all that, and a whole lot more.

Sitting on his office chair, he realized that not only had his secretary told him a whole lot than he'd realized, but that he'd actually paid attention, consciously or not. He knew more about the Latina woman than perhaps his own mother and sister, the two women he'd grown up with.

Hell, he knew more about her than his secretary.

"If only I had a camera for the look on your face," a voice brought him out of thought.

He narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Would it honestly hurt you to not be hostile towards me?" Everett asked, plopping himself in the chair opposite Xavier.

"It would kill me," Xavier said, deadpan.

Everett rolled his eyes. "Feeling the love man."

"What do you want Holmes?" Xavier asked in a bored tone.

"Where's the beautiful Miss Applegate?" Everett asked.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "What do you want with her?"

Everett chuckled. "Nothing dude! I just realized that her desk is cleared, meaning she either didn't come in or she already left, which would be surprising considering how much you have her on lockdown."

"I don't have her on lockdown," Xavier denied.

"Yeah you do! That poor woman probably doesn't have a life because of you. She has to be the secretary here, as well as your PA. She literally answers your every call and does everything you ask of her, no matter the time of day, or day of week for that matter," Everett pointed out.

Xavier sat there with a scowl on his face. How had he even missed that? Besides himself, Emery really was the hardest working person at Kingston Empires. She did answer to his every beck and call, and she never once complained.

What he didn't understand was why she seemed to enjoy her job. She was always happy to do anything that was required of her. He only knew this because he'd seen an upset Emery before, and an upset Emery never comes to work.

"I didn't even realize," Xavier admitted.

Everett shook his head with a smile. "The strange thing is that she enjoys her job."

He admired the woman a lot.

Xavier sighed. "That's the part I don't understand. I mean, now I sound like a horrible monster, and yet she's never once complained."

"It's because you don't mistreat her. You pay her more than any receptionist in the country I'm sure, and your relationship with her is different than the rest of your workers. Everyone knows she's your favourite," Everett commented.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Xavier questioned.

"Neither! It's just the way you both work with each other. Only the two of you understand the relationship you have," Everett replied. Xavier nodded in understanding.

"So, where is she?" Everett asked again.

"She left not too long ago. She's taking her best friend away for the weekend to cheer her up. She just lost her job and the bank is on her back," Xavier informed with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"And that?" Everett questioned. He detected the extra emotion behind the statement.

"What?" Xavier asked.

Everett narrowed his eyes. "That sigh firstly, and the action that went with it. What was that about?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Xavier lied.

"Bullshit! Are you in love with Emery's best friend? I sure as hell know that you don't feel anything for Emery," Everett bluntly asked.

Xavier rolled his eyes. "I can't be in love with someone I don't know dumbass."

"You don't know her?" Everett asked disbelievingly.

"I've never met her in my life!" Xavier said, a little exasperated. He didn't like being put on the spot.

"Well maybe you should make the effort to. Send her a bunch of white roses to apologize for her losing her job," Everett cunningly played.

"She prefers pink roses," Xavier accidentally blurted. Everett knew he had him, and Xavier knew it too.

Everett smirked. "I thought you didn't know her."

"I've honestly never met the woman, but with the way Emery goes on about her, I know more about her than my own mother, sister and Emery combined," Xavier said in frustration. Everett couldn't stop himself from laughing.

"Hold on, let me get this straight! You've slowly but surely fallen in love with a woman you've never met in your life, who happens to be your secretary's best friend?" Everett asked breathlessly.

Xavier rolled his eyes. "You sure are enjoying yourself."

Everett sighed, wiping away his tears. "I have never seen you like this before, not even with you know who. Excuse me for wanting to bask in the moment."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Yeah man! There's something that's there now, that was missing then," Everett replied, confusing Xavier even more.

"Is it possible?" Xavier mumbled.

"That you've fallen for a woman you've never met? Perhaps," Everett said as he nodded.

In all honesty, Everett couldn't have been happier for his friend. Whether Xavier realized it or not, Everett was his best friend. They'd grown up together since they were babies, with their mothers being best friends. They even went to the same schools up until their university days.

