A MONTH AFTER...
Julie and Isla sat in front of their laptops, their faces lit up by the screens as they video-called each other. They had been reminiscing about the concert they attended a few years ago, and the electric atmosphere that pulsed through the crowd as their favorite artists performed.
"We should totally go see them again this year," Isla said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I heard they're planning another show and it's going to be even bigger and better than the last one."
"Absolutely!" Julie agreed, a wide grin spreading across her face. "I've been listening to their new album nonstop. I'm so down for another concert."As they continued to chat, Isla's gaze narrowed slightly as she took in Julie's appearance.
"Hey, Jules, why do you look so pale?" she asked, concern etched in her voice.
Julie's hand instinctively went to her cheek.
"Oh, I'm just feeling a bit under the weather, I guess," she said, her voice a little weaker than usual.
"I've been tired all the time, and my body aches. Plus, I've been having the weirdest cravings – like, I couldn't get enough pickles and ice cream the other day."Isla's brow furrowed.
"That does sound weird. Have you seen a doctor?"
"Yeah, I went to the doctor's office a few days ago," Julie replied.
"But the test results are taking forever. Apparently, there's some technical issue with the lab equipment, and they're having trouble getting the results back to me."
Isla nodded sympathetically. "Sorry to hear that. Hopefully, it'll be sorted out soon."
Just as Isla was about to ask another question, Julie's phone suddenly buzzed on the table beside her.
"Give me a sec, Isla, I need to check this," Julie said, picking up her phone.As she glanced at the screen, her eyes widened, and a squeal of excitement burst out of her mouth.
"Oh my god, oh my god!" she exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth.Isla's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"What's going on? What's happening?"Julie's face was alight with joy as she looked up at Isla.
"It's the doctor! He just messaged me... and I'm pregnant!"Isla's eyes went wide, and she let out a loud whoop of excitement.
"Congratulations, Jules! Oh my god, this is amazing news!"The two friends erupted into a fit of squeals and laughter, both of them grinning from ear to ear.
Julie's pale complexion was forgotten in the face of her radiant happiness.As they continued to chat, Julie couldn't stop smiling, her eyes shining with tears of joy.
"I had no idea! All these symptoms, and it makes sense now – the tiredness, the cravings... everything!"Isla was beaming.
"This is the best news ever! I'm beyond thrilled for you, Jules. You're going to be an amazing mom."The video call continued, with the two friends babbling excitedly about baby names, nursery decor, and all the things Julie needed to start preparing for her new role. The concert plans were momentarily forgotten, replaced by visions of diaper changes, baby giggles, and sleepless nights – all of which Julie was eagerly looking forward to.
Wendy walked into Rhea Sinclair's luxurious living room, her eyes scanning the space with a mix of admiration and determination. She had come to discuss a potential gig with Rhea, one that could boost both of their careers."Rhea, I'm so glad I caught you," Wendy said, taking a seat across from her.
"I've been thinking about that bag gig we did together last year, and I think we could do it again. This time, even bigger and better."Rhea raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"What makes you think they're interested in working with us again?"
"The company reached out to me, and they're eager to have you as their model," Wendy explained.
"They want to feature you in their new campaign, and I think it would be fantastic exposure for both of us."
Rhea's interest was piqued, and she leaned forward, her voice taking on a calculating tone.
"How much are they willing to pay?"Wendy hesitated for a moment before responding,
"They offered $5,000 for the entire shoot."Rhea's expression turned dismissive, and she laughed. "That's not even worth my time, Wendy. I'm a top model, and I know my worth. I won't settle for peanuts."
Wendy's face fell, but she quickly recovered, trying to salvage the situation.
"Well, maybe we can negotiate the price if they see you. You know how it is – sometimes they need to see the model's potential before they're willing to shell out more money."
Rhea raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but Wendy's persistence eventually wore her down. After some pleading, Rhea finally agreed to meet with the bag company's representatives.
Just as Wendy was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she dropped a bombshell.
"There's just one more thing – they want Isla Sinclair to be in the photo shoot with you during the final shoots."
Rhea's expression darkened, and she crossed her arms, her voice cold. "Absolutely not. I refuse to be in a photo with Isla."Wendy tried to reason with her, but Rhea's mind was made up. She laughed, a harsh, mocking sound.
"You know, Wendy, the bag company actually approached me first. They begged me to be their model, and I only mentioned your name out of pity. You've been struggling to find gigs lately, and I thought I'd throw you a bone."
Wendy's face turned bright red with shame and embarrassment. She realized she'd been played, and Rhea was holding all the cards.Rhea leaned forward, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"You see, Wendy, they're willing to pay top dollar for this campaign – million dollars, to be exact. And I'll only agree if you do exactly as I say."Wendy's eyes widened, her mind racing with the possibilities.
A million dollars was a life-changing amount, and she was desperate for the gig.Rhea's smile grew wider, her voice taking on a sinister tone.
"Here's the deal – if you want to be part of this campaign, you need to betray your best friend, Isla. I'm not sure what I have in mind yet, but I'm sure something will come to me. You'll do exactly as I say, or you're out of the gig."Wendy's face paled, her mind reeling with the implications. She had no idea what Rhea had planned, but she knew she was in trouble.
Wendy leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked Rhea Sinclair,
"What should I do? I don't know how to go about it without making it obvious."
Rhea's expression shifted from curious to surprised, and she leaned back in her chair.
"Betray Isla? What's going on, Wendy? You're her closest friend. I'm shocked you'd even consider something like that. Choosing our gig over Isla, that's beautiful!"
