OUR LITTLE SECRET

Part 65

The following morning, Cillian had to get up early again for the filming and you decided to spend a day in town with Mara, leaving early as well.

On your way to the local tram station, you swung by the local coffee shop to get a drink and a croissant, and this is when you saw her again, Annabelle, walking into the shop with another woman in tow, chatting away happily.

"I honestly do not know what Cillian even sees in her. She is so bland and too young to have any kind of experience, you know," she was saying, not noticing your presence in the corner.

"But they had a kid together, Belle. So, no matter what, she will stick around even if you get your chance with him," the other woman replied, rolling her eyes.

Your grip on your coffee cup tightened, the heat making the ceramic burn your hand as you listened in on their conversation. But it wasn't just the words that pierced through you, but the way she said them. It was disrespectful and you were worried about her intentions.

"I honestly think that he is just keeps her around because of the kid. There is no way that he would actually be in love with her," Annabelle retorted back, not noticing the blush on your cheeks from the nearby corner whish is when, finally, the barista called out to Annabelle, letting her know that her coffee was ready.

As she picked up her coffee from the counter, she noticed your presence out of the corner of her eye and she smiled curtly at you.

"Hey, good morning, Y/N," she said in passing, heading out of the coffee shop before you could even respond. "Big day on set today," she cheered on, and you let out a huff of frustration, feeling a cold dread settling at the pit of your stomach.

"That's bullshit," you muttered under your breath. A flicker of annoyance flashed across your face, and you did what you would usually do in an instance like this. You called your best friend Emma and asked her for advice after telling her that, just last night, Cillian and you rekindled your romance before mentioning Annabelle and her antics.

"Oh, I knew it! I knew you would get back together," Emma exclaimed, her voice vibrating with excitement on the other end of the phone call. "This is exactly what you needed!" she added, her tone warm and comforting.

"I suppose it is," you confirmed, still stewing over the encounter with Annabelle. "But then why on earth am I so goddamn jealous all of a sudden."

"Because he did cheat and because there are rumors about them, so I would say it is understandable," Emma reasoned and you kept on vending.

"I suppose you are right," you said again before taking a quick pause and then continuing. "She's so fucking unbearable though, Em and I cannot just stand for it," you sighed as you paced around your newly shared home. "I mean, I know I can't control who Cillian films with, and I won't be making a scene, but she just seems so manipulative and insincere, it worries me."

"I know Y/N," Emma said, her voice coming through the phone loud and clear. "And here is what you are going to do," she added, her voice brimming with determination. "You are going to call Cillian to see whether he could show you and Mara around on set today and when he does, you will mark your territory," Emma emphasized, her voice just a little louder with every word. "Make yourself known as his girlfriend. Give him a little PDA and a big passionate kiss, right in front of her," Emma said, and you could almost imagine her wagging her finger at you.

You couldn't help but laugh at her fierce tone. "Oh god, I am not this kind of girlfriend, Em. Cillian would know something is up if I did that," you replied, a little worried about the plan Emma just proposed to you.

"Well, you either do that or you confront her at his workplace and make a huge scene. Because you are not going to let her disrespect you like that, are you?" Emma's tone was stern and even a little disappointed in you for not sticking up for yourself.