10
” You are right, no man can tolerate me.” Miranda replied casually but Justin still heard the pain in her words.
He was taken aback, it was the first time she did not utter arrogant words. He wondered what could be the story behind her pain.
He has to figure it out.
“Am sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Justin swallowed his pride and apologised.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.
” It’s okay, you don’t need to be.” Miranda replied, changing the channel to her favourite documentary station.
Justin could only shake his head. Which lady in her mid twenties watches documentaries? Aren’t they supposed to be watching romance movies?
But he knew from experience that Miranda was no regular lady he was acquainted with. She was not a normal case.
He decided to leave her alone and head upstairs, he was tired from shooting all day long. It was at this moment when he thought perhaps going back and living as the prince he was was better.
Justin went to take a rest while Miranda stayed in the sitting room watching documentaries. She was bored to death but couldn’t step outside and roam the streets freely lest someone spots her and creates trouble for her. She has never craved freedom like this for the last three weeks. Staying cooped in the house made her envy the street children who could walk anywhere without any care in the world.
Ava who had been walking on needles finally relaxed. It’s been three weeks and that stranger did not come looking for her! Maybe he wasn’t as powerful as she had feared. She was relaxing on her sofa when her manager called. She was on a week’s vacation from work.
picking the call, she answered grumpily.
” Hello?”
” Why do you sound pissed off?” her Manager teased her. She was damn sure that that little actress must be angry at her. Ava had instructed her manager to dare not call her within that one week unless it was something very important, it was just the third day, can’t they let her take a break?
” It’s because I’m pissed off.” Ava replied back.
” So who’s so unlucky to anger our Ava?” the manager teased her once again infuriating Ava even more.
” get to the point or hang up.” Ava threatened.
” You are reporting back to work tomorrow first thing in the morning.” She instructed.
“Are you kidding me?” Ava shouted.
” Calm down, why are you shouting at me?” her Manager.
” Don’t you dare tell me to calm down, I mean how can I calm down. It’s just the third day and you are asking me to come back?” her voice clearly spelt the anger she was feeling.
” That’s the orders from above Ava, I tried explaining to them that you were on leave and suggested they pick another model but the CEO said that the client wanted only you.” August, her manager tried explaining to her.
” I don’t care, the agency has more than enough models to take on that project.” Ava replied but her voice sounded defeated. She knows there is no way she’s escaping that one.
“You think we haven’t tried negotiating with him to pick any other model? The CEO even offered to lower the price of our services but he was hellbent on getting you for his project. He even threatened to shut down the company if his demand was not met in 24 hours.” August explained, hoping that Ava would understand the intensity of the matter.
” Why does he want me only? Is he a sick psychopath obsessed with me?” Ava speculated.
” How should I know that but I heard he’s the CEO of a multinational company.” August tried to feed as many details as she knew.
” Okay, but after this, I’ll take a two week vacation, it’s either that or nothing.” Ava laid down her conditions. She wouldn’t let this chance slip off her to get another vacation.
” I knew you would say something like that so I already informed the CEO and he agreed that he’ll grant you whatever wish you want.” August said, heaving a sigh of relief. She thought that she’ll have to use hours convincing Ava to take the task.
” Okay, pick me up tomorrow morning.” Ava relented.
” copy that.” with that, she disconnected the call. Ava thought of who could give such ridiculous demands and even threaten others. She just hoped she didn’t somehow attract the attention of a sick bastard. The last thing she wanted was to kick someone’s crotch.
The following morning, Ava woke up early and prepared herself. Her Manager was time conscious and she didn’t want to get an earful early in the morning for slacking off. At eight sharp, the doorbell rang and Ava just picked her bag and left the house.
The drive to the company was silent as nobody spoke to each other.
When they arrived, they found the CEO waiting for them.
” Mr Adams.” Ava greeted politely.
” Mmm, let’s go.” He said after curtly replying to her greetings.
” Go where?” Ava asked, confused.
” To meet our client of course.” Mr Adams replied.
” Do we need to meet him, I thought I’ll just sign the contract?” Ava asked yet again.
” The client requested to meet with the model to ascertain she’s fit for the project.” Mr Adams replied with a straight face. Truth is even he was surprised with the clients requests. First, he asked for only her and her alone. That was fine, it’s not the first thing clients made such requests but this checking out first thing made Mr Adams start to get suspicious. He wondered what was the relationship between his top model and that mysterious client? But he was a businessman after all, and profits came before his curiosity. As long as he can make money, he doesn’t care about the relationship between the two of them. That was none of his business.
” That’s absurd!” Ava said, danger bells started ringing on her head.
Escape. Run away.
Those were the thoughts occupying Ava’s mind now. For some reason she smelt trouble brooding in paradise.