Chapter 2 be more assertive.

"Oh my gosh! Des!" Natalie ran over to Desmonda and hugged her tightly, careful to make sure they weren't being watched.

After letting Des soak in the comfort of a best friend's hug, she pulled back and assessed her friend's tired face and turtleneck-covered torso with a frown. "Did he really strangle you?"

Des shook her head to indicate she didn't want to talk about it here and Natalie nodded in understanding.

As an A-list actress herself, Natalie more than anyone understood how damaging rumours were and if anyone caught the tail end of their conversation or managed to glimpse the fractured expression on Des's face before she could mask it with fake joy, everything she was trying to keep in place could easily come crashing down.

And only God knew what Freddie would do if that happened.

Natalie linked their arms and led Des past the tables occupied by wealthy patrons to a small booth tucked away in the corner.

"I probably should have picked another restaurant huh?" Natalie said with an apologetic smile.

"It's fine," Des replied, glancing around the elegant interior of the most luxurious lounge in Capital City.

Amour was known for many things, rich patrons, expensive food and a spot where paparazzi lingered around in search of the latest scoop on Arindale's biggest socialites and executives. It wasn't the place Desmonda would have picked for the type of conversation she wanted to have with Natalie, but it was better than being cooped up within the four walls of her and Freddie's suite.

"Two margaritas," Natalie said to the waitress, then rattled off a long list of food items she wanted brought to their table.

"Are you planning on feeding the entire lounge?" Desmonda said with a short laugh, nothing felt funny to her.

Natalie chuckled when the waitress left and slipped out her phone from her purse, the bright grey eyes that'd earned her a good chunk of her fame were fixed on her phone. "I just thought food would be the easiest way to cheer you up, you know?"

Desmonda winced at that and subtly pinched the skin of her arm. Freddie's words came back to her. 'Ugly...' he was right, she was ugly. Ugly and fat, with short dark hair, dull brown eyes and ridiculously, disproportionate curves, the complete opposite of skinny, blonde Natalie, with her perfect body.

He was right, she was undeserving of him, she should have seen it sooner.

"I'm not hungry," she muttered and tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.

Natalie looked away from her phone with a frown and slowly set it down. "Des, tell me what happened..."

And she did. She made an effort to suppress the tears that threatened to flow and kept her voice steady, but merely recounting the events of this morning, broke her heart all over again.

After everything she'd invested into their relationship, all the plans she'd made, he still saw her as nothing more than the fat, ugly child that'd clung to him when they were children, only now they were engaged and she was keeping from the one he truly loved.

"Do you know who he's cheating on your with?" There was an edge to Natalie's voice when she asked this.

"No, her face was well hidden," she replied with shrugged shoulders. Even if her face wasn't hidden, Des had no intention of looking for the girl.

"Damn it," Natalie pressed her lips together and glared at the table when Des finished. "And he really won't let you break off the engagement."

"No," she pursed her lips. "And even if he did, there's a contract..."

"A what?" Natalie paused when the waitress came back with their food, she took the glasses of margaritas and then waved her away. "Take them back, we're not hungry."

The waitress blinked in shock. "I'm sorry Miss Marshall, but we can't just-"

"I said take them back!" She snapped at her. "You clearly know who I am and you dare to go against my instruction? You can eat them yourself, we don't want them anymore."

The waitress looked torn and embarrassed.  Desmonda felt bad, were it another place, people would have cussed Natalie out for how terribly she was treating the staff, but this was Amour and Natalie wasn't just anyone.

"We'll pay for it anyway, you can keep them," Desmonda spoke up in a gentle voice.

The waitress nodded shakily then scurried off while Natalie just glared as she ran off.

She rolled her grey eyes. "You're too nice, especially to low-born people like her."

"Natalie," Des whispered.

"No seriously, you need to learn to be more assertive, if you were Freddie wouldn't dare say such things to you," she rolled her eyes. "You let people walk over you way too much."

"I..." Des didn't know what to say to that.

"Anyway," Natalie continued. "You were talking about a contract."

"Yes, well, Freddie's parents wanted our engagement to be as fair as possible and like Freddie they're as obsessed with their image so they drafted a contract that technically binds me to him for the next six years," she explained.

Natalie leaned forward. "And there's no way out of it?"

"None..." she thought for a moment then sighed. "Well, there is one way... If Freddie's stepmother allows it."

"That witch," Natalie shrieked, then cleared her throat. "Oh Des, she hates you."

"I know," Desmonda massaged her temples, trying to melt away the stress that was there. "But I still have to try. I spoke to her secretary before coming here to see you, I'm going to see her tomorrow."

"And if she agrees... you'll be free Des," Natalie said eagerly.

"Yes but... what will I tell my parents? They'll be so disappointed. This marriage was supposed to help out company, it was supposed to open doors we couldn't open ourselves," she tilted her head down to hide the anguish on her face. "I'm failing them by doing this."

Desmonda always felt like a failure. She felt that as an adopted child she should be doing more to prove herself worthy of her parents and worthy of being chosen. But she had never managed to do that, she was an okay student, an okay soccer player, an okay dancer. She was okay, nothing marvellous or talented or useful as they probably hoped she'd be, and the one chance she had to prove herself as every single one of these things, she was throwing it away.

Maybe she was being too emotional, maybe she should suck it up.

"Hey," Natalie reached forward and placed her hand over hers. "You're worth more than whatever business advantage you bring to your parents, I'm sure they'll understand your reason for breaking the engagement off."

She whispered after a while, "He was everything to me."

Natalie stared at her for an even longer moment then smiled.  "You're strong, Des. You'll be fine without him anyway."

She sucked in a breath and nodded, smiling gratefully at her friend.

Natalie could be rough around the edges and a little spoiled, but she was Des's best friend, the only girl at their school who hadn't bullied her relentlessly for no reason, she'd been the first person who had shown her any actual kindness and continued to do so.

Natalie's phone pinged and she quickly looked down at it. A smile touched her face and she quickly replied to whoever had messaged her.

"Is that mystery man?" Desmonda asked teasingly.

"Yep! We've been talking a lot more these days, we even went out a couple of times," she said in an excited voice. "He's introducing me to his family soon..."

"Really?" she perked up and clapped excitedly for her friend.

Mystery Man was the guy Natalie had been seeing for the past three months. Natalie didn't want to share his name because he was some big-shot executive who didn't want anyone to know they were together until he was ready. Natalie had complained about his need for secrecy a while ago, and had gone through phases about doubting their relationship.

Desmonda had supported their relationship from the onset, she gave her advice when she was nervous and encouraged her in her pursuit of him, she was glad to see that her friend was finally getting some peace in her relationship. Even if her own love life was shitty, she'd be fine as long as Natalie was fine.

"Things must be getting pretty serious," Des said and smiled even brighter. "I'm happy you're happy Natalie."

"Thank you," she smiled back. "You'll meet him soon, don't worry, he's warming up to the idea of me introducing you two."

"I'd love that," she replied and the two continued to chat for a while until Desmonda felt at ease enough to return to the hotel.