Pop!!!
Lilly popped open a bottle of champagne in a cheery mood with a bright smile on her face. "Wooh!" She exclaimed with a soft laugh. "To a new start!" She toasted and they all clinked their glasses together.
"I can't drink any alcohol, I have a flight tonight and work immediately when the plane lands," Scott said.
"I can't believe you are leaving so soon," Lilly said with a downcast look. "You could have spent some time with Naomi again."
"Actually..." Naomi started as she dropped her glass of champagne on the table. "I spoke with my dad earlier today, and I'm taking the offer, so I have to head back to New York tonight."
"That's great news! Let's all go back to New York together! Hold on, let me book a flight". Lilly excitedly announced before picking up her phone.
"Wait, you want to go to New York too?" "I thought you were having a good time here in New Orleans?" "What about your business?" Naomi asked.
"It's been a while since I've been to New York and I have family there as well. "It won't be a bad idea to have your divorce party in New York also," Lilly said with a smile.
Lilly had been a good friend to Naomi from the start. The only reason she was in New Orleans was because of Naomi, who left New York to be with Justin because her parents were against their marriage.
But she was determined to be with him, so she left her family and New York just for his sake.
Lilly wanted to always be there for her no matter what, so she left New York as well and opened up a small business in New Orleans to sustain herself and keep herself busy.
Naomi let out a soft chuckle. "Okay."
"By the way, I'm sure he is going to love the gift you gave him. "He won't believe you could ever be so bold!" Lilly stated.
"It's all thanks to you, Scott, thank you for helping me clear my name. "And thank you, Lilly, for always being there for me no matter what," Naomi said with a smile.
"Thick or thin, I'll come through for you." Lilly responded with a smile. She gently squeezed her friend's hand.
Naomi felt like she was in a daze, like everything was nothing but a dream. Just like that, her marriage of three years had come to an end.
She had given up everything to be with Justin and now, she had given him up too. It was obviously for the best.
He wasn't the one for her, and it took her three years to realize that. How could he so coldly turn his back on her? How could he tell her to her face that she was a mistake?
Her mind went back to the moment of their final goodbye. He didn't even look sad that she was leaving! If anything, he didn't care one single bit!
But now, she didn't have to worry about what he thought. Their story had come to an end, and it was time for her to open a new book.
***
One month after his divorce, Justin sat in his seat at work, thinking about how the last month had been for him.
Ever since she uploaded the video of what actually happened, he hadn't seen her or been able to contact her. Even Gregg had searched, but he was unable to find her.
'How could she create such a mess and just disappear into thin air?!' He thought to himself while angrily clicking the top of his ballpoint pen.
He was still trying to clear up the mess, yet she was somewhere, probably laughing at the disaster she had caused him. How could she be so heartless?
His phone buzzed with a message, and he picked it up from his table. It was from none other than Grace.
For the past three weeks, she had been sending him texts and calling him, but he didn't respond to any of them. His mind was still a mess, it all seemed like a dream to him. How could she leave like that?
He believed his ex-wife was only bluffing when she requested a divorce, and he didn't believe she would go through with it until she actually did!
Now that Naomi was out of his life, his father wanted him to be with Grace, a woman of his class, but he wasn't thinking about remarrying just yet.
His phone began to ring, and he picked up the call this time. It was high time he put an end to her disturbance.
As he answered the call, he heard a knock on his door and his secretary came in. "Sir, you have a meeting to attend regarding the new partnership deal."
He raised a finger to tell her to hold on as he spoke. "Hello?"
"Why have you been avoiding me! "You didn't even care to know if I was alright!" Grace angrily spat out.
"Why should I care when you did it to yourself?" he asked.
"You shouldn't be like this. It was a mistake. "I have something important to tell you." Her voice softened as she spoke.
"Let it wait. I have a meeting--"
"I'm pregnant with you, Justin !" She announced.
Justin's entire system was scattered at once. She was what? For who? Him? How was that even possible?
He hung up the phone, feeling unsettled. His secretary reminded him that time wasn't on their side, and they had to leave for the meeting.
With his mind scattered, he brought himself to his feet and left his office.
While they were in the car, his secretary tried to brief him on the meeting, but he could barely pay her any attention.
Arriving at the reserved restaurant, Justin was the first to arrive, and he tried to calm himself before the meeting started.
Raising his glass to his lips, his hand froze midway as his eyes landed on someone he thought he would never see again.
Dressed in a white dress that was official yet sexy at the same time, Naomi majestically walked towards him with her head raised high.
Stopping in front of him, she gave him a slight smile, "said Naomi Mitchell, CEO of J International. Pleasure to meet you." She stretched her hand forward to shake him.
