The morning sun illuminated on Nicole's face. She groaned and winced as she squeezed her eyes shut even more.
"Wake up", Neela called out as she finished drawing the curtains open.
Nicole turned on her side and opened her eyes to see her best friend walking towards her. Neela had her brows furrowed as she watched Nicole slowly sit up. The latter groaned as she held the back of her head.
"Ugh! What happened?" Nicole groaned at the pounding ache of her head.
Neela got her a glass of water and pushed painkillers into her hand. She shook her head as she said, "I guess you don't remember."
"Why? Did I do something?" She asked hastily as she put away the half empty glass. Neela shook her head refusing to speak but Nicole only grew more curious. "Tell me. What happened?"
"Just don't ask. Be glad you don't remember", Neela steeled her expression.
"Neela."
"You went to Xavier's place."
"And? Did I do something?" She asked fearfully. A bad feeling started to bloom in her heart.
"You made a ruckus begging him to take you back and that you were wrong but then you had a big fight, it got really messy. I know you want to work things out with him but he's moved on and you showing up at his place just irritated him. He said girls like you need to know your place and he'd be glad to show you."
"Girls like me?" Tears were streaming down her face as she listened to this. She was in disbelief. "What does that mean?"
"Nicole, Xavier is the jerk we've always known him to be. It's just unfortunate you fell for his charms", Neela sighed at this as her face fell into a troubled expression. "I shouldn't have put you up to this. Now look at the mess you're in."
Nicole cried silent tears. Her heart ached learning of the previous night's happenings. Was Xavier really like this? Or did she just choose to be blind because she genuinely thought he had really fallen for her?
Neela wiped her tears and cupped her cheeks. "Go and bath. I'll make you something to eat and we can stay in and do nothing all day. Go on."
She helped her out of bed and Nicole went to shower. Neela went to the living room and turned on the television as she walked to the kitchen to get breakfast started. The morning news had started as she hummed to a tune, looking through the fridge.
Nicole felt exhausted as she stood in the shower letting the hot water ease her aching muscles. She could not believe things had progressed to this. She knew she wasn't that great to Xavier on purpose but she didn't think he would hate her to that extend.
"Aaaaaarrrrrgggghhh!"
She snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Neela's shriek. She quickly turned off the shower and threw on a towel before rushing to the kitchen.
"What happened?" Nicole's heart was pounding hard as she looked at a horrified Neela. The latter could only point at the television as words failed her. Following her line of sight, Nicole gasped when she saw what was on.
"That's.... That's.... Is this..... Is this what he meant by showing me my place? By exposing such a photo of us?" Nicole managed to find her voice. The news was about a certain C.E.O of a certain corporation also known as the sex god and his now ex-girlfriend's sex photos leaked to the media.
"Isn't that the hotel he took you to when you reunited at the airport? It can't be... Do you think he planned this? How many more of these pictures do you think he has?" The anger on Neela's face evidently grew from this thought.
The photo trending on the news was of Xavier taking her from behind with her breasts pressed to the window. Their faces were blurred but just from the build, anyone who knew them could tell it was them.
"That's not.... He wouldn't have done this..."
"Nicole!" Neela shouted in frustration. "The proof is right there! What more do you want? He doesn't want you! If he's willing to go as far as airing your dirty laundry for the world to see, then I don't know!"
Nicole feel silent as the weight of neela's words sunk in, taking her heart along with them. She suddenly left for her bedroom. She quickly threw on her clothes and rushed out of the house. Neela slummed the kitchen count.
"There she goes again", she sighed before following her out.
At Xavier's place
"Let go if you don't want to lose your jobs! Let go!" Xavier screaming in obvious rage.
He was being restrained by his bodyguards from going out of the house. The news had obviously reached him and he was furious.
"Please sir, cooperate with us", his bodyguards' team lead pleaded with him.
"I said let go! I need to see that bitch! She needs to know her place! Let go!"
"Xavier!" George hurried in and stopped where he was. "Your identies have not been confirmed. If you go out there, you will be giving them the answer and making things worse."
Xavier scoffed as he stopped struggling. "Not confirmed? Anyone can guess that the news is about me! Fuck!" He released himself from the men and paced around the room. He run his hand through his hair in frustration. "Was breaking up with me not enough? What the hell does she want? What kind of luck is this? What on Earth have I done to deserve all this?"
George felt bad when he saw Xavier slump ok the chair. His phone suddenly vibrated and immediately answered when he saw it was Zach.
"Sir."
"Have you taken any measures from our side?" He asked in a cold tone. George could tell the man was angry.
"Not yet. I'm still waiting to hear orders from you, sir."
"Okay. Is Xavier with you? Pass the phone to him."
George did as told and Xavier received it. He had felt his energy deplete from being thrown into such a situation.
"This is not something you should get riled up about", Zach stated as a matter of fact. He sounded calm and collected.
"But..."
"You have nothing to worry about. Come home."
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