Trusting Betrayal

Chapter 12

I apologize for any grammatical error. I will edit later:)

      "Hey baby". Bailey greeted Alexandra.

    "Hi". Lexie looked up from the file she was reading and smiled at her best friend's slightly mussed appearance.

      "What are you doing?"she plopped down on the sofa.

       "Reading?". Lexie replied sarcastically.

      "Sure. So,any news?". Bailey was unfazed.

      "On?". Lexie was confused.

      "Your pa. Have you heard from him?"

Lexie shook her head. "No. Nothing yet"

    Bailey sighed in relief and crossed her long legs. "Thank God! Guess what?"

     "What?". Lexie leaned forward eagerly.

      "I said guess." Bailey rolled her eyes.

      "Come on! I can't guess right now. Spill it"

       "Fine". She examined her newly manicured nails. "There's this expensive party going on and we are going to be in attendance" she squealed girlishly.

  Lexie just looked confused. "We? What party?"

Bailey smiled. "We, of course. Anthony is required to be there and he gave us invites.  So we are going to go"

Lexie looked very uncertain. "Who are the hosts?"

        "Um. The empires... I think." She tapped her nails on her thigh“Let
me check”. She drew out her phone “Yes. It is the Empires”. Bailey looked
up.   “Babe,we are gonna go no matter what. So, buckle down and wipe that  horrid expression on your face”.

   Without any word, she went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

      “Urgh!” Lexie sighed in frustration.

********************************************************
“Hey.Wake up”. Bailey tapped Lexie awake.

  “Huh?” Lexie groaned and turned on her side to continue her sleep.

“Go away” she slapped at Bailey’s hand.

“You wish. Come on. We have to get a dress and a make-over, so just
get that ass up and move it”

   Lexie didn’t reply.

“Do you want me to pour iced water on you?” Bailey threatened.

On hearing that threat. Lexie sat up immediately. “Don’t you dare"

Bailey just smiled. “If only. Seriously, Lexie, be a sport on this for once. It is just one night to dress up, no stress there” Bailey sat on the edge of the bed. “Fine. Do it for my sake then”she batted her lashes.

Lexie glared at her. She just wanted to sleep in for a day without any thought on her mind and now this?She had just received a mail from the Swanson Empire to attend the party. Bailey could pull a guilt trip, nevertheless, better than anyone she had ever known. “Fine”. Lexie
grumbled. “Just this once, Bailey”

Bailey squealed and hugged Lexie. “Come on. Go shower.We are going
shopping”

Lexie muttered darkly. “I have clothes”

Bailey hissed. “I know you do but this is a huge party not a grocery shop.”

After a moment, Bailey sat on the bed again and looked into Lexie’s eyes.
“I know you don’t want to go but give yourself a chance. You are so quiet
and withdrawn that I worry a lot for you. Relieve the burden you carry on
your shoulder for at least once. You are my best friend and I couldn’t ask
for more. It is just a night. Live a little, after all, you only live once, right?”

Alexandra smiled a little. “Fine. I already said okay. It is just a
party”. Lexie got up from the bed and stretched. “Let’s go shopping!”
******************************************************
Lexie took deep steadying breaths as she surveyed the Empire. Bailey
patted her on the back.

     “You can do this. Remember, it is just a party” she repeated reassuredly.

      “I know. I can do this”

Bailey smiled at her best friend. “Alright. So let’s do this”. Together, they walked to the front door. As they reached, the door swung open and Anthony rushed out, drawing Bailey and Lexie into a hug, kissing their cheeks.

  “Wow!”. Anthony stared at the two ladies, his gaze lingering on Lexie.
He had never seen her dressed like this. She was beautiful, exotically so
even. Too bad he was already with Bailey.
  Lexie shifted from one foot to the other. Bailey, noticing her discomfort,
suggested they went inside.

“Of course. Pardon me, bella mia”. Anthony led the way into the
Empire.

Everything was huge. The chandeliers were glistening up ahead, the
paintings were exquisite. In a nutshell, everything reeked of money and power.

     Alexandra felt out of place in such a gathering. If not for Bailey,
she would have bolted out of the place.    

      Anthony introduced them to some
of his friends and acquaintances. Lexie couldn’t wait to get out of there.

A/N: *wipes stray tear from eyes* Go Lexie!! So tell me what you thought of this chapter. Don't forget to vote, comment and share. Love you guys❤