Her best friend

“Good morning, madam,” Mrs. Marks said when she entered the room. Alana yawned a little and stretched her arms and sat upright.

“Morning Mrs. Marks," she muttered while stretching herself, but something caught her eyes.

“Um, how did I get here?” Alana asked with suspicious eyes and noticed she was wearing the dress from the party. Mrs. Marks didn't know what she meant.

“I don't understand, madam?” Mrs. Marks said with a confused expression, and Alana cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Where is your boss?” She asked while getting out of bed. She knew he slept outside. How did she end up in their bedroom wearing her nightgown?

“Sir left early, should I bring breakfast here?” Mrs. Marks asked with a smile, and Alana was confused. Did Ricardo come back? But she called him and a woman answered. Could it be that he came in the morning?

“No, don't mind…is Santi awake?” Alana asked while tying her hair in a bun, and Mrs. Marks nodded.

“He's having breakfast downstairs,”

“Okay, you may leave,” Alana waved her off and Mrs. Marks left right away. Alana scanned the room,

She recalled falling asleep in Santiago's bedroom. Could it be Ricardo who brought her here?

“He went out with another woman…” she muttered with a frown, when her phone started ringing, glancing at the screen. It was Rocco calling her.

“Stupid fool,” Alana said disdainfully and ignored the call entirely. Rocco ruined her mood, so she decided to check up on Santiago. Get ready and go to the office before dealing with the likes of Rocco.

___

Ricardo was in his office, massaging his temples. His head was hurting like hell. The part he hated about drinking, waking up with a hangover didn't feel right, and so was waking up in a strange bed and a strange house.

“Drink this…it will help with the hangover,” Camilo shoved a glass of lime water on the desk, but Ricardo ignored him.

“Just go away,” Ricardo muttered with his eyes shut, Camilo scanned him carefully and sat down.

“You know. I didn't think you could be so stupid…even if she made a mistake…why would you be so stupid as to spend the night with another woman,” Camilo lashed out only for Ricardo to slam his fist on the desk, startling Camilo.

“Damn you…leave my office,” Ricardo growled but ended up holding his head which hurt agonizingly? Camilo scoffed disdainfully and shifted in his seat.

“Shame on you… what happened…did you do anything bad?” Camilo asked, trying to find out if his careless friend did anything shameful. Ricardo glared at him angrily.

“Apologize to her… I'm sure that Rocco used your situation to trap Alana…she's a good wife, she's even willing to work for the enemy for your sake,” Camilo said calmly. He did hold anything against Alana, he was surprised she wanted the best for Ricardo.

“I'm not interested kindly…” Ricardo was about to say when the door creaked open. He asked Dennis not to let anyone in.

“I'm… I'm so sorry, but…” a slender, elegant looking woman pushed the door open and said nervously when Ricardo recognized her at first sight. Camilo shifted his gaze to the lady as she walked in wearing a blue mini-dress with heels.

“Come in Ms Cooper,” Ricardo said, pushing his chair backwards and Camilo glanced at him with a questionable expression.

“I'm sorry I came unannounced," the woman said shyly and stood before Ricardo. He didn't react but nodded “Hello sir,” the lady greeted Camilo, but he only nodded, not sure why he didn't like the lady, especially when she was holding Ricardo's coat.

“Okay, I'll see you later…” Camilo said, getting up from the chair and nodding at the lady before he walked away. Ricardo ignored Camilo and glanced at the woman before him.

“Do you need anything?” Ricardo asked, and started arranging things on his desk. The lady smiled shyly and tucked some strands behind her apartment.

“please excuse…”

“I appreciate what you did for me…but next time don't take a stranger to your home, Ms Cooper,” Ricardo cut her off, and the lady bit her lip awkwardly.

“Mr. Romero, I saw you in need and I helped out… you were in a bad state, I couldn't let you drive while drunk," she countered back with a warm smile. Ricardo didn't have anything to say, however, just as he was about to say something the door opened. This time, it was none other than his wife who walked in carrying files. She stopped just as she saw the lady standing in front of Ricardo.

