Chapter 3

Zendaya's POV

My body ached badly as I attempted to stand up from the floor. My legs were cramped together, restricting blood flow. Looking around I realized it was morning; I must have slept off on the floor, while crying last night.

Standing up, it felt hazy and my head ached badly. And I didn't even take any alcohol, but it feels like I am having a hangover. Sighing, I headed to the bathroom. Taking a long look at myself in the mirror, I let out a resigned sigh; I looked like a lost cause.

My hair sprouted out like an unwanted weed, dry mascara stuck to my face making me look like a baby raccoon. My face was blotched from all of the tears. The tears weren't necessary if I am to think of it, but I like to think I deserve to cry out my pains.

Pulling at the hair to straighten it which appears to be a waste of time, I stepped out to look through my closet. Since it's the end of the week; I might as well skip going to that horrible workplace and probably take a long road trip. And if I do get to see a Jamaican who interests me, there is a high probability of me running off with him.

Who was I kidding? That’s literally never going to happen.

Sitting in the enclosed space with my thoughts jumbled, my eyes landed on a picture peeping out of my bag. Using the tip of my finger, I brought it out. My heart nearly stopped; right in my hands is a picture of Alexander and I.

The sight of the picture and the thought of Alex had me feeling nostalgic. And the tears were back again, stinging the back of my eye. I sniffed, trying to keep them from falling. I might go blind at this rate with the continuous tears.

My fingers trailed his face, we had taken it at the fun park we had gone to during our college days. My heart ached as the pain of how heart broken he must have felt when I told him it was over between us.

If only he knew how terrible it had been for me. Alexander was the love of my life and still is. I had envisioned my future with him and how we would become parents to two kids and a dog. He was my soulmate, my solace and happiness.

We met in high school, and had been together ever since. We planned our future together and made so many plans with each other. When I had to break up with him in order to get into a contract marriage with Asher, it had broken me completely.

I remember pleading profusely with my parents to pick any of my siblings to marry Asher instead of me. But, they had been adamant and insisted it had to be me. The contract marriage had been between my parents and Asher’s parents, I was sure he had also been forced to get into the contract marriage with me, for the perfect, public image he was building.

My whole world came crashing down the day I ended my relationship with Alex. I knew then that I might never find happiness and love again.

Sobbing quietly, I wrapped my arms around my legs holding them to my chest. I felt so lonely, not bothering to stop the tears. I let them flow continuously to ease my pain and guilt. The guilt I felt for breaking Alex's heart was still fresh in my heart, because I know he might never recover from it.

A rasp knock came on the door. I pretended not to hear it at first, thinking the person would go again. But they appear to be really persistent.

Dragging my body up, I returned to the bathroom again washed up my face hurriedly. Applied water to my hair, rolling it up in a rough bun. Judging by my history with gossips amongst the maids, it would be bad to come out looking tattered. They would have a field day discussing about me.

Opening the door, I tried to keep my face hidden a bit. "Yes?" I murmured in a distant voice.

"Good morning ma'am. A delivery came in for you this morning." The help said, handing me what appears to be a packaged box of wine.

"Thanks." I said receiving the package.

A small smile played on my lips as I tried to think of who must have sent it. Sitting on the bed, I crossed my legs underneath me and curiously unboxed the package. A chandon wine was placed inside of it and what seemed like an invitation card.

Picking the card up, I opened the envelope. What my eyes saw was the last thing that would have ever crossed my mind.

I blinked again, and again in shock.

"Alexander… and Blair?" I muttered.

Taking a deep breath, I checked through it again to confirm that I wasn’t seeing things. What the actual fuck?! Is Alexander– my ex, whom I was still very in love with, getting married? And not just to anyone, but my friend. My fucking best friend, Blair.

I jerked myself off the bed, pacing around the room with a hand to my head which was already starting to pound. This had better be a joke. Its been less than few months since I broke it off with Alex and got married to Asher. Come to think of it, I and Blair had a lunch date a few days ago. And she told me nothing about her getting married to my ex, whom she knew I was still very much in love with.

That slimy bitch!

I had broken things off with Alex a month ago. Was that when he then decided to get together with Blair? Or, had it been going on way longer before I had called things off with Alex?

