Mr. HOT & Ms. COOL

CHAPTER 8: When She Went Viral

When lunch came, Reina, Jennie and Anika had met again with Kian, and his team. After the signing, the creative team head had handed out the temporary schedule of all the possible photo shoots for the month of July. Reina had assigned Anika to take charge of them. Then they all had lunch.

After lunch, Reina went to her father’s office aboard her work motorbike with her camera, lenses and other equipment on the aluminum alloy tail box and rear side boxes.

The security guards of the city hall immediately noticed her.

The older one said, "Mayor had still not returned from his lunch break, Miss Rei. Shall we notify his secretary about your arrival?"

She answered, "Yes, you could notify her and please just tell her to accommodate me on Dad's schedule if he has the time. I know how busy Dad is. She may just call my personal number if Dad can accommodate me this afternoon. For the time being, I will just be taking some photos of the surroundings. Just please take a look at my motorbike for me."

The middle-aged guard said, "Okay, Miss Rei."

Reina put her helmet on the tail box after putting the strap of her DSLR camera around her neck, hanging her backpack (containing lenses, spare batteries, and memory cards) on her shoulders and then carrying her tripod with her right arm.

Her father's SUV arrived as she was about to leave to go to the city public square. She knew she could take good subjects on her third concept, which was 'a day in the life of ordinary people'.

She waved at her father as he emerged from his SUV.

They went to the portico of the city hall.

After the greetings and pleasantries, her father said, "The employees' association has agreed for you to photograph them while they are working, but only from afar."

She was so happy, "It is fine by me, Dad."

His father added, "But after your viral video last night, which is still trending up to now, they might all ask for a selfie or autograph."

She said, "I don't mind, Dad, for as long as I get to snap photos of them."

And so, as she roamed the corridors of the city hall to capture some interesting subjects, she also allowed selfies and autographs for some employees, who were able to muster up their courage to approach her. When she had enough photos, she then went up to her father’s office and told his secretary that she would already leave and wouldn't disturb her father’s scheduled appointments anymore.

Afterwards, she went to the city square and took more snaps of ordinary people of their activities. Some students, who had recognized her, had approached her, and asked for selfies and autographs until she had already been crowded by so many that the city square security personnel had to escort her back to the parking area of the city hall after she had managed to orderly give the first 100 selfies and autographs to those who had queued on the line arranged by the security personnel. She could not afford to offend them for the sake of her father’s political career.

When she returned to the parking lot, the security guard had informed her to go up to her father’s office.

She was a little nervous at first.

And then her father cheerfully said, "Your idea of the first 100 selfies and/or autographs with those people in the city square was excellent, bunny. Guess, you will be an asset to my next campaign."

She said, "I am not a celebrity, Dad. It just happened that the video posted by a netizen regarding my jamming with the band last night had gone viral. The interest of people in me will soon subside. I am not even into the social media thing. As for your campaign, I might just accompany you as my work schedule permits. It could also be a way for me to document the next election period, but that's all I can do, Dad."

Her father asked, "How about a vocal performance during my ‘miting de advance’?"

She answered tentatively, "Yeah, I might do that if my schedule permits."

Her father said, "Have it on your calendar as early as now then. It will be the Saturday prior to the Monday election day. If it weren't for that viral video, I would not even know that you had a recording contract offer as you graduated from senior high school," and then asked, "Several talent centers, including MGA Network, had contacted me already about signing you as their recording artist. Would you want to consider it this time around?"

Her reply was, "I don't like to have celebrity status, Dad. I am just fine being the artist behind those photos I took. I cannot compromise my freedom over a recording career where I get to perform a lot in front of a crowd. Performing every once in a while will just be fine by me. But making it as a career is a big fat NO."

Her father asked again, "Are you sure about this, bunny? It will be a great opportunity."

She said, "I am just fine with my life right now, Dad. Even if I received international awards, I still get to have a normal life but with an increased talent fee. I still get to have time for some of my hobbies every now and then. And most importantly, I still get to travel with some sense of anonymity. Besides, it is much better for your constituents to know the good things that you can do for them and the city, rather than just voting for you because you have a celebrity offspring. You are doing a lot of great things for Roscotta, Dad. Just focus on that and I will always support you, even to the point of performing in your campaign rallies. Just don't ask me to marry a man for political gain."

Her father said, "I won't do that, but you should also think of settling down someday, bunny."

Her reply was, "If the right man comes along, then perhaps I might. Anyway, can we have dinner together, Dad? My treat."

