Women Secret's

Chloe Jones, is a hard-working woman, the sole heir to the Jones family estate since the death of her father David Jones due to a heart attack. Chloe woke up that morning at the same time every day followed by doing the usual rituals, brushing her teeth, dressing for the plantation, and making breakfast which is usually already available on the dining table because her mother, Rebecca Jones always wakes up early than usual. Usual time than most other people. Rebecca made breakfast for everyone, then smiled and said how beautiful life is.

Everything Rebecca felt was the exact opposite of what Chloe felt. She felt in every minute and second, a burden he couldn't easily identify, like an animal that couldn't understand how it got itself into the snare of life's complexities. Ever since David Jones died a few years ago from a heart attack, it had placed Chloe in an unspeakable burden, a responsibility that seemed to fall upon her body, right over her head and plunged her into a trance.

All the responsibilities of the plantation, employees, and livestock to the inn that the mother made as an investment in old age, are now fully under Chloe's responsibility. Chloe felt precocious with thoughts that felt stifling despite her father's vast expanse of plantations with always satisfying results.

Chloe found her food tasteless. Her smile, on the other hand, when compared to Rebecca's, the wider Chloe smiled, was enough to save her from everyone's suspicions about the feelings that rumbled through her mind. Chloe swallowed her urge to complain, even though the light outside looked gray.

Chloe felt like she didn't deserve all of this. She always tries to live up to everyone's expectations, but now this is happening and Chloe can't do anything until she takes paracetamol. Chloe needs to ease the throbbing in her head after the corn harvest failed due to bad weather.

"Are you all right, Chloe?" The question that snapped Chloe out of her reverie, she lifted her face to look at Rebecca, her mother who was sitting across from her.

Chloe caught Rebecca's eyes probing. Chloe reached for her mug of hot coffee. "I'm fine, Mother. Maybe just tired," Chloe said before she pulled the corners of her lips into a smile.

"You're too busy thinking about everything, kid."

Both of them stare.

"Yes, Mom is right, I even forgot my appointment to meet the boutique owner for my wedding dress."

"Oh my God, Chloe. What can I help you with?" Rebecca asked, leaning forward slightly, pressed against the edge of the dining table. Chloe smiled wryly, took Rebecca's palm, and stroked it in a gentle motion. "I can handle it myself, Mom. Trust me," Chloe said with a smile.

Chloe got up from the table after finishing her coffee and ignored the whole food on her plate. Chloe walked over to a table and grabbed a basket filled with letters that had come to her house. Observing one by one the sender's names and Chloe's beautiful eyes widened when she saw the letterhead printed on the brown envelope in her hand.

"New York state court," Chloe hissed before she put back all the papers in her other hand. Chloe carefully opened the envelope, straightening the folded sheet of paper. Reading from the top line and her breath caught, her eyelids felt wider than before.

"Divorce papers?" Chloe hissed in surprise.

The world seemed to spin fast and made Chloe shake violently. "No, this can't be," Chloe muttered, needing to take a deep breath. Chloe got up from the chair she was sitting in and walked out of the house, down the steps before she walked half-running to meet Rebecca who was in the plantation glass room.

"I thought you went with Edgar, Chloe," Rebecca said as her eyes caught Chloe who had suddenly appeared. Chloe towered over the corner of the table before she pulled out a chair to sit side by side with Rebecca.

"Mom, I got this letter," Chloe said as she handed the letter in her hand, causing Rebecca to stare in confusion. "You know, this is a letter for divorce from the state of New York," added Chloe, which made Rebecca freeze like she was struck by lightning.

Chloe gulped, she leaned in closer, turning left and right, as if to make sure no one else was listening.

"Divorce yourself with who?" Rebecca hissed.

"Alex, Alexander Cooper. His lawyers filed divorce papers with me, Mom."

There was a brief pause, and Chloe took another deep breath. "How could I divorce him, if the marriage was annulled from the start, Mother?" Chloe asked in disbelief, many questions swirling in her head. The image of the scene when her father pulled him out of Alex's tiny house that morning seemed to be replaying.

"This doesn't make sense, Mom. Me and Alex..." Chloe's words trailed off, she looked at Rebecca with a stiff and sour face.

Los Angeles.

In the afternoon, with all her busyness, Kimberly Abel moved from one model to the next. Today she felt her energy drained. Nearly eight hours of shooting. She tried many angles today. The last figure for today's camera object is a girl with a beautiful face, a tan, mixed Asian face with flowing black hair only covered with light make-up. Kim finds it very easy to get satisfaction in every pose of the girl. And the results so far are very good.

