Days past before Gina finally decided to respond to her messages. She had put her phone on silent, took long baths, ate and dedicated her days to Netflix and a business plan. She had truly relaxed, although at times she couldn't help but think about Knox, and in those thoughts came a conclusion she had accepted...

She was done with him.

Sighing, she redialled her mother's number and waited for her to answer.

     "We have been worried sick about you. We tried calling, I even went to your house and no one was there. What's happening?" Gianna's concerned voice came.

      "Mom, I'm fine," Gina sighed. "What do you want?"

      "To talk to you of course. Haven't you seen that ridiculous video that's online with you making the headlines?" her tone grew more firm as she spoke.

       "Yes. How's dad reacting to it?" Gina asked, nibbling nervously at her nails.

Gianna scoffed. "He's obviously upset as you can imagine. We want to talk to you. Could you come by the house in an hour?"

Gina scratched her head. "Um, yeah...sure."

    "Good, we'll talk more then," she said and then the call ended.

With a heavy sigh accompanied by a groan, Gina fell back into the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She could already imagine the conversation she'd have with her parents. They would do all the talking, putting her to shame every chance they got with her father's anger and her mother's tendency to pity the situation.
     Seeing that she already took a bath, Gina got dressed and left her hotel room. This time she decided that she wouldn't cover up - she would face the media head-on. As she left the elevator and walked in the lobby, guests were already whispering but that was the kind of reaction Gina got everywhere she went.

Already she could see reporters outside, wanting to get a shot at influential persons coming in and going. There wasn't a lot of them so Gina thought she wouldn't have much of a problem moving past them.
    As soon as the doorman opened the doors, a reporter spotted her and called out her name, capturing the attention of the others who had seemed preoccupied. They immediately rushed to confront her, cameras flashing, recorders at her mouth.

       "Gina, what do you have to say about the video of the pool party that has now gone viral?" one reporter asked.

Gina sighed. "No comment," she said, pushing her way past them to venture to her car. Ofcourse they followed.

     "What has Knox got to say about it?" Ignoring the question, Gina slid in her car and released a heavy sigh once inside. The flashing camera lights could still be seen until Gina started the engine and drove off.

Arriving at her parent's house, Gina noticed the cars parked out front - cars she knew wasn't her parents'. She wondered what type of mob they had set up to meet with her. Not allowing much to her thoughts, Gina ventured inside, escorted to the living room by a maid.

There, all eyes turned to her while Gina gave herself the opportunity to look at them all. Along with her parents were three other persons, formally dressed and sitting poised.

      "You're just in time honey," Gianna said, standing as she approached her daughter.

    "Just in time for what exactly?" she asked curiously.

Gianna managed a smile. "Why don't you sit?" she said, ushering Gina towards an empty chair. Gina noticed how her father was avoiding her gaze as he pretended to drink coffee.

    "What's this about and no offence," she turned to the strangers. "But who are you and why are you here?"

Sergei cleared his throat. "They're here to help us clean up this mess," he announced crisply.

      "And by mess I'm assuming that's the video you guys think I created?" she asked, looking to see their reactions.

     "Yes," Sergei bit out coldly.

     "I didn't make the video and I most certainly didn't upload it if that's what you're thinking!" she exclaimed in frustration.

      "Gina this isn't the first time something like this has happened and every single time these things are done by you. Now, it's not really the video itself that's left us baffled but it is the fact that you were married and doing all that...rubbish!" Sergei spat with disgust.

Gina scoffed. "I won't apologise for the things I did after being forced into a marriage with a man I despise. I do however, apologise for tainting your unblemished reputations once again." Rolling her eyes, she slumped back in the sofa.

     "You aren't in college anymore, you are a grown married woman so I think it's time you start acting like it... And what were you thinking dragging Sally into this!"

    "I didn't..!" she began in frustration before stopping herself and pulling in a lengthy breath. "I didn't force anyone to do anything!"

Gianna sighed and sipped at her coffee. "Where's your husband? Where's Knox?... How's he fairing with all this?" she asked with concern.

Gina scoffed. "Do I look like the crack in his ass to you. I don't follow him around twenty four seven so I wouldn't know..."

