Chapter 10 Presents Come With Strings

• 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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