01

« Iris ! Stop avoiding us for heaven’s sake and try to have some fun for once ! »

Grabbing a glass of the Perrier-Jouet Champagne I’ve become so acquired to, I turn, annoyed by just the sound of my former friend’s voice. Gwyneth and I have always been close- I even offered her a job- making her my key designer. But what I’ve been too ignorant to see- and what she still doesn’t realize I found out about- is that she’s been screwing my boyfriend of two years for over six months now.

And you know what, Marcus has always been too good to be true. He owns a law firm, a really large, successful law firm in New York. I should have known then that he’d cheat. I’m always away. My business has taken off- I’ve now expanded from just New York and California to Paris, London, Tokyo and Sydney. Toronto’s on the way soon- so, yes, I’ve been occupied with other things but I’ve been faithful. I’ve tried to see him as much as I could. We see each other at least once a week.

And our sex life isn’t lacking or at least I thought I wasn’t. I was wrong, I guess.

I’ve been actually wondering how I’m going to even confront them but for now, just staring at her face makes me want to scream- out her to everyone. Considering she’s at a party for my birthday, I don’t think they’d take to her well.

I move closer to the group of women huddled together, aware of the stares. It’s something I’ve grown used to- men staring as I walk by. I started out modeling very young, having received a break by someone merely passing by me on the streets of New York, someone who worked at Vogue. I’ve never known what it’s like to be unnoticeable- what it’s like to walk down a street without paparazzi.

I’ve also never known what it’s like to be loved just for being me. It’s a fact that has my heart becoming more bitter and isolated everyday.

I exhale, downing the rest of my drink, barely listening to their conversations.

« Iris, tell us about your new line. I can’t wait to see it ! » Elizabeth exclaims, entwining her arm with mine. « I’m wearing your dress now, did you notice ? »

« Yes, I did… It looks lovely on you, » I murmur, smiling softly.

What’s a good excuse to leave your own party early ?

« Well ? » she questions after a moment of silence.

« What ? »

« Your line ? »

« Honestly, Iris, where are you right now ? » Gwyneth chuckles across from me, crossing her arms over her chest. My glare is lethal. I bite my tongue and look back down at Elizabeth hanging off me.

« You know I can’t reveal anything. I’m really excited for it though, » I murmur quietly, touching her hand. She smiles wide, groaning.

« I hate secrets ! »

I glance over at Gwyneth, nodding. « Yes, so do I… Excuse me. »

I turn, resting my cup on a server’s silver tray and walk to the table to grab my clutch. There are so many people here there is barely enough room to walk.

« What the hell is going on, Iris ? »

Bent over, my eyes flicker to the red tablecloth as I ponder my next move. I decided to stand up straight, turning to face Gwyneth. Her green eyes are narrowed, her red lips pressed together tightly.

I resist laughing.

At my silence, she begins again. « I mean, here you are- we threw this party for you and you’re just sitting around as if you’d rather be somewhere else. As if this weren’t good enough for you ! »

« Why are you acting like you did the groundwork to set up this party ? »

She’s taken aback- I take pleasure in it.

« Why are you acting like this ? »

« Tell me, Gwen, how long have we been friends ? »

« Six years. »

« Exactly, who got you your first modeling gig ? Your first job ? Who gives you your source of income ? »

She stares at me silently. I watch the wheels rapidly turning in her brain as she tries to figure out if I actually know what she’s too scared to reveal.

I shake my head, chuckling ; figuring out it’s not even worth it. I skirt around her, picking up my gown.

« Iris, let’s talk about this ! Let me explain. »

I spin, stopping her with a gesture of my hand. « You’ve been fucking my boyfriend. We have nothing to talk about. As of today, you are my employee- we are no longer friends. You’d do well to remember that. »

I pull my arm from her grasp, grinding my teeth as I bound around the tables, desperate to make it out of these confining doors.

…

I lean my head back against the brown leather headrest, safe in the confines of my limo. I blow out a breath, reaching up to take my hair down.

« God, I hate hairspray, » I mutter as my fingers get caught in the tangles of my brown waves.

« You sound like you hate pretty much anything right now, » Viktor murmurs sarcastically from the front. I narrow my eyes at one of the only people I actually trust with everything in this world. A man who’s with me 24/7- my very outspoken assistant.

« Wouldn’t you ? »

He turns in the passenger seat, glancing over at my driver briefly before pinning me with his crystal blues. « Honey, you knew Marcus was a pig. »

« No, I didn’t ! »

« Yeah, secretly, deep down you did. When you met him, you had me search into his past relationships. You never trusted him. »

« I hoped he would be different. I’ve been with him for two damn years. »

« I know, baby, I know. » He reaches out through the partition, flexing his hand. A reluctant smile forms on my face as he hums, raising his eyebrows as he waits. With a groan, I reach out, grabbing his hand.

« I need a burger. »

His bleach blonde hair shades his eyes and I’m momentarily stunned by his natural beauty. I hired him on the spot when he showed up at the interview six years ago, sporting painted nails. His personality was so blatantly flamboyant and- so inviting. I immediately loved him- and thankfully, he didn’t make me regret my choice.

He’s been my assistant and friend since I was a teenager.

« You got it. » He smiles, nodding.

…

I deposit my clutch onto the couch with a sigh, forced to look around my apartment. Marcus has lived with me for almost a year now. We made the commitment to this glorious two-story, dozen room mansion in upstate New York and now, I have no idea how I’m going to refill it after I get rid of all his shit.