Chapter Twenty Six

Amelia's POV

Someone needed to call me the heart stealer, because I was definitely nailing this Julian Lake project. To think that we had gone from two strangers in a bar to people who texted each other and spent a long time on calls.

"Guess who has found the venue for a certain second date?" I said, cradling the phone to my ear as I stirred a cup of hot chocolate.

"Took you long enough," he replied.

"Hey!" I said. "At least it's not a cliche place like that restaurant. It takes time to find something perfect, don't you know?"

"Are we going to the moon, then?" he retorted teasingly.

"Awesome as that sounds, I'll pass," I replied. "I'm not sure how easy it would be to talk with both our heads covered."

"Good point," he said.

I could hear the laughter in his voice, and it brought a smile to my face.

"I'm having chocolate," I said, lifting the cup to my mouth, "would you like some?"

"Sure. Just pour it through the phone to me," he replied.

"Let me think about that," I said, tapping my chin. "Hmm… no. I'll just drink this while you make do with your imagination."

We joked back and forth like that till the call ended minutes later, and I was grinning as I headed up to my room.

That grin didn't waver even when my phone beeped with more hate messages from Julian's fangirls. I had been getting those since the pictures of my date with Julian were released on the internet. I couldn't help wondering where they had gotten my contact information from. Though I could bet that Jackie or Ray had given it to them.

'Get over yourselves,' I thought. 'None of you ever stood a chance with him anyway.'

At least I wasn't a creepy, obsessive stalker hiding under the title of fangirl.

"Miss Domitia," Daisy called from behind me.

"This had better be good," I replied as I turned to look at her.

"You said to remind you about your appointment with the family dentist by two," she said.

"Oh, that," I replied. "I totally forgot. What are you waiting for, then? Come up here and help me get ready."

If I was going to attend Genevieve Lopez's bachelorette party as the guest of honor without making a fool of myself, I needed to be prepared. I couldn't treat this like one of Jackie's hangouts. I needed to get my teeth whitened, my manicure and pedicure done to perfection. I needed to go there looking like one of the women who could rub shoulders with Genevieve Lopez.

Also, who knew what other members of the one percent that would be there.

I had to make a good impression. That way, I would have nothing to lose from being dropped by Jackie and Ray.

……

Jessica's POV

'Home sweet home,' I thought as the Uber sped me to the apartment I had bought just before flying into Goldcrest City.

I couldn't believe I was going to be living in an apartment. I, Jessica Blake, living in a freaking apartment. Just how far had I fallen?

But all of that was about to change. As soon as Julian took me back, all my financial struggles would become things of the past. That ex-husband of mine was never good for much, but at least he had tons of money, and was very generous with it.

Miriam was waiting in the apartment when I got there. I had sent her back earlier to purchase the place for me and get everything else ready. As well as to find ways to spy on Isabella Domitia.

"Welcome, Miss Blake," she said as I walked in, stepping forward to take my suitcase.

As she rolled it in, I followed at a leisure pace, stretching my hands above my head till my joints popped.

"Man, that thing is heavy," I complained.

I really missed having servants at my beck and call, ready to fulfill even my smallest wishes. But I paid them off when I began to go bankrupt, because paying their wages became such a pain. Now I had to do all these little, annoying tasks by myself.

"Would you like something to drink, Miss Blake?" Miriam asked.

"Of course," I replied. "And make it cold."

While she headed to the fridge, I sank into a sofa and turned on my phone. The first thing I saw was that picture of Julian and Isabella Domitia. It was all over the internet now, and it was all anybody seemed to want to talk about. I decided to make it my wallpaper. That way, I would be reminded everyday of my hatred for the woman who had dared to steal my man, as well as my determination to get Julian back.

'He doesn't get to move on from me,' I thought fiercely.

Miriam returned in a jiffy with a can of soda. I watched her pour it into a glass. Of course, it was cold enough to frost the glass in seconds. I expected nothing less from efficient Miriam.

"Did you find out anything useful about Isabella Domitia?" I asked.

"She was spotted leaving a dentist's hospital just hours ago," Miriam replied immediately. "And afterwards, she headed to a beauty spa. I suspect that she has an event she's planning to attend."

"Lovely," I replied, taking a sip of my drink. "That makes it easier to stage a little accident for her. Anything else?"

"Well… she's something of a sensation, that's for sure. I*******m loves her, even though she's not very popular among other women due to the way she jumps from one man to another."

"So she's cheap," I laughed. "I would have thought that Julian could do better than that."

'I can't believe he tossed me out for sleeping with another man, only to end up in the arms of a literal slut,' I thought bitterly. 'I am going to make both of them regret getting on my bad side.'