Appointed by a Billionaire to be his Heir's Girlfriend

Chapter 14

Athena Vanderbilt POV

I woke up to my mom’s yells from the kitchen, telling me to get up.

She bursted inside my room, her hands on her hip and the kitchen apron all over her. She was obviously cooking breakfast.

Is mom really here? Or am I dreaming?

She turned on the light of my room, making me feel like a stinky vampire cowering over the sudden brightness.

“If you don’t get up, you’ll be late.”

I got out of my blankets and sat up, “Late?!”

Shoot! How can I forget?! It’s Monday today! I hit my forehead. This is going to be another drastic day, I can feel it.

“Yes. Take a quick shower and go over to the kitchen to have breakfast. Hurry up dear.” Mom reminded me as she went out of my room.

I quickly showered and dressed for school, ate a few pancakes and rushed outside for school, not long when mom came out to call out, “We’ll talk when you get back!”

I sighed. We really better do that, mom.

I slung my bag over my shoulder, put on my glasses and walked and walked and walked until I reached the familiar bronze gates of Sta. Catalina’s.

I took in a deep breath and entered the school, head high.

This will be the first time I’ll see everyone from this school since that stupid Mixer, since Chloe and I fought, since Nate and I publicly announced we’re going out. So many events happened after that. Even Nate isn’t at my side anymore. Of course, I’m effing nervous. I’m completely alone in this realm of vain students. Chloe and I used to be in this together. Everything seemed bearable then.

But now… All the whispers… All the stares… It’s enough to make one feel uncomfortable. I am currently the school’s biggest loser.

I kept my face composed as I walk calmly, though my instincts are screaming at me to run and get out of their sight.

I caught a glimpse of Chloe who looked at me for a moment before facing her ‘new friend’ Tallulah and stalking to the corridors. Did I just imagine that spark of longing in her eyes when it met mine? Maybe I did, out of desperation.

I swallowed. I am really alone.

The whispers got a bit louder, as if they all mean for me to hear it.

“Did you know? That poor girl ditched Chloe Dupont for Nate Van Warner?”

“She used to look shy. Didn’t know she was foul in the inside.”

“Well, turned out she’s just using Chloe to get Nate.”

“What a social climber she is.”

I stared hard at the double doors I’m supposed to be going. It’s hard to keep my tears from falling. They’re almost clouding my vision. But no, I did not dare blink or else they’ll fall. And I have no intention of letting these judgmental people see me cry. They are not worth it.

I bit my lip and tried my best to ignore them as I reached the double doors. I almost touched it to open it but somebody open it already.

“Athena! There you are! We’ve been waiting for you!”

And there, one tear escaped again.

“Bliss!”

She seemed to notice that tear and she hugged me briefly, “Athena? What’s wrong?”

The whisperings increased their volume and even Bliss noticed.

But of course, she’s Bliss Stanford, the reigning Queen bee of Sta. Catalina’s and no one dares defy her or else… I do not know. Maybe everyone’s just afraid of ruining their social lives if they angered the 'elites'.

“Anything wrong, people? If there’s none, clear out then!” she said in a firm voice that made everyone go away.

I wiped my face first and said, “Thanks, Bliss.”

“Oh, it’s okay. Alex told me everything that happened yesterday, including the part about your break-up with Nate.” Bliss said soothingly, as she led me inside the warm interior of the school.

I do not know what to say to her.

“Um, yeah, we broke up. I’ll go to the bathroom first, okay?” I said.

“Okay. Do you want me to save you a seat?” Bliss asked.

I was taken aback by her offer. To sit with her means I have to go sit with a group of girls I barely know in my life and even though Bliss has been nothing but nice, I declined.

I did go to to the bathroom to wash my face and came back to the auditorium to attend the weekly meeting.

I sat at the very back seat, alone. The aisle separates the room into two parts. The left side is occupied by the girls from Sta. Catalina’s while the right side is occupied by the boys from Oswald. No one is allowed to cross over to other side.

I saw Bliss at the second row, with her group. You know the thing about Queen bees, like Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl. There’s always a clique of girls tagging along her wherever she goes.

I looked on the opposite side where the Oswald’s boys sat.

I saw Alex at the second row too. He was apparently in deep conversation with someone because he has this serious look on his face. I craned my neck to see who it was. Of course, it was Nate Van Warner.

MY heart gave a painful squeeze at the sight of him.

I saw Chloe and Tallulah at the third row, laughing at some story they’re telling to each other. Seriously, since when did Tallulah cared about my friendship with Chloe?

A stiletto heel clicking with the marble floor announced the arrival of someone. I turned my head to see…. And my stomach plummeted in disapproval.

