Fenella’s POVSeveral days after our meeting, I was already sitting in the makeup chair in front of the mirror. Wearing a long-sleeved black knit sweater and jeans, I looked like an ordinary woman. Indeed, that was the concept of today's ad: just a couple going shopping to prepare for a winter vacation abroad."Okay, all set," the makeup artist said to me after doing my face with neutral tones."Thank you," I replied softly with a small smile.She then left to report to the director. I sighed and waited in my makeup chair, looking at my phone. There was a text message from Laird, and I read it immediately.‘Hey. Has the shooting started yet?’Since yesterday, he has sent me multiple messages and called me several times. I knew he was trying to restrain himself from being jealous, but the tone and anxiety in his voice couldn't lie.Laird and I decided not to inform him about the shooting details because we believed Laird might go crazy hearing the detailed story behind the scenes. Besi
Fenella’s POVAlan and I approached the director again as she gave instructions for the second scene. We both wore the white satin robes provided by our makeup artist. Now, our hair was styled slightly more tousled than in the previous scene."Okay, Fenella. I want you to stay calm and relaxed. The concept is that you are choosing a condom as if you were choosing a shirt that fits Alan because condoms can be considered a daily necessity for a couple like you, right?""Yes." I nodded softly."Stay calm and relaxed, okay? You are choosing a shirt," Martha repeatedly indoctrinated me to not be nervous."Okay," I said, portraying a calm face."Alright, let's get ready!" The assistant director issued the command through the megaphone.Alan and I opened our satin robes and handed them to Jessy. The first time we saw each other's outfits, my heart beat faster. Alan was not wearing any clothing except for a skin-toned thong. I saw Alan also look surprised, his eyes widening as he looked at me
Fenella’s POVThe break had ended, and the shooting was about to start again. Alan and I sat on the pharmacy floor. We listened to Martha's instructions before starting the shoot, and when we were ready, we took off our robes and handed them to Jessy.My hair was now messy and tangled, a deliberate hairstyling by the makeup artist. These were the last two scenes before we could go home. I just hoped the shooting would end soon so I could be free from this torment.I got into position. My body was lying on the slightly itchy, carpeted floor. Alan kneeled in front of me with both of my legs spread wide. My knees were supported on Alan's elbows and waist.Gosh! Even though this was fake, I still felt very exposed in front of Alan. I unintentionally—or well, intentionally—peeked at Alan's underwear, which was clearly visible to me. The prominent bulge was clearly visible to me.Damn! Was he really still aroused?"Fenella! Move closer to Alan so your legs are more visible," Martha's voice
Fenella’s POV“No.”I quickly got up, pushing Alan's shoulder away. With swift steps, I approached Jessy and put on my satin robe.God, help me!I sealed my lips, holding back the red blush burning my cheeks, and walked into the dressing room. I stood leaning against the door, my heart racing. What was wrong with me?I have to admit, Alan was a man who knew how to charm. He knew how to make a woman feel special, and he made everything seem beautiful.No, wait a minute. I still didn't know anything about him or Amy. I also didn't know if he could be trusted or not, considering how easily he had lied about many things so far."Are you ready to change?" the makeup artist asked me with a puzzled look."Oh, yes, sorry. I was feeling cold," I sighed deeply.My mind continued to oscillate between Alan's continuous sweet talk and Laird, whom I knew was waiting for news from me. Once again, I tried to calm myself. I tightened the robe's straps with both hands and rubbed my arms, which shivered
Fenella’s POVAt exactly 5 p.m., Jessy dropped me off in front of Laird's office building. One hand clasped a large bag of Chinese food. Honestly, I didn't know what he would like, so I ordered the menu items he often ordered and a few other dishes that looked delicious in the menu book pictures.I entered the lobby, which was crowded with employees leaving work. As I walked in, everyone stared at me as if I were an alien. Perhaps it was because I was the only one walking against the flow as everyone headed towards the exit doors."Hey, Fenella." Laird walked toward me with a faint smile. As he had informed me through a text message, he was waiting for me in his office."Hi, dear." I quickly pecked his lips, but Laird quickly moved back before our lips touched."Why?" I asked, puzzled."This is the office," he replied, clearing his throat and looking around."Oh."I looked around and saw that most desks were already empty. There were only a few people left, but it seemed like Laird st
Fenella’s POV“We are here to voice our rights.” Mallory’s voice echoed through the speakers mounted on either side of the stage.“The right to get protection, the right to form healthy relationships with others, and the right to live comfortably in our environment.”“We cannot achieve any of that if we continue to close ourselves off from what can protect us. Avoiding the topic because we consider it taboo will only lead to misunderstandings. By spreading knowledge about the subject widely, I’m confident we can protect ourselves from the diseases affecting our community.”“Wow! Yeah, I’ve always felt that sexual education should start as early as possible. I really appreciate this movement you’re advocating.” The host exclaimed, clapping to encourage a round of applause from the audience.Since 8 AM until now, which was 10 AM, I have stood on stage with dozens of celebrities, models, and actresses in Mallory’s circle of friends. We were wearing matching white shirts with a red ribbon
