I woke up the next day to the sound of an alarming. Hmm… just kidding. This is not one of those cliché books. And, besides I hadn’t even had enough time to purchase a new alarm for the apartment we just moved into, weeks ago.
I didn’t even know the time because there was absolutely no way, I could check it. My wristwatch was long damaged and my phone was damaged from yesterday’s rain. Thus, I stood up and entered the shower. It was funny that there was this amount of luxury in our new house. This was nothing compared to the old one in a bit.
I had freshened up and dressed up afterwards. I went for a shirt, wearing a sleeveless black cardigan and a loose skirt that stopped below my knee. There was no essence of dressing so much if I would end up changing my outfit throughout the day. I had never been the one to even have numerous choices of clothes. I mean where was the money to afford to even afford them?
As I checked on mum, I had continuously thought of the events that happened yesterday. Liam had kissed me in front of the press. There would be surely be gist drawn from merely that.
I felt pained and angered that he stole my first kiss of all things. I had never even prepared for any of this to happen, but somehow it did… And, I didn’t even have a say in it. This was exactly why I had agreed to Chloe’s bet.
I mean, she probably didn’t understand how I hated Liam.
I was going to prove to her that she was hell wrong about me ever falling for Liam.
…
By the time I had gotten to the office, I received greetings from different angles. I replied them accordingly. After this, I went inside the photoshoot room. Next, the dressing room. It was still as vibrant as ever, lited with white lights.
Hardin had just finished with a model’s face. The model slowly stood up from her seat and I recognized her that instant. She was the same one who had acted rudely me that day. What did Hardin say her name was again…?
Jojo something…
Yeah, Jojo Lopez.
“The one who’s stealing my spot and my fiancé.” I heard her say. At first, I looked back assuming she was talking to someone at my back. But she seemed more focused on me.
“I’m sorry, are you referring to me?” I asked her swiftly, to clarify.
“Yeah, you demonic cow. Don’t think I’m going to seat back and allow you to do that. I will surely get back at you for what you’re doing.” She said.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about, Jojo. Could you be clearer instead of calling me a demonic cow?” I asked her.
“Oh, please. Don’t tell me you didn’t know I was engaged to Liam. Or didn’t you know I was the star model in this industry?” she asked, watching me with her blue eyes. I had to say she was strikingly beautiful. Yet, by her action of pointing fingers and saying some things out of blue, I knew she was one of those brainless bimbos who thought they had the world at their feet.
How was the fact that she was engaged to Liam even my business?
Urrgh!
“Am I some witch to know that? What’s your point, please? I have things to do so please make it quick.” I uttered. Her eye brows immediately furrowed.
“I want you to stay away from my man and leave my spot as the star model. You see, some things are better left the way it is.” She said.
Just as she did, she sashayed out of there in her stylish outfit for the day. My eyes directed to her figure as she went out the door. I really wished I could yell to her face that I wasn’t dating her fiancé or trying to steal her spot in the industry. But I was a type of person that didn’t like explaining myself one bit.
“Miss Nikki.” I heard a voice say. It was Hardin’s. I had so been engrossed in thinking about Jojo that I forgot I still needed to put on makeup for the shoot.
“You can call me Eleanor, Harry. Nikki’s my media name.” I told him politely.
“Miss Eleanor, you don’t have to take whatever she says to heart. No one can deny that Jojo behaves like a kid at times.” He said.
I nodded my head, sitting down on the chair for him to commence. Though, something lingered at the back of my head…
“Hardin?” I called out.
“Yes, girlie?” he answered.
“Is Jojo Lopez really engaged to Liam James?” I asked.
“Rumors say they had a fling together but I don’t know if they are still on. I’ve never heard anything about them being engaged though.” he told me.
“I’ll advise you not to let that sadist ruin your relationship with Liam. Just focus on your love for him and nothing more.” He said.
I wanted to scream that I wasn’t even dating Liam. But I sealed my mouth and just nodded politely at him. I balled my fists, trying to keep myself in total control. I wasn’t about to make matters worse.
…
Hardin had done my makeup on time. He told me that mine was special because my face was his favorite. I knew he was just trying to make me feel better after that Jojo’s encounter.
“This way, Miss Nikki.” A fashion designer told me. She scanned through the clothes that had each specific model name on it.
“What’s your number?” she asked me.
“1.” I told her. That was the number my manager, Margaret had given me automatically.
“1? You’re a VIP model?” she said shockingly, looking at my attire from my upper body to the lower part.
“Y-eah.” I said, nodding at her. She immediately looked through the rack of clothes for some dresses. I watched as she went through each single cloth on the rack. When she didn’t find what she was looking for, she made her way to another rack.
I waited patiently as she ransacked each set of cloth rack. Still, there was nothing to be found. She had a fearful expression on her face.
“Where did it go?” I heard her mutter to herself. Her face held a look of worry. She seemed so timid and scared of something.
“What is wrong?” I asked her. She looked up. Her eyes moved, searching for the dress she wanted to give me.
“It’s y-your dress.” She said, with her eyes filled with panic.
“What about it?” I asked her.
“I can’t find it. I had left it specially at this spot.” She said, pointing to the exact spot she had left it.
“It’s ok. I could wear another thing.” I told her politely.
“You don’t understand, Miss. A special outfit is always reserved for the VIP model. You are going to be the cover girl.” She told me.
Then where was this dress?
