CHAPTER TWO GOOD OLD LIFE

At his office on the top floor of a branch of the McKenzie Group in Rome, Kennedy scoffed. Looking at the still glowing phone in his palm, his lips curled up in disdain. At last, his excuse of a wife couldn't take the insult of his absence and his numerous affairs and decided to call it quits. “Took you long enough,” Kennedy muttered to himself. At that moment, the door to his office opened and his assistant, a tall lanky man that looked like a nerd, walked in. “Sir, it's almost time for the meeting with Mister Chang,” the assistant whose name was Carter said. Kennedy acknowledged the information with a nod. “Is he here yet?” he asked. Carter shook his head. “But he called to say he was on his way and would be here in ten minutes,” Kennedy acknowledged the information once more. After a moment of silence, Carter finally headed out. He had delivered the information he came to deliver. However, Kennedy called him abruptly as he was about to leave through the door. “Delete all those scandalous news and articles about me online,” Kennedy ordered, a complicated look in his eyes. “Tell Barrister Barrington to draw up divorce papers too. No alimony, no nothing. Then book me a flight back to the country. I will be returning immediately after the meeting with Mr Chang.” “Yes boss!” Carter acknowledged the order with a smile and went out. Only Carter knew that his boss was not as promiscuous as the media made him out to be. In fact, all those news, blogs and gossip column articles had been instigated by Kennedy himself in an attempt to force his wife to seek a divorce. It seemed his boss had finally succeeded. This made Carter happy. He didn't have to deal with the horde of reporters looking for juicy gossip, or wanton young women that wouldn't mind a night with the popular playboy. ***** Meanwhile…. After leaving Kennedy's house, Bella had nowhere to go. She had lived her whole life around Kennedy after all. She had a best friend and could crash at her best friend's place, but she didn't feel like being a burden. It wasn't like she couldn't take care of herself after all. Unknown to Kennedy, Bella had her own money and never touched the money he deposited in her account every month. At last, Bella decided to lodge in a hotel. She would find an apartment later after she sorted herself. Dropping her suitcase in the middle of the lounge in the hotel suite, Bella padded to the French window. She looked down at the bright city lights below and thought that they looked beautiful. She dialed a number on her phone. The call connected almost at the very same instant. “Hey, Kate, I'm no longer with The Slime,” Bella said. A loud, pleased laughter came from the other end of the call. The delight in the voice was obvious. “At last!” Kate squealed from the other end of the line. “It's about time you stopped degrading yourself in front of that Slime!” The pleased laughter continued. Bella had to put the phone some distance from her ear to keep Kate from rupturing her eardrums. “I told you that act is not the right way to win his heart. Come on, girl. Let's hook his heart the right away!” Bella sighed with exasperation. “I'm never chasing him again! I'm done with Kennedy McKenzie forever!” she declared with determination. “Alright, alright!” Kate replied. “But it still deserves a celebration, right? Let's go party!” Bella sighed. “Alright.” Some time later, Bella walked into The Celestials, a very popular restaurant and club in the city. The ground floor was packed with people dancing to the loud music, their sweaty bodies grinding against each other. Bella didn't spare them a glance and walked to the second floor, which was reserved for people of relatively higher status or wealth. She walked straight to a table, where a bombshell blonde was already sipping a drink. She settled into the seat opposite the blonde. Kate sighed when Bella settled in opposite her. “How long has it been since we've been here?” she muttered with nostalgia. Bella sighed too. “Don't worry, babe. We're going back to the good old times,” she assured her friend. Kate gave her best friend a piercing look. “You sure you're done with sweet old Ken?” Bella nodded, her eyes resolute. “And with all men too. From now on, it's just me and my career against the world.” She wasn't sure she could love another man quite the same way she loved Kennedy. She would much rather stay out of the dating scene. “And me of course. Include me in the list of people against the world,” Kate quipped. Bella laughed and poured herself a drink. “Sure. Just me, my best friend and my career against the world,” she corrected. Kate laughed. She stood up, walked around the table and placed a loud kiss on Bella's cheek. The two friends laughed good naturedly and Bella sipped her drink while Kate returned to her seat. “But seriously, sweet old Ken must be a fool. How can he leave such a gorgeous and talented wife to fool around with those artificial women with plastic tits and boobs?” Kate grumbled, pouring herself another glass. The two ladies clinked their glasses together. Bella took a sip of her drink and smiled. “He's an idiot indeed!” Bella was sure Kennedy must have thought she was an ignorant country bumpkin. She huffed angrily. The man had no idea what he was missing. “Let's forget that slime anyway. You're divorced now, but I'm sure you've never lain with a man. How ridiculous is that? People would laugh if they knew!” Kate winked at her friend. Bella knew where Kate was driving at and opened her mouth to stop her best friend, but Kate was faster than her. “Count yourself lucky, babe. Because I've prepared a whole list of men ready for a night, or nights if you wish, of fun. Just tell me your specs and I will pull him up right this moment,” Bella gaped at her friend. When did Kate turn to a pimp? Who the hell told her she needed sex anyway? “Thanks, but no thanks,” Bella rejected firmly. “Can't we just drink and have fun by ourselves?” Kate was disappointed. “Alright. Alright. Have it your way. You and I can keep each other company till we're old and wrinkly.” “Ah. Would you please go your way? Staying with you would surely attract your inevitable string of admirers!” The two women looked at each other and burst out laughing. They spent the next hour or so catching up and before they knew it, they had drunk well past their limits, especially for Bella who never took much alcohol. Kate wanted to go dance, but Bella needed to relieve herself first. So Kate went on alone to the dance floor while Bella went to the restroom. Unfortunately, the rest rooms on the second floor were under repair. Not wanting to fight her way through the throng of dancers on the ground floor, Bella had no choice but to move to the top floor. The top floor was more posh than the two floors below it, and was mostly reserved for the richest people in the city. It had a section of rooms where anyone can spend the night with their hookup. Bella was so drunk she didn't read the sign and went in that direction, thinking it was the direction of the restroom.