CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

KIM's POV

What was she doing here? I wondered for the umpteenth time from when I first heard her say who it was from the door.

"Would you like to come in?" I queried gently. I was trying to be as aloof as possible. I couldn't let Rhona catch me off guard. Of all people at least not Rhona.

"Yeah, I'll love that. I was hoping I could get the opportunity to talk to you if you're not so busy," she said complacently.

I had never taken the time to appreciate how beautiful she was. The winged eyebrows guarding the beautiful hazel golden brown eyes. Rhona looked like a goddess and not a lot of beautiful people could hold a torch to her.

She had an immensely old money frail personality when she wasn't being a mean bitch and right now, she was on full mode old money.

"Yes, come inside. You can have a seat anywhere. " My room still had a breath of antiquity. The designers had not gotten to my room yet.

The old bedside lamp was aglow now with a faint blue fluorescent light that chased the shadows away and made my room look like something out of a Peter Pan movie.

"How are you doing? You look stressed out. The decor? It's not taking its toll is it?" The concern felt so out of place that for a full minute, I was lost on how to answer.

Eventually, I got my composure back and started to reply before she cut in again. "I know what you're thinking. You're probably asking yourself why I'm here or I'm asking you any of these questions, right?"

"I can't say I'm not surprised nor can I say I understand why you suddenly want to know how I'm doing," I said. I wasn't sure what this sudden love and affection was for and I wasn't ready to welcome it with open arms.

Rhona had dealt me a lot in the past so my skepticism was well placed.

"I was at work today. In the middle of my shoot session, I overheard a couple of the models talking about my brother. I was curious so I asked to know why he was suddenly so popular among the girls even though he had always had the reputation of a rake." She paused to take a deep breath and I kept wondering where exactly she was going with this. "I was beyond surprised when I heard his wife was on the media and that she was being dragged to hell and back. I was completely stunned and I decided to do my own research only to find out that someone was trying very hard to ruin your marriage," she enthused.

I was quite surprised. Was she on my side?

Her pixie face lit up as she continued to explain in detail, all her findings, her thoughts on the matter, how she genuinely felt like whoever did that was really just being an asshole.

"I know we are not friends and you probably think I know nothing about you, but I have watched you over time and I somehow know that you're an amazing person."

I was stunned, stunned beyond words.

"That person, and I'm guessing that person is either Nicholas or Cheryl, just wants to make you out to be the bad person but that's kinda hard and anyone who has been around you should know that was a shut piece of an article with no base," she continued.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, but why? Why now?" It was going to take more than twenty minutes of Rhona being nice to me to change my mind about her.

I saw a fleeting change in her eyes of what looked like hurt before she started speaking again. "I don't know. It's probably because I've always secretly liked you and the recent happenings has not only made me uncomfortable but also made me angry on your behalf especially how my brother has treated you in the past."

She had a point, but 'always secretly liked me?' How? When? Where?

"Did you say you liked me?"

"Yeah, I did. It was just really hard to admit that to myself seeing as my brother had rejected the person I originally wanted him to be with and was pining after another random person. The jealousy I felt was a tad bit understandable and by the time I realized I wanted to be friends with you, I had gone too far and realized the best thing to do was stay out of your way."

The more she spoke about how she felt towards me, the more against my better judgment I let my guard down. Rhona had a very persuasive and charming personality one could hardly turn down.

"So you're saying you want to be friends?" I queried, not fully convinced but wanting to give her a chance to right her wrongs.

"If you want me, I'll be glad." The enthusiasm in her voice could convince anyone of anything.

I stuck out my little hands for a mock handshake. "Friends, then."

She grabbed them and instead gave me a very warm hug that almost made me start crying.

I honestly haven't figured out why she was being this nice to me but I simply needed someone in the house on my side. If the universe had sent her to me then I wasn't going to reject her because I was being skeptical.

"Do you want to tell me exactly what happened when Craig first saw the article? What was his reaction? I need to know the details so I can figure out a way to help," she proffered.

The soft and warm look in her eyes as she sat on my pink frilly bedsheets looking at me like a little puppy made me want to tell her the story of my life as I remembered it.

"It was as though he had no grace to give me, at least that was how I felt at the time. No, oh is this true? there was no, hey I want to hear your side of the story. Nothing. He just went full war mode. I was literary struggling to speak to him. Next thing I know we packed and went back to Paris." The hurt in my voice betrayed my emotions. I wanted to come off as cool and unaffected but I was near tears.

"I tried talking to him, but he wasn't prepared to listen. Eventually, I decided to let it go. If he wanted to fight then war it is," I finished.

"I know my brother and I know he can be a bit of a strong head but I feel he would come around eventually. I just really felt you were getting backlash for nothing just because someone wasn't happy you got what they wanted. I also wanted to let you know I'm here for you for as long as you need me."

I felt her concern wash over me. I wasn't yet sure if it was coming from a good place but I was glad to have her. I made a mental note to use her help if I ever needed it.

"Thank you so much. Your concern means the world to me," I said, slowly loosening up.

"I'm always here and I'll check in on you occasionally. For now, I need you to be strong and figure out a way to mend things with Craig. I know he loves you, hard too. I'll also put in a word for you when I can. Take care of yourself."

With that and a deep warm hug, she was gone, exactly as she came.

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"Hellooooo stranger!"

I'd been in full avoidant mode since I came back and hadn't even gotten a proper chance to link up with anyone. The one I felt the most guilty about was Jane and she confirmed how badly I had behaved when she picked on the first ring.

"I promise it's not me being a stranger. It's the number of things that have been happening simultaneously. I'm hanging onto dear life with a single thread," I tried to explain. Jane's superpower was understanding where everyone else was coming from.

The silence over the phone was concerning and made me a little scared.

"Jane, dear," I called out.

"I'm here. I'm just worried about all the trials you had to face these few days."

"You heard?"

"Yeah, I did. My first instinct was to shoot Nicholas on sight but I couldn't find him anywhere." Her humor was completely lost on me because I was trying to confirm that Jane was alright with me not checking in for the longest.

"Guess who came to check in to know how I'm holding up?" I screeched.

"Who, please?!"

"Rhona! The one and only Rhona of Paris," I carried on.

"What does she want this time?" Jane pressed, concerned.

"She said she wants to be friends."

"It's alright but I think you should be careful, like for real." Jane was the mother Hen, always looking after me.

I heard Jason crying in the other room.

"Jason wants his mommy. I'll call right back but really, I think she means well. I love you sugar, byeee."