"Two gorgeous n storming out of your room angry in one day—actually in the space of minutes..."
Chelsea chuckled, eyes bright with mischief. "For soone who has had a dry love life for years, you are finally in your season."
Gianna pouted, lips pushing forward as her friends burst into laughter.
"I didn’t exactly ask for it," she said, voice edged with protest. "As a matter of fact, I would prefer the dry season now. I don’t need all this drama when my life is being threatened."
Chelsea shook her head slowly. "No. This drama is perfect. A good distraction, so you won’t think your head out of existence with scenarios of danger. So, embrace the drama."
Gianna’s teeth snagged on her upper lip as she considered her friend’s words, worry and reluctant amusent tangling in her chest.
To be fair, she thought, Chelsea wasn’t exactly wrong.
When she had kissed Noah, it had been—
Her cheek flad. She swallowed, cleared her throat, muttering a soft, traitorous damn under her breath when her friends’ eyes sharpened, instantly catching onto the shift.
"What? What are you thinking?" Areso jumped on the ride, leaning forward. "Did sothing happen?"
Gianna shook her head—too fast, too obvious—and Athena smiled imdiately. Sothing really had happened.
"Co on, talk to us, Gianna," Athena coaxed, voice smooth. "Did sothing happen between you and Noah, back in the hidden space that day?"
Gianna cursed Athena’s foresight in her mind, even as she watched her friends’ eyes widen in realization. Heat climbed her neck; she knew she was blushing.
"Tell us!" Chelsea scread. "C’mon!"
Gianna rolled her eyes, half mortified, half resigned. "We just kissed. Twice. Zane walked in on us."
For a second, there was shocked silence—thick, suspended—then Athena was howling with the others, laughter tearing out of her as she clutched her stomach.
The sound was infectious, ridiculous enough that Gianna found herself smiling despite herself.
Dramatic much?
"How have you been sitting on that gist without exploding?" Areso demanded between laughs.
"Well, I haven’t been sitting..." Gianna shot back at Areso, then gestured pointedly at her reclined state on the hospital bed. "I’ve been recovering..."
The sober expressions slithered back onto their faces, laughter dissolving into concern.
Gianna preferred them laughing. So she jibed them, lifting her brows.
"What do you think? Seeing as you three left in that room with Noah. The hell, guys—that was betrayal!"
Athena’s smile returned fast, genuine. "It’s as Chelsea said. You needed so distraction—and so loving too..."
Gianna frowned. "You don’t have misgivings about him again?"
Athena shrugged, unbothered. "I checked him out. He isn’t into anything troubleso. Just a businessman interested in you. Hopefully it’s for real, not so fleeting passion for the good of his business."
A pause, then softer. "All the sa, whichever he is, he’s good for distraction. And you have a good head on your shoulders."
Gianna wasn’t sure about that anymore.
She had defended Zane before him, and even though Noah had tried to make small talk afterward, everything had fallen flat. The air had thickened, weighted by sothing unsaid.
Still... how could she lie against Zane?
Not that she was interested in the idiot who was suddenly having a rethink, but her integrity wasn’t lacking in that aspect.
If she was going to bring Zane down, it would be fair—not on so murder bullshit.
"Well, he’s not happy right now," Gianna admitted, eyes drifting to the ceiling. "Thinks I’d rather defend Zane. Thinks there’s sothing there..."
She scoffed lightly. "He shouldn’t be worrying about that. Zane and I are old news."
"Yes..." Athena nodded slowly. "He’ll co around. Looks smitten with you. But Zane walking in on the two of you..."
She mimicked air rushing out of sothing—poof. "That’s crazy. Must have done a number on my children’s godfather."
And that was what made Gianna curious.
Why would that do a number on him? He was the chief of womanization, and a kiss was enough to send him reeling to the other edge?
"So, what are you going to do about the news?" Athena asked.
Gianna shrugged. "I’ll call Arthur to take down his statent."
Areso exchanged a glance with Athena. "Are you sure? You know that would be tantamount to submitting his own company to be criticized..."
She sighed. "He should have just kept his mouth shut."
Gianna bit on her lower lip. "We can push the bla on the emblem put on the site. Surely people would be understanding. It can—"
The door opened then, cutting her off mid-conversation.
Doctor Kent.
He smiled at them all, genial and brisk, administered Gianna’s drugs, then inford her that she had visitors waiting in the receptionist’s space right on the floor.
"Who?" Gianna’s brows furrowed. Maybe old Mr. Thorne and Florence? The kids would be in school at this ti.
"He says he’s your uncle. Clent Aldo. He’s here with his wife and daughter."
Gianna looked at her friends, then back at Kent. "Send them in, Doc. Thank you."
The mont he left, she turned to her friends. "Why do you think they’re here? To make more pleas, or to console ?"
"It could be any of those," Chelsea replied flatly. "The latter would be fake-ass though. That family can never sympathize with you. I think it’s the plea."
Gianna didn’t interrupt.
"You know with what happened at the convention, Sabrina was suspended from the company till further notice. And the company sued her too. So altogether, she has a lot of money to pay... add that to the one her father has to pay too..."
Chelsea let the statent hang.
Gianna caught on easily. A dry chuckle broke from her lips.
Of course. They were here to play caring family to swindle help from her.
When the door opened and revealed said family, she had a firm frown already in place—one that welcod them tensely into the already strained room.
Josephine was the first actor to play her role.
She scread like a banshee, face twisting into abject sorrow, and hurried toward Gianna—maybe to hug—but before she could get within hugging distance, Athena stepped neatly in front of her.
"No touching, please. She is still recovering..."
Gianna held back a satisfied smirk when Josephine’s expression faltered, just for a split second—vindictiveness flashing through before the woman snapped back into character.
She placed her hands on Athena’s arms, mimicking sobs.
"Oh my God... is she that hurt? Does her body hurt?"
"Oh my Gianna..."
Gianna winced. Literally.
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