Trigger warning : mentions of suicide
"Okay are you guys ready to go?"courtney asked. Bridgette, herself, and Heather were in Bridgette's jeep. Courtney looked in the rearview mirror from the driver's seat to look at Heather and Bridgette.
"Uh... I think so, do we have the veggie straws?" Bridgette looked around her and Heather for the bag.
"They're in the passenger seat," Heather said next to Bridgette in the back seat.
"Okay one more time, is that all?." Courtney repeated.
"Yes." Both girls replied.
Courtney pulled out and started driving. The restaurant was a 2 and a half-hour drive.
"Where are we going again?" Heather asked confused looking up from her phone.
"We're going to San Bernardino." She looked to her right then her left to enter the interstate.
"Don't worry Courtney you'll find out what's going on. Maybe there's a good explanation." Bridgette said optimistically.
Heather just snorted "or maybe he's just a lying, cheating, bastard."
Bridgette glared at her.
"Look all I'm saying is he's done this before. and this is out of character. She even said that whore came back. So as much as we want to be "positive" we need to face reality too." Heather explained.
Courtney sighed " I get what both of you guys are saying."
"What are you gonna do if he is cheating," Bridgette asked while reaching to get her veggie straws.
"What I should've done a long time ago. Leave him. I'm gonna move out and get my own place..." Courtney said. Even though she appeared calm she was panicking and scared on the inside. Was he really cheating on me?
"As you should you don't need him. I always said you deserved someone that was up to your standards. He never could keep up." Heather said.
Bridgette just rolled her eyes. "Yeah cause that's totally making her feel better."
"Well we all need that person to help us face reality and I'm that person. Besides, I don't know if you noticed but she's bored with him anyways."
"I am not!" Courtney said glaring at her through the rearview mirror.
"Oh please. Courtney tell me when was the last time you had a smile from a call or text? When was the last time he gave you butterflies and made you think about him all day long and you couldn't get your mind off of him? And not in a negative way."Heather rolled her eyes and folded her arms.
Courtney didn't say anything she just thought over what Heather said.
"Heather!"
"I'm just trying to get her to realize!" Heather threw her hands up.
"Well, you sound more like an ass than you actually trying to help." Bridgette snapped.
"Hey calm down back there it's fine. Thank you both of you jeez." Courtney rolled her eyes.
The car was silent for a while. A thick tension filled the car.
" look I wasn't trying to be a bitch I'm just trying to help you realize, I'm sorry." Heather sighed. It wasn't often Heather apologized. She only did if she really felt bad.
Courtney threw her a smile "it's fine. We'll just see what happens."
Bridgette smiled at Heather. She knew she was just doing it for Courtney but Heather can be harshly blunt.
After a long drive of blasting Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry they finally arrived at their destination.
They arrived at the Rancho Valencia spa & spa. Courtney parked at the exit while Heather got on her red wig.
"What are you doing?" Bridgette asked confused.
"I'm going to do the steak out inside the lobby so I can tell you guys if I see him." Heather adjusted her wig. She then reached into the bag and put fake freckles.
When she finished she opened her bag to reveal 3 Bluetooth earpieces, 3 more wigs, and changes of clothes and makeup.
"What the hell is this?" Courtney asked Heather.
"It's a disguise! Now I'm gonna go inside and watch from the inside, put your Bluetooth thingys on!" She instructed grabbing something small out of the box before getting out and closing the door.
Bridgette grabbed Courtney and herself an earpiece.
They both put it in their ears and waited.
After 2 hours of sitting in the jeep and Heather inside the building, things got more interesting.
————————
Heather sighed as she looked at her was again. Where the hell is this guy? It's been like 2 hours.
But she had to admit that he had taste in good hotels, I should bring Alejandro to-
She snapped out her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice. She whipped her head to see not only Abraham but saw a girl with him. What did Courtney say her name was? Valentine? Valentina?