All heads turned around to see who it was who came.

“What a dramatic entrance.” She said, as she flipped her hair and sat beside Bliss.

I really made a correct decision when I declined Bliss’ offer to sit with her.

“Maddie! You’re back!” said a few girls from Bliss’ clique. Yeah, I figured out most of Bliss’ friends and even Bliss herself might have been friends with Maddie.

This made me feel like I’m the outsider again. Well, I’m really the outsider.

I looked again at Nate and Alex’ place but only Alex was there. Where did Nate go?

I looked around and there I saw him on the chair opposite beside me, the aisle separating us.

He was looking at me with his pretty piercing blue eyes but the expression on his face was unreadable.

What to do at a time like this? I’m supposed to be angry at him! I’m not to make the first move no matter what.

Before he can speak or smile or do whatever, I looked away from his captivating eyes and tried to focus on our headmistress who already got up on the platform to talk about something about a seminar that will take place that day, all morning. Great.

But of course I’m note really listening. Who could when you know from your peripheral vision that one pair of mesmerizing blue eyes are staring at you? All I could do was fidget uncomfortably in my seat and try very hard to resist the temptation of looking back to those pair of eyes.

Why on earth is he playing at?! Does he keep staring at me to annoy the hell out of me? He shouldn’t even have the guts to looks at me!

The whole crowd started clapping and my attention went to the pretty blonde ( How many blondes can once school have?) who went up to the platform. She looks pretty, probably in her late twenties, with high cheekbones and a warm smile.

Now who is she? She isn’t definitely one of students.

“Good morning, everyone! As your headmistress introduced me, I am Cheska Megalo from Regal Modeling agency.”

There were a lot of oohs and aahs and more squeals of delight from the crowd.

This can’t be happening again. Ugh.

Sta. Catalina’s and Oswald’s administration has been giving the students a ‘treat’ sometimes. This is a prep school so it’s only understandable if they are quite obsessed with career talks like this. This isn’t the first. A lot of people are coming over to give seminars and what-not about jobs that may be available for us after we graduate highschool.

To be honest, I really don’t know if I’ll even go to college considering it needs a lot of money… sigh…

I sank deeper to my seat as I let the whole morning pass before my eyes in a sleepy blur, ignoring the guy , an aisle away from me.

The whole crowd clapped again, which made me snap back to reality.

“There, there. I’m sure you’d love those trips huh?”

Some of the students laughed.

“Well, I already asked your administration, we’ll be on the second floor of Sta. Catalina’s for all those who are brave and majestic enough to pursue an early career in the modeling world. This is open to all boys and girls, alright? We’ll be waiting for you there!” said Cheska and everyone went whispering excitedly about this.

Definitely not my idea of fun.

The administration dismissed us and I waited for everyone to get out of the auditorium before going to the classroom.

I saw Nate stood up and went with Alex, who were chased by Bliss and Maddie.

I stood up too and went to my last class for the day, Calculus, which is unfortunately, at the second floor.

The crowd of hopefuls in the second floor is startlingly big. I can barely get a glimpse of the door of my classroom.

I let my hair down and temporarily removed my glasses as I made my way through the thick crowd, trying hard not to attract their attention or they’ll mutter about me again.

Then somebody grabbed my arm and I stopped to look who dare do it.

“Hello! Who are you?” said the woman on the platform a while ago. The one with the high cheekbones and a warm smile.

I looked around, “Ummm… Athena Vanderbilt?”

Okay. It made me sound unsure of my own name. This sucks.

“You are really pretty. And your body is designed to be a model. Willowy and all. Are you interested in signing a contract with my agency?”

I blinked thrice.

WHAT?

Me? Athena Vanderbilt, a model?

That is just the most absurd, most ridiculous and absolutely impossible idea ever thought in the world.

Girls who were crowding around stared at me. Some looked amused. Some look outraged. Some were… I don’t know…jealous?

I swallowed. “Are you serious?” was all I could say.

She seemed to smile, “Yes, I am. I know potential when I see it”

My life seemed to spin for a while.

Potential… She told me I have potential to join the ranks of the professionally beautiful. My heart can almost burst with her flattery.

“I dunno.” I admitted.

She probably sensed my hesitation so before I can decline totally, she said something.

“Okay. How about this? You give me your number and I’ll call you if any designer wants you, okay? I’ll just take your Polaroid.” She said.

After a few minutes where she talked and talked and convinced me to sign an official contract while taking my Polaroid and listing my number down, I got away.

After a huge distraction that made me a bit confused, I reached my desk and settled in the classroom quietly. Almost all of the girls are out, trying to get in Meester modeling agency. And here I am, handpicked. I almost feel flattered about it. Really flattered.

