Chapter 8:

KIEL'S POINT OF VIEW

"Kiel, what is your problem? Why did the director say that you don't want to take any shots? Tell me what's the problem." I gave manager Ivan a serious look and went back to what I was doing. Why isn't Odette texting me? I was about to call her when my manager got my phone.

"Do your photoshoot before you can get your phone." I stood up and got my phone.

"Leave. I will do my photo shoot later. I was waiting for a message." I sit on the couch and wait for her message.

"I'm begging you, Kiel, let's take a shot, please." Manager Ivan is kneeling in front of me. Odette's name appeared on my screen. I opened her message.

'I will be there later. Don't worry. Good luck with your photo shoot." I stood up and happily went out of my dressing room. I hear my manager happily jump behind me and run my way.

"Sorry, I just have an important message to wait for, so let's start." I cheerfully went in front of the backdrop. I saw the staff whispering, but the director and the photographer looked like a miracle just happened.

"Okay, everyone takes a position. Let's start this shoot so we can take a good rest later." The photographer positioned me and sat me in a chair while holding a glass of whisky. With an open polo and messy hair.

"The visual was stunning on all sides," Liam said (to the photographer): Ivan and the director were looking through all of my photos while I was shooting.

"Okay now, I want you to look at the camera while taking a bite out of your polo with a whisky glass that you have thrown in your polo by yourself. Give me that pose." I throw the whisky into my polo while taking a bite in my polo while looking into the camera. Director Garcia stood up while clapping.

"Bravo! I knew it; Kiel was the best endorser for this whisky." I saw the girl staff drooling over me. But my eyes were focused on the girl who was walking on the axis.

"Oh dear, here you are," Ivan said and went on to the girl.

"Sorry, I was late."

"Kiel, come here." I put the glass on my chair and got on it.

"This is Zafira Ajax; she is your new love team partner. Zafira, this is Kiel, Calvin Lopez." I offered my hand to shake hands with her.

"Nice to meet you, Zafira."

"Nice to meet you too, Kiel." She winked at me while we were shaking hands when a guy stood up next to her.

"Sorry to interrupt, I'm Aurelius, Zafira's brother and also his manager." He shakes hands with my manager, Ivan, and me.

"Okay, so Zafira is here; okay, Kiel, change your top; and dear, change your outfit, and some retouching for your makeup. After that, we will continue with your photo." We simply nodded and proceeded to the dressing room. I was wearing a white polo. After changing my polo, I went out and saw her wearing a red V-neck sequin bodycon dress. While walking, she winked at me and went back beside manager Ivan. Those hips and curves are calling my attention. They change the chair and replace it with a mini couch.

"So Kiel, Zafira will sit in your lap, and I want to see how you guys seduce the audience and give me that impact, okay?"

"Okay, director." We said and to the mini couch, with Zafira seated on my lap and her left hand placed on my chest.

"Kiel, look at Zafira like you were stunned or seduced by her beauty," David said, and I looked at her like I was seducing her but seducing her back.

She wrapped her hands around my neck, closer to my face.

"Want to join me later, babe?" She whispered while looking into my eyes.

"Sorry, but my girl and I already had plans." She bites my ear and puts her body close to mine.

"Okay, that's a wrap." The director stood up and all the staff was clapping, but my eyes widen when I saw Odette standing beside Ivan. I was still holding on to Zafira's waist while her hands wrapped around my neck.

I rush to stand up and let go of Zafira. I went up to her and held her hand. She looked at me and smiled.

"Why?"    She said so and looked curious about what I did.

"I just don't want you to get jealous. Let's go if you want." but she shakes her head.

"No, if your work is still not done, you should not leave without permission." I can wait; don't mind me. I put my head on her shoulder and hugged her.

"But I miss you so much; you are the person from whom I get my energy and the source of my happiness." I cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

Manager Ivan tapped my shoulder and gave me a look. I look around, and they are all looking at us. I saw Zafira standing with her hand on her waist while looking at us and raising an eyebrow. I held Odette's hands, and we walked toward my dressing room.

"Uhm, I think I should just wait for you here outside." I chuckled and pinched her cheeks.

"Sorry, sure, just wait for me; I'll be quick." I changed my top into my t-shirt and grabbed my car keys and phone before I went out of my dressing room.

"Kiel, the team was celebrating the success of the pictorial, so can I come with you? I am still new in the city. If you don't mind." Zafira smiles at me while playing with her fingers.

