C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 26 - Girls' Night

'James and Dmitri are dating. James and Dmitri. Dating. Jamie. Dmitri. Together. A couple. An item. A literal thing.' Katherine couldn't believe it when she first got the text from James that simply read, "Not a word. Dmitri and I are something now. He confessed first, by the way." Her heart felt as if it popped.

She's running down the hallway, hurrying to Tamara's room. She doesn't even knock, turning the handle and letting herself in, the door miraculously left unlocked, and she finds Tamara hanging her evening's dress on the mannequin. She startles upon Katherine's arrival, but welcomes her with a smile.

"Hey, girl!" She starts. "What's up?"

Katherine takes both of Tamara's hands in hers. "They're dating now."

Her eyes widen. "You mean..." Katherine nods enthusiastically.

In an instant, they squeal and bounce on their heels like teenagers at their favorite boyband concert.

"So who popped the question first?" Tamara quickly asks.

"It was your boss!" Katherine laughs in victory. "Which means I won the bet and you owe me now."

Tamara rolls her eyes. "Ugh! Why does Dmitri have to be so bold sometimes?" Her smile returns anyhow. "But I'm happy for him. For them. Like finally!"

"I know!" She grins along. Katherine never thought things would happen so soon, especially when James told her just this morning that he's never had feelings for Dmitri despite their beneficial affair. Typical of James to be in such denial. She feels fulfilled it's happened anyhow.

James deserves that much, at least, something good to distract him from the fact he's being hunted down.

She and Tamara are still working on that.

Then, a knock interrupts their little celebration.

"I'll get it," Tamara says and heads to the door. Katherine peers over Tamara's shoulder to see who it is as she opens up the door.

To their surprise, it's Selene. And the smile she usually dawns is absent.

"Hey, girls." She starts, a smile peers in, but only for a second. "Can I come in? Just for a second. I, uh..." - she glances away - "I don't have anyone else to go to, honestly."

Katherine and Tamara exchange thoughtful looks. They don't need to contemplate for long when it comes to helping a girl out. It's Selene Star for crying out loud. The cheerful and professional hostess, the face of Middlemist, the gal that lights up the room whenever she steps in it. She's unknowingly helped them too.

Even if the culprit turned out to be her boyfriend.

"Come on in," Katherine takes Selene's wrist gently and leads her inside. She was about to spill what had happened between James and Dmitri to get her in on the fun, but then decided not to when she remembers James telling her their relationship should still be kept on the down low.

"Girl! That ceremony was fun, wasn't it?" Tamara then laughs as to lighten up the mood. "Dmitri was seriously so insistent on making it completely professional and high-class and sophisticated and stuff, but I told him the guests would have much more fun and would be more excited about the collaboration if we added a DJ and a pool table and-" She stops abruptly, face dropping. "I, um... I'm sorry for replacing your role as host. Is that what... you're mad at?"

Selene is sat by the bed, and she gives her a sad smile, shaking her head. "No, not at all. You don't even have to apologize for that. I think you did great. That's... not what I'm here for."

"Oh," Tamara says, evidently glad she's not the reason for Selene's down-turned smile, though a concern is still present on her face. She sits next to her, while Katherine takes the other side. "Then what's up?"