GOSSIPS AND RUMORS.

Chapter 1

MELISSA

I rubbed my two eyes absently, and roll to the other side of the bed. I gave a loud yawn, partially covering my mouth before slipping out.

Still drowsy, I dropped my feet on the floor, and slip them into a foot wear I located beside the bed stand, and my eyes snapped open instantly. It wasn't my usual fluffy bedroom palm.

Oops! How can i forget I was in my boyfriend's room? 

I could see a set of clothes, neatly  arranged in a transparent suit carrier, hung in his opened wardrobe. I could also hear the dripping sounds of water coming from his bathroom, then I realized, he was preparing for work. Quite Early.

Ohh, Jason! Everything freaking is important to him. Everything excepts me. 

Jason and I have been together for virtually three years, but our love life has never been anything like the word, "perfect".

Don't get me wrong, no relationship is perfect, but ours is just off. We rarely experience it's harmony parts as all we do, is nag, quarrel and argue.

It's either I am fuming about his recklessness, irresponsibility, and creepy habits, or he is whining about how I've been avoiding to lay with him, how much of a problematic girlfriend I've been, my insensitivity to his mental health and all sort of gibberish. 

Anywho, I am an upcoming commercial model, the kind of girls you see in your extensive bill boards and online ads. One of those mega queens paparazzi parade at public events. 

I have a medium clothing line in my name, and my modeling career is growing gradually at it's own pace. Many like to think I'm stagnant and not progressing but it's never like I care. 

Despite being the only daughter of a quite famous business mogul, I've singlehandedly managed to acquire all these at the age of 21.

Talking about my age, I'm 21 but in the next few days, I'll be 22. What a time to be alive!

With no doubt, I've been eager and really looking forward to seeing what the new transition would bring. Addition to the fact that my dad has been planning an humongous birthday party for me.

He has spent an arm and a leg to ensure the party is really an aesthetic one, and truth be told, I wasn't expecting less.

 I've never been a fan of big parties and flashy stuff, but you should trust the CEO of "The Jones' Empire".  In his usual saying, “Life… For some, it is battle. For others, its dance...For rich, it is party. For poor, it is chance!” 

My dad is no one to joke with, when it comes to parties and merriments but This, seem really extraordinary. 

He has invited famous magazine editors, influential business moguls, famous celebrities, models, and stylists. No one knew why and how he did that, but he made sure the guests were not more than 100, and they are all big cheeses.

Let's not even talk about the center he has rented for the event. It's the biggest, and the most tasteful in Houston.

Well, I almost took after my mum's height. She is 5'8 feet tall, while I'm solid 5'7 feet. I've got her wide set blue eyes, and white fair skin. I'm a total replica of her in many ways and we get the compliment a lot.

I heard jason's louver glass bathroom door, slide open and I looked up, he had cleaned his body, and wasn't dripping like I expected. He had a white towel around his neck, and another wrapped tightly around his waist. He still looked handsome anyways.

As usual, to avoids temptations, I stood up from the bed, and made to leave for the dressing room, then I heard him speak silvery, "Morning, boo boo!" 

"Off to work again?" I asked frowning, and looking away as I stopped just by the door.

I heard him heave a sigh. He walked to my back without making a sound, and he hugged me lightly from behind. "....and that is the new form of greeting, huh?" He said, softly into my neck, blowing his breath into it rhythmically.

Argh! Pervert!.

I disengaged from the hug, and turned to face him, "That is not the point Jason." I replied sharply, "You are leaving me here for work again, while you were actually the one who invited me over. It's barely two days here, and I'm just fed up already!!"

"We shouldn't do this now, babe. It's too early." He said gently, and I rolled my eyes.

"Just take me back home please. Everything sucks and I'm tired staying here." I threw my hands into the air, emphasizing on "Here".

"You really wanna go??" He arched his brow.

"Yes I want to. And we shouldn't stress this further please. Just take me back to my house." I replied as calmly as I could.

There was a minute of silence between us.

"Fine then." He sighed again, "I'll take you home, if that makes you happy...." 

"Ding Dong!" The faint sound of the door bell interrupted him.

"That must be the delivery man. I ordered food for us." he mumbled, as he walked to the wardrobe, and grabbed a long kaftan from a hanger. He put it on, straight up and scurried out of the room.

 °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

It was a peaceful and really quiescent drive between us, until his car stopped in front of my house.

"Okay. You are back home now." He broke the silence, fixing his gaze at me, as he turned off the car.

"yeah! Thanks." I responded, removing the car's seat belt, and subsequently opening the door, but he grabbed my wrist so quick, and pulled me back.

"Just like that Babe? Really??" He arched his brows, and I chuckled.

To avoid further arguments, I leaned close to him, and made a peck on his cheek. "I love you." I added, with a smile.

 "HAPPY??" I asked sarcastically.

"Yeah. Whatever!" He made to turn the key in the car's ignition, and I hit his chest playfully.

"Get my things down, man!." I stepped out of car, and walked to the portico of the house, as he trailed behind me with my two bags.

He dropped them on the floor, and back to leave. He walked back to the car and ignited the vehicle immediately he got in.

"Byeee!!" I waved at him, grinning as he drove off.

Surprisingly as I strolled in, the house seem quiet, and the working staffs were not randomly visible as they used to be. Not like I cared tho, i don't depend on any of them for anything.

I proceeded to my room, in order to drop my bags and freshen up, but I abruptly stopped, as I heard the sound of whispering voices coming from the kitchen.

I could recognized them to be Amber, the family's chef, and Riley, the head of the staffs. Their voices were quite low, but audible enough to be heard. 

I dropped my bags on the floor, and tiptoed to the direction the voices were coming from, so as to hear them clearer.

"....and it so bad she is in the dark, she knows absolutely nothing about it." Amber's throaty voice crackled.

"Well... She just needs to divert the energy she has been channeling into her dieing career. Things will become better for her perhaps." Riley replied, and they both burst into a mockery laughter.

Wow! The two have been gossiping about me?? I wagged my head.