     "Gina!" Gianna scolded in disapprove.

    "Mom, don't even get me started," she replied in annoyance, feeling an impending headache coming along.

That left everyone silent for a minute before Sergei sighed heavily, standing.

     "These young ladies are my public relations managers. They will be helping you to answer some questions the media might pose and they will be making statements on behalf of the family as well. Susan Bruckheimer from The Susan Show, wants to do an interview with you on the weekend to discuss-"

     "No," Gina cut in dryly.

     "Excuse me?" Sergei clarified, evidently confused.

      "I said no," she repeated in the same tone. "Incase you forgot, I studied the exact thing they did in college so I already know what they're going to say to me and what the media will ask. I don't need someone around me, coaching me on what to say as if I'm incapable of answering questions on my own. And I certainly do not and will not sit with a woman with cameras in my face, telling the world about what I did in my personal time. I don't need it so stop it... Just stop it."

     "Gina listen to me-"

     "No, you listen to me!" Gina snapped, feeling herself grow heated with anger. "I've had it with you guys trying to control my life and making it seem like you're the only one affected by the things I do when I screw up. You've never asked how I am or how I'm dealing with my fücked up life because as long as I'm not screwing up or making a mess that you guys think you have to clean up, I'm non-existent."

    Gianna gawked at her daughter in disbelief, her cheeks flushed. "None of that is true, Gina!"

Gina scoffed, shaking her head. "Just stay the hell out of my life," she softly said before getting up and walking towards the door, feeling the silence that followed.

Sniffing, Gina trailed a hand across her face and eased back in her car seat, looking ahead at nothing in particular. She was just so tired and it wasn't the kind that sleep could fix. There was this burden on her shoulders and each day it felt heavier - each day it knocked her a peg deeper in the ground. She hated the feeling, she hated how unhappy she was because of people who really should be making her happy.

Starting the ignition, Gina drove from her parents house without a single thought of where she would go, but her subconscious had a place in mind and soon, she found herself at Fred's beach house.

Her hand paused in midair before she knocked on the door, contemplating on whether or not she was making the right choice. She didn't know what she would say to him and that was the hardest part about standing there.
   Finally, she sighed and turned to leave when she heard the door click open.

     "Gina?"

Slowly, she turned to find a surprised Fred standing there. "Hey."

     "Are you OK?" he asked then stepped to the side. "Come in... Please."

Gina managed a smile and moved inside, stopping a few inches away from the door to regard Fred.

       "I... I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I've been battling with what I should say to you because I...I haven't been completely honest with you and I need to be in order to move ahead..." she began, taking a moment to analyse Fred's stricken expression.

    "B- before you continue, please have a seat and allow me to offer you something to drink." Fred was already moving to do so when Gina stopped him.

       She smiled at his kind gesture "That won't be necessary Fred. I don't plan on staying long."

He sighed. "Gina, I already know that you don't feel the same about our relationship and that's fine with me. I'm sorry I came by your house and overstepped but after giving it a lot of thought I know that what I did was wrong," he rubbed the back of his neck.

     "I understand love, Gina, and I know that although it's complicated sometimes, it doesn't give up even when you want it to," He smiled and she smiled too, moving to gently embrace him.

       "I think I need some time to process everything, you know," she said, still in his arms, feeling his steady intake of breath against her. "And I'm sorry that I..."

     "Don't apologise," he said, looking down on her when she pulled apart. "You made your feelings clear from the beginning but hey, listen, why don't you allow me to take you away for a few days?"

Seeing the flabbergasted expression on Gina's face, he quickly added. "As a friend and nothing else, I promise."

Author's note:

As a friend and nothing else? Hmm 😏
What are your thoughts? Do you think Gina should accept the invite or not?

Lemme know what you guys think of the chapter itself 😉. More to come soon so stick around!

I can never get tired of saying, Thankyou for all the wonderful support that you guys have been giving me and this book. I whole heartedly appreciate it ❤❤❤😘😘😘😜💞

Until next time,
Live good, love
Laters babies
Xoxo
- Juju