"Yup, session over!!" screams echoed through the studio. "Yeah," said Claudia the make-up artist. They clapped their hands in unison, causing the whole room to turn into an uproar. Kim walked over to a table on which was her laptop.

"How is the result? I didn't disappoint, did I?" asked the model who appeared from behind and Kim spun around on the heels of her shoes and smiled.

"You are a beautiful girl, and a satisfying object for any photographer, Laurent," Kim said with tucked praise. The girl smiled happily. Her beautiful face looks even more radiant.

"Okay, I'm going home now. Nice to work for you Kim," said Laurent, holding out her hand in front of Kim. They shook hands and hugged each other before one of them left.

The crew began to clean up the equipment needs. Kim took a sip of the mineral water in the bottle lying on the table. It felt refreshing against her dry throat. Until she finished half of it.

Laurent walked away with graceful steps and seemed to pass by Claudia.

"Interesting girl," said Claudia to which Kim nodded.

Kim turned to get back to tidying up her belongings before standing side by side with Claudia. "How was your wedding preparation, Kim?" Claudia asked afterward.

"It's 70% I think. Yes, we still need a few more things to sort out." Kim answered straightforwardly with a smile. The two of them chatted while tidying up their respective equipment. Kim carefully reloaded her camera and laptop while Claudia with a range of makeup tools that can transform a person's look into an extraordinary one.

Kim swallowed hard, and shifted her stance sideways, looking directly at Claudia who was still busy with her things. "I just feel like time is passing by quickly. My wedding is only a month away." Kim said it with emphasis and his eyes were wide. Kim's voice sounded doubtful to Claudia, causing her to stare in confusion.

"You're getting married once in your life, you have to convince yourself, Kim," Claudia replied.

The two of them stared straight at each other. "You've asked yourself how well you know a Larry St. Claire?" asked Claudia with a serious expression.

Kim licked her dry lips and her mind drifted to the question that came out of Claudia's mouth. Silence began to slip.

"You don't need to answer. Ask yourself, Kim," said Claudia again.

Kim took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. She felt what Claudia said was true. Kim took another breath, clearing the tightness in her chest as the clock ticked to five in the afternoon. "Let's go home now," said Claudia which made Kim smile, and left the studio together.

"Yes, you're right. My flight is in three hours. I have to go to New York."

New York

Dream wedding. Every pair of prospective brides always has a dream to make that day the most special day in their lives. Women want to be like a royal princess in a childhood fairy tale one day. Look beautiful and extraordinary in the eyes of many guests.

A time that requires a lot of attention for the sake of a dream. Everything is planned and conceptualized and everything has been confirmed to go according to what is expected. But in reality, a garden party turns into a disaster when overcast skies and suddenly heavy rain destroys everything unavoidably.

Feeling tired after preparing everything that sometimes the bride and groom don't think about can also be the cause of the breakdown, feeling sleepy and tired leading to wrong steps and concentration that is no longer complete. Causing her to fall and crash to the ground in front of many eyes.

"I'm here for that, Gemma," Yessa said with a sweet smile etched on her beautiful face.

There was a long sigh from the beautiful brown-haired woman who sat directly across from Yessa's desk. Her expression looked hopeful and sat upright in the chair he was currently sitting in.

"I want to erase the failure of my wedding party, Yes. I..." There was a brief pause, Gemma licked her bright red lipstick. "I want the guests to forget the tragedy of my previous wedding."

Yessa listened and assessed the change in Gemma's facial expression before the woman looked back at her and Yessa carved a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

"Yes, for sure. I can confirm that. Leave it to us," Yessa said confidently. There was no doubt in her voice. They looked into each other's eyes and continued with wide smiles that grew. Gemma was seen who was silent for a moment, she thought and weighed her decision. Glancing to the side and saw the figure of Joey, Yessa's assistant, out of the corner of her eye.

"Alright, I trust you," Gemma said while looking back at Yessa. Yessa spontaneously exhaled with relief. The job at hand. Gemma and her partner became Yessa's umpteenth client for her first-year business. Like a blessing, Yessa smiled wider.

"Thanks for your trust, Gemma. For the next one, Joey will help you," Yessa said while introducing Joey, who had been sitting not far from the two of them.

They both looked at Joey who smiled. Gemma's squinted eyes seemed to imply doubt. "Okay, no problem," said Gemma who was tucked in doubt as she looked at Joey with an unusual look. Her face was flat, the smile that had previously spread out was gone.