They helped each other build their careers, and now they were both at the top of their game. Everett had also seen him through the one event that completely changed him. From what he was hearing, he was hoping that whoever this woman was would ultimately be the key to getting the old Xavier back.

"You still haven't told me what it is you're doing here," Xavier pointed out.

"Oh, I don't even remember, but it wasn't important. I was coming to check in on you anyway. I'm spending the weekend at a resort just outside of town and I was wondering if you wanted to come and unwind before everything gets hectic next week," Everett offered.

Xavier thought about Everett's proposal and was actually eager to go. He wasn't going to get anything done without Emery there, or the presence of a certain blue-eyed woman in his mind. He could definitely use the break, especially since he knew that the Christmas week would definitely bring with it a busy schedule.

"Sure! When are you leaving?" Xavier asked.

"Oh come on man! You need the break and- wait what? Did you just agree?" Everett asked incredulously.

"Yeah, why not! Everything is going just fine here and next week will be tiring, so let's go," Xavier said, shutting off his laptop.

Everett chuckled. "I don't believe it! I think even I want to meet this woman. What's her name?"

Xavier smiled, knowing that it would be futile to lie. "Diamond Carmichael."

"She even makes you smile just saying her name. Geez man," Everett teased.

Xavier didn't offer any response but instead called Rowland to come around. His driver drove him everywhere, except for days when he didn't want to be driven around. Those are the days when he takes one of his sports cars.

Rowland came around with the black Rolls Royce Phantom. Even Everett was envious of the car, but he still loved his Aston Martin more. The two parted ways, agreeing to meet back at Xavier's apartment for departure.

Emery pulled up to Diamond's apartment building if you could even call it that. She'd gone home to pack her own bag before fetching her friend. Diamond was already waiting outside with her travel bag.

Emery had given her a rundown of what to pack, but she had no clue where they were headed. She put her bag in the trunk of Emery's car before going into the passenger seat of the luxury car.

"So, where are we going?" Diamond asked her.

"Some resort outside town. How are you feeling?" Emery asked.

Diamond shrugged. "Eh, I told you that life just doesn't want me in it, so this is nothing new."

Emery was heartbroken for her but managed to smile. "Well, we're going to forget all about that this weekend ok?"

"Bring on the fun," Diamond cheered.

They spent the rest of the way singing along to the songs on the radio. They reached the resort at around eight and got booked in. They got dressed up for dinner and went down to the restaurant.

There were many eyes on them from the male population, but they didn't pay them any mind. Emery asked the waiter where the best place for the night would be, and he suggested they go to the masquerade party happening in the resort's club.

"I love dancing!" Diamond squealed as they purchased their masks from the front desk.

Emery giggled as they put them on. "I know chica! You taught me remember?"

They were both wearing black skin tight club dresses, with Emery wearing black heels, while Diamond wore silver heels. Both of them had the wild hair with silver jewellery and smoky eyes. They looked dressed to kill. Their masks matched their dresses and again the eyes were on them as they headed to the club.

Everett and Xavier arrived at the resort late, having stopped for dinner on the way. Rowland handed over their luggage while the two men went in to get booked. As expected, they booked the most expensive rooms. The eyes of the female population were on them and they knew it.

Both dressed in all black, they were definitely a sight for sore eyes.

"It's too early to call it a night, so what should we do?" Xavier asked.

"You could always go to the masquerade party currently happening in the club?" the receptionist suggested.

Having no better idea, they agreed. They bought their masks and headed to the club. Upon entry, they were immediately greeted by the loud music. It was pretty packed and they paid for the VIP area almost immediately. The VIP area was upstairs, offering a full view of the club and everyone below, as well as more space to hear one another. A waitress came and took their orders.

Xavier laughed. "I don't think I can remember the last time I was in a club."

"That makes two of us bud! Club scenes lately are just hectic," Everett replied as they eyed the dance floor.

The lights were bouncing around the club as the vibrations shook the place. The whole place was pretty dimmed, more than usual, but that was to keep the mystery of the masquerade. People really couldn't see each other's faces, not even their eyes- only silhouettes.

