Chapter 1 - Has The Wicked Harlot Returned?

"So she's coming back? The Wicked Harlot of the Kingdom is actully returning to our shores? Should I go to the shed and find a shovel? Get the car ready with plastic covers and zip ties? You know I’m ride or die girl!" My best friend Jonathan asks while grinning at me.

"Yup. Apparently the recession hit South Findol hard last month and she was let out of her contract early. And no! Its too early to have murder on the agenda, John!" I answer him.

Jonathan pours some more coffee into his mug and continues "Sooo...in layman's terms...she was fired. She can't get a new job and have to return here as she's on a work visa there and with no job, its runs out, right?"

"Quickly. Thats what Im thinking. Mother was a bit vague with the details." I pick up couple of pieces of crispy bacon and place them next to the poached egg and fruit on my plate. I'd invited my best friend Jonathan to brunch to discuss the news my mum so gleefully told be yesterday.

I'd barely had a wink of sleep last night.

This news would explain James' mood whenever I finally managed to get a hold of him on the phone. Usually, I could tell if he was distracted due to work pressure or if his mother had gotten into his head again. But for the last couple of weeks I'd noticed that James seemed extremely distracted whenever we actually talked. He had barely been home during the last 3 weeks due to three business trip in Chiticka South Kerry and Japana, so our communication had mostly consisted of phonecalls, messaging and facetime. But it was challending due to the timezone difference.

Had the time come? Was it time to divorce? The 5 years were almost up.

Dammit!

I'd failed my mission.

The man was nowhere near in love with me. But. We were friends. Or friendly. At least on my end. I would even use the word 'cordial' to describe our relationship. Sometimes. When we'd actually spend time together face to face...which wasn't often. The man was the very definition of a workoholic...and haunted.

Fucking Carrie.

She was like a ghost hanging over our marriage from day one.

We'd be friendly and sometimes even having a good time and then she'd show up on tv or her name was mentioned and James would just....zone out....and be grumpy for weeks.

Jonathan bit into a scone, moaned, "ohmygod...usoogoood!"

I smiled. "Thank you. Yes they did turn out rather well despite me messing with the flour messurements and adding a few things to the dough. Mary approved in the end."

Jonathan gave a small laugh "we're so putting this one in the cookbook! I love how your chef wouldn't let you into your kitchen until you told her you are a trained chef yourself and a food scientest as well."

I smiled at him "Its always hard for a chef to share the kitchen with other chefs. No one wants to give up power and be the sous chef. But I think we managed to find a decent way to share. It helps she loves being on my vlogs and we cock together there. She loves to teach, but claims that she's too old to get her own channel. So she's sharing mine and she's a monster hit. Viewers love her! More than they've ever loved me. Its actually a bit insulting come to think of it." I frown at the last bit.

"Stop it! You know you are absolut inspiration as an influencer and your vlog channel is a massive hit even after all these years. Other vloggers still stride to be you!"

"You have to say that. You're my bestfriend AND my manager!" I smile but gently chide him.

He takes a sip from his mug, puts it down and give me a small smile.

"True. But that doesnt mean I'm wrong."

I pour a new cup of tea. I cannot keep warm today. I havent been able to since mother called yesterday.

"Seriously, Josie....what are you going to do? If Carrie comes back here, I mean. You know she's gonna want to go back into a relationship with James immediately. Especially now that he has almost royal status and more or less rules the city. Her image and reputation would be salvaged in an instant!”

I look up to see Jonathan looking at me with a serious expression on his face. "I just dont want you to be hurt. More than you already have been by being married to a man who doesn't return your love. And I know your sister. Well. That woman is toxic to your mental health. Seriously. You cannot be around her. She'll ruin your life. Just for the fun of it. Maybe..." He hesitates.

"Maybe what?" I ask.

"Maybe this is your chance to get your life back on track and start searching for your own happily ever after. A fresh start, you know?" Jonathan says.

"Wait..." I look at him. He has a strangely guilty expression on his handsome face.

I straighten in my chair "Do you know something I don't?"

Jonathan looks down into his lap, "maybe."

"What? What do you know?" I ask him.

He looks up. "I don't wanna say. It'll hurt you."

Ah fuck. My friendship with this man has lasted more than twenty five years. I know him better than I know myself and that fact just came back and bit me on the ass

"She's back already, isn't she? And seen him already." I feel like my entire body is burning and freezing at the same time.

Jonathan sighs but answers me, "this whole avoiding the news is usully working for you, but babe, today...there's no avoiding it. The Starlight channel and every other news outlet has been reporting the entire morning that our King of the city was seen cuddling with a beautiful redhead outside a hotel. She was recognized as his former college love. Apparently, they were seen hugging, holding hands and looking entirely too intimate considering the woman was not the beloved Mrs. King. A fact that everyone is commenting on. Every newspaper is questioning whether or not she's his mistress or if you've quietly divorced already."

I cannot breathe.

Everthing hurts.

"Breathe Josie! Deep breaths!"

I inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

Fuck

Did he cheat on me?

Wait...is it even cheating? When your marriage isn't really real? A paper marriage?

Dammit....what do I do now?