Laird’s POVI glanced at the message from Fenella that she sent yesterday. All night, she didn't reply to my messages and only answered my call once. From her voice and way of speaking, she sounded tired. Jessy was also hit by the negative reactions flooding Fenella's personal social media and Gene's office. After some considerations, they decided to stay away from the public eye until the ad dropped.It seems like the ad launch is facing major issues. Yes, I promised not to ask about that ad, even though I'm curious. I have intentionally given her space to calm down, and maybe I'll visit her later in the evening after work.I think it's not going to be a problem. Moreover, next week is the start of the winter holidays. We will go back to Boston to celebrate Christmas with our families. After the chaos and dilemma with Alan, maybe calming down with her mother is the right decision.I rubbed my chin and considered canceling my winter holiday plans with Fenella. Initially, I wanted to
Alan’s POV"Oh, yeah, I don't know why people have been so easily offended lately, but really, no one is harmed, right?"The man on the other end of the phone rambled on about general ethics, social norms, and various other nonsense. I stayed silent, swallowing all of his unhelpful lectures. My eyes rolled upwards every time he recited sections about advertisement broadcasting."Alright, sir. I understand. How about we meet to discuss this matter, hm? Talking in person will surely feel different, right?"Usually, this trick works with some hush money. What else did they want but money? Moreover, in my opinion, this controversy was completely groundless."No, no. I'm not trying to bribe you, sir. I just want to
Fenella’s POVThree months later…“State of New York vs. Alan Schmidt! All rise, and please be quiet!”The bailiff announced the case name in a loud voice. I sat in the audience with my heart pounding and my feet restless. The reporters waiting in the back of the room fell silent, capturing every moment as the judge entered.I squeezed Laird's hand to quell my nerves. He smiled at me and whispered that everything would be okay. I nodded and offered a small, reassuring smile in return.This was the final appeal at the Supreme Court. After this, Alan wouldn’t be able to appeal again until his sentence was served. After two long years of a drawn-out case with various appeals from Alan’s side, we had finally reached the finish line.The judge began reading various considerations and court notes. They took turns reading the decision documents. Time seemed to crawl, and I began to feel drowsy.I occasionally glanced at Alan, who sat in his prison jumpsuit. His once curly, neat hair had grown
Fenella’s POVTwo years later…I held Laird's hand, squeezing the palm that felt damp with sweat. A smile appeared on my lips as I tried to calm the nervousness he had felt since we left the house. This was the first award ceremony for him, Dave, and Rowan. They couldn’t sit still in their seats either.I couldn’t deny that I felt the same. My heart raced, even as the host made jokes that had the audience laughing. Still, I tried to remain calm because I didn’t want to make him more anxious than he already was.“The winner of the Best Mobile Game of the Year is...” The music stopped, the announcer paused, tension built, “My Supermodel!”“Oh! Thank God!” I exclaimed behind my hands that covered my open mouth.“Congratulations, honey!”I immediately stood up and hugged Laird tightly beside me. I cupped his face in my hands and kissed his lips strong and quick. He smiled broadly and whispered for a moment, “I love you, baby. Thank you.”“Congratulations!” I shook hands with Dave and Rowa
Fenella’s POVI stood at the edge of the balcony. My hands are firmly gripping the iron rail of the balcony as my eyes gaze at the nighttime scenery in the distance. Puerto Vallarta, a cliff with a stunning coastal view that showcases the beautiful side of Mexico.Perhaps there is truth in the saying—including Lloyd's yesterday—that bad memories must be replaced with good ones.Since arriving in Mexico until now, all the bad memories have been erased and replaced with the beauty of a honeymoon vacation with the love of my life. It's not bad, really.Despite the heavy trial we went through yesterday, we finally had some peace of mind. The night breeze blows through my hair. There's a strange sensation, but I don't want to go into the room yet. Until Laird came from the balcony door and immediately hugged me, enveloping me in soothing warmth.“Hey,”“Hi, baby. Are you done showering?” I asked, raising my head to look at Laird's face for a moment.“Yup.”“You smell nice,” I said as I inh
