Chapter 11 BREACH OF TRUST
Lena's room was the biggest she had ever seen in her life and the warmth called her in even more. She dropped the handbag that had been resting on her shoulders since she got down from the car and laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling as emptiness filled her heart.
Being in Rome for vacation, with one of the hottest men to walk the earth as her husband, was like a dream come true, but instead it felt like a burden, like something was missing.
She knew that she could never be happy, and even when she was in every position to be, it felt impossible.
She had no more debts to pay, no worries about losing her father's gallery, and had even become richer by millions, after signing the contract, but for some reason it was all pointless.
"I guess money doesn't bring happiness after all, I mean I want all this, but not in this way, not in this shameful way" She said to herself as tears formed like clouds in her eyes. She covered her face with both hands, feeling embarrassed by her recent choices.
While still in thought, her phone began to vibrate from her handbag and she got up in an instant, rushing over to get it.
"What the hell Lena, call me" the first message read. It was from her best friend Penny, and Lena suddenly remembered in shock that she still had a lot to deal with.
"What is this I hear about you getting married?" The second text read, as more kept entering.
"Not just married, but to Ethan Sinclair? Girl whattttttt" it was obvious Penelope was freaking out and Lena knew she was in trouble.
"I also heard from the gallery that you were asked to move out, but have completely cleared your debts. Why didn't you tell me about that?"
Before that,how did you raise that amount of money pay? Well that can happen with Ethan as your husband, but how did he become your husband in the first place?" Another message came in again as Lena just stood there reading all of them in silence.
"What is going on Lena, are you safe? Are you still alive? Call me right now." The last text came in before it finally went silent.
Penelope had been away on vacation with her little cute boyfriend when it all happened, and had returned to see her friend's world already in so many tangles.
Lena paced around the room thinking of what to do. She was caught between telling Penny the truth, or just lying to her like everyone else and saying that she was in love and it happened so fast.
She had signed a confidential contract and no one was allowed to know the truth except her, Ethan and Hugo.
She looked at the texts one more time and decided to call.
"Lena, what the hell you got me really scared for a minute" Penelope said as soon as she picked the call.
"I'm fine, Penny, there's no reason to be scared," Lena replied, smiling lightly.
Penelope had always been very protective of her since they were kids and had always supported her in every situation.
She had kept the fact that she was asked to vacate the gallery from her, hoping she would not cancel her trip because of it, seeing that she had done that a lot for her in the past during the death of her father, and had gotten into fights with her boyfriend because of it.
"I mean I don't trust these billionaires, they could be a cult for all I know, or be involved in some voodoo dark." She said being as sincere as anyone could be, while being worried at the same time.
"Oh my God penny" Lena shouted, laughing at the vudu part.
"I'm serious, what happened, how on earth did you get married without me knowing, and to a sinclair? Spill everything right now, or I'll fucking come there and make you talk." Penny was drowning in so much curiosity, but it wasn't coming off as cute to Lena who was already too confused.
"Look Penny, it's been a lot for me these past few days and right now I'm not even in the country, and" she wanted to explain, but Penelope cut her short with her continuous blabbing.
"Yh I know silly, you're in Rome for your honeymoon" Penny said
"How did you know that?" Lena asked, forgetting the most crucial thing
"Hurh, your face is all over the magazines and internet Lena, you're more like a celebrity now, how crazy is that" Penny replied again, she was still freaking out.
"Oh my God those stupid paparazzi, I hate that they are always in my face."
"Anyways, I promise that when I get back, I'll come see you and I'll explain everything, now is not just the right time," Lena said, trying to dismiss friend and give herself enough time to think about what the best solution would be.
"Lena!" Penny shouted knowing exactly what hat lean was getting to do.
"Penny i'm being for real, it's not something I can say over the phone alright. I will come see you I promise" Lena said again as inning her left palm on her forehead, she was exhausted.
"So how long are you in Rome for?" Penny asked, trying to change the topic, before hitting back harder. A trick she always used for Lena, a truck that always seems to work.
"I don't know, I think a week or two" Lena replied calmly, but could already sense it, she knew her friend so well.
"What is Ethan like? Is he nice? I heard he was cold as ice, and very mean too, does he treat you nice?" Penelope asked, striking at once so impatiently as she was dying to hear something, anything at all.
"Penny, I have to go, I promise I'll see you when I get back" Lena was done talking, she knew that staying on the phone longer would cause her to break and give in and she didn't know yet whether or not to tell her friend the truth.
"Don't you fucking cut this call, don't you dare, Lena" penny shouted as Lena instantly cut the call on her, and threw her phone on the bed.
"I seriously need a drink." She said, taking off her clothes, and moving towards the bathroom.