Their drinks came and they sat there discussing different things, until something caught Xavier's eyes. The song had just changed to Rihanna's Rude Boy and he watched as two figures grinded on each other. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was two women. Everett followed his line of vision and the two of them sat entranced.

The women moved apart but continued to dance. They'd gathered a great amount of attention on them, but none of the guys seemed to be making any moves. Both women had dark hair, and you could only tell them apart from their shoes. Xavier's eyes were trained on the one with the silver shoes, while Everett's were trained on the one with the black.

Xavier was hypnotized as he watched her hips sway. For the first time in weeks, his mind was clear of everything, Diamond included. All he was focused on was the woman whose body had his reacting in a way it had never.

Everett must've been going through the same thing with the woman he was watching, because before they both knew what they were doing, they were on the dance floor.

The song changed to Buttons by The Pussycat Dolls when Diamond felt a pair of hands land on her waist. While her first reaction should've been to jump out of fright, she was instead met by a jolt of something she'd never felt before. Her body was humming with a high current of electricity as she was pulled into a hard chest.

She let loose and started grinding on the person holding her captive. She noticed that Emery was in a similar position too. For the first time in her life, being held by a man, besides her friends, didn't scare her. If anything, she had never felt any safer, which she couldn't understand.

She made the move to turn in his arms and was breathless when she felt the sturdy built beneath her hands. Her libido spiked for the first time in her life, and she was turned on. His arms went around her fully as she was engulfed by his manly smell. She'd worked in the corporate world long enough to know that he was wearing expensive cologne, and that he was most probably filthy rich.

In that moment though, she couldn't have cared less. All she knew was that she loved being in this man's arms, even if it was just for this dance. She and Emery had agreed that they would call it a night after this. She was caught off-guard by her own moan as a tongue caressed her neck.

Where the hell did that come from?

She wound her hands around his neck as he continued his assault on her neck, peppering kisses all over. Over his shoulder, she watched Emery making out with the guy that had approached her, and she pegged it down to the both of them having had a little too much to drink. What she didn't expect was her own desire to kiss the man whose hold she was in.

She was sure that she'd died and gone to heaven when their tongues met. She'd never felt anything like it before. Her hands were locked in his hair and his one hand went to squeeze her butt, making her moan.

For the first time since walking into the club, she was grateful for the loud music that was masking her shameful sounds of pleasure. She thought she would convulse from how good it felt.

She pulled away breathlessly to see her best friend doing the same. Without thinking twice about it, they grabbed each other's hands and dashed out of there. They would never know how they made it running with heels, but they did.

Thanks to smart thinking, they ran away from the resort and into the streets, knowing that the guys would probably look for them in the resort. They didn't stop running until they reached a nearby boutique. They bought new outfits and got rid of the clothes they'd had on. From there they headed to a twenty four hour cafe.

Emery giggled. "That was the craziest thing I've ever done."

Diamond's fingers skimmed her bottom lip. "That makes both of us, but Ree, that kiss..."

"I know exactly what you mean woman," Emery said just as dreamily.

"We can't stay there," Diamond pointed out.

"I know! We'll just chill here and then we'll get our stuff when the sun comes up. There's another resort a few minutes from here," Emery replied.

Xavier and Everett cursed under the breaths as they both stood, running their hands through their hair. They couldn't believe that they'd managed to lose the duo. They were both still high off of the kisses they'd just received.

"How the hell are we even going to find out who they were?" Everett murmured.

"I don't know!" Xavier said frustratingly.

"I've never been kissed like that Xav," Everett confessed.

Xavier sighed, patting Everett's back. "That makes both of us bud."

Everett chuckled lightly. "We're eternally screwed if we don't find them."

Xavier joined him. "We're already screwed."

"What about Diamond?" Everett asked his friend curiously.

"I don't know man," Xavier said honestly. Everett didn't question him further as they decided to call it a night.

The girls fetched their things as soon as the sun came up, and they enjoyed the rest of their weekend at the other resort. The guys spent it looking for the mysterious girls but didn't find them as their weekend came to an end. They were both bothered as they silently made their way home.

Diamond hugged her best friend. "Thank you for an awesome weekend Ree!"

"Thank you to you too! I don't remember the last time I had that much fun," Emery admitted.

