Chapter 16 Dynamics
Zane's POV
The Paris breakfast was all over the internet just like I had planned, the fastest way to fame is social media and using the right bait to your own advantage. I had photographers secretly take our photos and post it on blogs so it goes viral, this way, I'm sending two messages to the entire world.
First, Arielle is coming to take over the modeling world and second, she's mine. I had her office made specially for her, all her favorite colors and favorite things adorned the place.
“Don't you think other models will talk and murmur that you favor Arielle and pamper her?” Leo asked as I walked back to my office after returning from giving Arielle my own version of a welcome speech.
“I don't pay them to murmur.” I replied, nonchalantly.
He shut the door behind me and sighed heavily. “She's already famous and it's barely half a year. There are dozens of brands who sent official mails, requesting for her to be the face of their brands.”
“Great! Thats what we were hoping for, isn’t it?”
“Zane.” Leo called out, in a tone I knew he only used when he was worried about me.
“Why are you doing all this for her? I know you said to trust you and that she's helped you in the past but you're making her the face of this agency which you built with your own tears and blood, is she worth it?” He asked, his voice low and curious.
I clicked my tongue. “Yes Leo, it is worth it. You know how I always talked about how my life went down a spiral after Zara?”
“Yes, I do, it is not a memory lane anyone should ever get to walk down, ever again.”
I frowned slightly, he was right. “She's the one who found me half dead, brought me some food, stole some clothes and brought them to me, she told me they were moving and hinted that I could stay at their house for a month or two before the new owners move in and gave me all her life savings, she was a kid back then but I swore that one day, I'll make her dreams come true.” I narrated, feeling nostalgic.
He kept mute for a moment and just stared blankly. “I see why she's so important to you. She's the girl you're madly in love with.”
“More important than my life itself Leo,” I swore, lightly under my breathe.
He tilted his head sideways, a habit he exhibited whenever he took something seriously. “She's lucky.”
“Yes, but she doesn't know yet and I intend to keep it that way. Whats the update on her family?” I asked, brushing the topic off, i had no interest in discussing it any further.
“For now, Adrian is still laying low, tried to dug up some dirt on you but he left him a bone to chew on,” he bragged, proud of his abilities.
“And the girl?”
“She's also sent Private investigators to tail Arielle, they've been taken care of.”
“Good, find incriminating evidence against her and if there's none, create one.”
“Why Boss? I doubt she's a threat.”
“She's the reason Adrian set Arielle on fire.” I spat, burrowing my brows. “She's adopted but manipulative and has one dream and passion that drives her crazily, to become a world renowned and widely known Model and I will crush her spirits and dreams so hard that she'd prefer death to the toil it'll take on her!”
I banged my hand on the table, clenching my fist tightly as my lips quivered with anger. “Adrian that bastard! He set the woman he claims to love on fire, I'll make him beg to be set on fire by the time I'm down with him.” I said, spitefully and then relaxed my tensed muscles.
“Do we have any pending business deals?”
“As a matter of fact, we do.” Leo replied, getting the message that I was upset and didn't wish to discuss the topic any further.
…………………………………………….
I had a hectic day at work, I had to attend Zoom meetings wirh my overseas directors and review their progress report. Though Leo helped me handle few of the businesses, I still had to do the lion's share myself, by the time I was ready to leave, it was already late at night.
“When did Arielle leave?” I asked Leo as he drove me back home.
“About an hour or two ago, she had a pretty busy day as well.” He informed me.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, you asked me to ensure she's hydrated, ordered her favorite dishes, buy her some ice cream and ensure her comfortability, remember?”
I massaged my temples as I had begun to feel a headache. “I remember now Leo, thank you. Did she get along with other models?”
Arielle is easy going and hospitable, this I know because I've been keeping track of her after I saw her in a local magazine four years ago. I instantly recognized the young girl who stole my heart when I was at my lowest, I had made my findings as was heartbroken to see she was in a relationship with someone else, so I was contented being in her shadows as her guardian angel, but apparently, I couldn’t shield her from betrayal and heartbreak.
“I think she did, I wasn't really paying attention to it, do you want me to make them more friendlier with her?”
I waved my hands dismissively, I wanted nature to run its course. “No, she'll be fine. I don't want her to find out we're pulling the strings behind the curtains, I need her to trust me, not the other way round.”
“Okay boss.”
The first thing I did when I arrived home was to go to Arielle's room to check up on her and she was rather elated to see me.
“Come in, I've been wondering where you are and knowing you well, you'd certainly linger around.” She intoned, playfully.
It was surprising as she gently tapped her bed, a space right beside her. “Come and sit, let me tell you about my day.” She offered, there was this excitement and positive energy that bubbled inside of her and it was contagious because though my entire body ached, my headache disappeared in an instant.
“How did your day go?” I asked, taking a seat beside her.
“You wouldn't believe it…”
Then I heard nothing, she was very much still talking but I had zoned out, I was fixated on her plum succulent seductively inviting lips that seemed to beg me to take a taste of them.
“And then the photographers couldn't stop taking pictures of me, the other models had to wait in line and there this one stylist that had his eyes on me throughout the whole time, he kept complimenting how I-”
A warning bell instantly went off in my head. “A stylist? What's his name? Why is he trying to get close to you?” I asked, impatiently and she looked shocked.
“Chill, he's gay, says I remind him of his sister and then goes ahead to show me a picture of her, we look a little bit alike, then he showed me a picture of him and his husband and their cats, I think his name is Simone, cool guy.”
I let out a sigh of relief and noticed she was rubbing her neck and trying to stretch her legs. Without asking, I reached for her leg and placed it on me. “You're exhausted, I'll massage your legs while you keep talking.”
She looked like she wanted to retort but held back because I had already started massaging her legs. She resumed telling me all about her day and though exhaustion gripped me like an old obsessive lover, I'd chose to sit right there and listen to her all night over and over again.
Arielle is my antidote, my undoing, the bane of my existence. She just doesn't know it yet.