Chapter 2. Alone

He had a bit of an accent while speaking English. I furrowed my eyebrows, “Later?”

“I am in the Philippines also now for a shoot.” He answered, and I gulped.

Whatever it is, this must not be true, “No, thank you. I’m assuming this is a fraud. So nope, I’m not going to be up for your shenanigans.”

The voice chuckled, “Uhm... this is filmed internationally. You’re humiliating me.” I just had a bad day and this is pushing me off. internationally? So who cares? This must still be a scam!

“Do you not watch a television show? Turn your television on and go to channel 12.”

I did as he said, and soon enough, I saw that there really was a reality show!

Oh goodness. My career…There was a woman and a man host there, and seated in front of them was a handsome man.

The camera zoomed in and the man winked. I gulped. He looked cute, and I turned him down. He looked tall, dark, and handsome. He has a sharp jaw and chocolate hair and clean-cut hair jelled in a neat style. I shook my head no. This is not the time to think about that. Noah is handsome too, yet he cheated. For all we know, that man is a player two.

I mean, who calls someone randomly for a “dare”? And it is broadcast live! That is suspicious enough! Now panicking, I instantly turned off my phone.

Soon enough, I could hear Manager Smith’s phone call.

“Ellaina! You’re a model! You should have acted nicely!” That was the first thing I heard from him, “I let you rest, but you’re destroying your career! Don’t you even know who that guy was?”

“Who?”

“It’s Ajax, the Spanish actor and the CEO of Sillas Corp!” He said.

I sighed. To hell with that CEO. I am not familiar with his name.

I don’t even care. “I just got through the divorce. I don’t want another man to ruin my life again, Manager Smith.”

He sighed, “I know you are in pain now and angry, I understand that dear, but you should know you are in the modeling industry.” He lifted my chin and clasped my cheek, “Get it together, sis! That man is a big time! You know he got here in the Philippines just to be on that show. We’re definitely gonna be busy with the press with how you acted!” He said, “And don’t let me save you again once rumors start!”

“Fine. We’ll sort it out.” I said, and hung up on him. I muttered a curse.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and I looked out the eyehole to see my mother outside.

I bit my lip. Here we go again.

As soon as I opened the door, she stormed inside my room, “You are viral again. You should not have divorced Noah.”

I closed the door, “It’s my choice.”

“Alright. Fine. work hard to provide for us. But there will be a time that your pride won’t save you just because he cheated. You should have endured it as I did to your father.”

I raised my eyebrows. She would always invalidate my feelings like this.

How toxic.

“I’m not a saint like you, mom.”

I let her leave first and took a nap. My phone was blowing up with notifications, but I ignored them.

I need to maintain my mental state.

***

Wearing my two-piece bikini, I went to the poolside to unwind from today’s events. I asked for my usual tequila drink and sat on the stool first. He then gave me wine and I paused, “I didn’t order again.”

He pointed at the man far from me, “It’s from him.”

I looked at the man who had shades and waved at me. Tsk. Another man.

“Then I refuse to drink that,” I said and watched as the man approached me.

“Hey miss, I see you alone there. Do you mind me sitting with you?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Why? You refused to drink the wine I gave you.”

“I’m alone for a reason. So stop bothering me.”

He removed his shades and raised his eyebrows, “Oh, aren’t you the model who just got divorced? Your career is going down, let me help you.”

I raised my eyebrows at his snide comment but remembered Manager Smith’s reminder.

Goodness. I have to stay nice. For my reputation.

For my career.

I was about to drop it off when another man went to us, “She said no. Back off.”

The man snorted, “And you are?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

He has shades too so I can’t recognize him but his build is familiar.

The man grunted in response before leaving us alone.

I faced the man who protected me, “Do I know you?”

“Oh, you do.” He said confidently and removed his shades. “The one you rejected at the reality show.”

I gasped. I don’t really remember his name but I’m not mistaken… it Ajax? The Spanish actor?

“Oh…” I trailed off. “You?”

“Yes me. I came to say hi.”

“Did you stalk me here?” I asked him.

He blinked, “Are you calling me a stalker, Ellaina?”

I looked at him suspiciously. How else would he be here? He’s an A-list, he should be at a five-star hotel…why here with me?

He said something like having a crush on me right? No way, he must have done it purposely.

“Earlier this morning, I was looking for you to pay for the damage I caused.” He said, “And I want to apologize. I’m sure you must have been hurt. I wanted to take you to the hospital to get you checked but you were rushing-“

I instantly cut his sentence off, “So you were the man who bumped into my motorbike?” He nodded.

I gritted my teeth. Damn.

“You were not letting me pay so I guess I’ll have to pay another way.”

“What is it?”

He then grabbed an envelope from his suit and handed it to me, “I’ll invite you to my welcoming party.” I grabbed his envelope. What? It’s too formal. Is he royalty or something?

Written in the envelope were the time and date, along with her name written in cursive.

7pm. At the Diners.

Ms. Ellaina Xzania Ramirez.

I turned back to him to see him as he winked at me, “I can’t miss out on my model crush. Be sure to come.”