Her father declined, "I do have a prior dinner commitment, bunny. So I have to pass on your invitation. Perhap we can set a regular family dinner, even one Sunday in a month, just so that your Lolo and Lola will see you."

She said, "I also have some appointments on Sundays, Dad. This coming Sunday, I will be attending Kuya Zandro and Jennie's sunset wedding with dinner reception. Also, I had already signed a one-year work agreement with Viajero Incorporated as their resident photographer this morning. Several photo shoots were already scheduled for the month of July. I will just visit Lolo and Lola when my schedule permits."

Her father replied, "Okay."

She said, "Well, I have got to go now and work on those snaps that I had taken. I have to choose which ones to include on my pitch next week."

Her father agreed, "Okay, you may go now."

And so she left. She went to the studio, parked her work motorbike in the motorcycle lockup shed in one of their parking lots, loaded her equipment into her SUV, and went home. Upon reaching her residence, she rested for a while and then took a quick lukewarm shower; wore her pajamas; fed Jill with cat food; prepared herself a small charcuterie board with bits of strawberries, grapes, orange wedges, cashew nuts, pistachios, almonds, raisins, prunes, pretzels, crostini, water biscuits, manchego, gorgonzola blue cheese, chunks of parmesan, prosciutto, salami, carrots sticks and celery sticks; and then worked on the photos she took for the day while eating.

Reina might not be talented at cooking, but she could definitely use a microwave oven, an automatic espresso machine, an electric kettle, an electric sandwich maker, and an air fryer. She could also decently use an electric infrared stove top if she wanted to fry or make plain congee. She could also decently operate a rice cooker if she felt like eating plain brown rice once in a while. She also knew how to operate the blender when making smoothies. Most often, her home meals were sandwiches, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, the selections for charcuterie board and easy to make salads. She usually just ordered fish dishes, chicken dishes, seafood dishes if she felt like eating some. So it would be safe to say that she was not hopeless in the kitchen.

The goodies that Kian's father and half-brother gave her included nuts, chocolates, dried fruits, cured meats, cheeses, crackers, and chips. She brought the ones she did not like to her studio that day for her employees. As for the red roses, she gave them to the security guards on duty so they could give some to a girlfriend or a wife. She was not fond of cut flowers. She preferred succulent plants and orchids. She had several succulent dish gardens, and potted orchids on her balcony.

Reina already knew that the studio received several phone calls from talent agencies and recording companies. But as Anika told her about them that morning, she just told her to tell their staff to decline them for the reason that she had no interest in entering the music industry.

The reporters, who lobbied in front of the studio, did not even notice her when she arrived riding her SUV. She just needed to wear oversized sunglasses and they did not recognize her anymore as she unloaded some boxes and went inside the studio. Afterwards, she asked a staff member to load her work motorbike with her photography equipment. Anika drove her SUV, while she rode her work motorbike going to Viajeros Bar & Restaurant for the signing of the work agreement.

After sometime, she received a telephone call from a front desk personnel notifying her that a certain Robin Estrada wanted to see her. She told the personnel to forward her message – I am currently in the middle of browsing thousands of photos I took this afternoon for my photo exhibit pitch. So I am very sorry if I cannot accommodate your sudden visit.

As the front desk personnel relayed Reina's message, Kian had heard it, but he pretended not to notice her half-brother and just proceeded to the elevator.

But in his mind – So you are really not entertaining my brother as a suitor, Rei. You already avoided seeing him twice in those two times that he tried to see you all by himself. Robin seemed to be persistent. How can you avoid him all the time? It seems that your Dad favors him. What will you do about it? There is no doubt in my mind that you don't like my half-brother. You are so focused on your work. If we didn't happen to be seatmates on that flight, I doubt if I would have the time to approach you. Then being neighbors is another blessing. I get to see you when circumstances allow it. But then I am too greedy for more, so I offer you a job you cannot refuse. I also took advantage of your swimming and cycling regimen to be with you even for just an hour daily. I am not an early-riser, so I can just sleep again after that one-hour swimming and cycling routine you have early in the morning. But then how can I break through that barrier you seemed to have cast among your prospective suitors? Will you also reject me if I make my moves on you? I should better not, for the time being. Anyway, I am also busy with work. So I guess I just had to bide my time.

Meanwhile, Reina had already heard some movements in the other unit. She opened the sliding glass doors but had retained the sliding screen doors, so Jill wouldn't be able to go to the balcony and play with her dish gardens. She preferred to have some fresh air, but she also did not want some insects or birds to go inside the house. The blinds were also stacked on one side so she could still see the city lights, once in a while.

