Chapter 5

"So, how's the job?" Danielle asks Gianna. It's been a week since Gianna and Joaquin met, and she's been communicating with Danielle ever since.

"It's fine. We're going out tonight, I don't know where though." A while ago, Joaquin texted her about an event he wants to be accompanied by. Gianna was excited at first, but then Danielle showed up.

"Is he falling for you?" Danielle has this mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I don't know. We just met last week, we're still testing the waters." Of course, she knew the answer to the question but she wants to be sure.

"Just be mindful of why you're doing this, okay?" Danielle sips her coffee for the last time then leave. Gianna sigh and take the envelope in front of her that Danielle left. The money inside was enough to pay for a month's rent for her apartment and her family.

"Why do I need to dress up?" Gianna asks Joaquin for the last time. She thought they're just going to have a normal second date because nothing can top the first one.

Joaquin smiles as he saw Gianna in a navy blue off-shoulder evening dress.

"Is this fine or is it too much?" This is the first time Gianna wears such kind of clothing. She felt uneasy yet she likes how she looks tonight, especially how Joaquin looks in his suit, very dapper and handsome that she felt herself blush just by checking him out.

"Beautiful." The only word Joaquin can blurt out since he was caught speechless by how amazing Gianna looks. For sure, she'll be the talk of the night.

Tonight's event is special to Joaquin's family. It's his sister's engagement to Trevor Smith, an heir to an aviation company. What makes it more special is that Joaquin will be there, with a date whom everyone, even Cara is excited to meet. Katherine, on the other hand, was not happy upon hearing the news that Joaquin is bringing someone to the party, but she masked it with a smile.

"You didn't tell me we're going to a party this grand." Gianna suddenly felt nervous as she stares at the event in front of her. This is an event with people as rich as Joaquin, with women as sophisticated as Danielle, and she just wants to leave right here, right now. Joaquin's hands intertwined with hers ease her mind for a bit. She looks at him and suddenly everything disappears.

"Relax, just be yourself." Joaquin smiles at her.

"Joaquin!" Cara rushes to hug his brother as she sees him walk in, noticing the beautiful woman beside her.

"You must be Gianna, I'm Cara. Joaquin's sister." Cara's hug surprises Gianna, and she can't believe the woman in front of her is Joaquin's sister. She seems so innocent and calm, unlike Joaquin.

"You must be Gianna." A woman probably her age approach Gianna. She's beautiful, a model on a magazine cover kind of beautiful. Suddenly, Gianna felt all her insecurities again. She scans the room for Joaquin, but he's nowhere to be found.

"I'm Katherine. Joaquin's father's significant other." He doesn't mention this woman to her, she just knows that Joaquin and his father have a rocky relationship, this woman might be the cause, she wonders.

"You know it's not real right?" Katherine's motive is clear, she wants Gianna out of the picture. She doesn't like the idea of Joaquin falling for someone and moving on from her.

"What do you mean?" Gianna's guards are up. She recognizes the vindictive glint on the woman's eyes, same as Danielle's and she will not let herself be eaten up by the woman in front of her.

"He's just using you to show me he's moved on. But the truth is, he's not." Katherine's voice is laced with deceit and venom as she stares at the confused look of the woman she's been jealous of for the whole night. She smirk triumphantly as she confirms that Joaquin never mentioned her to Gianna.

"We were lovers, and Joaquin had a hard time accepting the fact that I love his father more than I loved him. That's the reason why he moved out of this house. Didn't he tell you that?" The information is new to Gianna, and she felt embarrassed that she can't talk at the moment. She just stares at the blonde in front of her processing the information that maybe, she's been a tool for Joaquin to used.

She doesn't actually notice the events unfolding in front of her. All she knew was that she wants to leave the party, go home, and cry herself to sleep. She doesn't understand what's she's feeling. She's afraid that things might be getting real for her, and she finds herself having the desire to save herself from that.

"Gianna, hey." Joaquin's voice brings her back to reality.

"Whatever it is that Katherine's told you. Please, don't believe her." She can't speak. She just stares at him as she processes all her emotions that she's feeling. Joaquin looks at her worriedly.

"I need to go." Without any words, Gianna leaves. Joaquin wants to go after her, but he seems stuck to where he is. He can't move as he felt his heart breaking again.