Temptation: The Illusion

Ch-5 Acceptance

The early June morning was comparatively cooler with a pleasant wind blowing considering the past one week of high temperatures as I jogged around the neighborhood. My mind was a haywire and after a really annoying sleepless night, I decided that I better take a jog around to clear my head. It always seems to work and was a great distraction technique. By the time I got back to the apartment, it was seven thirty and I had already done three rounds around the block and even grabbed some fresh veggies on the way and I desperately hoped that after all this I can finally shove those daunting grey eyes at the back of my mind. 

"Good morning!" Liv raised her glass of warm water and honey in a toast as I shut the door behind me. She was glowing as always in a purple silk night set, long legs crossed over the other as she took small sips of her drink. 

"Morning," I gave her a smile as I disposed off all the groceries and veggies on the counter. "You are up early," 

"I went to bed at ten last night," She answered and that explained a lot. The last time she probably went to bed at ten was in elementary school.  Liv was a party girl so late nighters were normal for her. 

"Ah...I see," I nodded, peering inside the refrigerator for some orange juice. 

"You were up early too," Olivia remarked, swirling around on the stool. "I saw your laptop lying on the bed. Were you working late?" She notices everything. Even the tiniest details. 

"Yeah...couldn't sleep," I answered taking a long sip of my juice. It was cold and refreshing. 

"Oh why? Did hurricane give you a hard time?" She inquired making a face. I rolled my eyes at her. If my mother ever hears Liv calling her names...I'll be dead. 

"Stop calling her that," I grimaced but she only chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly. There was hardly anything or anyone she was scared of in her life. 

"So...did she?" She demanded and I shook my head. For the first time, she was not the problem. Somebody else was. But could I talk to Liv about that without her judging me? 

"No...nothing apart from the usual," I answered grimly. 

"Well, then what? Something is definitely not right," She muttered, dark eyes searching my face. "The last time you got up early and went for a run  was when you couldn't find the sponsors for that company...I don't remember its name," 

"And your point is?" I inquired, frowning at her. 

"My point is...that you get up this early and then head out for an early morning run only when you are worried about something. So what is it that's bothering you today?" She elaborated, folding her arms across her chest. 

"I er..." I mumbled not knowing what to say. How could I say that I was having sleepless nights because I was highly attracted to a forty-five year old who also happens to be family friend of mine. It was wrong. And I knew that. But deep down...I also knew that I was never drawn to anyone the way I was drawn to him. It was instant. Like something clicked inside me. Or something changed...something coming alive. And this feeling was so hard to keep buried within me. 

"Is it about Tristan?" Liv raised her brow at me and I blushed. Jeez...how does she knows? Was it that obvious? 

"I knew it!" She clapped her hand in victory when I said nothing. "What about him? What did he do?" 

Nothing...apart from being too magnetic...

"Remember...I told you about a friend of Dad's coming to visit from Spain?" I said and Liv nodded her head vigorously. "Guess who was that friend?" She frowned at me, her mind working over time and then her eyes widened in surprise. 

"Wait a sec! Holy s**t!" Liv exclaimed, standing up in excitement. "Was it Tristan?" 

"Yep. That's right," I nodded my head. "It was Tristan Jacques and he has known my family for more than twenty years now. Apparently, he is Dad's best friend's younger brother," 

"Oh damn...this is crazy!" She cried. "What a coincidence. You are getting a lot of shocks these days, Mia," 

"Tell me about it," I grumbled. "I opened the door and there he stood with a gigantic bouquet of peonies," 

"What about him? How did he react?" Liv demanded. "Was he shocked too?"

"He didn't even bat an eye," I replied. "I was almost frozen with surprise while all he said was...'ah! we meet again, Ms. Garner' that's all," 

"Creepy," Liv chuckled.  "What else? How did your mother react?"

"For the first time...she was happy about my job because our firm represented him," I answered and rolled my eyes. "She started  again with all that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy crap in front of him but he actually defended me. Though it was mortifying, Liv and then later my parents made him drop me home because apparently...they don't trust my driving," 

"Ohh...he dropped you home?" Liv exclaimed, looking fascinated. "He lives near fourth avenue. Fancy apartment. He's rich and quite accomplished. Lives alone with a full time housekeeper and his secretary," 

"What about his wife or...er girlfriend?" I inquired and Liv shook her head. 

"He is kind of a recluse. No social media accounts or anything. Very few personal images on Google. He is pretty famous...featured in GQ Espanol...but nothing about his personal life. That's what makes me a little wary of him. Why so secretive? Though artists do tend to be like that but still.." 

I stared at Olivia and nodded. Maybe he was just a private person? After all not everyone likes to display their private lives openly. Maybe he was married but kept it a secret to keep his wife and children away from unwanted attention? That was highly possible too. I should have asked Mom about it. But what would I say if she asked why am I being so curious? 

"So...that's what bothering you?" Liv distracted me. "That he is a family friend?" 

"Er...well kinda..." I muttered, running my hand through my hairs. "Actually...last night when he dropped me off...he said something to me...and...and I just can't stop thinking about it ever since," 

"Really? What did he say? Tell me," She encouraged, sitting back down on the stool. "Maybe I can help?" 

"Well he said something like 'look inside yourself...whatever you are looking for...its right there' and I just couldn't figure out what was that supposed to mean," I said. "What is that supposed to mean?" 

"I have no idea either," Liv shook her head. "But Mia, I would suggest you one thing," 

"And that would be?" I inquired curiously. 