She was thinking – It is just 8 PM and he is already home. He seems early today. Is this his usual time of going home? Did he have dinner already? I should better continue with what I am doing. I am just a hundred images away from finishing, then I can rest early. My left arm is kind of tired from signing those autographs.

She had already browsed all the images and chosen the ones to show for her pitch, when she received a message from Kian.

His message was – Chef made some cat food for Jack. I also packed some more for Jill. I had already hung the paper bag on the door handle when I passed by. You might still be busy with work. I didn't mean to interrupt you.

She responded with – I just finished work. I will just wash some dishes, freshen up, and then go to sleep. I'm feeling the tiredness already. Thanks for Jill's cat food. I already got it.

He then replied with – You're welcome. Anyway, you are on the evening news. A netizen uploaded a video as you were taking photos on the city square and was approached by so many people, that the security personnel of the city square had helped you out, but you still managed to accommodate their requests for autographs and selfies in an orderly manner. I suggest that you disguise yourself if you have to go out. A lot of people have recognized you already because of your viral vocal and guitar performance.

She responded after washing the charcuterie board and putting the packed cat food for Jill inside the refrigerator – I will just be going out for my morning cycling, and a few client meetings for the rest of the week. I might also take some more photos in the other parts of the city. Yes, I will try to disguise myself. Thanks for the suggestion.

After making sure that the glass sliding doors leading to the balcony were already locked, she went to her bedroom, proceeded to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, then she already went to bed.

Then he replied with – You're welcome. Sleep well. You must be so tired taking photos, signing autographs and sorting all the images. Just see you tomorrow morning for our cycling session.

She responded – Yeah. See you tomorrow morning. Good night.

And she did not receive a response anymore.

She was thinking – He is very considerate as usual. I hope he likes me too. I don't want to have a romantic relationship with him right away. But it is good that we get to spend time together every day. He is even very considerate to Jill. Anyway, what should I do about Robin? Anika messaged me this afternoon about his brand ambassadress offer. Anika, knowing that I prefer working in the background or behind the camera, respectfully declined it, yet he still went there. I honestly think that he does not like me either. He just wants to capitalize on my growing popularity because of that viral video. Well, I am sorry Robin, but I don't want the life of a celebrity. I had also turned down several endorsement offers in the past. Plus, Viajeros Enterprises had their own travel and tours agency that I might do possible photography jobs as well. So I am sorry but I love my freedom and privacy more.

On the other hand, Robin's thoughts were like – You already rejected my visit twice. You even updated your visitor's list just so I could not go up right away if I wanted to visit you. You are so mean, Reina. You are the only lady, who had rejected me. What are you so proud of? My family is way much richer than your family. Dad had donated a large sum during your father's election campaign, then you even charged him dearly with that photo shoot. Anyone can took good photos nowadays. Your only edge among them is that you won some awards. You are not even the prettiest and sexiest among the lists of ladies that Dad and Mom come up with. But I chose you because, you are the most suitable ambassadress for our travel and tours company. Guess, I have to rethink it. I don't need a wife who cannot conform to my life. Dad is right. You are a non-conformist. But then you are a complete package. You are pretty, smart, and most importantly popular. You even went viral. I called your studio this afternoon to offer a job as our brand ambassadress, but your staff member had declined, saying that you don't accept that kind of job. I am giving you the opportunity to be the face of the services of our company, yet you declined. Why do you not want to capitalize on your popularity to the fullest? Why do you just want to work on the background? You can be very rich if you just capitalize on all your talents, yet you are rejecting the opportunities being offered to you. You are so stubborn. How can I make you agree to be the brand ambassadress of our company? I don't want you to be my wife anymore. I just want you to be the brand ambassadress of our company. I don't need a stubborn lady for a wife. I just want to capitalize on your popularity. But you don't even want to talk to me. I cannot even be given an appointment to talk to you about my business proposal. Why are you making things very difficult for me? If not for all your amazing talents, I would not even consider you as my top choice for a brand ambassadress. I need to strike why the iron is hot. You have become a viral sensation because of your musical talents. The biggest talent centers and recording companies are after you. They also want to capitalize on your popularity. I am just doing the same thing. Did you reject them as well? I hope not. Being a recording artist is an even more glamorous career than being a professional photographer. I can understand why you declined a recording offer when you just graduated from senior high school. You had not finished your studies yet back then. But you have a career now. Why not expand it? You should take advantage of all the opportunities offered to you, then perhaps you will be as rich as I am. I will get to inherit our family business. Anyway, should I use your father again just to have an appointment with you?