Chapter 2 - The Magazine

ALIANA'S POV

     

"Hmm," I moan, half-asleep with my eyes partially open because of the sunlight striking my face. 

       

I can feel that parts of my body are heavy as I move. A bit of confusion appears when I feel an arm around my waist tighten from my sudden action.

     

I immediately opened my eyes and saw a man beside me. The tip of his nose rests on my right cheek as he sleeps soundly. His lashes and brows make me envious as a woman, while his messy jet-black hair defines the manliness of his look. 

        

My sight traveled down to his naked chest, and instead of admiring the view, I gasped, realizing I had no piece of clothing on, too.  

      

Panic suddenly enveloped my whole being. I immediately scanned the room—polished wooden tile, white satin sheets, cream-colored bedside table with gold and glitter accents, elegant and defining white bedside lamps, white furry carpet, detailed high-end ceilings, and long sheer curtains.

       

Where the hell am I?

    

I tried my best to unravel the arm around my waist without making any noise that might wake up the man beside me.  

      

"Aww," I groaned after I managed to sit. My head hurts too much. 

      

I covered my mouth with my hands, remembering how drunk I was last night and the things I did because of that.

      

Covering my upper body with the sheets, I looked at the peacefully sleeping man in bed. His arms were spread, and his broad, toned back faced me. The white satin sheet only covers up to his torso, and I stop my trail of thoughts from imagining what's under that. 

     

"What have you done, Aliana?!" I scolded myself in a low voice.

     

I stand up and close my eyes really hard for a while as I feel pain between my thighs. With shaking and weak legs, I hurriedly searched for my clothes. 

       

"What the—?" I almost cursed as I saw how torn my dress was when I was about to wear it.

     

Suddenly, I heard a phone vibrating and noticed that it came from my Prada baguette bag. I pulled my phone from it and saw lots of missed calls and messages. Some are from Nadia and Richie, while most of them were from Vicky, reminding me of another shoot for a make-up brand at 10:00 am. The panic I feel doubles when I see that it is already 9:40 am. 

      

"Oh, fuck!" I cursed. I can't go out only wearing underwear! Also, I can't ask anyone to bring clothes for me here. Another major thing is that I can't stay here for any more minutes knowing the man I slept with may wake up anytime. 

       

My eyes caught the white button-down long sleeves lying on the floor. Without second thoughts, I wore it and folded its sleeves up to my forearm. It looked like a dress on me, so I removed the braided leather belt from my torn floral dress and wore it to style the oversized shirt. After that, I tied my hair into a bun, wore my heels, and stormed out of the room, afraid of the man in bed waking up in no time.

          

         

         

"Why were you not answering my calls? You're 10 minutes late, Aliana! The make-up and wardrobe team are already waiting for you," Vicky welcomed me with her scolding as I arrived at the studio. 

         

I bowed and mouthed 'sorry' to every staff member I saw. I tried my best to walk gracefully despite my legs wanting to break down just so my manager wouldn't get a hint of the trouble I had just made.

       

"Nadia and Richie called me last night, and they were looking for you. Where did you go? You told me you'd stick with them. That's why I allowed you to that party, Aliana," Vicky whispered with a reprimanding voice.

         

"I drank too much, so I decided to come home, and I forgot to tell them," I reasoned out as I sat in front of the vanity mirror. The make-up artists flocked to me to do my make-up, and the others worked on my hair. 

       

Vicky was still eyeing me suspiciously, so I gave her my best reassuring smile. What are my acting skills are for if I can't use them at times like this, right?

       

After a few more touches, they were already done. Vicky signaled the wardrobe team as I got up from the vanity chair.

        

"What will I be wearing?" I asked Vicky, eager to remove the shirt that reminded me of the hot Greek god-like stranger as soon as possible.

      

"Uhmm… Miss Aliana, we were told that you no longer need to change outfits. We will proceed to the shooting already," a staff member informed us.

       

"Huh? But I believe you have better clothes prepared."

                   

"The director and photographers were all in awe of your style as you walked in a while ago, so they all agreed just to leave your outfit as it is. It perfectly fits the 'casual but elegant' theme."

     

My jaw dropped while Vicky proudly giggled. This is not the kind of praise I wanted for this day. It will be posted everywhere. What if he sees it? Oh, damn. He doesn't look like someone who reads magazines anyway. 

         

       

"You don't disappoint, Aliana! Great job," one of the photographers greeted me after the shoot. I smiled awkwardly, still not over the fact that I had a lot to worry about.

         

       

       

       

"Aliana? Are you giving attention to what I am saying?" 

     

I blinked twice when I heard Vicky raise her voice. We went straight ahead to Stardom Entertainment's building after the shoot. It has been my agency ever since I started acting. 