Heather turned on her blue tooth in her ear "guys I see him, he's with some girl." She whispered sitting in a chair that was far from them so she wouldn't get caught.
"What does she look like? And what are they doing?" Courtney asked.
"Well she's dark skin and has curly hair and I think green eyes, and they're at the reception desk." She replied.
"Make sure you are out of their way so they don't catch on," Bridgette said.
"Actually I have a plan," Heather said getting the two small objects out of her pocket. It was a small listening device. It was a (small) button-sized bugging device.
She strutted towards them and tapped on Victoria's shoulder.
Victoria turned around with a raised eyebrow.
Heather was wearing a salmon pink baggy shirt and black baggy pants. She had fake freckles on her face and had a red wig on. She looked unrecognizable.
"Hi, please tell me where you got that dress from!" Heather made her voice higher pitch.
"Oh, Louise Vuitton." She smiled.
Heather got her hands ready to complete the first half of her mission.
"And that bag it looks amazing can I touch it?" Heather asked Victoria.
She just beamed in pride " you may, it's real leather."
Heather carefully put the buffed device on the bag " oh I can see!"
She then turned to Abraham "and is that a silk suit? May I?" Heather asked gesturing to feel his suit.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" She heard Courtney and Bridgette yelling in her ear.
She ignored them, however, " you may, and yes it is." He boasted.
Heather slid her hand down his chest making sure to aim for over his breast pocket and slid it in the pocket without him noticing.
When she finished she just walked away to the bathrooms. Leaving them both behind confused, but they just shrugged it off.
After dealing with Courtney and Bridgette yelling she finally explained.
"I bugged him! Calm down now do you see him?" She asked.
Courtney just let out an exasperated sigh "Yeah he's in the parking lot."
Heather headed towards the exit and looked out to see them getting in a car that was on the far side of the parking lot.
Heather hurried and got in the car taking off the disguise. When she finished turned on her phone and they heard Courtney's husband and the mistress talking in the car.
Courtney started the car following their destination.
———————————————
shutting the front door of her apartment she went to the cabinet and grabbed a wine glass.
As she poured her wine her mind swarmed with thoughts. Angry, bitter, hurt, and regretful.
She couldn't believe she didn't know that he was cheating again.
Courtney sighed as she thought back on how the dark truth came to the light.
-flashback-
Soon they arrived at the fancy restaurant. They continued listening to their conversation as they ate.
At first, it was just a bunch of small conversations but then the conversation Courtney was looking for started.
"This has been on my mind for a few days now, but since your wife knows that I'm back now, what's going to happen now? Are we back to hotels? Or are we going to wait when she's at work? Or the office like the night of the event." Victoria asked.
"Well, you have to admit the office was exciting. But we'll go with the flow. I can't really get rid of you know that." He replied.
"Yeah, I know. I knew you'd be back when you first attempted." She replied with a smirk.
After all 3 of the girls heard them talking about their secret relationship and other incriminating things they walked out and Courtney saw with her own eyes, her husband kissing another woman. They headed towards the car and opened the door for her, giving her a quick swat on her backside as she got in the car.
-end of flashback-
She was glad Heather and Bridgette decided to give her space to think. How would she confront him? Should she call him?
She walked to the counter as she downed her wine. She looked at her cellphone on the counter.
She picked it up and went to the call log, her thumb hovering over his name.
She sighed putting the phone down.
I need another drink.
—————
The next day Courtney considered calling in a sick day and to just sleep in. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone that wanted to complain about their life or help anyone that had problems when she had her own.
However, she got up anyways got ready doing her usual routine.
She put on her purple pants suit trying to look better than usual. Maybe if she felt good on the outside, she'll feel a little better.
As she got ready she tried not to look at his things. Every time she did she got angry and wanted to burn his things or destroy it in the most complicated, satisfying way possible.
She left the apartment to get in her car and it felt like a fresh breath of air. No reminders of him. Plus it was something else to look at besides a wall.