"Sure, just tell me when." She hugs me in front of Odette and kisses my cheeks.

"Thank you; I'll ask them." She let go of me and went back to the team.

"Is she your friend?" I don't know why, but I felt my heart jump when I heard Odette ask me that question.

"Nope, she was my need-love team that the management gave. "Am I smelling someone jealous in her presence? I was teasing her when she looked at me seriously.

"I'm telling you, she was just a partner just for the love team, but nothing more than that, okay? You don't have to worry about that. You are the only girl I will love." I kissed her, smacking her lips, and held both hands.

"If you want, you can join me and the team for the after-party."

"Nope, I need to go home early tonight." "I still have a new project to start doing the planning for."

"Then let me drive you home."

"Nope, I bring my car with me."

"I'll chat and go to your condo after the party. Then let me come with you in the parking lot." I kiss her forehead and grab her bag. We held hands while walking to the parking lot. When we were in front of her car, I gave her a bag and waited for her to leave. She was quiet. Even when we came into the parking lot, she just left without speaking with me. 

On my way back to the studio, I saw Zafira running.

"Kiel, let's go, Director Garcia. Tell me where we are going. There's a Korean restaurant nearby, so shall we leave now? Let's wait for them in the restaurant." She wraps her hands around my arm.

"Okay."   I unlock my car and open the passenger seat for her. I close the door when she gets inside my car. I went into the driver's seat and started the engine. While driving, Zafira keeps asking me questions.

"So since I will be your new partner, what is your expectation of us?"

"Nothing but a professional who does our work." She put her hands on my tights and started massaging me.

"Well, for me, I have something on my mind about our partnership, and I'll make sure you'll be happy with that."

She held onto my arm while getting out of the car. Some of the staff are inside and taking some meat to grill. We both went to the back, where Ivan and Aurelius were sitting.

"Thank you everyone for the nice and smooth photo shoot we had. And for the cooperation of everyone, we should enjoy the day and get yourselves drunk until the last drop. Cheers!"  Director Garcia raises his glass and congratulates everyone.

"For the incoming projects, we will have them soon." Zafira poured my glass of beer and toast with her glass.

"Kiel, hold your horses. "Don't drink too much." Zafira looks concerned about me.

"Don't worry, honey; I can take care of myself." after assuring her. I continue drinking beer now without glass but instead drink it straight from the bottle while eating pork. Zafira stopped drinking, while I and Ivan looked wasted from drinking. They all look undefeated while drinking their drinks.

I saw a smirk on Zafira's face while my sight was blurry. I don't know why, but I don't feel anything. Maybe I was too drunk. But I can hear some of the staff laughing. and the noise from the other people in the restaurant. What should I do?

I drink my beer straight, and after a few hours of drinking, my vision is blurry, and I can't tell why the floor is shaking. I saw Zafira stand up and go in front of me and try to stand me up.

"I told you not to drink too much. Look at yourself. You look wasted. Let me take care of you. Let me drive you home." She tried again to stand up while holding me by the waist. We were just walking when I felt a soft pillow on my back. My eyes couldn't take it anymore, and everything went black.

ODETTE'S POINT OF VIEW

I went back to my office and started implementing Mr. Chua and Mr. Montenegro's plan. I was looking at my phone. It's been three hours since I left him in the studio. But still, I receive no message from Kiel. Maybe he was enjoying the party that much. His world tour was a hit for sure once the photos went out, and it will be a hit on the market even for the product they were endorsing.

Mr. Chua wants a modern-traditional style in his new restaurant. But Mr. Montenegro wants a fully modern style in his house. I start thinking about and sketching a few ideas for Mr. Chua's restaurant. I flipped open my sketchbook and saw a sketch of a man's face. It was him the first man I fell in love with. When I didn't realize how deep I fell, I didn't expect how hard I fell on the ground when he left me. But still, I was head over heels at that time, when I was in my teens. 

Until now, when I realized how I did such things just for him. Yet it was not enough to prove it. Maybe at the right time, when the person I love feels the same as I do, I won't regret sacrificing everything for him. and I hope it's worth the sacrifice. and I hope it was Kiel.

A knock on my door broke my thoughts.

"Ms. Odette, someone was looking for you."

"Who?"

"He said you know him. He doesn't even give his name. He was tall, pale, and got." Pale and tall? Who will it be?

"Let him in." I was curious who it would be. When my door opened, I was shocked to see who it was.

Aurelius? It was him.