Chapter 2. Time Limit

Fenella's POV

"Have we discussed this before? You're already 24 years old; thus, your time as a runway model is short. Even for most girls, it's all over."

I fell silent while staring at the brown-haired man in the mirror. When I heard that, my heart seethed again. I looked down and closed my red lip cream.

"Hey, Fenella. I mean, if you don't feel up to the morning fitting schedule, we can start looking at new opportunities for your career in fashion."

Jessy hugged me from behind while I put on my black knee-high boots. I could tell he was attempting to cheer me up.

We've been working together for seven years, with him serving as my agent and me serving as his model. Many of my successes as a model began at a young age, but the world didn’t recognize me as a supermodel as I had hoped early in my career.

My most notable accomplishment thus far has been modeling for multiple Elle and Vogue magazine covers. A dedicated page also features an interview.

I don't want to be ambitious, but I'm not sure if my accomplishments are impressive enough to get acknowledgement from others. Especially from former friends who the hell know where they are today.

"Don't worry, Jess, I won't be late." I packed my bag and got ready to leave.

***

Tom Chase is my boyfriend. We'd been dating for approximately six months and still didn't want to live together. That major step never entered my mind. Tom's reaction remained unchanged, and he, too, seemed unwilling to take the next step.

I got out my phone and checked my message inbox with Tom, but he hadn't responded yet. The clock showed 8 p.m., but Tom didn't appear to have left his office yet. We agreed to have dinner out before heading home, but I'm wondering why he didn't reply to my messages.

'I'll wait for you in the coffee shop across from the studio.'

***

This was outrageous! I couldn't have been more patient than this. I had waited for an hour without any notice from Tom. My mind was still positive; maybe he was working.

So, I stood in front of Tom's office building. My hands clutched a bag containing a few cans of beer, Tom's favorite, that I had just bought from the nearest mini-market. I had a hunch that we would change our dinner plans at the restaurant to dinner at Tom's office, as usual.

I saw lights still on from the windows on the fifth floor of the building, while the other floors were already dark. Just as I suspected, he was still in the office.

Truly, sometimes Tom worked too hard as an accountant. His office building wasn't as luxurious as others, but he worked like a horse. Once again, I could only sigh as Tom chose to work and forget our dinner date.

I then headed up to the fifth floor with the access card Tom had given me. When I arrived on the fifth floor, the office corridor was deserted and dark. There was no one on Tom's accountant's office floor, except for Tom's room with its light still on.

I walked towards the glass door that was covered with curtains. I had no suspicions at all.

"Tom," I knocked on the door and just entered.

It was at that moment that everything started to make sense.

I stood at the door in shock as I witnessed the scene in front of me. Tom jumped in panic, hastily adjusting his open pants, while a woman lay naked on Tom's work desk.

"Fenella?! Shit!"

I knew the woman on Tom's desk well. She was Tom's new secretary, recruited just a month ago. She quickly got up and grabbed Tom's jacket to cover her body.

Instantly, as I saw her covering herself with that jacket, my anger exploded.

"How dare you?!" I snapped at the woman.

I was the one who bought that expensive designer jacket for Tom! It was a birthday gift I gave him. And now, that jacket was being used to cover another woman's naked body?

Ugh, hell no!

"What are you doing here?!" Tom yelled, standing in front of the woman to protect her.

"I should be the one asking!" I yelled back louder than that damn man.

I reached for a can of beer from my bag. Without a word, I threw the beer at Tom, and it hit his shoulder. The man's body bent to shield himself, but the next beer throw hit the woman right in the stomach. That wench screamed and bent to rub her stomach.

"Fenella, stop!" Tom roared angrily.

I dropped the bag on the floor. My hands suddenly felt weak, and I could only tremble there. My breath was gasping, and I tried to contain my anger as much as I could.

No, I wouldn't shed a tear for that man. He didn't deserve a single drop.

"Get out of my office! We're through!" Tom snapped at me.

"You're breaking up with me?! Oh hell no, you bastard! I'm the one walking out of here forever," I said with a frustrated huff.

***

I quickened my pace towards my favorite nightclub in New York. I really needed anything to relieve this stress. From my experience, the hustle and bustle of the club always brought a certain comfort as a remedy for my anxiety, even if I was alone.

Of course, I couldn't tell Jessy because he would surely scold me. I didn't need scolding or advice. Right now, all I needed was a drink and a dance floor.

I saw a crowd of people in front of the club lining up. I was quite surprised when I saw someone I knew there. The man laughed briefly with the doorman before entering the club.

That face! I'll never forget that face! That’s Laird Evans! That devilishly handsome face with blonde hair and green eyes. His figure has never left my mind all these past seven years. With determination, I walked as fast as I could to the club.