Hello Lovelies,

Here's the latest update. I hope you enjoy it! :)

More coming soon.

Thanks for your continued support and love!

Much Love,

Chelsea xx


I met with Kate for a late lunch on Tuesday afternoon, after a busy morning of edits, meetings and dodging the spiteful glares from Maria and her small army of Anastasia haters. She had successfully wagered the support of at least seven people on our floor, and I'm sure she's trying to recruit more every day. When Kate rang and asked if I was free, I jumped at the chance to get out of the office. I needed food and to temporarily let go of the knot in my stomach. Mostly, I needed food. I only had a light breakfast.

Kate deemed our lunch the Vegas debrief. A chance to talk through the weekend. In truth, it was to pick over Mia's new love interest. She needed gossip.

"Who knows what will happen," I shrugged, tearing off a piece of my club sandwich and shoving it in my mouth. "Chances are Mia and Leo will never speak again."

"I don't think so," Kate shook her head. "I saw that look in her eyes. That look says I'm not letting go of this man."

"She did seem to like him," I agreed.

"She spent practically all of Sunday with him! Mia doesn't spend that long in anyone's company," she added. "Plus, he lives close by. It'd be easy for them to meet up again."

"That's true."

"He was hot too. In a geeky kind of way," she said. "Not the kind of guy I'd picture her with. He looks like the guy who likes to stay in every night and cook, not the partying type."

"Maybe that's what Mia needs?" I shrugged again. "They do say opposites attract."

Kate hummed under her breath and stirred her iced coffee with her straw.

"Whatever happens, I want Mia to be happy," I said. "You heard what she said at the spa – she's the only one who's single. It can't be fun, being the odd one out… She should find someone and maybe Leo will be the one? Either way, it's none of our business."

I emphasised the end of my sentence and arched my brow at her.

"You know I can't help it," she shrieked, holding up her hands in defence. "And it comes from a good place, you know that, right? I'm nosey but I care."

"I do know that," I nodded. "But you are such a gossip. Literally the worst."

"And yet you still love me," she grinned. She sipped her drink. "I can't change who I am. I'm too old and set in my ways."

"Indeed," I hummed. "There's no changing you now. Can't teach an old dog new tricks."

"And I am a total bitch," she winked, saluting me with her glass.

I cracked a smile and raised my own glass, taking a deep gulp of my lemonade.

As I picked over my lunch, Kate seemed to intensely study me. I ignored it at first, but then her staring became too much.

"Do I have something on my face?" I asked, frowning hard. "Is my mascara smudged or something?"

A slight furrow formed between her brows.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't look yourself," she muttered. "You look a bit… pale."

"I'm always pale."

"Well, pasty then. Seriously, you feeling okay?"

"Yeah," I fibbed. She wasn't buying it. I sighed. "I'm just tired."

"Ana, this is more than just I slept like shit kind of tiredness," she said. "You've looked kinda drained for a couple weeks, if I'm honest."

"I have?"

She nodded.

I exhaled a deep sigh.

"You know you can talk to me," she continued. "About anything."

"There's nothing major going on, don't worry," I admitted, an attempt to quell her budding concern. "There's just some drama going on at work, what with the sale and stuff. I'm getting it in the neck from a couple of people… and then there's the wedding plans on top. It's just a lot to deal with."

"You know I'm here to help with the wedding," she reminded me. "You don't need to stress out over it. We'll get everything sorted and it'll be perfect. You have me, Grace, Mia… we're ready and willing to help out."

"I know," I nodded. I smiled. "And I appreciate that so much. It's more the fact the wedding is only a few weeks away. It seems eerily close all of a sudden."

"I get that," she nodded.

"I think once we start finalising more things I'll feel better."

"You will," she agreed. "And the work thing? Who are these bitches picking on you? Do I need to run up there and drag them out onto the street by their hair?"

I snorted a laugh and shook my head.

"Why have they got it in for you?"

"They think I'm only there because of Christian and that I don't deserve my position," I explained. "It's pathetic… and before you go wading in, I can handle it. It's just annoying, that's all."

She frowned at me. If anyone is willing to jump to my defence, it's Kate Kavanagh. My best friend is as bad as Christian when it comes to fighting for my honour.

"I need to wait it out for the next week or so, and pray everything turns out fine."

"What's happening with the sale? Is there a buyer yet?"

