Chapter 39 YOU ARE NELLY, NOT NASHIRA
The streetlights shone brightly on the streets. The night ambiance was cool, and the gentle breeze slapped Nelly's skin softly.
Nelly had a smile plastered on her face as she took a night stroll. She had decided to walk on foot. The driver left with her car. She'd call him if anything went wrong. It had been a long time since she had come to New York. She missed the city so much. She would have come back a long time ago, but because of something bad, she had to stay with her mother.
She reached a pet shop and saw the cats meowing softly at her. She had always been a lover of cats. She wanted to enter the shop, but the sound of the cricket was a reminder that it was late.
She turned and made to continue walking when a car drove past her, splashing mud all over her body.
"What the!" Nelly yelled, taking off her glasses since the mud splashed on the lenses.
The car abruptly stopped, without applying the brakes.
Nelly put on her glasses and walked to the car.
She tapped gently on the windscreen.
The driver of the car slowly rolled down the window, revealing the side of his face. His arm rested casually on the edge, and between his fingers was the familiar pipe.
Slowly, he turned his face, exhaling a cloud of smoke that drifted into Nelly's face.
Nelly squeezed her face, using her hand to fan off the smoke as she stood straight, lowering her eyelid to stare at him.
Maddox stared back at her, not attempting to apologize.
"Excuse me. You drove into a pothole and splashed muddy water all over my body," Nelly said, speaking as if she were picking her words.
Maddox's eyelids were up as he stared at her.
Nelly gulped. "The least you could do is apologize," Nelly muttered.
Maddox still said nothing as he traced his gaze down her body.
Nelly shifted uncomfortably on her spot, feeling his eyes on her body.
She shut her eyes and exhaled.
Her eyes flew open when she heard the sound of the car's engine.
She stared at Maddox's retreating car before staring down at her body.
Her pupil began dilating. She held her hand together, the words coming into her memory.
"You are Nelly, not Nashira."
She sighed, fetching a water can from her purse.
She took out a handkerchief and cleaned her body.
When she was done, she phoned her driver.
"Come pick me up."
\[MMISS MODELLING AGENCY\]
Bonnie stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror while drying her hands with the hand towel. She had a disgusted look on her face.
The thought of Skye filled her head. He was trying everything possible to win her heart, but...her lips curved into a smirk; she already belonged to Drexton.
She rolled her eyes and walked out of the bathroom, making her way to the shooting room.
She met Skye leaning on the door. It was as if he were waiting for someone, or maybe her.
Secretly, she rolled her eyes, that fake smile appearing on her face. She walked to him.
"You're here. Stacy said you were in the bathroom, and I decided to wait for you. Hope you are not angry?" Skye asked with a smile.
"No, why would I be? You have something to tell me, right?" Bonnie asked.
"Sure," he slid his hand into his pocket and brought out two movie tickets. "I was thinking we should go see the movies tonight."
Bonnie's smile fell, but she quickly covered it up.
"I wish I could, but I'd be busy throughout the night," she politely declined.
Skye's smile faltered. "Oh, I was thinking it would be a double outing. Blake and Ixora would also be there," he said.
"Ixora. Is she coming too?" Bonnie asked, her tone rising with urgency.
Skye narrowed his brow. "Sure, Blake had invited her."
Bonnie tilted her neck and smirked darkly. "I suddenly remembered I'd be free tonight. I'd be there."
Skye missed the mischievous smirk. He smiled.
"Thank you," he said, and turned to leave.
"Hold on, Skye," Bonnie said.
Skye stopped turning to her.
Bonnie stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek.
"See you tonight," she whispered in his ear.
Skye smiled. "I will pick you up," he said, walking away.
The smile on Bonnie's face faded, her eyes turning into a dark glare at his retreating figure.
Fool.
Then she smirked. Ixora was going to be at the cinema today. Perfect timing. She wouldn't know what came to her.
Her eyes caught the vase that was on a table. She picked up the flower and slowly began shredding it into pieces, while repeating one name in her head.
Ixora.
\[BLACKTHORN AUTOMOBILE\]
There was nothing new to Ixora anymore. Zoning out over work, feeling paranoid, twisted and then peeking at your heartless boss. All these weren't new, just the same recycled feelings.
Ixora exhaled, glancing at his office. As his secretary, she had gotten used to everything in the office...a job she had come to hate.
She only wished she could quit the job. He made her sign a contract in which she handed herself to him unintentionally.
The first thing she'd do was to quit her job. This thing wasn't a job, rather his way of tormenting her. She'd have to see him almost every single day. His face alone was a torment on its own.
He'd act like a busy boss in the office, but he's nothing close to that. He's just a devil who enjoys toying with her emotions and invading her privacy like he owns her life.
And then, the shit he had been telling her to do: 'Take off your clothes, play pet'.
"He is also a pervert," she muttered under her breath, glancing at his office.
She heard the sound of heels clicking loudly against the floor, and that prompted her to look up.
She saw a lady walking towards her. She stared at her face, feeling like she had seen the face before, but where...
The lady got to her and placed her clutch bag before her.
Right, she looks like the supermodel, Bonnie.
"Welcome to Blackthorn Automobile. How may I help you?" Ixora said, giving out her usual cheerful smile.
Lorraine stared at Ixora's face as if she were calculating. Her manicured nails slowly pricking into her bag.
The other finger tapped gently on the table as her eyes got glued to Ixora's face.
"Ma'am, is there anything I can help you with?"
Ixora's voice drifted her back to reality.
Lorraine suddenly smiled.
"I would like to see your boss," she said.'
"What is your name?"
"Lorraine. He knows me," she said.
Ixora nodded. "Give me a minute, let me go and inform him," Ixora said and went inside his office.
Lorraine used the opportunity to glance at her work desk. She also peeked at Drexton's office, but she had no idea what they were talking about.
Soon, Ixora reappeared. "You may go in."
Lorraine flashed another smile, and she began walking in.
The smile slowly faded away, turning into darkness.
She got to Drexton's office and placed a gentle knock before going in.
Drexton had his eyes on the door; he had kept his laptop and the files he was working on.
Lorraine smiled. At least he set his work aside for her.
"Drex," she called, sitting down, with that usual confidence.
"Caius?" Drexton asked.
"He's doing okay. You haven't visited us, and I thought of checking on you," she said, her voice soft and caring.
"Work," Drexton replied.
"Always monosyllabic," she chuckled.
She leaned a little bit closer, taking her eyes to the door.
"Your secretary, this is my first time seeing her. What happened to Tasha?" she asked.
Drexton shifted his eyes to Ixora.
She had already indulged herself in a conversation with a colleague after stealing countless glances at him.
He took his gaze back to Lorraine and didn't reply.
Lorraine chuckled, leaning back on the chair.
"I was wondering when you plan on getting married. You'd be twenty-six in a few months to come. Don't bite me with your eyes, I'm just looking out for you. You know I see you as my son," Lorraine said, faking her loving, concerned voice.
Drexton gave her a long stare capable of burying her inside the couch.
He ignored her and opened his MacBook.
"Guess I should leave. You are busy," she said and stood. "See you soon." She took her hand, slowly bringing it near his cheek.
Drexton looked at her.
"What do you think you are doing?" he asked.