Bella Pov
I woke up in the motel room and forgot where I was for a second. Then everything came rushing back. Damian. Karen. The bed. The betrayal.
I sat up and looked around the small room. Sunlight came through the thin curtains. My phone was on the nightstand. I picked it up and checked the time. Nine thirty in the morning.
My body ached from sleeping in my clothes. My eyes felt swollen from crying, my head pounded.
I stood up and walked to the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess and my makeup was smeared down my face.
I turned on the shower and waited for the water to get warm. I stepped under the spray.
I stayed in the shower until the water started getting cold. Then I got out and dried off, i put my clothes back on.
I walked back into the room and sat on the bed. My phone buzzed, i looked at the screen. A text from Tanya.
"Girl where are you? I have been calling you all morning"
I stared at the message. I did not know what to say.
I typed back.
"Can I come over"
Tanya responded immediately.
"Of course. Are you okay"
"No"
"I will make coffee. Just get here safe"
I grabbed my purse and left the motel room. I got in my car and drove to Tanya's apartment.
I parked outside and walked up to the second floor. I knocked on the door and Tanya opened it right away.
"Oh my god Bella" Tanya said when she saw my puffy red face. "What happened to you exactly"
I walked inside and sat on the couch. I did not say anything at first. I just sat there staring straight at the coffee table.
"Bella talk to me right now" Tanya sat next to me. "You are scaring me"
"I left Damian" I said quietly.
"What" Tanya grabbed my hand. "Why? What did he do"
"I came home very early from the shoot yesterday" My voice shook hard. "I was going to surprise him"
"Okay" Tanya said softly.
"But when I got home he was...he was in our bed with Karen" The words came out broken. "His secretary. They were having sex in our bed"
"No" Tanya put her hand over her mouth. "Bella no"
"I just stood there and watched for a second because I could not believe it was real" Tears started falling down my face again. "But it was real"
Tanya pulled me into a hug. I cried into my friend's shoulder.
"I am so sorry" Tanya said. "I am so so sorry"
We sat like that for a long time. Finally I pulled away and wiped my face.
"I need to find a divorce lawyer" I said.
"Are you sure" Tanya asked. "Maybe you should take some time to think about it"
"I am sure" I said firmly. "I saw him on top of her. I heard her moaning his name. There is nothing to think about"
"Okay" Tanya nodded. "I know a good lawyer. My cousin used her last year"
"Can you send me her information"
"I will text it to you right now" Tanya pulled out her phone.
My phone buzzed. I looked at it. The blocked calls from Damian had stopped but now there was an email from him. I deleted it without reading it.
I took off my wedding ring and held it in my palm. The diamond sparkled even in the dim apartment light.
"Do you want to throw it away" Tanya asked.
"No" I said. "I might need to sell it"
I put the ring in my purse and zipped it closed.
"You can stay here as long as you need" Tanya said. "I have an extra bedroom"
"Thank you" I said. "But I think I need to be alone for a while"
"Are you sure"
"Yeah"
"At least let me make you breakfast" Tanya walked to the kitJake .
"I am not hungry"
"Bella you need to eat something"
"Fine. But just toast"
Tanya made toast and coffee and we sat at the small kitJake table. I forced myself to eat even though everything tasted like cardboard. The coffee helped a little.
"What are you going to do about work" Tanya asked.
"I do not know" I said. "I have three shoots scheduled next week"
"You should probably cancel them"
"I cannot afford to cancel them" I shook my head. "I need the money now more than ever"
"Right" Tanya nodded. "Did you sign a prenup"
"Yes" I said bitterly. "Damian insisted on it before we got married"
We sat in silence for a minute. Then my phone rang, it was an unknown number. I answered it anyway.
"Hello"
"Is this Bella Roberts" a woman's voice asked.
"Yes"
"This is Lisa Jake from Jake and Associates Law Firm. Your friend Tanya gave me your information. She said you need a divorce lawyer"
"Yes" I said. "Yes I do"
"Can you come to my office today at two"
I looked at Tanya who nodded.
"Yes I can be there"
"Good" Lisa said. "Bring any documentation you have about assets and finances"
"Okay"
"And Bella" Lisa's voice softened. "I know this is hard but you are doing the right thing"
"Thank you" I said and hung up.
I looked at Tanya. "I have an appointment at two"
"Good" Tanya squeezed my hand. "This is the first step"
I nodded. I felt numb inside.
I had three hours before my appointment. I drove to a department store and bought new clothes. I changed in the dressing room.
At one forty five I arrived at Lisa's office. I took the elevator to the tenth floor.
A receptionist smiled at me. "You must be Bella. Lisa will be right with you"
I sat down and waited. A door opened and a tall woman with short black hair walked out.
"Bella" she said. "I am Lisa. Come on back"
I followed her into a small office. Lisa sat behind a desk and I sat across from her.
"So tell me what happened" Lisa said gently.
I told her everything.
Lisa took notes while I talked. When I finished Lisa looked up.
"Okay" she said. "This is what we are going to do"
She explained the divorce process.
"Do you have any questions" Lisa asked.
"How long will this take"
"In New York it usually takes a few months at minimum" Lisa said. "But we can file the paperwork this week"
"Okay" I said. "Let's do it"