Chapter 38: A Not So Pleasant Surprise

"The invitation was kind of unexpected."

"Not really! Being the best friend of Gary Sloane's girlfriend does come with some perks."

Mandy laughed.

"Anyways, Keshia, you probably would've been invited without me in the picture. Graham and Nathan get along great so do you and Alice. Speaking about him, isn't Nathan coming?"

"Yes, he'll join us later."

"Great! Let's get to the engagement party everyone will be talking about!"


Graham made sure everything was perfect. In just a few months, Alice and him would be husband and wife. He had been persistent and she finally forgave him. No man in the world could've been happier than he was when she accepted his wedding proposal.

A lot had changed. He felt much more ready to commit for life than he did when he was engaged to Victoria. This was true love; Alice was his life, he knew he couldn't make it without her.

Every guest was handpicked by himself. Nothing would ruin the night he made sure of it. Graham went back to Alice who was on the dance floor. Security was meant to be flawless; this was their night, he shouldn't worry.


"I know I'm definitely not welcomed here but I just have a few words to say..."

"Security!!!"


Graham was furious. On the stage, right before him, was standing Victoria Lane. Of all people. What could've happened and how she got in was less important to him than having her thrown out.


"Please, Graham, I ask you all to hear me out for just five minutes, maybe even less..."

"You have exactly five minutes, Victoria."

Graham turned to Alice and then deported his attention back to Vicky. He approached the stage in order to be close in case he'd have to stop her before her time was up. He didn't trust her at all.

The woman who was standing on stage looked tired, older. She had dyed her blond hair brown which made her less stunning. Victoria seemed less than ordinary. A pale shadow of the woman she used to be.


"I owe an apology to so many people here tonight, I don't even know where to start...Keshia, Mandy, Gary and Alice can you approach the stage? I notice Nathan isn't here so Keshy, you'll be the messenger.

I only have five minutes therefor, I'll get right into it. Keshia, I heard about Nathan and you. Congratulations, I wish you all the best. I apologize for all the heartaches I caused both of you. I've been cruel and selfish when you were sweet and selfless.

Mandy, losing your friendship as well as Keshia's served as a lesson. I'm hoping you can forgive me for going after Gary knowing you wanted to be with him. That was so wrong.

Gary...to think I had forgotten...I put you in a drawer that I closed a long time ago. I never made the connection until a couple of days. You must hate me. I don't blame you. I guess you got your revenge. I still want to apologize.

Last but not least; Graham. I love you with all my heart, always will. I played you, manipulated you, took you for granted...I lost you and my world fell apart. I'm so sorry; sorry for what I've done and what I'm about to do...If I can't have you..."


Gary was on stage before Victoria had pulled the gun out of her purse. He ran towards her trying to stop her as she was pointing it towards Alice. Trying to grab the gun from Vicky's hands, Graham heard a shot and screams. Despite his best effort, he was too late. She had already hurt someone.

Recap Chapter 26 to 31

Chapter 26 to 28

Vicky asks Gary about Graham's feelings towards Alice. She feels Alice will always be in the way of their relationship. She is less than pleased with the answer especially since Gary refuses to speak to Graham. She doesn't know how to get Graham to care anymore.

Keshia admits to Mandy that she slept with Graham. Out of spite for Victoria who had already messed up two of her relationships. She also reveals to Mandy she knows how Vicky found out and got Graham to take her back. Keshia apologizes to her friend and tells her she wants nothing less than to destroy the girl who's poisoned her life and so many others for many years.

Alcie comes out of her coma to find Graham by her side, He pours his heart out to her but she has doubts. She wants to move on and tells him it's too late.

Chapter 29 to 31

Keshia confronts Vicky about the past. Keshia tells her she was the reason her engagement to Nathan fell apart. Vicky asks if she would agree on a truce. Neither one really believes it's going to work out.

Mandy puts a plan in motion for Graham to know Vicky found out about his sleeping with Keshia by reading her diary. Keshia is more than happy to volunteer a confirmation when he calls to inquire about what Mandy told him "innocently".

Gary meets Victoria for diner; he tells her he knows she went through Keshia's diary. That he thought she had changed but she lied her way back in his life. Vicky cries and tells him she's sorry; Gary leaves her for good.