Joey is Yessa's assistant in her boutique, a beautiful woman with curly hair, brown skin, with a thin face, and it is very easy to recognize that Joey is of African American descent.

Joey got up from her seat and walked over to Yessa and Gemma.

"Pleased to meet you. Introduce my name is Josephine Jang." Joey introduced himself while holding out her palm to Gemma who was staring at her with an unfriendly gaze. There was silence for a few seconds until Gemma got up from her seat, not to take Joey's hand, but to reach for her bag with the luxury label. "Okay, I'm waiting for the program concept from you, Yessa."

Yessa and Joey glanced at each other before Joey withdrew her unrequited hand with mixed feelings. Joey swallowed her own saliva, and Yessa realized it. "I'll send it to you, Gemma. Today." Yessa's voice sounded straightforward, as she got up from her seat. Gemma nodded slowly, with her eyes only on Yessa, which made it seem as if Joey had never been there.

"Okay. I have to go now. Nice to work with you, Yessa."

"Me too," said Yessa.

Gemma reached over and put her HERMES bag on her right shoulder.

"See you, Yess," said Gemma as she left, leaving Yessa and Joey in their place.

There was the sound of Gemma's heels hitting the floor, the sound of the door opening and closing again. As if holding their breath for a long time, Joey and Yessa breathed a sigh of relief. Look at each other. Joey had a doubtful look on her face. Yessa threw herself back into her work chair.

"Be patient with it, Gemma."

Joey shifted the chair Gemma had previously occupied for her to sit down. Leaning forward slightly. "She doesn't like me," Joey said in a low, almost whispering voice as if telling a secret. Yessa put her hands, folded them on the table, and leaned over as well as Joey did.

"I'm sure you can handle it, Joey," said Yessa, followed by a glance at Joey who was in front of her.

"Oh no, yes."

Yessa smiled and she understood the meaning of Joey's attitude. She leaned her back against the back of the chair. "I'll give you the basic concept, you'll complete it for Gemma. How?" asked Yessa offering.

Joey was silent, looking at Yessa's face who seemed sure of her. Although actually, Joey felt unsure of herself, especially Gemma's apparent rejection and intimidation towards her. For the first time, Joey felt surrender before the war. Joey took a deep breath before she asked again, "You believe and trust me, Yes?"

With complete confidence, Yessa nodded firmly and the ringing of her cellphone broke the atmosphere between the two of them. The name Kim, the best friend appeared on the cellphone screen. "Hi beautiful," said Yessa at the beginning of the conversation.

"Hi Yes, you read my message this morning, right?" Kim asked on the other end of the phone. Yessa nodded slowly when Joey gave a code that he would return to his desk. "Yes, I have read your message. I really haven't replied because---"

"Yeah, you must be busy," Kim joked with a witty tone in her voice.

Yessa chuckled. Yessa this morning was busy with Gemma who was arrogant and unfriendly to other people. "I want you to make a wedding party for me, Yes."

"Yes, of course. Calm down. I've prepared everything for you," Yessa said happily after the tension she went through with Gemma.

"You're going back to Texas? When?" Kim asked in succession as enthusiastically as if breathless.

Yessa took a deep breath and cast her eyes out of her glass office. It looks like Joey is looking at her laptop screen.

"Maybe a few days. Yes, I'll be back the weekend or next week at the latest."

"Yeeeeee!!!"

There was a spontaneous scream from Kim on the other end of Yessa's cellphone, so she needed to move it a little away from her ear with a smile. "I'm pleased to hear it. I'm going to tell Larry and his family about this."

"Yes, tell them."

"Okay, I have to go now. I contacted you just to make sure that's all," said Kim passionately excitedly. Yessa imagined Kim's face which was so expressive that she smiled alone.

"Bye, Yes."

"Bye."

Their conversation ended. Yessa threw her back against the back of the chair with a breath that felt suffocating in her chest. The image of her returning to Texas, crossing the road she had walked before. And the shadow image of her failed to wed three years ago to Brad St. Claire. Everything flashed in Yessa's memory. Her love story ends tragically with Brad, whom they have been dating since their high school days.

Yessa opened her phone. Opens the photo gallery on his phone, swipes it, and finds the photos that are still stored on the phone. Photo of her wedding dress which is still complete with a lacy veil. The photo of her in her wedding dress and her fingers kept moving, sliding the screen until a picture of her with Brad appeared.

"Oh my God," Yessa hissed softly as she put her cell phone on her desk.

***