I stopped in my tracks as it dawned on me; the two of them had definitely been cheating behind my back while I thought Alex was being faithful to me. The man that I loved with all of my heart and still feel bad for ending things with till today, after so many years that we have been together– had been cheating on me the entire time?

Alex has been my boyfriend since high school, that bastard deflowered me. He took all my firsts. And all this while, he had probably been screwing my friend as well! And not just my friend but my best friend!

A scoff escaped my lips. I still couldn't place the reality together. Then it all came rushing back, those times I would ask for a moment with Alex and he would claim to be busy. Then I would call Blair, and she’d always give an excuse of running an errand.

That implies; they had been spending those moments with each other. Laughing at me for being so oblivious and stupid. They are getting married in a few weeks and still had the guts to send me the invite.

My knees buckled and I was sprawled out on the floor. How could they do this to me? Why does it always have to be me feeling sorry for myself? Not only was I pathetic, I was also stupid as well.

Why does my life have to be so miserable? I am only twenty three years old, and it feels like I have spent half a century with all of the weight of the world on my shoulder. No one finds me worthy of respect at my workplace, my family don't even see me as a part of them. I am more of a commodity.

I have become a laughing stock for everyone, and I make money for media personalities by being a joke. And now, the two people I trusted the most, have taken it upon themselves to stab me in the back. The definition of my life was horrific.

My head spinned as the tears flooded me. Getting up, I have decided to stop wallowing in self pity. I should get something to burn my throat and clear my head of these crazy thoughts. I wish they can all just disappear and I wouldn't have to worry about anyone anymore.

Staggering my way to the study where Asher has a mini bar. I have never heard of a study owning a liquor shelve. Guess only a crazy one like Asher can.

Holding up a bottle of whiskey, I threw myself into the chair, chugging down the content to drown my sorrows. My life is nothing to write home about, after all.

~~~

Asher's POV

A bottle of whiskey would make my day right now. Since I resumed office, this is like the worst days of them all. The people I work with are hell bent on frustrating my life. Stomping the stairs in annoyance, I made my way to the study.

"What the heck?" I mumbled as I opened the study door.

Irritation spread through my face at the sight in front of me. Seeing Zendaya sitted with a blank look on her face, drinking the alcohol from the bottle itself like it was a bottle of coke, instantly irked me.

"Are you here to talk about what happened yesterday? Because need I tell you, you are the last person I want to see right now." I informed her flatly, while wondering what the hell she was doing in here.

With her eyes a bit closed, she nodded while stretching out the bottle towards me. A part of me wanted to refuse it, but then, I have had a shitty day and that whiskey looked like a gift from God himself right this moment, and I found myself regarding her flatly. The whiskey is the only thing that could ease my mind at the moment.

Sighing, I walked towards her snatching the bottle from her. Downing almost half of the content at once, I gritted my teeth as it burned my throat before settling in the pit of my stomach. Taking a seat opposite her, still with the bottle, I threw my head back once again, letting the whiskey kick in.

"Had a bad day?" She slurred.

Raising my head, I almost backed out of my chair when I saw Zendaya hovering over me. She giggled lightly and I scoffed.

Zendaya never giggled, at least, never around me. It was mad obvious that she was currently drunk.

This has been the most closeness I have ever experienced with her. I tried to move past her but she held both sides of the chair, placing wet kisses on my face.

"Come on. I know you want it." She said in a whisper.

My eyesight blurred, the whiskey had begun its journey, travelling through my insides.

“You’re quite drunk.” I pointed out while downing a few mouthfuls of the whiskey once again.

“Okay, but did anyone ask you? You’ve ruined my entire life, the least you could do right now is to make me forget this pain tonight.” She snapped, jerking the bottle from my grip and chugging some of the content down.

I let out a snort, knowing that I was also already starting to get drunk. I reached out and I retrieved the bottle from her, emptying the rest of the contact in my mouth.

“You bastard–” She screeched, hands outstretched like she was about to fight, but I surprised myself and shocked her by kissing her.

The violence melted out of her instantly, and then she melted when I pulled her against me firmly.

“I hate you so much.” She swore against my mouth as she returned the kiss fervently, and once our lips parted, I responded, while my vision swammed.

“Believe me, the feeling is very mutual.”