My husband's best friend

Chapter2

CHAPTER 2

Helen, dressed in simple jeans and a plain white button-up shirt, wore her

ever-radiant smile. She looked intimidatingly beautiful. For a moment, jealousy

crept in as I marveled at how young and stunning she appeared after having

two children. Not that I had low self-esteem or doubted my beauty, but I

couldn't help but wonder how my shape and size would fare through

pregnancy. I was a drop-dead gorgeous model, and that's what had initially

caught James's eye.

I had been avoiding the topic of children, and I couldn't help but wonder if

James had grown suspicious by now. My modeling career hadn't been wildly

successful, even though I had done some work for fashion companies and

magazines. The moment I started my cooking career, I realized my passion

for it surpassed my interest in modeling. After all, I had a deep love for good

food. James seemed low-key excited that I had shifted my focus from

modeling to cooking. It meant he didn't have to worry about seeing his

girlfriend's photos splashed across magazines in revealing outfits. Perhaps he

had envisioned me as his wife from the very beginning, and his prayers had

been answered.

We had dated for three years before finally tying the knot three months ago.

Initially, marriage wasn't in our plans. James was a dedicated career man, and

I had a strong aversion to long-term commitments. Love has a way of

disrupting even the most carefully laid-out plans. Helen, James's only sibling,

was thrilled that someone had managed to persuade him to settle down. She

"Mum, Aunt Emily brought us gifts, but she won't let us see them yet," Olivia

reported as Helen approached us. I handed her the bag containing two

wrapped presents, and she whispered a quick "thank you" with a smile before

stashing them away.

**

Our shopping trip seemed to stretch on forever. Helen had brought me along

to assist with the shopping, intending to keep it minimal, but somehow we

ended up with a cartful of items. She had insisted on getting everything she

wanted, despite my protests.

We returned home with a supermarket's worth of groceries. I hurried into the

kitchen to start baking the cake and preparing the food. Helen had mentioned

planning a "mini" party, but I had reservations about her definition of "mini."

She was far too exuberant to host just a handful of people.

"The party's at 5 p.m.," she announced while chopping onions.

"Alright, let's wrap this up quickly, then," I replied.

We spent over three hours in the kitchen, and guests started arriving. Sylvia

and Olivia's classmates came along with their teacher. Thank goodness for

the teacher; otherwise, the living room would have turned into chaos with all

those kids while Helen and I were still busy in the kitchen.

"Can I help with anything?" Miss Rachel asked as she entered the kitchen.

"Yes, please, you can take care of those children over there," I said without

hesitation.

George arrived fifteen minutes ahead of schedule, bearing drinks and snacks

for the kids. I couldn't resist indulging in some of the snacks myself.

"Hello, Emily, good to see you," George greeted me. My hands were free, so I

leaned in for a hug. "Thanks for helping out with this. Helen mentioned her

plan to hijack your entire day, and it seems she's succeeded," he remarked

with a teasing grin.

"Tsk tsk, let's just say she owes me one now, and I'll be sure to collect it

sooner or later," I smirked at Helen.

"That wasn't part of the deal. Aren't you my sweet sister?" Helen attempted to

sweet-talk, and we all laughed it off as she made a pitiful face.

"What about James?" George chimed in.

"Um, I left him working at home, but he said he'd be here before the party. He

should've arrived by now," I replied, furrowing my brow as I tried to think of

possible reasons for his delay.

"Helen, I think you should go help the kids get dressed. I'll take it from here,"

George suggested.

"There's not much left to do. Just go and get dressed. I've got this," I

protested. They both left the kitchen.

Helen had tasked me with preparing five dishes, and her notion of a "mini"

party clearly underestimated the amount of work involved. The air in the

kitchen was filled with the delightful aroma of chicken Alfredo pasta,

vegetarian lasagna, honey-glazed salmon, a sushi platter, and spinach and

feta-stuffed chicken breast. Finally, I crafted a chocolate castle cake fit for my

two Disney princesses.

Sylvia and Olivia emerged in their beautiful flared gowns. Each dress had a

fitted bodice adorned with delicate lace and sparkles, leading into a

voluminous skirt reminiscent of Disney princesses. Their hair had been neatly

styled and adorned with clips and crowns. Sylvia's dress was a shade of blue,

while Olivia's was a soft pink.

I served the food on buffet plates, as everyone had moved outside for the

party. The spacious compound easily accommodated the guests. George had

set up a buffet station outdoors, so I arranged the food on the buffet table

before rushing to take a quick shower.

Seeing everyone dressed up, I couldn't resist the temptation to change out of

my sweat-stained dress. I dialed James's number, intending to ask him to

bring a dress for me when he arrived, but he didn't answer. I began to worry

about his delay. His silence, coupled with his unanswered calls, sparked

concern.

I took a shower and slipped into one of Helen's dresses, conceding to her

suggestion from earlier which I waved off. I joined the party outside.

"The dress suits you perfectly. You look stunning," Helen commented. I

mustered a tight-lipped smile and turned away.

A sleek black BMW 7 series pulled into the driveway, capturing everyone's

attention. Helen had many friends, but who was this wealthy guest who had

agreed to attend a children's party?

A tall man with lightly tanned skin and perfectly styled chestnut brown hair

stepped out. He wore a casual white button-up shirt with the top buttons

undone, revealing his muscular chest. His physique filled out the shirt, and he

paired it with black jeans and white sneakers.

He removed his sunglasses as he approached, Helen hastily ran out to

welcome him. She threw him a big hug with so much excitement. It finally

clicked—I recognized him. This was Charles Montgomery, James's billionaire

best friend. We haven't seen much because James always goes over to his

place and not the other way around.

With Charles's arrival, I couldn't help but wonder, where was James? My heart

raced as various unsettling scenarios played out in my mind.