His Personal Assistant

50. | A Break

My phone rings, stirring me from my sleep. I groan, answering it as I check the time. "Why are you calling me at three in the morning?"

"So, I did something bad. Like, really, really bad." I sit up straight in my bed, rubbing my face. "I may have recommended Naomi to get Naomi drinks with Mason, but he was supposed to be getting better and he said he was trying to stop drinking, but he's inside this frat party with Naomi right now and they're, like, beyond wasted, and I'm really scared for them—"

"Woah, woah." I stop her rambling. "Lindsey, take a deep breath." She does. "Now what happened?"

"Naomi is like black-out drunk with Mason and it's really bad. Mason has already tried to get into a fight with multiple people and— Oh, my god, Naomi, stop!" She yells. "Naomi, stop!"

"Come on! Live a littllllllle." I hear Naomi slur through the phone.

"No! Alcohol is one thing, but drugs are entirely different! Don't fall down the wrong path, Naomi!"

Drugs? She's doing drugs?

"Lindsey!" I yell into the phone as I toss the covers off of my body. "Lindsey!"

"I'll send you the place." She says before she hangs up the phone. I sigh, throwing on a pair of sweats and a hoodie.

As I do, I dial another number. "Maya? There's something you need to know about Mason."

***

I park outside of the large house, lights flashing and music blaring. How did they even manage to get into a college party?

I jump out of the car and rush to the front steps, where Lindsey sits with her head in her hands. "Lindsey!" I call.

Her head snaps up before she's running to me. "I'm sorry it's so late. But you're the only one she'll listen to and I didn't know what else to do." She breathes heavily and raises a hand to her head, her hand shaking.

"Hey, are you okay? You're shaking."

"Yeah...uhm...it's just— a-a-a friend of mine...overdosed, in highschool. And I just—" I lay a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"It's okay. I don't need you to tell me." She smiles shakily at me.

"Lynn." Her head whips to the side.

She looks back at me and I smile slightly. "Go. I got this." Immediately, she takes off running, straight into his arms. I turn back to the house where I find Mason and Naomi laughing on the steps.

God, they're gonna hate me in the morning.

Naomi gasps. "Rhyyyyysssss." She grins, leaning back on the railing.

"Uh, ohhhh. Here comes the fun police." Mason retorts, causing them both to break out into laughter.

"Alright. Come on, you two." I walk to them, but they shake their heads. I sigh, exasperated and tired. "There's alcohol in my car." Their eyes light up, and they jump up, running to my car. I unlock it and once they're safely inside, I lock the car.

I unlock my door singularly and climb in, starting the car. "Where's the alcohol?" Mason asks from the backseat. Naomi climbed in the front passenger seat.

"There is none."

"It was a traaaaaapppp." Mason flops onto the backseat dramatically. I roll my eyes.

It's going to be a very long night.

Waking up, I feel disoriented. I look around the room, then sigh, dropping my head back down. Damn it.

I groggily sit up, Rhys sitting on the coffee table. "What, no hangover remedy this time?"

"No." I raise a brow. "Because I'm not going to keep healing you when you do something stupid."

I lean back against the couch, my head pounding. "Gee, way to put it lightly."

"There's nothing to put lightly. You got high and drunk last night. Are you trying to become an alcoholic? Or a drug addict? Because that's the route you're headed." There's a bite in his tone.

"You're angry." I state plainly.

"Yeah." He nods. "I am angry. Because you think alcohol and drugs will fix all your problems."

"I don't think that—"

"Then why do you do it? You can't keep showing up at my door, drunk off your ass, because something doesn't go your way!" My head throbs, and I rub my temples.

"Please, stop yelling. I have a headache."

"I'm sure you do." He comments snidely. He sighs, turning to the floor. "I'm laying you off."

"What?" I look directly at him.

"I didn't want to do it, but I can't keep doing this without you facing the consequences."

"What about the fundraiser?"

"I think it'll be okay for a few days." He crosses his arms. I scoff, turning away from him. Just putting me further behind on work. "Naomi," I turn back, finding him staring at the floor again. "I want you to do therapy."

"Are you paying for it?" I raise a brow.

He shrugs. "If I have to."

I sit up straighter. "Wait, you're serious?"

"Deadly."

I furrow my brows. "Why?"

"Because of your trauma, Naomi. You're acting on your impulses. You need help, Naomi. Find a healthier way to heal."

"I don't—" I stop as Maya hurries down the stairs. "Maya?" I move to the edge of the couch. "Maya."

She turns to me, her eyes glossy. "I don't even want to talk to you right now."

"Maya." She rushes to the elevator. "Maya, wait!" I stand up, but my head spins. "Woah."

"Careful." Rhys catches me before I can fall. "I'll go get some tylenol." He walks into the kitchen, Mason coming down the stairs and finding a seat in one of the chairs. He leans back with his head on his hand.

"What happened?" I ask him.

He sighs. "I told her I was gonna stop drinking, and she found out about this, and now she doesn't want a relationship with me unless I go to rehab."

"Why did you agree if you were stopping?" I whisper as Rhys comes back with two glasses.

"Because I wasn't going to let it get as bad as it did. But then I couldn't stop, so I didn't." He shrugs, taking the other glass Rhys offers with the pills.

"So I made you relapse?"

"No, you didn't make me—"

"Don't lie." I frown.

"I made the choice to go. Not you."

"Take the medicine, Naomi." Rhys orders before stepping away, typing on his phone. Probably looking for a therapist.

God, what has my life become? I might've just ruined both mine and my best friend's relationships. Maybe a break is what I need.