         

I actually thought I'd be able to go home after the shoot, but Vicky wanted to discuss my next projects. Despite this being important, my mind couldn't help but get lost. I can't believe I lost my virginity to a man I don't even know. Damn, Aliana. I was clearly not thinking. I took care of it for 24 years, and I lost it in one night. 

     

I prepared myself to be reprimanded for zoning out, but then we were disturbed by a loud knock on the door of the office. Andy, my personal assistant, went in. Her face has a few visible lumps of sweat that make me think she rushed going here. Looking tense, she hurriedly opened her laptop and showed it to Vicky.

       

"How dare he do this? He just confirmed your dating rumors three months ago, and now he is dating Chantal?" Vicky suddenly became furious.

      

My brow furrowed at that. Is she talking about Josh? Also, did she mention Chantal? My one and only rival?

     

Vicky put the laptop in front of me, and there I saw an article about Josh confirming his relationship with Chantal. 

      

"Do you know about this, Aliana?" Vicky asked me.

     

I didn't say a word. She and Andy exchanged a few glances, and after a while, their worried looks appeared. 

     

Vicky held my hand, "Is that the reason why you seem out of focus today?" 

      

I sighed deeply and leaned my back on the swivel chair. I am lost for words.

     

"Since when did you stop dating? And why didn't you tell me?" I can hear the deep concern in Vicky's voice. Andy looks sad for me, too.

      

"He wanted us to have sex, and I didn't let him have what he wanted. He stopped showing up after that."

        

"That fucking bastard!" Vicky clenched her fists and started walking back and forth, trying to contain the anger she was feeling. A few more curses came out of her mouth while Andy tried everything to calm her. 

         

"You know what?" she breathes heavily, "You did the right thing. That womanizer deserves nothing from you. Don't be upset. It is his loss." 

    

Vicky then decided to sit down and started typing on her phone.

     

"That's the Aliana I knew. You don't give something easily to undeserving people. Know that I am proud of you," she added before answering calls from the media asking about my side regarding the news about Josh and Chantal.

          

I immediately looked away. If Vicky just knew, she wouldn't be proud of me. I never gave it to anyone, not to my exes, and not to Josh. But I gave it to a man I had just met at the bar. Stressed and frustrated, I asked Andy to drive me home. 

       

       

KIEVAN'S POV

        

"Sir, you have a meeting at 10:00 am with our Chinese investors, a meeting with the board at 1:00 pm, and a visit to the charity at 5:00 pm. I've also received a call from the German ambassadors, and they were looking forward to meeting you as soon as possible."

       

I look out the window and admire the moving view of places while listening to Rico, my secretary, talk about my schedule as he drives. Suddenly, flashes of her face appear. I close my eyes. Here it is again.

         

Two weeks have passed, and I am still thinking about her. The way her hair felt on my skin, the way she smelled, the way she looked at me with those seductive sleepy eyes, and the way she gripped my shoulders, panting and moaning. 

        

I bit my lip and closed my eyes. If I knew that she'd be gone when I woke up, I would've asked for her name right away. Now I don't know how to look for her. No woman has ever left me like that. I tried seeing other women, but no one got my interest. She would just pop right into my head in my sleep, in meetings, while I drive, eat, and everything in between. 

         

"Goodmorning, Sir Kievan." 

        

Everyone I pass bows down as they greet me when I enter the building. Rico continued mentioning some reports regarding the operations of the hotels and restaurants under the company. Unknowingly, I glanced at the waiting area in the lobby, and a fashion magazine on the center table caught my attention. I walked to see it clearly, and Rico confusedly followed me. 

       

On the magazine's cover was a woman. Her curled brown hair falls smoothly on her shoulders, and her almond eyes look hypnotizing. Her perfect nose complements her face so well, and the slight smile on her red bow-shaped lips appears very tempting. One corner of my lips slightly rises, seeing the woman I've been looking for for weeks.

       

I noticed the small familiar embroidery on the chest of the oversized white button-down long sleeves she was wearing. I smirked, remembering that I woke up in the hotel room alone with the same shirt missing and her torn floral dress on the floor.

       

        

"You mean the magazine you saw in the lobby a while ago? The woman on the cover was Aliana Reeves, Sir. She is an actress, and as far as I know, she is a model, too. Don't you know her?" Rico asked, confused when I asked him about the magazine as I finally got into my office. 

      

"Contact her agency. Tell them I want to offer sponsorship." 

     

Rico's eyebrows furrowed.

      

"S-sir?" 

     

"Just do it, Rico." I gave him a sharp glare. He immediately nodded and went outside.

    

Given that she left me that morning, she'd definitely do it again. However, I'll do any possible way or pull all the connections I have to keep her from walking away.