"Don't dwell too much on him or his words," She answered. "People like him know how to play mind games with mere words. Artists are like that. And the more you think about him...the more you are drawn to him. It doesn't help. Especially in your situation. He is a client and a good family friend. Its dangerous so just...shove him out of your head. I would suggest that," 

"No offence," I frowned at her. "I am just curious about this but why are you so judgmental and wary of him? Did...did he do something? Because he seemed like quite a decent guy to me," 

"No...he didn't do anything," Liv shook her head and frowned. "Its just...how do I explain? A feeling. He seems too good to be true, you know. The perfect guy. And that's a little suspicious because nobody can ever be this perfect nuh-uh...no. And he is very secretive. I don't like secretive people. You are innocent, Mia. That's why I am asking you to be a little careful, that's all. If you want someone...I can set you up with some great guys," 

"No...I don't have time for a relationship at the moment," I answered. "Its just...," 

"Just what?" Liv inquired and I shook my head. 

I couldn't bring myself to tell her about what I was actually feeling. She was adamant about Tristan and maybe she was right too. But was it fair to judge someone simply based on his secretive nature? Weren't we all secretive in some way or other? We all have that one secret...that one desire or maybe fantasy that we can't ever talk about with others openly because we knew that nobody will understand or that people will judge. For me Tristan was that fantasy or maybe even desire. And I myself was judging me for that. How could I expect anyone else to understand? 

After breakfast, I headed back to my room to work on the proposal. As I opened my laptop, something struck me. I glanced back to assure the door was closed and satisfied, I typed in Tristan Jacques in Google images. Within a second, hundreds of pictures appeared on the screen and Liv was right. There were very few images of him. Most of them were of his paintings and exhibitions. I typed in Tristan Jacques GQ and that's when the images of the GQ cover started floating in. It was March 2017 edition and he was on the cover looking perfect as always in a white suit, white shirt, black glasses and his usual brushed back black-grey hairs. He was wearing that I-have-a-massive-secret smile and I could feel my heart beating frantically in my chest as if he was sitting right there, in front of me. 

How can anyone be this perfect? 

"You got to stop!" I grimaced and quickly closed all the tabs and deleted the history.

 How do I get over this? I knew the first thing that I needed to do was to get over the denial. I have to stop denying that I felt anything for him. Because the more I tried to push back, the more I was pulled towards him. Okay so I was attracted to him. I was attracted to him like I have never been attracted to anybody before. And I wanted him real bad. There...I said it out loud. Now the next thing I did was draw out a pros and cons list.  I can't believe I was doing stuff like this. As if I was a sixteen year old teenager. Well, it certainly feels like that ever since I met him. 

PROS:  

1) Funny

2) Smart

3) Talented

4) Wise

5)Mature

6) Hot

7) Kind 

CONS:

1) Client

2) FAMILY FRIEND

3) Confusing

4) Secretive

5) Might be married...

I couldn't think of anything else to add apart from what's already added in the cons list but the first two things...they were more than enough. And I decided that from now on I am going to focus on those two things and just not think about him at all. After all no man was worth risking all the important things in my life, isn't it? But even though I said that those words in my head...I couldn't find the conviction in them. f**k. This was frustrating and if Mom ever finds out about this...I will be dead and Liv will be writing an eulogy for me. 

I could use that as a motivation to move on from my innate infatuation. That and my work and inwardly I pledged to myself to focus on nothing else but that. And thankfully that's what I did. I threw myself completely in work for the next two weeks, focusing on nothing else at all. And it wasn't like I could escape those piercing grey eyes that could look right through me in my dreams but it was still relatively bearable then being in his direct presence. It was crazy how a man could have that kind of effect on me. A person I have hardly known for two days. Maybe it was the forbidden concept that was exciting me...drawing me to him. 

"Mia? Earth to Mia?" I felt someone shaking my shoulder and realised that I was blankly staring at my laptop screen. Turning my head, I saw Zoe, one of my colleagues staring at me with raised brows. 

Shit...I was day dreaming again. 

"You were saying?" I asked, embarrassed. "Sorry...I was a bit distracted," 

"I got that alright," She said, rolling her eyes. "Is everything alright?" 

Nope. Not really. 

"Yeah...everything...everything's great," I answered with a smile. "Why?" 

"Nothing," She shook her head. "Carter is calling you. And he also wants to see the reports on Callen Sommers PR," 

"Oh...okay," I nodded my head. "Am on my way. Thanks," 

"No problem," She smiled at me and got back to her work while I made my way towards Carter's cabin. I knocked at the door and took a deep breath to gather myself. 

"Come in..." He said and I walked inside to find Liv there as well. I raised my brow at her questioningly and she shrugged cluelessly. 

"Morning Carter," I muttered, sitting down beside Liv. "Here are the reports on Callen Sommers," 

"Ah...great," He nodded, smiling at us. "So...which one of you is handling Tristan Jacques PR?" 

He already forgot? Wasn't he the one who asked Olivia to attend his exhibition in the first place? 

"I am..." Olivia said and glanced at me but I choose to ignore her. I was suddenly very anxious for no particular reason. I just cannot seem to escape that name no matter how hard I try. 

"I see...good job Liv," He praised her. "He was very satisfied and his secretary called to let me know that they would like to sign a long term contract with us," 

"That's great," We both said but none of us told him that we already knew that. Carter was very talkative and if he knew that we already knew about that long term thing he will start bombarding us with a million questions. 

"Well the thing is...he would like to get on with the long term contract for sure but he specifically asked that...that not Olivia but Mia would represent him from now on. I don't understand why because he was very happy with your work Liv...but...well I don't know. So, Mia...you will take over Tristan's assignment from Olivia starting today," 

My mouth dropped opened and both Liv and I stared at each other. All my weeks worth of hard work was going to go down the drain now. Dismay washed over me and I stared at the contract lying on Carter's table incredulously. 

Now what was I going to do? 

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A/N: Hey guys! Good morning! Here's the next update! I hope you like it ! Let me know your views guys! And thank you so much for your support and love!