Chapter Seven
The next day, the police again raided Maxwell's office and interrogated his employees. His PA called him and he agreed to return back to Vegas.
The whole day, River and Sera waited for Carol's call telling them that she was back but in vain. Carol didn't call.
They received an SMS alert from the police department that the Undersheriff and the assistant sheriff would meet Maxwell Stephens and Carol Spearman at their residence for interrogation today. River and Sera were excited. That meant that they were returning today.
Zachary hadn't paid them a visit after that fateful night when he made love to Sera. Sera missed him but realised that he might be busy. She didn't give it much thought. He would come running the moment he was free. The whole day passed and suddenly River's phone buzzed. River checked that it was Carol's number. She switched it on speaker mode.
"Hey, Car. How are you?" Asked a nervous River.
"Hey Riv, I'm very happy. Max is a sweetheart. He loves me and absolutely adores me and I'm staying married to him for life," she gushed in an excited voice. "Where are you? Huntsville?" She asked.
"No, Julianna went back to her house. Her dad called. Me and Sera are in Vegas, waiting for you, " said River.
"Oh, thanks guys, you all my besties. Where's Sera?" She asked.
"Hi, Car, I'm so glad that your marriage turned out this way. So what are you planning to do now?" Asked Sera.
"Hey girl. Why don't you both join us for breakfast tomorrow? Say at 8 o'clock? We can catch up, " Carol suggested and they agreed. Carol disconnected the call.
"I'm so happy for her. Such a fairytale marriage doesn't happen in reality, it's a one in a million story, " said River.
"Yeah, she's lucky that he turned out to be such a sweet guy," said Sera and River agreed.
They discussed some more and had dinner and went off to sleep. Sera couldn't sleep. She thought about Zachary all night. Why didn't he come over to see her in the last two days? Didn't he miss her? Carol was so lucky to have such a fairytale love story. Will she also have a fairy tale love story with Zachary?
The next day early in the morning, they both showered and took a cab to Carol's house. She opened the door and ushered them inside. The three friends were so overwhelmed to see each other. They hugged one another tightly and cried with happiness.
Maxwell smiled indulgently as he sat at the breakfast table, watching them. Carol introduced them to him and he got up and shook hands with them. They had the delicious breakfast that Carol made.
"Rest assured ladies, that I will love and cherish Carol for the rest of my life, " he promised and they felt convinced. They chatted happily while Maxwell went upstairs to get ready for his office.
They were having fun at Carol's expense when Maxwell came down the stairs and strode towards Carol. He held her by the arm and pulled her up flush onto his hard chest. He kissed her mouth in a possessive kiss and winked. "Bye baby, gotta go to work," he said and then looked at the two jaw dropped faces staring at them.
"Ooo, I too want a husband," said River with a dreamy look on her face as she clutched the pillow to her chest.
Max chuckled, "You never know, you might meet him today," he said with a grin.
"Bless you Maxwell. Don't you have a brother or ok, a cousin will also do," Said River as Sera giggled.
"Sorry to disappoint you, I'm the only one of its kind, " he said, waving and leaving with a grin.
"You're so lucky Car," said River, in mock jealousy.
"What are we doing today, girls?" Asked Sera.
"Show us the dresses Maxwell bought for you. Then we could go shopping for things which you don't have. What do you say Car?" asked River.
"Yes please, I don't have any handbags, I don't have pajama shorts, I don't have any handkerchiefs, stoles, jackets, coats, scarves, makeup, hair accessories, " wailed Carol.
Sera and River stared at her with an incredulous look on their faces. "How did you survive for so long?" Asked River.
"I was whisked away to a deserted island, remember? I didn't need them but now I will," said Carol.
They went upstairs to the room beside her bedroom and she unpacked all her clothes for her friends to see. They made a list of the things she needed to buy and got ready to leave for the nearest mall. Carol already had her debit card and they had lunch and shopped the whole day.
They completely forgot about time. When it was six in the evening, Carol realised that she needed to return home immediately before Max arrived back from work. River and Sera dropped her off and returned back to their apartment.
Sera missed Zachary too much. After seeing Maxwell with Carol she felt that jer relationship wasn't what she wanted it to be. Zachary hadn't called or came over to see her even once in three days. Was he playing with her feelings? She had no idea. She only knew that she loved him. He was the only one to whom she gave herself without a thought.
"What happened to you, Sera?" Asked River when they sat down to dinner in the evening. Sera had waited for Zachary but when he didn't come, she served the dinner she had cooked.
"Nothing," she said.
"I think it's time to go back to Huntsville," said River and Sera stared at her with wide eyes. She didn't want to go back. She wanted to marry Zachary and live here with him forever just like Carol.
"Do you have Zach's number? I need to talk to him," she asked River. River's mouth fell at her question.
"Don't tell me you've fallen for him?" Asked River in shock.
"Yes, I love him, Riv," she told her and River simply smacked her forehead and sat like a statue.
"Why? Why did you have to fall for him of all people, Sera? God you're such an innocent fool," she said, still holding her forehead and shaking her head in disbelief.
"Why not? What's wrong with him?" Sera asked, offended at River's behaviour.
"He's a player, dear. The biggest in Vegas. He's a rich spoiled brat who has tasted and done every evil in his life. He's notorious. I've known him all my life. He's my brother's friend. He doesn't take any woman seriously. One night stands, one fu*k and throw away like dirt are his specialty," said River and Sera digested the information with a pale face.
Everything fell into place. She understood why he relentlessly pursued her. She understood why he was so attentive towards her, why he constantly visited her, why he bought her so many gifts. All for a one time fu*k. He just wanted to get into her pants. Her eyes filled with tears. He betrayed her love. He betrayed her trust, her innocence. He took her virginity, he took her soul.
"Hey Sera. I'm sorry I was so worked up with Tyler that I didn't warn you before," said River. Seeing her tears she felt very guilty. She should have warned her. Sera was so innocent and soft hearted, she should have protected her.
"Did he? I mean did you two have s*x?" She asked hesitantly.
"Yes. He didn't come to see me after that, " she confessed and River sat transfixed on her chair as she relaised meaning of it all. Zachary played with her best friend too.
"We'll go to his house and talk to him," said River and Sera just nodded as tears fell from her eyes and she ran to her room and locked herself inside.