Fenella’s POV“Oh, sweet Mother, that was divine!” Jessy took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then he opened his eyes wide while his mouth continued chewing my mother’s crab cakes. The murmurs and cheers were still heard until he finally finished his last bite.“I was glad you liked them,” my mother smiled broadly.“I didn’t just like them. I loved, loved, loved them!”Everyone around us laughed at Jessy’s confession. We felt the same way because my mother had succeeded in making a super delicious wedding reception dish. Truly, our Baxter family home was filled with guests. Even though we had invited only a small number of people, our home had never been this lively.The decorations of pink, white, and red flowers and balloons filled the entire room. The furniture had been rearranged to create enough space for the guests to dance or chat. Soft music played through the speakers set up in the corner of the room.Occasionally, guests would step up to change the music, hold the microph
Fenella’s POV“Honey, you looked absolutely stunning,” my mother said. “Thank you, Mom.” I smiled wide upon hearing my mother's compliment. She handed me a bouquet of wedding flowers that was a mix of pink, red, and white colors. I then grabbed the small bouquet and held it tightly. “I couldn’t believe we pulled this off all in just a week.” My mother shook her head, her eyes wide. “We even thought to get married the day after he proposed, but I remembered your words about wanting to prepare every detail of my wedding. You only have one chance because I'm your only daughter, so here we are.”“I just hoped those fruit tarts and crab cakes would be enough for all the guests.” “It’s okay, Mom. If the food wasn’t enough, we could stuff them with the wedding cake. That’s the job of the five-tier cake you ordered.”“You're right. I'm grateful that Mrs. Maddox's bakery shop is willing to take on the order." She sighed and stared at my face."Oh, I wish your father could see you, even th
Fenella’s POV“Fenella.”“Yes, Laird.”Laird called me right after I arrived at the apartment.“Where are you right now?”“I'm at the apartment,” I replied quickly as I grabbed a glass of mineral water from the dispenser.“Oh, thank goodness. I'm on my way home,” he said.The apartment door opened, and I immediately saw Laird's figure enter. My mouth was slightly agape, with my eyes widening. My forehead wrinkled as I watched him walk in. I glanced at the clock on the table and realized it was 2 p.m.“Fenella,” he called in his distinctively low voice.He stepped inside and met me in the kitchen. I hurriedly set my water glass down on the dining table. For some reason, Laird's face looked different. There was a hint of a happy smile on his face, though the look in his eyes was dark, and I couldn't describe the meaning behind it.“You're home? One second you're calling me, the next you're standing in front of me,” I chuckled.Suddenly, he let down his backpack on the floor. Then he hug
Laird’s POVI took several deep breaths and let them out. I couldn't help but feel uneasy and anxious, and various bad thoughts were raging in my mind. My hands repeatedly smoothed my tie or combed my hair. Hell, I couldn't calm myself down!This wasn't the first time my father had gone this far. Using bodyguards to pick up other people by force, who does he think he is?I hate his methods. He's called the shark of the legal world for a reason. This is how he acts. Stalking, coercing, and making people bend to his will until they're crushed by Hugo Evans' ambition.Now he was after Fenella. He flew from Boston to New York for her. I just knew it.I almost know what my father wants from my girlfriend. Maybe he wants to tell her to stay away like some of the girls I dated at university. It could also be that he wanted to ask about the case involving me and Malgolm Golden together.Whatever it was, I was waiting for a call or mes
Fenella’s POVMy eyes blinked after hearing Mr. Evans' words. My brow furrowed as I tried to understand his reasoning and failed miserably. I remained silent, but eventually, my heart was stirred to dig deeper.“Excuse me? Why is that?” I asked slowly, being careful not to make a misstep.“Because he helped my enemy,” Mr. Evans replied firmly.Again, I could only blink. An enemy? Yes, Laird had told me how Mr. Golden had an affair with his mother. But wasn’t that ten years ago? In fact, Mr. Evans had been busy with his young girlfriend.Still, Laird had helped to do the right thing. I didn’t want to argue with him, but I began to feel that Mr. Evans' disappointment in Laird was beyond reason.“But he helped capture criminals. He has contributed to the community.” I voiced my opinion again and swallowed to ease my nervousness.“You don’t know anything, kid. He helped my arch-enemy without considering my feelings.” Mr. Evans scoffed in frustration. “How dare he? Sometimes Laird can be u
Fenella’s POVI willingly got into the black van, leaving Jessy alone on the sidewalk. I was sure he would immediately contact Laird. Maybe he would explain the situation to him, and Laird would call me right away.Sure enough, my phone rang just minutes after the van had driven away from Laird’s office building. I answered the call immediately.“Hello, Laird.”“Hey, Fenella. What is this about Jessy seeing you being abducted by a black van? He said you willingly got into the vehicle and mentioned it was my father’s men.”Laird asked with tension in his voice. His breath sounded hurried on the phone, but I didn’t want to make him more anxious.Well, yes, I was panicking too because suddenly I had been approached by men in black suits who resembled mafia. However, they mentioned Hugo Evans, Laird’s father. I didn’t want to give his father a bad impression, or I would lose th