They called it a night and promised to meet each other on Tuesday since they didn't think they would have time the next day. Emery woke up feeling relaxed on Monday, and it was evident in her mood.

Everyone at Kingston Empires could feel the happiness radiating off of her, which is why she frowned when a scowling Xander walked into the building, walking completely past her.

She tapped his shoulder once they were in his office. "Excuse you!"

He shook his head. "Huh? Oh hi!"

"What's up?" she asked.

"Nothing! I just had a crazy weekend. What's with the extra happiness?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at her.

"I had a fantastic weekend. Diamond did too in case you're wondering," she jabbed. He narrowed his eyes at her playfully.

He smiled. "I wasn't, but that's great to know."

It really was.

"Anyway, stop being grumpy! You have a busy day ahead, so do try and be positive about it," she scolded.

"Whatever you say Miss Applegate," he said as he smirked, knowing it bothered her.

She scrunched her nose. "Screw you."

She left his office, his laughter trailing after her.

The day didn't offer much for any of them, but Tuesday had very different plans for them. It was the day of the ball, the 24th of December 2013. Most of the workers at Kingston Empires were already gone for the holidays, but Emery and Xavier were slaving away. Emery was trying to get the printer to work since it had a paper jam. She was bent over, which is the scene Everett walked into.

He twitched and somehow knew that he had to calm his racing thoughts by testing out his theory. Emery felt arms snake around her waist as she got up and she jumped a little. As soon as she was engulfed by the scent, her heart thundered against her chest.

She was spun around and kissed as vigorously as she'd been at the club. When they pulled away, they were both breathless.

"I knew it was you," he whispered.

The both of them had always had an indescribable chemistry between them, but each thought nothing of it, until they first kissed. They both spent the weekend thinking about that kiss, both somewhat knowing who the other had been, even with their masks. This second kiss had only confirmed that.

"Wait, if it's you, then that means Xav got with..." he trailed off.

"Diamond!" she gasped. She hadn't even thought about the possibility, especially since she didn't know that her boss had visited the resort.

Everett chuckled, his arms still around her. "Oh this is priceless!"

She frowned. "Wait, you know?"

"That he's in love with a woman he's never met? Yes, yes I know," he replied.

"I thought I was the only one who saw that," she said.

He chuckled. "He spent the whole weekend confused about whether to like Diamond or the woman he kissed."

Emery giggled. "Only to find they're one in the same."

"You do know what we have to do right?" he said slyly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Do enlighten me."

"Well firstly you have to have dinner with me tonight, and then we have to get the two of them together," he explained his plan.

She sighed. "I can't have dinner with you. Diamond needs me tonight."

He pouted. "Please."

She couldn't resist the pout if she tried.

"Fine, but not the whole night! My best friend really needs me so we'll make it an early dinner," she offered.

"Perfect! Now how are we going to get them together?" he asked.

"Firstly, let go of me, and then I can think straight," she said.

"Aaaaw, but I like you where you are," he whined.

"Rett, I'm serious!" she scolded, laughing.

"Ok fine!" he mumbled, letting her go.

"Xavier can't know about us, at least not yet, so you have to act like you're still as confused as he is about this weekend," she instructed.

"Woman, you're killing me here," he groaned.

She shrugged. "All good things in time."

"Fine! What about the two love birds?" he asked.

"Technically only one of them is the love bird since she couldn't be bothered to take an interest in him. Hell, I don't even know if we'll be able to get them together in the first place. She's very closed off, and she has some problem with people who have money- well not so much people with money, but people who want to help her with her situations. We both know that Xavier will want to do exactly that, and quite frankly, she'll want nothing to do with him," Emery rambled.

Everett finally understood what his best friend was talking about, and yet he found it cute.

"Jesus woman, you can talk," he teased.

She smacked his arm, blushing. "Hey!"

"It's adorable," he said before he kissed her nose. She didn't think she could blush anymore.

She sighed. "What are we going to do?"

He smiled, hugging her. "We'll figure it out later. Don't worry yourself about it."

After one last kiss from him, she went about her day, anxious about her date, and worried about her best friend.