As Connor's car stooped in front of the tall agency building and we stepped out, arm in arm like a real couple, I felt a funny sense of nostalgia hit me, I remember the first time I was here. A broke desperate Asian girl who was trying to start her life all over again, with big dreams of working in a place like this. A ridiculous dream that had allowed her to cross paths with a stranger who would sweep her off her feet and change the course of her life forever. Now, she was here again. This time, as the 'girlfriend' of the CEO.
Life could be pretty ironic sometimes.
As we stepped into the building through the twin doors, I recognized the security man from the other day and notice how he tried to avoid my eyes. In fear? Shame? Embarrassment maybe?
I wished I could get into his head and see what he was thinking now. Was he thinking I might mercilessly want to take revenge and maybe rip him off his job?
I smirked inwardly. That would suit someone like him who only knew best how to degrade other people and treat them like trash. But I decided to do away with the thought. It was childish, as much as I wanted to make him pay for the actions that would serve him a lesson. A pauper today could be a prince tomorrow. He would surely know how to treat other people right henceforth.
The blonde lady I had also met on my first day here also walked towards us, giving a small curt nod at the both of us, a smile on her face.
"Welcome sir, ma'am." She began but her smile loosed its flicker when she realized it was me. I lifted my lip in a small wicked smile.
"Well, hi there."
"Uh..." The lady stammered as she looked from me to Connor as though she could not believe her eyes.
"Hello, Miss Rice." Connor acknowledged her and give me a look too. "Babe, meet Scarlett Rice. My secretary."
I could see Scarlett's eyes search around at the term he had used to refer to me and I smiled secretly to myself.
Yes, miss. You heard that right.
"Oh, hello there, Scarlett. It is nice to meet you. Again."
Before Scarlett could say another word, Connor pulled me gently by the arm. "Come on. There's still stuff to see. The company is doing a modelling shot for a brand. I bet you'll like to see it."
"I sure do," I replied and cast Scarlett one last smile before walking with Connor further. The staff greeted us as we walked past them and I noticed the stares my presence entailed. Some stared at me with fancy and others with jealousy and hate in their eyes. The hot gorgeous new girlfriend of Connor Meyers.
My insides squeezed both in excitement and the wish that it was all real. We got in the elevator and Connor pushed the button to the eleventh floor. We stood side by side staring at the elevator door, a small smile subconsciously on my face.
"Everyone thinks you're beautiful," Connor says, breaking the silence. "Correction..., everyone can see that you are beautiful."
I tried not to blush at his comment.
"All the girls you've had in your life are all gorgeous." I reminded him instead.
"Yes. But your kind of gorgeous is different."
"How different."
"Your air of melancholic mystery."
"Are you saying I'm a sadist?" I almost laughed at how petty I was sounding right now and half expected Connor to be pissed by now but he did not seem to mind. He seemed to be enjoying the conversation as much as I was.
"Maybe? No? I wouldn't know. I don't think being melancholic makes you a sadist."
"You think I'm melancholic."
The door opened as soon as I asked the question and Connor took my hand into his gently and gave me a killer smile.
"Yes, mi lady."
"Good day, Mr Meyers." A tall young man in faded jeans and simple tees welcomed us as we stepped into the floor. The entire floor was packed with all kinds of models and photographers. The models with their diverse skin tones and body shapes and heights. Some were having their faces done and others stood at the farthest edge closest to the glass walls and windows, where lights and cameras blended in perfect harmony, posing different body shots for the photographers.
"Hello, Faris." Connor took his hand and shook it briefly and all the while, Faris's brown eyes stayed locked to me, analysing my entire frame like I was something he hadn't seen before. His eyes began to sparkle with life and feeling a bit of awkwardness at his gaze, I looked away from him in the direction of the models.
"Is she..." Faris asked Connor, referring to me.
"My girlfriend? Yes." Connor brought his hand and encircled it around my waist in confirmation.
"Cool." Faris did not take his eyes off me even as I looked back at him again. "Are you a model?"
Connor shook his head and laughed. "No, she's not. Stop bothering her already."
"Oh." Faris had a bit of disappointment on his handsome face now and I gave him a small apologetic smile. Connor led me into the crowd and found me a seat before excusing himself to exchange greetings with a few people.
I sighed after he left, feeling suddenly lonely in this small crowd of unfamiliar faces.
"Do you want anything? Water maybe?" Faris asked me and I nodded, feeling the sudden dryness of my throat.
"Yes, please."
He called out to someone who handed him a bottle of water which he opened and passed over to me. I smiled at him again in gratitude and gulped down the water, taking short breaks between my intakes.
"You sure you are not a model?" Faris asked me again, an unconvinced look on his face. I laughed and shook my head.
"No. These heels are quite deceiving, Mr Faris. I am five foot five inches. My younger sister fits the model beauty standard though..."
"Can I take a photo of you? I mean, you don't have to do the whole modelling pose thing. Am I bothering you? Listen, I'm sorry if I come off that way. You are just..." He gave me that mesmerizing look from earlier. "Like art. Those ash's grey hair. Your fox-shaped eyes. Those freckles...they make art."
I felt an instant shyness at his compliment and looked down at my dark stiletto heels with a smile, feeling my whole face burn up in a blush. I bit my lip and looked back at him again.
"Okay."
His smile returned and he took a few steps backwards and positioned the angles of his camera as he took a few bursts of shots while I simply sat cross-legged and stared at the camera. He finished in a minute or so and smiled a huge smile of gratitude at me.
"Thank you for the opportunity, miss...uh..."
"Call me Ken..." I stop myself abruptly.
Fuck. When did I start to slip this way?
I fixed a smile on my face immediately again. "I mean, Ari. Call me Ari."
"Alright, Ari. See you around then." He raised two fingers to his head in a salute and walked away again to coordinate the modelling session.
"What did I miss?" Connor's faint lemon cologne welcomed me as he walked up to me again.
"Nothing much." I turned to look at him and he was dressed in another outfit. A half-shirtless dark packet shirt that had its buttons opened. His trouser was hanging a bit loosely down his hips, exposing a full view of those perfect torso. His hair was ruffled and wet and messy and I swear he looked like a vampire prince. My heart fluttered wildly and I felt a new warmth between my legs.
"Shall we?" He took my hand and my eyes scanned around in a puzzle.
"What?"
"It's our turn, beautiful."
I felt a new fear take over me as I cast glances at the perfect lean structures of the models. These ladies were made for this. Born for this. Trained for this. Heck, there was no way I am doing this. Not with this perfectly chiselled god standing in front of me.
"Connor, no," I whispered objectively, hoping he would listen to me and just go alone.
"Why?" He had a frown on his face now and before I can say anything, Faris clapped his hand, gaining everybody's attention.
"Alright, everyone. It is the moment we have all been waiting for. Let's have Mr Connor Meyers and his gorgeous girlfriend take over the show now." The small gathering clapped and Connor turned his attention to me again, his soft calm demeanour quite the opposite of mine.
"I'll be by your side, Kenz. I'll support you."
I felt like hiding under the grounds and his words did not do much to reassure me. But the excitement and anticipation on the faces of the crowd told me backing out wasn't even an option.
I heaved deeply as I let Connor take my hand into his. He smiled again and led me to the stage.
Here we go.
