Then I heard the buzzer sound.

“Helena,” I heard Bette’s voice say, “Helena, I know you’re there, let me in.”

I stood up, drying my tears as I looked at the intercom.

“Helena, let me in.”

I hesitated to press the button.

“Helena. If you don’t let me in right now, we have nothing, absolutely NOTHING to talk about ever again. Now I’m asking you to open the door.”

I hit the button and moved to leave my front door ajar as I quickly walked to splash cold water on my face and dried off. I pulled back my hair and stood at the entrance of my apartment, waiting for the inevitable.

Then I saw her, standing outside my door; her expression was blank.

“Funny, isn’t it, that we’ve been friends for so long, yet I have never once stepped inside your apartment. I’ve stood outside a lot though,” she said, her tone was slightly strained, as if she was holding back her anger.

She walked in as I shut the door. It was as if the entire apartment had frozen up; as if you could break the tension with an ice pick.

She looked around, before focusing on me; I couldn’t bring myself to look up at her.

“Helena? Chloe? Who are you really?”

“You know who I am,” I managed to reply in a whisper.

“No, I don’t know who you are. I know your name and your address, but right now, I daren’t assume I know anything else about you. Do you want to explain?”

I slowly brought my eyes up and found that she was starring intently at me, “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Anything!” she shouted, “Anything to explain what the hell is going on!”

“I don’t know, Bette…I…”

“I deserve an explanation!”

“I know, but I don’t know where to begin,” I replied, close to tears.

“You don’t deserve to cry, Helena,” she retorted, her voice unsympathetic.

“How did you find her?” I asked.

She forced out a laugh, “The guest list from Frances. I asked her how she knew Chloe Preston and she confessed that she had hired a few escorts from this exclusive online website to come and lighten up the atmosphere at the party. I was hesitant to call up, but I did. The lady asked me to fill up a form and she let me know when the appointment was confirmed. My intention was just to meet Chloe, to find out who she was, but, what do you know? It turns out I have known Chloe all along.”