The Millionaire's 'Friend' - Natasha's Story

Chapter 13 - Fliss's Confession

Thursday flew around in no time at all. When the doorbell rang, at exactly 7pm, my heart leapt into my mouth and butterflies fluttered excitably in my stomach. Fliss squealed from her bedroom and peeked around her door at me in the living room; where I'd already been waiting patiently for at least half an hour. She'd been so excited we'd started getting ready around four o'clock. My simple make up and quick blow out easily trumped her full beauty regime. You'd think she was an Oscar nominee preparing for her big day with the full salon experience.

"Nearly done?" I asked optimistically, taking in her fully applied make up.

She pulled a face at me and swung the door open to show me that, although her face and hair were done, she was still wrapped in a large baby blue bath towel, and had toe separators wedged in her feet.

"Not long, I promise."

Thankfully, the driver of our own private limo seemed in no hurry to get on, and happily sat in his car waiting for his charges to finally appear.

The traffic was predictably problematic, but we made steady progress towards the biggest night of our lives. Not that I was in any rush. It was too entertaining watching Fliss twitch and shuffle around the limo, like she had itching powder down her dress. She caught me giggling at one point and screwed her face up at me.

"Don't tell me you're nervous Felicity Reeves?"

"Hell no! I'm too excited to be nervous."

That much was evident. She just couldn't sit still. She was perched right on the edge of one of the long leather seats, and her nails were clinging onto the soft cushioning as though her life depended on it. She looked like a greyhound ready to fly out of the trap. Though, there was tension in her eyes that seemed oddly out of place.

"Are you sure you're ok?" I asked again five minutes later. This time she peered at me rather sheepishly; a look that made my stomach suddenly knot.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten the tickets?"

"Nope, they're in my bag." She replied quietly; but the hand she used to pat her matching emerald clutch was shaking a little.

"Fliss?"

"Well, there is something....." She said mysteriously, sighing breathlessly as though she'd suddenly made a decision.

"Oh?"

"Ok....promise you won't get mad."

I immediately stilled and narrowed my eyes.

"Clearly you think I'm going to be mad, so I make no such promise."

"Well, it's just, if I tell you now, hopefully you'll be less mad at me and more mad at someone else."

"Fliss, what are you babbling about?"

"Ok, look. I didn't win these tickets at work."

"Okaaayyy." I said, suspicion gripping me like a vice.

"Or the dress. Or the fancy limo. In fact, this stuff has absolutely nothing to do with me." She paused and gulped hard. "It's more to do with you."

I don't know what made the face of a handsome, blue eyed playboy leap into my mind, but something told me instantly that I'd hit the nail on the head.

"Felicity Reeves. If the name 'Evan Cole' is about to cross your lips then you're dead."

She grimaced and peeked at me innocently from under her heavily mascaraed lashes.

"Welllll...."

"Oh my God." I gasped as though I'd just been winded. My body tensed on reflex, and my heart thumped so hard it felt like it was trying to break free of my chest.

"Are you mad?" Fliss asked, scooting across to my side of the limo and poking at me tentatively. I was too busy grinding my teeth to answer immediately, but eventually growled, "Yes."

"Right. But how mad? Like, on a scale of one to ten."

"Twenty three."

"Bollocks." Fliss slumped heavily into the thick leather seat. "Well, look it's too late now. We're half way there and there's no way you're gonna drag me away from the biggest night of our lives."

I had to concede she was right there. Most people who are taken hostage under false pretences are on their way to be kept prisoner in a basement somewhere. I was being treated to a glitzy night of social splendour – all at someone else's expense. I'd be mad to turn it down. Well, I was mad.....but I suppose it's a different kind of mad.

"Anyway," Fliss continued, "you're more pissed at him, right? Not me?"

I thought about it for a second and had to admit my annoyance was definitely aimed more at Cole. Even though Fliss was my best friend and shouldn't have conspired against me behind my back.

"Fliss, I told him something like this wasn't necessary. What he heard was - go behind my back, rope in my best friend and plan some ridiculous charade."

I ground my teeth together as my more endearing memories of those soft blue eyes turned into those stiff, smug ones.

"He's just doing this to get me off his conscience. It's typical of someone like him. So much money he doesn't know what to do with it. Guess that makes me this week's charity case."

Fliss winced. "Kinda."

"Terrific! He's gonna be so smug." I seethed.

"Smug? You don't think he'll just be glad he was able to do something nice for you."

"No! I think he'll be smug!" I growled once more.

"Jeez, what is it with you and this guy? Why can't you just accept his nice gesture? All he wanted to do was say thank you properly."

"You're starting to sound like Cole."

"Well, maybe I think it's a good thing."

I ignored Fliss and tried to think of how to handle the situation. Fliss fell silent and left me to plot quietly on my own. It didn't take long for a plan to take root.

"I'm guessing you weren't supposed to tell me this?" I turned and eyed her as she fidgeted with the buckle on her new bag. She'd shrunk back into her seat like a child who'd just done something naughty and been caught out.

"Erm, no."

"Hmmm." I smirked as I felt the power shift back into my hands.

"Uh-oh. I know that look."

"Oh yes?"

"What are you planning?"

"Cole thought he could take charge. Well, we'll see about that. As far as he knows I'm clueless about all this stuff, right?"

"Right." She answered sceptically.

"And, it's going to stay that way. You're not going to let onto him that you told. Ok?"

"Oh God, you're gonna mess with him aren't you."

"Damn right." I replied confidently, and once more looked forward to the evening with considerably renewed relish.