Justin felt his jaw drop to the floor. Unbelievable
Naomi's POV."What the hell Naomi? How could you make a decision like this without consulting me?" Scott yelled furiously. I haven't seen Scott this outraged in a long time."Scott, I am not going there for fun; it is strictly business." I said, attempting to calm him down.I was working on my laptop when he stormed into my office, angry. I texted him a while ago, informing him that I would be leaving for Central City with Justin."These people are dangerous, Naomi. What do you think? I will allow you to be with one of them for a whole month?""Fred is tagging along and besides it's not like I am leaving the country. You could easily drive by and say hi." I said as I walked toward him."This is a terrible idea Naomi. Here I am trying to convince my mum that you are the perfect partner for me. How do you think she will react if she finds out that you will be in the same space with your ex for the next one month?" He said this while pacing around."Hey Scott, listen to me." I said, grab
Naomi's POV.I was panicking. I knew I agreed to get married to Scott, but bringing his family flying down to New Orleans was a lot for me to take in. I didn't think it was going to be this soon. What was I supposed to say to them? Oh God!."You might get wrinkles if you continue thinking too much," Lily said, sipping from her glass of cocktail. "We came here to relax, but your face is ruining the mood," she said."How can I relax Lily? I am panicking. What do I say to them? "Everything is happening faster than I thought it would," I said."And so what? "I'm sure Scott would still marry you anyway. "That man loves you, and I am sure his parents would too," she said.My phone rang right at that moment. I checked to see who was calling and it was Scott. Just when we were speaking about him and his parents."Hey, so something came, and I am on my way to the airport now," he explained over the phone."Airport? What for? Do you have an impromptu business trip? "How long will you be out of
Naomi's POV.Perfect.I was expecting an outburst from her anyway. Since dinner started, she had been staring at me with venom in her eyes. It still hurts to hear her address me in that manner though I didn't choose to be divorced, it was the circumstances around me that forced me to divorce Justin."Mum, come on, stop it." Tessa said as she stood up."What is wrong with you Scott? There are a lot of women out there who are rich, influential and have never been married. Why did you decide to go for her?" She probed, averting her gaze to Scott who was visibly angry."That's enough mum, you are disrespecting my fiance." Scott said, holding my hand under the table. This was his little way of comforting me and assuring that he had my back.I drew my hand back subconsciously."Look at her Scott, she was barely able to hold her home for three years. What difference do you think it will make with you?" She raised her voice."That is enough, Mrs Lewis. I respect you as Scott's mum but do not
Naomi's POV.I was panicking. I knew I agreed to get married to Scott, but bringing his family flying down to New Orleans was a lot for me to take in. I didn't think it was going to be this soon. What was I supposed to say to them? Oh God!."You might get wrinkles if you continue thinking too much," Lily said, sipping from her glass of cocktail. "We came here to relax, but your face is ruining the mood," she said."How can I relax Lily? I am panicking. What do I say to them? "Everything is happening faster than I thought it would," I said."And so what? "I'm sure Scott would still marry you anyway. "That man loves you, and I am sure his parents would too," she said.My phone rang right at that moment. I checked to see who was calling and it was Scott. Just when we were speaking about him and his parents."Hey, so something came, and I am on my way to the airport now," he explained over the phone."Airport? What for? Do you have an impromptu business trip? "How long will you be out of
Sarah's POV.Justin had just left Grace and me in the room. She was still unconscious. He went out to get some medicine that the doctor had prescribed.Grace slowly opened her eyes. "Arrgh" She groaned in pain, lifting her hand to touch her head, which was bandaged. "Where am I? "What happened to me?" She probed."Welcome back princess. "You have been gone long enough," I said, grinning at her."Am I in the hospital?" She asked, clutching her tummy. "My baby..." She whispered beneath her breath."Oh, cut it out Grace, enough with the pretense, I know you are not pregnant." I said this while locking eyes with her. "You have been deceiving us all," I added."What? What are you talking about? "I don't know what you are talking about." She tried to deny it."Fine. Why don't we wait for Justin to come back, and I asked him to have him checked? "We will then know if you really don't know what I am talking about," I said.Grace burst into tears. "I am sorry, I only did that because it was th
Naomi's POV."Miss Mitchell, are you listening?" Precious said, tapping me on the hand."Yes,. Yeah... go on." I said, shaking my head gently. I was absorbed in my thoughts. I couldn't quite comprehend Justin's behavior yesterday. Why the hell did he behave like that? Why was he making a fuss because I agreed to marry Scott? I mean he is married to Grace and expecting a child, so what was all this?"Ma'am?" Precious called again, pulling me out of my reverie. She was trying to read out the current figures the company was making in the stock market."Email it to me. "You can go now," I said, excusing her. It was useless to keep her there because I knew she was talking to herself and would probably continue talking to herself because my attention was not.I pulled out my phone with the aim of calling Justin, but even if I did, what would I say to him? He left there in a terrible state and I didn't know why it bothered me so much."Get him out of your head, Naomi," I said, hitting my hea