Wendy hesitated, unsure how much to reveal, but Rhea's gentle prodding encouraged her to continue. Before she could respond, Rhea's eyes sparkled with intrigue as she said,
"Wait, let me guess. Is this about Isla and Cade?"Wendy's eyes widened in surprise.
"What do you mean?"Rhea's voice took on a conspiratorial tone.
"I've been seeing some dating rumors about the two of them. Only the Daisy Damsels would know what's really going on, being Isla's closest friends and all."
Wendy shook her head.
"I don't know anything about their relationship."
Rhea's gaze lingered on Wendy, as if searching for any hidden truth. Then, a sly smile spread across her face.
"What if she's playing us all? What if Isla's using Cade for her own gain, and we don't even realize it?"
Wendy's eyes locked onto Rhea's, her mind racing with the implications. "You think that's possible?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.Rhea leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I think we should find out."
"How? I'm not sure Isla can do that! She has faced psychological and emotional trauma all because of these men. Do you think she can play with a man's feelings in return?"
"That's why I want us to find out."
"Cade Hudson...." Rhea smirked at the thought of the guy.
"Tall, dashing, sexy and well built. So pleasing a guy. What do you think of him, Wendy?"
"The perfect dream." Wendy blushed a little.
"For us to find out if Isla and Cade are really dating, we should hear it from Cade himself. We'll film a tape of you two making out and we'll threaten that its either the video goes to Isla's inbox or the internet." Wendy gasped, her eyes widened in shock.
"WHAT? HOW COULD YOU THINK OF SUCH A THING, RHEA? I CAN'T! HE'S A WORKER! MY FRIEND'S WORKER!" Wendy was angry at such suggestion.
"He's a worker - but isn't he hot? Just think about it. If they are really dating, you let go, if they aren't, you grasp. All I need is the video, then you have the gig."
"But how can I...Isla will feel disappointed in me."
"Go home. Go cling to Isla like a bug that you are. I'll do my gig alone."
"No, no, no. I'll do it." Wendy said panting slowly, with a shaky voice.
"Good girl." Rhea Sinclair smirked.
"But how...how do we get the recording?"
"Don't you worry - Its my husband's house! I know how to get cameras there."
"Okay. Th...Thank you Mrs. Sinclair..." Wendy said reluctantly. Her conscience was already eating her up, but her desires gave a mix of emotions.
Lucas lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as his mind replayed the frustrating events of the day. His team had missed a crucial deadline, and his boss had been breathing down his neck. He couldn't shake off the feeling of failure and responsibility.Just as he was about to drift into a deeper funk, he sensed a presence beside him.
He didn't react, too caught up in his thoughts. It wasn't until he felt a gentle warmth on his face that he snapped out of his reverie. Julie's face was inches from his, her bright eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lucas's expression softened as he took in Julie's radiant smile. "Hey, beautiful," he said, his voice filled with affection.
"I'm so sorry, I was lost in thought. I didn't even notice you come in."Julie's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a puzzled look.
"Lost in thought?" she repeated, her voice hesitant.Lucas's brow furrowed in concern, but before he could ask what was wrong, Julie's face lit up again.
"Lucas, I have some news," she said, her voice barely containing her excitement.
Lucas's heart skipped a beat as he sat up, his full attention now on Julie. "What is it?" he asked, his hands reaching out to hers.Julie's eyes locked onto his, and she said,
"I'm carrying your baby!"
The words hung in the air for a moment before Lucas's face erupted into a wide grin.
"We're having a baby?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with joy.
Lucas let out a shout of jubilation, and pulled his wife into a tight hug.
They held each other, basking in the excitement and anticipation.
As they pulled back, Lucas's hands cradled Julie's face, his eyes shining with happiness.
"This is the best news ever," he whispered, his lips passionately crashing on hers.
They broke the kiss and stared at each other cutely, before retiring on the bed.
"Since I'm pregnant now, all eyes will be on me. No more excessive work. Its gonna be you and I in this, right?" Lucas nodded.
"Of course, Julie. I'll be with you throughout. And you too, no more shopping and going on trips."
"Okay.... But can I...."
"No flaunting of baby bump on social media." Lucas said firmly.
"Fine..." She closed her eyes, disappointed.
The three friends sat around Isla's living room, surrounded by bridal magazines, party decorations, and an array of pastel-colored ideas for Julie's baby shower. Sasha held up a handmade card she had designed, complete with tiny baby blocks and a onesie.
"I'm telling you, my gift is going to be the best," Sasha said, grinning at her friends.
"Julie is going to love this card."Lindsay rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"Oh please, I've been planning the perfect gift since she told me. My idea is going to blow yours out of the water."
Isla chuckled, holding up her own gift idea – a beautifully crafted baby blanket.
"You're both wrong. My gift is going to be the one Julie remembers forever."The three friends dissolved into laughter, each trying to outdo the others in a friendly competition.
After some time, they finally decided on a theme for the baby shower – "Enchanted Garden" – and made a list of all the preparations they needed to make.
As they high-fived and cheered, Lindsay's expression turned thoughtful.
"Guys, has anyone seen Wendy lately? It's been a while since I've talked to her."Sasha and Isla exchanged a look, both frowning.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her in ages," Sasha said. "And she hasn't posted anything on Instagram in weeks. That's not like her at all."Isla nodded in agreement.
"I'm starting to get a little worried. Do you think everything is okay?"The three friends sat in silence for a moment, speculating about what could be keeping their friend away.
"We should reach out to her," Lindsay said finally. "See if she's okay and what's going on."Sasha nodded, already pulling out her phone.
"I'll send her a group message and see if she responds."
As they waited for a response from Wendy, the friends continued planning the baby shower, but their minds kept wandering back to their friend.