Chapter 13

Diamond’s POV

He stepped into the room like he owned the place. He was still in the black suit he wore earlier today. I cleaned up the little tears on my cheeks. Nicholas reeked of alcohol. “Have you been drinking?” I asked.

His eyes were cold. “Don't ask me a stupid question, woman.” He said. “What are you doing?” He asked me.

“Well, I…”

“Nevermind. That's not important. We are going to have dinner with my family at home this weekend.” He said. I nodded. “Okay.” He looked around the room, his brows furrowed.

“Is anything the problem?” I asked him. “Good night.” He said that and walked away. I was worried about the way he treated me, but what I was currently worried about more was the type of life Debra led.

I checked out what was written about me online. “FAILED ACTRESS BAGGED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MAN.”

“IS DEBRA BACK IN THE ACTING WORLD?”

“DEBRA AND HER HUSBAND THREW EMMA OUT OF A MALL.”

Different titles of articles and blog posts were everywhere. This made me raise my brows. I have never been one to follow along with celebrities and the rest since I have been so busy. So I didn't know Debra or Emma.

The comments were as harsh as the titles of the articles. “I can't believe how evil this girl is. How can she throw beautiful Emma out?”

“I say she is just jealous of Emma. Who wouldn't? Emma is successful; that's what she wants but can't have.”

“The nerve of hers to show her face, especially in a public place, After the last embarrassment she suffered, if I were in her shoes, I'd hide my face forever.”

This comment has left me confused. What has Debra done? What type of life did she lead? Aside from these mean comments, there were a few who seemed to love Debra.

“Welcome back, Debra. One fall doesn't mean you can't rise again.”

“I will always support you, Debra.” These comments touched me. I may not be Debra and may not have known what Debra has done, but I was happy to see she has a few people on her side.

The rest of the night I spent on my bed browsing through one article after another. One blog post after another. I would find out what Debra did to warrant so much hate.

Nicholas’s POV

“Speak,” I said into the phone. “The room has been prepared,” James said from the other side of the phone.

“As it should,” I said, massaging my temples. I was seated on the sofa in his room. Three empty wine bottles lay on the ground, while one was on top of the table in front of him.

“Anything else?” I asked. “No. Nothing else.” James replied.

“Are you drinking?” He asked, “Why? You want to join me?”

“I'll pass. Just don't drink too much. I know the stuff is hard.”

“Don't tell me what to do,” I said, ending the call. I'll mourn the girl who stole my heart the way I wanted. The rest of the night I spent idling away. I didn't leave my room the next day, either. One of the reasons I didn't want to leave my room was so that I wouldn't bump into Debra.

She was the last person I wanted to see. After staying two days straight without leaving my room, I heard a knock on the door. I knew it wasn't the maid, as she just left after giving me breakfast. I waited for a few seconds to pass before inviting her in.

Debra walked in. Her hair was tied in a messy bun. She had dark circles, and her shoulders were slumping. She looked stressed, like she had not gotten any sleep either.

“Hey,” she said softly, closing the door but standing by it. I don't remember inviting her to say, “What do you want?” I asked directly. She passed her tongue over her bottom lips.

“Well, you haven't come down for two days now.” She said I was too tired to talk to her. “So?” I asked. That shouldn't be her business. Whatever I do with my life has nothing to do with her.

“I just wanted to check on you to see if you were okay.” She said so, and I was tempted to tell her to take a look at herself. She doesn't look like she was in a position to check up on anybody.

“How are you?” She asked without leaving the door. “I'm breathing fine, as you can see. Or would you rather I was dead?” I asked, and she shook her head.

“Of course not. I'm glad you are fine.” She replied.

“But if you have anything to discuss or you need someone, just know that I am always here for you.” She said, and this got a laugh from me. “You want me to confide in you?” I asked in a mocking tone.

“Yes. You can.” She said, still not noticing the underlying meaning of my words. “You think you are something, uh? Do you think I'll want to discuss anything with you? What gives you the stupid idea that I'll want to do that?

Who the fuck do you think you are in my life?” I asked, my anger boiling within me. “I didn't mean it that way. I have pure intentions.” She said, “I just want to help.”

“And I look like I need your help. Do you think you are my wife? We may be married on paper, but I'll never accept you as my wife.” I yelled.

“Sorry if I made you angry, I just...”

“Get out. Leave my room right this instant. And stay away from my room. This will be the last time I warn you.” I said, and she quickly scurried out. Her mere presence irritated me. I wanted to send a message to my mom and tell her I would not be available for dinner.

I can't bear to be with Debra in the same space. Or maybe I should. I took my phone and called my mom, “Hey mom.”

“Nicholas. How are you?” She asked.

“I am fine.”

“You don't usually call me. What's the issue? Is something wrong?” She asked. I closed my eyes and held my hands in one hand. Though I loved my mom unconditionally, I am not so close with her.

“Nothing wrong. I just wanted to check up on you and tell you something.”

“I am fine. What do you want to say?” She asked.

“I won't be coming home for dinner. My work has piled up, and I'll be going on a business trip to Dubai.” I said I was hoping she'd buy my lie.

“I'll be leaving for the business trip in an hour. Everything is set, and James is already on my neck.” I added James' name to it.

My mom's laugh echoed on the other end, and I had to remove my phone from my ears and stare at it to be sure she was the one speaking to me. “Why don't you want to come for dinner? Is that excuse necessary?” She asked.

“This is no excuse,” I stated. “James is with me, slowly sipping his tea. You have not been to the office for two days. He has been complaining bitterly about how your absence has affected him.

How come you are in the office preparing for a business trip when you have even stepped out of your room?” She asked. I gritted my teeth. I should have known she had her ways. I have underestimated her.

She always kept an eye on me, but I never expected her to be able to buy James too. “Well, I just want to stay at home,” I said.

“Bring your wife over to me. Come for dinner. I have no excuse for you. If you don't come, don't blame me for what I do to you.” She said, and before I could say another word, she ended the call.

I inhaled sharply, wondering how best to punish James for being a snitch. How long has he been doing this to me? I knew he had a good relationship with my mom, who considered him her son but was snitching on me. That was unexpected.

I picked up my phone and typed as fast as I could on it. “You will get fired if you don't leave that house and go do the job I pay you for. You snitch.” I sent him the text. I thought for a while, then sent him another text: “I'll remove $1000 from your salary if you don't leave that house right away.

After five minutes, a reply came in: “You think you can threaten him because he told me what you did? Fire him, and I'll pay him more to stay by your side. See you tomorrow! Don't come late.”

I gritted my teeth, but on second thought, James might have been tired instead of drinking tea. My mother could be a psycho to get what she wanted.

Sigh!

I guess I have no other choice right now.