-Well that's awesome you didn't have to give him an answer-
                          
"Yes but... he is so distant Aria, I don't think I can do that, be this distant" I saw Mary coming my way with a smile.
                          
"Miss Collins, Mr Walton asks if you could hurry because he has other plans" I gave her a nod and hung up the phone after saying bye to Aria. I took a deep breath and let it out before going to his office.
                          
"I'm sorry Mr. Walton, it was important". If he wanted to treat me as a stranger I could do the same to him, even though I knew it irked him, I didn't get any reaction from him. 
                          
Instead he gave me back my files with a professional smile "these are great. You can now start the second part; I want it all next week"
                          
"Next week? This took a month, how am I..."
                          
He cut me off before I could finish "A week Miss Collins".
                          
I gathered my things silently and nodded "Have a good day sir". I walked out without a glance back. Once in the elevator I called Nathan "Want to meet for lunch?"
                          
-Sure, where?-
                          
"Let's meet at our usual place. And text Aria, too"
                          
-Sure thing beautiful-
                          
Fifteen minutes later I was sitting in the corner of the restaurant scrolling through my instagram account while waiting my friends to arrive when I saw a picture of Zach and Jamie in some fancy restaurant. The caption was as silly as the picture.
                          
"Hey sweetie, sorry I'm late" Nathan pecked my cheek and sat across me.
                          
"Hey" I barely said setting my phone away. "How are you?"
                          
"You look so happy to see me" he said sarcastically as Aria joined us.
                          
"Hey guys, what's up?"
                          
"Careful Aria, she's grumpy again" Nathan chuckled. "Trouble in paradise? How is your sexy billionaire doing?"
                          
Instead of answering him I just gave him my phone so he could see Zach holding Jamie's hand. 
                          
"Ah... I see." He gave the phone to Aria who just shrugged and looked at our friend "HE asked her to marry her she said nothing. She went to her meeting with him and he acted all formal and distant and now he's with her whoever she is"
                          
"Marry him? For real? Or just this fucked up game of his?"
                          
"Fucked up game of his" Aria rolled her eyes while I kept quiet. I was hurt and tried hard not to show it but soon tears welled up in my eyes and I started crying. That's when my friends stopped talking and just let me get it out of my system. I suddenly felt sick, needing to throw up. I quickly made my way to the restroom and got it all out. I must have been so stressed that my stomach was upset. A few minutes later I joined my friends and we ordered food. No one mentioned him again so they don't upset me any further. I could feel how Nathan was mad, he had told me several times not to go through with it, not to keep seeing him but I never listened. But he was an amazing friend and didn't rub it in my face. Instead he was there for me, and I couldn't ask for anything else. The week went by in a blur; I drowned myself in my work not wanting to be late as he specifically gave me a week. Aria never left me, she stayed with me the whole time while Nathan kept checking on us every now and then. I was feeling a little better but still felt nauseated at times which was very disturbing but I brushed it off. Zachary never contacted me during this week, not even work related. Nothing.
                          
Now the day came, I needed to go see Zachary and give him the prints so he would be able to progress with his hotel. I felt so nervous but knew I couldn't ignore the meeting so I readied myself and was there on time. Mary smiled at me and this time she asked Zach if I could come in. "He's waiting for you Miss Collins"