Did someone mistakenly pick it up?
“Looking for this?” Someone said. My eyes immediately re-directed to where that voice had come from. It was Jojo, in a very beautiful outfit, sashaying towards us.
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At first, I didn’t understand what was going on when Jojo entered. It was just like a blank sheet was right in front of me. But, when I saw the designer pointing to what she was putting on, I knew that something was wrong.“That… That is the dress.” She said. Her face held a look of fear. I could read that she was definitely afraid of Jojo.Not today, bitch.I thought.
I had met millions of jerks in my life. But none of them could be compared to Liam James. I mean, what a great audacity he had. Just as I took my clothes, I got out of his house before the word Mary Celeste. Date?I won’t ever go on a date with Liam, my worst enemy.
As I strode out of my house, I saw a black van parked just by the side. I admired it before moving to go. At that exact moment, someone came down from the car. It was a young man. He surprisingly made his way towards me.“Good morning, Miss Nikki.” He said, bowing down to me. My eyes moved in total shock that instant.“Yeah, good morning. May I help you?” I asked suspiciously. I mean what if Liam sent one of his men again to bring me?My phone immediately rung that instant. I looked on the receiver before picking it. It was Margaret, my manager.“Hello,” I called out.“Good morning, Miss Nikki.” She said.“Yeah, morning.” I said, still looking at the young man in front of me.“I’m really sorry it took long. That young man is now your personal driver. He has been assigned by the company to take you wherever you’re going,” She said. My eye brow furrowed on the spot.What?“Yeah, but is th
I couldn’t just believe what I had just heard him say. He wanted me to act like I was his girlfriend. How outrageous! I knew acting like I was his girlfriend meant him kissing me in public and both of us being lovey-dovey. That was something I wasn’t good at.We were bound to fail.Knowing this, I scoffed out loud.“Never! I’m announcing the break up now!” I told him immediately. I spared him one more heated glare before I begun to stomp out of his office.“I will help you with your mum.” He said.That stopped me in my tracks.My eyes narrowed at that exact moment. I didn’t talk to anyone except from Chloe about my mum’s condition of dyslexia and frequent memory loss. So, how did he know? I had given my advance pay from Pink Moda to the doctors to operate on mum. But they said they wouldn’t start until the full payment had been made.“Have you been spying on me, Liam? How did you know about my mum?
Liam’s PovThere was something about red that made me want to stay. Even though she wanted me to leave her sight, I felt this attraction to her. That was why I couldn’t help but try to make conversations with her, even though I never was the type to make long conversations with anyone.Pretty.She wasn’t pretty.Red had a type of beauty that really stood out from a multitude. This was why I wasn’t surprised when that famous magazine listed her all because of her smile. That was sincere. I had seen her laugh with people from the company a few times. But she just never seemed to smile when she was around me.Although, I don’t blame her. I blame me for being so arrogant the first day we had met on the road. I was raised in as a billionaire and I had met people who were so greedy for money. This was why I had assumed that the cause of her yelling at me was money. But she amazed me
EleanorI had taken mum back to the hospital to have the worthy treatment she deserved. Since I accepted the agreement with Liam James, he sent the agreed amount to me later in the day. I felt really grateful for that gesture, not until I remembered that he was doing it for something in return; me acting as his fake girlfriend.Although, the good thing was that mum would soon be well. You see, I really hated seeing her in that state. At times, she even forgot who I was. Her frequent memory loss was really doing a great damage on her. Daily, she was becoming a stranger to me.Today, I went to work in a plain brown dress. It was a piece mum had given me, so I wore it to feel her presence around me. The moment I had gotten down from the car, a lot of paparazzi surrounded me that instant. My face was welcomed with their cameras as they flashed their evil lights on me.“Miss Nikki, Miss Nikki.” T
I woke up this morning with a sad feeling all locked up in my chest today. Mum was at the hospital. The doctor told me she would be admitted there until it was time for her surgery. And, thinking of the events that happened yesterday, I felt so dumb.It was all of a sudden Jackson’s face popped in my head. I saw his retreating figure on the roof top yesterday. My brain rebooted all that had happened just yesterday. I sprung up like a wild cat, running to the drawer. I opened it and sighted the white and pretty handkerchief he had told me to keep. Just at the sides of it was two initials I read out:“J.J.” I furrowed my brows, wondering what they actually stood for. J was definitely for Jackson, but what did the other J stand for?I thought, staring at the piece so adorably.I placed the handkerchief in between my nasal openings. They scented exactly like Jackson which was pleasing and drawing to the senses.I returned the napkin to the part o
After our girly chit-chat, Chloe started with her demonic gadgets on me. I couldn’t believe that she had brought all those all because I had a dinner with my worst enemy’s parents.“What the hell are those?” I asked her, furrowing my eyebrows.“An amateur's guide on a good makeover.” She said, with a wink, jingling the big bag in the air. Chloe brought the bag down and unzipped it.There were lots of makeup gadgets inside. Hair curlers, skin creams and various makeup items in there.She started by applying a mask on my face. That took some minutes to do. Next, she gave me a manicure and a pedicure. My body had to withhold her body creams too. She then pushed me into a tub of warm water, which she had also put some roses and body oils inside. My eye brows were arched most of the times, wondering why she performing the grand gesture.When I got out, she started with doing my hair. At least I had tested her curling machine before so I didn’t fre