Owned by a Billionaire

2

           Kinabukasan, nagising ako na mataas na ang sikat ng araw. Sumasakit ang ulo ko pero pinilit ko pa ring bumangon at maghilamos. Matapos ito ay ginugol ko ang oras ko sa pagsipat sa sarili ko sa salamin.

My hair is a rat's nest! My eyes were slightly swollen from crying last night and I looked like I have just gotten out of a really bad break up.

Sighing, I slammed the bathroom door and jumped back in bed. I took my phone and scanned my messages.

My eyes widened when I read a text from my manager. Oh, s**t!

Mayroon nga pala akong photoshoot ngayon! How could I have forgotten? My manager will definitely decapitate me! I was about to call him but he beat me to it.

"Where the hell are you, Cassidy? Kanina ka pa hinihintay rito sa photoshoot!" Kahit hidi ko siya nakikita ay alam kong namumula na ang mukha niya sa labis na inis sa akin.

"Sorry, Christian! I'll be there in a jiffy." Sagot ko habang naghahanap ng matinong dress sa walk-in closet ko.

"Just hurry! Get your ass in here!" Galit niyang sigaw bago ibinaba ang tawag.

I ran towards the bathroom for a quick shower and afterwards drove like a crazy race car driver to get to the venue as quickly as I could.

Malilintikan ako nito kay Christian!

I've been a model for almost a year now. I'm slowly easing my way in the industry. I like modeling because it's not a regular job. It doesn't require your presence on a day-to-day basis.

Sa wakas ay nakarating na ako sa studio. I entered and saw Christian let out a sigh of relief. "Finally," he said impatiently before checking out his watch.

The photographer nodded in my direction. "Miss Cassidy Hurdiss. You made it."

I pasted a sheepish smile on my lips, shy all of a sudden for being dramatically late. "Sorry. Shall we start?"

Inayusan na nila ako, they applied heavy make up because I have to achieve a fierce look. They made me wear a denim brassiere and bleached high-waist shorts.

"Alright, good!" Sigaw ng photographer bago ko narinig ang click ng camera.

I gave them my best smoldering intensity look and I saw the make up artist clap in my peripheral. "She's really good at this, Christian. And really beautiful, too. No wonder many corporations want her as their brand ambassador."

"She's a natural," Christian agreed. That fueled me to give more emotion and character to every pose.

Mabilis lang kaming natapos. I changed into a more casual attire when all the heavy make up has been erased.

I thanked the photographers and make-up artists before I followed Christian outside.

"Akala ko mapapahiya ako kanina, Cassidy. Pasaway ka kahit kailan," he said while we were walking on the hallway.

"I woke up late and with a splitting headache," I crossed my arms. "But despite that, I still attended the shoot."

"Ang sabihin mo nag-bar na naman kayo nina Altheia at Psyche. Lalong lumala ang pagiging bar fly mo, dinamay mo pa si Theia," he reprimanded. Napangisi ako pabalik.

He likes Theia a lot. 'Yong isang 'yon nga lang napakamanhid.

"Christian, correction. Si Theia ang nagyaya, sumama lang ako. So stop putting all the blame on me." Natatawang siniko ko siya na sinalag niya naman agad.

"I'm not buying that crap." He replied.

"Paano kapag sinabi ko sa 'yong may nanliligaw na naman kay Theia ngayon? Naalala mo 'yong type niyang soccer player? Well, he's hitting on—"

"Shut up!" Nagtatakip siya ng tainga. Inakbayan ko siya habang nakangiti nang nakakaloko. Nasa tapat na kami ng elevator kaya pinindot ko na ang pababa.

"Torpe," I jested.

Ding! I looked at the elevator and was suddenly immobile.

Christian creased his eyebrows at my reaction but I ignored him.

"Aaron?" My mouth went dry as his name rolled off my tongue.

He raised his eyebrow and his gaze drifted to my arm draped on Christian's shoulder. I consciously removed it.

"What are you doing here?" Malamig niyang tanong.

I looked at my toes because I couldn't meet his eyes. "Photoshoot."

"So you're a model?" Tila hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa akin na siyang sinagot ko gamit ang pagtango.

"I thought you wanted to be a lawyer." Saad niya kahit kay Christian nakatuon ang mga mata niya.

"Priorities change," sagot ko.

He laughed humorlessly. "They do. That's why you left me hanging, right?"