Please, Love Me Again

Chapter 18: Do I Look Ugly?

Knock! Knock! Knock!"

"Come in." Xander Villaruel raised his head and saw his artist coming in with her little assistant following behind her. He put his pen down and waited as he watched them entering. "You're here. Have a seat."

The gentle-looking and beautiful woman wearing a red dress sat obediently opposite to him. Initially, Alyssa Curtis was known for being an independent, confident, brave, and fierce woman in front of the camera, but towards Xander Villaruel, she was such an obedient, delicate, and weak little woman.

"Brother Xander, you're looking for me?" Alyssa Curtis asked sheepishly. She seized a strand of her long curly hair and rolled it on her fingers like a little girl, refusing to meet the man's eyes. The reason why she did that was because she was afraid to look into Xander Villaruel's eyes. After reflecting about her actions overnight, she realized that what she did was extremely wrong. And so, she felt so bad and guilty for drugging his wine the other night at the banquet.

"Yes." Xander Villaruel opened his drawer, grabbed some documents and pushed it to her. "That is a big project I picked up personally for you. Look at it carefully and tell me your opinions. If there's some part of them you don't like, tell me right away and I'll change them."

Alyssq Curtis immediately went through the pages of the papers, but she actually did not read them. She just ran her eyes as she flipped and smiled. "This is a very good project. I want them."

"Really? Why don't you read them first?"

"There's really nothing that can escape your eyes." Alyssa Curtis shook her head. "Brother Xander, I never doubted your judgment. Besides, I never had forgotten that I debuted because of you. If not for you, I am not where I am today. Since you chose this for me, then I will take this project."

"Great." Xander Villaruel nodded, satisfied with her words. "Then get prepared. There's an audition for the role this afternoon. You have to go. Miss Xindy will accompany you."

"You're coming with us just like before, right?" Alyssa Curtis asked with anticipation.

Xander Villaruel shook his head apologetically. "Sorry but I can't this time. I have a very important matter to attend to this afternoon. I can't be absent." He was staring at her intently and so the disappointment in the woman's eyes was seen by him. "Miss Curtis, you're great and a rare talent. I have always been proud of you. Even without me, I believe you can do it well and you can still fly up high. As your manager, I can't assure that I will always be by your side. But I promise you, if I don't have a very important thing to do, I will accompany you to your every project and look after you. However, this afternoon, let me pass."

"Ohh, okay." Alyssa Curtis looked down and feigned a smile, trying to hide her sadness and disappointment but it was still seen by the man who has been observant about everything.

"I hope you can understand."

Alyssa Curtis lifted her head and stared at him but eventually lowered her head as she couldn't stand to meet his eyes.

She wore a stiff smile. "Brother Xander, this is not the real you."

Xander Villaruel narrowed his eyes. "Why did you say so?"

"Sister Alyssa." Xindy Apostol interjected. She had been silent behind the woman but she couldn't stay still anymore as she felt that the pace of their conversation was turning in different directions and it made her anxious. She just remembered their own conversation alone just a while ago and she was ashamed. She didn't want Alyssa Curtis to be the next hero who was foolish and impulsive.

What if it would anger the man? It was rare for them to work in a pleasant environment. If he was suddenly turned into his original self and would wear a stern and sullen face the whole, wasn't that very bad?

Alyssa Curtis glanced at her sideways and slightly shook her head. "I didn't mean bad. What I am trying to say is that Brother Xander doesn't have to explain such things to me but I felt honored. Brother Xander was right. I'm a grown woman now. I should not depend every time on Brother Xander. We can't be each other forever. I must learn to do things alone."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Xindy Apostol walked closer to her side and tapped her shoulder. "It's alright Sis Alyssa. Aside from Brother Xander, you also have me. I can accompany you. You won't be alone."

Alyssa Curtis looked up at her and smiled, nodding.

"Alright, go and be prepared."

Alyssa Curtis sighed silently, rose up, and left the room without any further talking. As for Xindy Apostol, seeing her leaving, she swiftly grabbed her stuff she left earlier on the couch and chased after Alyssa Curtis.

"Sister Alyssa, are you alright?" Xindy Apostol asked as they walked in the hallway hand in hand.

Alyssa Curtis halted her steps and spoke without even glancing at her. "Little Xin, am I bad? Do I look ugly?"

"No, you're not." Xindy Apostol shook her head. "Sister Alyssa, you're beautiful. For me, I don't think there's a woman who will suit Brother Xander other than you. But, Sister Alyssa, it's Brother Xander. He is a stubborn person. We can't force him to reciprocate your romantic feelings for him. Besides, did you remember what he told us before? He doesn't allow romance in his office."

Alyssa Curtis looked down and smiled bitterly. "Then I'm doomed. I already fell in love with him. What to do?"

"I– I don't know either. Although I have crushes, I have never been in love for real."

Alyssa Curtis took a deep breath. "Let's go."

…

Back in the office.

Xander Villaruel resumed her work on his computer. He would type and browse on the computer sometimes but he would also flip on some documents sometimes. It went on until his phone vibrated.

He took a glance on his watch first and then picked up the phone that he put upside down on the corner of his table. When he read the name of the message, his face lit up.

Xander Villaruel hastily organized his stuff, turned off the computer and left. He first booked a hotel in a thought to make himself look more presentable. He took a couple of minutes dressing up there and when he was done he became a completely different person.

Geneva observed her reflection in the mirror and mumbled, "I'm ready."

Geneva smiled beautifully. While she was mirroring herself in the mirror, she found her lips a bit pale. So she reached out for her bag on the bed and took her lipstick.

She just pulled the lid of the lipstick when a loud knocking was heard on the door.

Geneva frowned as she didn't remember she had expected a visitor. Besides, she told no one where she was at the moment. So she had no idea who was suddenly visiting her.

Wearing a confused look, she walked to answer the door with lipstick in her hand. She opened the door unhurriedly and when it was completely opened, both she and the visitor were dumbfounded.

The visitor, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Geneva, "Why is it you?"

She and the visitor asked simultaneously, both were shocked and confused.