When she arrived to work she went straight into her office and got ready for her clients for today.
The day went by fast thankfully. five clients came and go, now she was on her last client.
She was a petite teenager with long blonde hair. Her pale skin matched her blue eyes. She sat down on the couch and twiddled her thumbs. Courtney could tell she was nervous
"Hi, Stephanie? Do you mind if I call you that? Or do you prefer the last name?" Courtney asked warmly.
"Yeah you can call me that..." she muttered while she looked around her office.
Courtney studied her body language. She was tense and had her guard up. She also looked nervous and scared.
"Okay Stephanie, well I know when you hear counseling or therapy, you think of yourself on this sofa and crying and forced to talk about your problems. I just want to tell you, that's not how it works." Courtney smiled reassuringly at the teen.
Stephanie looked at her surprised "it's not? Isn't that... kinda the whole point of therapy?"
Courtney forced herself not to chuckle and decided to enlighten her. "The whole point of your therapy session is to improve your mental health. So rushing isn't going to help you. Or anyone really. So we start from the beginning."
"What's the beginning?" She asked slightly intimidated.
"With this, Hi I'm Courtney it's nice to meet you, Stephanie." Courtney smiled.
Stephanie let out a shy smile. Courtney noticed the teen relax slightly.
"Now I just want to say that you don't have to feel like you have to open up to me. Or that I'll be annoyed if you do cause that's my job. I also want to tell you that this goes completely by your pace. Maybe it'll take a month, 4 months, or even a year to open up to me and that's fine. There's no need to rush. When you're ready to open I'll be here to listen. Everything you say to me will be confidential. Meaning I will not disclose anything you tell me to anyone. Not even your parents. It stays between you and I Unless you are an immediate danger to yourself or being abused." Courtney informed her.
She paused to see if Stephanie had any questions but she didn't have any.
"Now I know it's weird to talk to anyone without knowing who they are so for you to get to know me and build up trust in me I want you to ask me anything and I'll answer honestly."
"Anything?" Stephanie repeated.
"Anything," Courtney affirmed.
"So I can ask you personal questions? Deep questions? And even inappropriate questions?" Stephanie asked.
"Yes ma'am." Courtney smiled.
Stephanie thought for a second "so um, why did you decide to be a therapist? What inspired you?"
Courtney mentally sighed. Of course, she asks this question " Well when I was 20 my older sister committed suicide. She dealt with depression and other things. So I wanted to help people so people don't go what she went through or to help people not deal with loss from suicide. So mainly just to help people."
Stephanie stared at her for a second "that's nice of you...and I'm sorry about your sister."
"It's okay, any more questions?" Courtney asked changing the subject.
"How many carats is your wedding ring?"
Courtney sent a swift glance at her wedding ring. "15 carats."
"Are you happily married?" Stephanie asked boldly.
Hmm, so she was bold and yet shy.
"Umm...not really at the moment," Courtney answered truthfully.
After 2 hours Stephanie's session was over and Courtney couldn't be happier. Not cause she didn't like Stephanie, but because of all the questions she asked. This girl didn't hold back at all.
The only thing Courtney knew about Stephanie was that she was 15 and was dealing with some heavy depression. She liked the color black and she has 6 friends. But yet this girl knew her whole life story.
Courtney stood up from her chair "welp let's go we don't want to keep your ride waiting."
As they walked down the hall to the main office Stephanie's voice broke the silence.
"So am I not allowed to tell anyone about the session either?" She asked quietly.
"No, only I'm not. You can tell anyone about anything. I however, won't tell a soul." Courtney replied opening the office door.
Stephanie just gave a small smile "okay."
"Hey Steph." A voice called out and Courtney froze.
You have got to be kidding me.
A/N: sorry for the long gap between updates i was in a bad mind frame when I first started this. That's why it took so long but now I'm fine. And I'll try to update more frequently!
And thank you for your kind reviews and I hope you're both doing well. And for the people reading this as well.