"Not yet," I sighed. I rubbed my temple and rolled my eyes. "The deadline has been brought forward and there's a general sense of panic over there now."

"Shit!"

"Hardly ideal," I huffed. "But I have an idea up my sleeve."

She narrowed her eyes at me and I tapped the side of my nose. I was going to keep the idea to myself until I pluck up the courage to put it into fruition.

She gave me a soft smile and began tucking back into her sushi platter. I scrunched my nose up at her lunch.

"It's a wonder you can even touch seafood again after what happened in Vegas." I shook my head. "I can't… the thought of it… No, it makes me feel sick."

"I love sushi. I'll never give it up, no matter how many dodgy meals I have," she shrugged.

"I'm not that sure I've fully recovered from it," I admitted.

"Really?" she frowned.

"I feel fine ninety percent of the time," I said. "But then I also feel a bit… flat and exhausted. A little sick, too."

"That's strange."

"Maybe I'm just tired."

"Are you getting enough sleep?"

"Kind of," I nodded. "The same as usual. It's probably not entirely restful, though. I don't wake up feeling refreshed."

"Stress can do that," Kate nodded. "Are you eating properly still? Drinking enough water?"

"Oh yeah, I'm eating and drinking fine," I nodded. "Christian would be on my ass if I wasn't!"

Kate pursed her lips and stared at me for a second.

"I guess any sort of illness can linger in your system," she suggested. "But maybe you should make an appointment with a doctor?"

"I'm not sure…"

"It could be a vitamin deficiency, you could be low on iron or something. Remember when that happened to me a few years ago? I was low in iron and B12."

"Yeah, I remember."

"You should see someone," she pressed. "I had some injections and I was absolutely fine."

"If it continues, I'll see someone," I promised her.

"You better!"

"I will, don't worry."

"I'll tell Christian, if you don't," she said. She arched her brow at me and I rolled my eyes. "And you know how he'll get if he finds out you're not feeling yourself. He'll be an absolute nightmare."

"Oh god," I shook my head. "He'll be worse than normal… I know he loves me and doesn't want to think of me in any kind of trouble, but I can only handle his extreme protectiveness in small doses."

"It's cute but also intense."

"You're telling me," I laughed. "Bless him. I love him. I wouldn't change him."

"That's true love – when you wouldn't change a single thing about your special person, even when some of their traits get a bit annoying."

"Christian wouldn't be Christian if he wasn't slightly neurotic, domineering, overly protective and grumpy," I nodded. "It's a good job he's also incredibly kind, gentle, patient and understanding. Not that he has always been like that."

"You've brought out the softer side of him, that's for sure."

Kate paused for a moment and looked down at her food.

She shook her head and quickly grabbed a napkin, raising it to her watery eyes.

"Are you okay?" I checked.

She nodded. "It's just so sweet. How you two have brought out the good in each other," she sniffed. "God, ignore me. I'm hormonal. I got my period this morning."

"Oh," I winced.

"Yeah, the bitch paid her monthly visit this morning," she said. "Who doesn't love waking up in a patch of blood, on their brand-new white sheets?"

"The joys of being a woman!"

"You should be coming to the end of your period, right?"

"Erm, no," I shook my head. "I haven't had one this month."

"What? Nothing at all?"

"No."

"You're usually a few days ahead of me," she frowned. "You still taking the pill?"

"Every morning, without fail," I nodded. "It's literally the first thing I do."

"But you've still taken the week break, instead of starting a new strip right away?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "I just haven't bled."

"No spotting?"

"A little," I shrugged. "But my bleeding has been lighter since I started the pill anyway. I checked the pamphlets and it said this can happen."

"Lucky you! Mine are still heavy, no matter what."

"I got a little freaked out at first, but apparently it's normal."

"As long as you're still taking it as normal, you'll be fine," she shrugged. "Maybe you'll come on now we've talked about it? The bitch listens. I swear I jinx myself every month."

"I'm not sure that's how it works," I laughed.

"It's alright for you, Miss No Period," she shot back. "I hope next month you get a bad one. Cramps, acne, the works!"

"Thanks!" I huffed. "So much for being my supportive maid of honour!"

"If I'm suffering, everyone should be suffering," she declared. "The only good thing about having a period is that it's a sign you're not pregnant. Even though she's a total pain in the vagina, at least it means there's no bun in the oven."

"Amen to that!" I smiled, raising my glass to hers.