“Lana…what are you doing here?” The lady turned to Alana and asked with a smile. Alana's eyes glimmered in shock, seeing her best friend.

“Jo, what brought you here,” Alana as well in amusement and walked to them. She didn't look at Ricardo, but was stunned to see Joslyn.

“Well, I told you about my new project here in Paris…so here I am,” Joslyn said cheerfully, and both women hugged.

“I'm so glad to see you, but what are you doing here…wait…do you work here?” Joslyn asked and moved away. Alana nodded and glanced over at Ricardo.

“Here, have a look,” Alana handed Ricardo the files. To her surprise, the man grabbed the file before she could put them on the table. Their fingers brushed against each other briefly when Alana moved away.

“We should catch up later…we have so much to discuss," Joslyn said with cheers, Alana nodded and was about to leave.

“Oh yeah… Mr Romero, you left your coat at my house,” Joslyn said and handed Ricardo his coat. Alana's heart skipped a beat as she turned around and looked at her friend, smiling while giving Ricardo the burgundy coat. It was the same one he wore the previous night. How did he leave it at her best friend's house?

“Thanks… you may leave Ms Cooper…” Ricardo said nonchalantly and tossed the coat away. Joslyn smiled shyly and turned to Alana.

“You must be working, I'll call you later,” Joslyn muttered mischievously, hugged Alana walked away. Alana was frozen in place. She didn't want to think; hence she glanced at the coat and turned to leave.

“Why are you here?” Ricardo asked coldly when Alana turned around. Unlike before, she had a straight face.

“I'm not leaving, I promised to help out, and I'll continue to do that,” she replied coldly, Ricardo was surprised by her outburst. Why was she angry, he was the one to get angry.

“Excuse me?” Ricardo asked, narrowing his eyes questionably.

“I'm working for him, but not what you think…at least I'm not doing anything to ruin this marriage even if it's fake,” Alana lashed out, she was angry. Because he spent the night out. To her shock, her best friend delivered her husband's coat and said he left it at her house. Alana stared at Ricardo questionably and waited for his reply.

“Behind my back… working for the enemy…tell me…is it because he's rich and single…he doesn't have a child,” Ricardo lashed out and rose to his feet abruptly, he seemed angry, but Alana was twice as angry.

“I didn't say that…stop putting words in my mouth…or do you want a divorce, huh… I'm sure you want a famous model or designer as a wife to match your glorious status!” Alana yelled as her eyes flashed with hate. Ricardo was stunned. Why was she overreacting?

“Get out of my office," he muttered while pointing to the door. Alana was even more enraged.

“Fine, I'm going to that man you despise so much, at least he's trying hard to win me over!” Saying that, she flipped her hair and turned to leave. Hearing her talk about Rocco, Ricardo was enraged. Whenever he was angry, he didn't think straight. In large strides, he already reached the door and prevented Alana from leaving.

“You are a married woman…how dare you think about other men,” he backed her to the door and trapped her. Alana wasn't scared of him. She looked him in the eye and held her ground.

“You are a married man, how dare you sleep outside your house and end up in another woman's arms…that too, my best friend!” Alana yelled as tears lingered in her eyes. Her small low angry voice echoed in Ricardo's ears, rendering him speechless. He stared at her without blinking, and she was fuming in anger. Her face was contorted with rage and her hands balled into fists.

"Really?" Ricardo whispered after a while of staring at his wife and held her by the neck. Alana was nervous and tried to get away but she was trapped between Ricardo's tall form and the cold wall giving her chills.

"If...if you don't want this...just...just tell me and I'll sign the divorce papers and leave," Alana muttered ignoring his presence. Ricardo swallowed hard and tightened his grip on her. Her breathing had increased.

"Let you go, so you can end up in his arms?" he let out a sarcastic scoff and gripped the back of her neck firmly. by now Alana's face was an inch from Ricardo's. She could feel his breath fanning her cheeks. She regained her wits and whispered

"Are you jealous? does it bother you that I'm working for him?"

"Yes," he answered without hesitation catching Alana by surprise. she could only blink and saw Ricardo closing the distance between them.