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"Beneath every strong, independent woman lies a broken little girl who had to learn how to get back up and to never depend on anyone."
Shubhiyadav
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Jules

After series of persuasion from my mother to go home, I finally succumbed on the third day, especially when she claimed that I was starting to stink.

I was able to get my tested and trusted admin, Flora, to go represent me at the business meeting in Morocco even though I would have loved to see to things myself. However, I trust Flora enough to know she would do a good job of the task handed to her.

As I had earlier informed Theresa of my change in plans, (though not the reason for it) she isn't least surprised at my arrival. And as for Lambert, the joy overflowing in his heart is made evident by his prancing and licking with me being the victim of the latter.

The first thing I do immediately I enter into my room is discard my clothing and soak in the large, golden tub.

As I am highly stressed, I stay in the water longer than usual. In fact, I would have loved to stay much more longer if not for the water which has now gotten so cold I'm starting to shiver. Reluctantly, I drag myself out of the tub and reach for my towel.

Immediately I exit the bathroom, I see Lambert seated comfortably on my vanity stool, the puzzled look he always has when looking into the mirror etched on his face. I chuckle and make my way towards him.

"You want a makeover, boy?" I ask as I rub behind his left ear.

As if he could understand what I just said, he picks up my eyeliner with his teeth and dumps it into my hand.

Wow! He really does want a makeover.

"Sorry little guy. But makeover is only for girls."

He plops his butt on the vanity stool and looks as dejected as a dog can manage to be.

I laugh at my cute dog's expense. And just like that, I feel some of my stress melt away.

"Alright, little yapper. Away with the gloomy look." I pick him up and sit on the stool. "I'm gonna make you the most beautiful dog in the whole world."

******

Dressed in a cream and blue striped sweater and an old jean trouser, I take my seat on the blue loveseat in my vast living room and place Lambert beside me.

I sit down and stare blankly at the TV. The sadness back with full force.

Feeling dejected, I draw my knees up and place my head on them. I haven't even told my friends, Margot and Metisha. Since those two are busy vacationing in Hawaii, a trip I was unable to go due to my business meeting, I haven't given them much thought.

I know it sounds silly and stupid but I think that if I don't tell anyone that my dad is dying, then maybe he would stay alive a bit longer.

Nevertheless, if I had told them, would I have been sitting here right now, alone and feeling sorry for myself?

Definitely not.

And whether I like it or not, they will know eventually.

I don't even know for how long we would be able to keep it from the media. So what kind of friend would I be if my friends get to know about my father's health condition from another source?

Deciding to do the wise and right thing, I stand up to go take my cellphone which I left in the bedroom.

However, before I could take a step, I feel Lambert nudge me on the shin. I look down to see what he wants only to see the TV remote control between his teeth.

"Wanna watch some TV?" I ask rhetorically. In response he wags his tail energetically as I bend to take the remote from his mouth. His already dark eyes made more darker by the eyeliner makes me smile.

Maybe I should've added the purple lipstick. Then he would have made quite a picture.

The image this thought creates in my head makes me giggle as I switch on the flatscreen.

After changing the channel for the seventh time, I still wasn't able to find Lambert's favourite, (a dog cartoon channel) I decide to change it for the last time. He would just have to make do with whatever is being shown because I really need to make that call to my friends before I change my mind.

I was about to change the channel again but what I see on the screen freezes my finger.

Right on my screen is a woman in her mid-thirties being kissed passionately by a man. Both are dressed in business suits, the woman, in a cream business suit while the man, a black one. The man seemed to be trying to unlock the door to his suite while still tonguing the lean figure who, by all indications, is too far into the throes of passion to care about anything else.

Now, guess who the woman is. The woman is actually...

Jules Lee, the CEO of Lee's Foundation, is known for her discreteness when it comes to relationships, romantic relationship to be precise. So it comes as a mighty shock that not only is a video broadcasting her private business exposed but also that the private business, as can be seen in the foreshown video is with a well-known, well-respected married man, Jace Sanchez. Jace Sanchez, COO of Sanchez and sons, as is public knowledge, has been married to Loretta Rowland Sanchez for the past seven years. By all indications, the marriage has, so far seemed blissful and lovely. However, this video of Mr. Sanchez and Miss Lee begs to differ...

This is where I finally manage to tune out the presenter who looked as happy as a junkie on delivering the news that might most likely ruin years of friendship and trust.

For heaven knows how long, I do nothing but sit as memories of seven years ago fills my mind.

We were just thirty years old then; both me and Jace, the man who was earlier shown kissing me. I could vividly remember the night in question. We were both so drunk we didn't even care about being discrete that night.

Apart from that, it was two weeks after the incident that I came to discover that he had left his own arranged wedding which had taken place earlier that day to take me out, get us both drunk and then back to his suite to have sex.

For various reasons, I cried bitterly when I realized this:

Firstly, I had been in a relationship with Jace for only three months and had fallen in love with him.

Secondly, the woman he got married to was the daughter to my mother's friend.

And lastly but definitely not the least, I felt used and ashamed because Jace had never told me about the arranged marriage which had been planned privately and done in the same manner. Not only that, he had slept with me on the night of his wedding when he was supposed to be with his new wife!

I didn't even tell my friends about it because they never knew Jace and I were in a relationship in the first place: his idea of being discrete was to keep what was going on between us away from everyone. I had been too infatuated to read inbetween the lines.

God, I was a fool!

I ended the relationship immediately I discovered this and thought, "That chapter is closed and done. No one knew and will know I ever dated Jace Sanchez."

Well, I guess I was kidding myself because now, the whole world knows.

This is when I begin to wonder: How did the media get their hands on something that happened seven years ago?
Apart from that, who took that video and why are they releasing it after seven good years?

Unless they wanted to tarnish my image or take revenge on me, there should be no reason why they should...

Then the wheels start turning in my head. And, like a church bell, only one name rings in my head...

Ralph.

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Guess who updated...
Me!
Hahaha
Okay, don't kill me.

I AM SOOOORRRRY for taking this long to update. Been busy with.. stuff, lots of stuff

Forgive your girl. I know you love me. And I love y'all right back!

Thanks cupcakes
xo