Recap Chapter 13 to 25

Chapter 13 to 15:

Gary tells Graham he prepared a document regarding his agreement with Victoria. Graham tells him to get in contact with Vicky and have her sign the documents. Partly because he doesn't want to have contact with her at the moment and because he promised he wouldn't initiate contact with her.

Gary inquires about the state of Graham's relationship with Alice and is pleased to learn Graham considers his relationship with Victoria to be officially over. On his way out of the office, Gary bumps into Alice and tells her to take care of his best friend and he'll deal with Vicky.

Vicky pays a visit to Mandy and Keshia who had been out of sight for a few weeks. They get into a small argument after Mandy confronts Victoria about seeing Gary. Vicky admits having diner with him but only for legal purposes. Mandy and Keshia are pleased to hear Vicky trusts Gary so much she didn't read the documents she was signing.

Keshia worries Gary is just using Mandy who is determined to continue following the original plan. She tries to convince Vicky to apply for another job at Leetson's another agency. Gary agrees with Mandy and tells Vicky she might become a partner in the publicity agency Mandy encouraged her to apply. Vicky considers sleeping with Gary but thinks about Mandy and Graham and hopes Graham sees them together soon.

Chapter 16 to 19

Graham runs into a rival at a party at Victoria's. Trying to embarrass him, Leetson asks him how it feels to lose his fiance and then have her look for a job at another agency. Gary informs Leetson and a surprised Graham that Victoria no longer works for Graham. Gary explains to Graham the agreement she signed clearly stated she was not to be looking for another job while her salary and expenses were assumed by Graham and his company.

Alice is a little worried because Graham seems upset and it has to do with Victoria. He tells her why but adds that he'll deal with him in time and place. Vicky walks up to Alice when she sees her alone and plays nice. Alice tells Vicky she's unemployed with much details and gets a small revenge dropping wine on her. Graham arrives and Vicky tells him to wait while she changes. Graham leaves with Alice without waiting.

Victoria talks to Graham and tells him she knows about his affair with Keshia. She convinces him she left him because she was insecure. She asks him to leave Alice and give it a second chance; it's a side of Victoria he's never seen. Graham is torn and tells her he'll think about it and whatever he decides, she'll be first to know.

Victoria had become suspicious Keshia was keeping a secret. Since she knew her hiding spots for her diaries she goes through the ones she can find and learns Graham and Keshia slept together one night. She decides to use the information to get Graham back.

Chapter 20 to 22

Gary is shocked when Graham tells him he'll give his relationship with Vicky a second chance. He tried to persuade him not to when Graham reveals he had an affair with Keshia and Victoria knew. Although he wanted Alice to be first to know, Graham had already promised Vicky he'll tell her his decision first.

Victoria gloats to Mandy and Keshia. Given their surprises, Vicky confronts Keshia about the night she slept with Graham trying to force the truth out of her. Keshia runs to her room to see if her suspicions are founded.

Alice lashes out at Graham. Vicky made sure to deliver the news she was back with Graham to her before he had a chance to. She tells Graham she's leaving and not to look for her. A confused Graham kisses Alice only to worsen her anger. He believes he's driven her away forever.

Chapter 23 to 25

Keshia meets with Alice to tell her she has information that might make Graham change his mind. Alice takes her number without much interest. As she's getting behind the wheel to leave, she starts crying.

Graham goes to the ER after he receives a phone call concerning Alice. Victoria is furious to see he would leave her in the middle of their date to run to Alice's side. Vicky causes a scene at the hospital and Graham tells her to leave. She's not too happy with the change in Graham's personality.

She wants to be in charge like before but decides to give up for the moment. Graham learns Alice is in a coma and decides to stay in the hospital until she wakes up. He realizes if it wasn't for Vicky coming back, he probably would've married Alice. He also feels guilty knowing she was in a car accident so soon after leaving the office.

Seeing Alice on the hospital bed, Graham's feelings are suddenly more clear. His getting back together with Vicky was purely out of guilt. Nothing more. Alice was the one he loved more than anything in the world. Alice's cell phone rings and as he tries to get to it to turn it off, a piece of paper with Keshia's phone number falls out of the purse.