Page 1 of Legally Yours

1

CASSANDRA

When I transferred to the Anderson Modeling Agency, I was looking for a career. I never imagined I would find a husband there, too. Sometimes things happen for a reason, I guess, and now that reason is on his way to my bachelorette party because he obviously can’t spend a night without me.

I look at the ring on my finger and smile. Modeling has been fun, but it was only ever a way to earn enough for myself and my family. Being part of a big New York agency meant I was able to do that. Though I didn’t expect to fall for one of the managers there, I did, and things have changed.

Now that I have David, I’m actually looking forward to leaving that part of my life behind me as I embark on a new one with him. Quitting modeling isn’t the negative move that many assume it is. I’m ready for a calmer, quieter life away from the stress, the photoshoots, and the bookings.

Building a home, and maybe even a family, is my focus now. Not only that, but I get to fulfill my goal of purchasing a convenience store for my parents with the money I’ve saved so that I can rest knowing they’re taken care of financially, too.

For the past two years, I’ve been selective about my projects, happy to pass over many of them as I slip slowly from the limelight. He’s my future now, and that’s all that matters to me.

“There he is!” shouts one of the girls as David appears in the hotel suite. “Time we left you two lovebirds to it.”

We’ve been going for hours – brunch, dinner, cocktails, and then the club, and it’s only now that I’m looking at the moon out of the window that I realize it must be far past midnight. I’m feeling the effects of all that liquor, while the remaining group of bachelorettes start to disappear, one by one.

That doesn’t include my best friend Emma, who smiles as David enters the room. It’s so good to see him here, but I’m so exhausted and more than a little drunk now, so I just rest my eyes for a second as I curl up on the sofa.

“Looks like the party went well,” he says.

“Oh, we’ve shown her a good time,” Emma quips back, her grin practically audible.

“I bet you have,” David replies. The way he says it turns my stomach and sharpens the edges of my mind that the alcohol has dulled.

“You look good tonight,” Emma says, her voice thick and low with desire. It’s an effort for my eyes not to fly open as I listen to this exchange – surely this can’t be what it sounds like!

“Shhh, she’ll hear you,” David mock whispers conspiratorially. My stomach hits the floor.

“She’s asleep,” says Emma. “All those margaritas mean that we can make the most of this hotel tonight.”

No!

Surely this can’t be happening. I want to get up and scream at them, but I can’t move. I am frozen with sadness, fear and anger, and in complete disbelief that this is even possible. My best friend and my fiance – how could they do this to me!

Reluctantly, I peer out from behind tired eyelids, and that’s when I see her kissing him. It’s the final dagger to my heart, or so I think. I’m trying my best to remain still, but my hands refuse, shaking with shock and emotion.

“Maybe,” he says, his voice full of lust. “But it’s her bachelorette, after all. I’m going down to the bar for a nightcap. Join me if you can, though.”

She kisses him again, and he leaves, which means I’m left with her. I hear her stride towards me, and I swallow hard. I am determined to hold myself together, which is the hardest thing I’ve ever done given that I feel as if I’m being ripped apart.

I continue pretending to be asleep, but I can sense the way she’s looking at me, as if her eyes are burning my skin with their glare. But I won’t let her know that she’s gotten to me. I don’t feel like I have much dignity left at this point, but I need to hold on to something.

“Aw! My poor best friend. It's your wedding day tomorrow! Do you think David will marry you?” She laughs like some villain from a movie, then walks away, leaving me shaken and bereft.

It’s like some bad cosmic joke and seems so unreal I actually question if someone has slipped something into my drink – because how is this even possible? I’m about to get married, I’ve given up my job, and the person I’ve done that for is cheating on me with my ‘best friend’.

Her laugh is still ringing in my ears. Who is she? Could I really have gotten it so wrong? I’ve never been the strong type, like so many in my industry, but I never realized I was such a pushover and so easily fooled.

I’m not sure if I’m angrier with them or myself. My mom has always said I’m too trusting for my own good. That it’s good to be kind and she’s proud of me because of it, but there are people out there who will take advantage. Well, she was right.

If I could, I’d get up. I’d follow and scream at her, or at least demand to know what’s going on. But I just don’t have it in me, and it seems obvious, anyway. All along I thought my life was mapped out since becoming engaged to David, when in reality it’s all been a lie.

It’s only when I know she’s gone and I’m completely alone that I allow the dam to break, the tears flooding down my face like never before. My heart is hammering, and my breaths are ragged as I try to make sense of this.

I truly thought Emma was my best friend. She has never been anything but kind and caring towards me – the last person I would expect to betray me. Well, not quite the last person. That would be David. Looks like I’ve never been more wrong in my judgment in my whole life.

Two people who have never shown me anything other than love and care are not the people I thought they were. Meanwhile, I’m left here betrayed, destroyed, and alone, while my best friend and the person I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with meet up together downstairs.

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