It’s like someone told me for the first time I can be beautiful.

Nate Van Warner POV

“Will, just stop, okay? I’ve got so much to think about without you blabbering to me.” I snapped.

Will Anderson look offended with my words. Yeah, that was rude of me but I don’t care about motorcycles right now.

I saw Alex and Bliss threw him a meaningful look. The three know I’m in a pretty bad mood since yesterday.

We are currently in the school cafeteria, lots of students lounging around yet I can’t see that one person…

I do not even know why I really bother myself with her. She ended it. Why am I itching to go to her and fix everything? It’s not like the world ended when she ended it between us. Hell, I don’t even know what was between us.

Yeah, she was my girlfriend on my father’s orders and I should never have cared about that at all. I was supposed to be taking revenge for she embarrassed me but why can’t I care about that now? All I care right now is that it feels weird to not talk to her.

Am I falling for her?

…

I shook myself mentally. That can’t be. That is impossible.

Nathaniel Van Warner, the playboy, falling for someone?

Even in my head, it sounds ridiculous.

Even Maddie’s return complicated things. I used to love her. Yes, I did. She was the only girl I took seriously. But she hurt me. I used to yearn for her in her absence… But now she’s back. I can’t even see myself attempting to hang out with her. Like she didn’t matter anymore…

That is weird. For Madeleine Wilhern was my first love.

I sat on the seat opposite beside her a while ago.

All morning, while the speaker was talking about some stupid topic, I was internally debating whether I should talk to her after the assembly or not. In the end, I just stared at her all morning.

That must’ve freaked her out. Ha ha.

She seemed to be aware I was watching her. She was all fidgety. Yet she never looked at me again after that initial time when she seemed so shocked to see me there.

Her hair was in a messy ponytail and her beige cardigan suits her already-fair skin. One aisle away, I can see her thick eyelashes. She was wearing glasses today. I did know she has an eye defect. Yet that doesn’t even make her look like a stupid geek.

She’s beautiful. Even I need to admit that at least.

But there can never be an opportunity for me to tell that to her now.

We are strangers again now, but with memories.

Athena Vanderbilt POV

“I’m home!” I called out as I reached the door to our apartment.

I saw mom coming out of the kitchen, holding out a plate of chocolate chip cookies. She gestured for me to come to the sitting room so I followed.

She laid the plate on the coffee table and sat on the couch. I followed her lead.

“I said before you left that I want to talk.” She began.

I watched her face. It wasn’t even stern so I gradually relaxed.

I picked a cookie and started nibbling it, “Yeah, mom. Go ahead.”

“Do you like the boy, honey?”

I stopped eating and looked up at my mom who was looking back at me with firm eyes.

Her question is very sudden and very straightforward.

Her question is the one I’ve been avoiding answering for the past few hours.

“I…uh… no, mom. I don’t.” I said.

And I don’t even know if I’m lying or not.

Mom stared at me for a few seconds before saying, “Okay. You said you don’t.”

Her unreadable expression made it hard to tell if she knew if I’m lying or not. Or maybe she can’t figure it out like me. SO before she could even ask another awkward question, I spoke.

“Mom, why did you return two weeks early?” I asked, nibbling on another cookie.

She seemed to tense a bit with my question and I don’t know why.

“Oh nothing. I’m just worried about you being alone here. One of my old friends agreed to let me work in her studio here so that will be good enough for us.”

“Oh. That’s good. It’s been lonely without you and Iris here.” I admitted.

So at least they’ll stay for good. I feel like I can dance in relief. At least I’ll have some company at home, unlike at school.

Mom smiled for a moment before speaking, “So… did you and that boy make up yet?”

I swallowed, “Um, no.”

“You really should. At least you said you don’t like him and you’ll be doing him kindness if you really help him change.” She said gently.

“Yeah sure, mom. I’ll do it soon.” I said, not sure if I’m lying again or not.

Is the idea of making up with him even possible now?

Besides, this ‘girl talk’ with mom is so awkward. We never had these talks before. Ugh.

“You know, honey, now that I think about it… You should make a lesson plan after you two made up.” She said cheerfully.

My mouth fell open, “Mom! You’ve got to be kidding!”

Chortling, she said, “Just kidding. I say you two make-up. Plus, we don’t need to rush about our financial needs. Charles gave us support, didn’t he? I keep insisting on returning it but he remains stubborn as ever that we use it.”

Oh. Now I see her point. Mr. Charles, her friend is helping us survive without much difficulty so she think it is only appropriate that I do something to help the ‘guy’. Wow. It makes sense. She wants me to make up with a guy I barely even have the guts to look at. Fat chance.

I sighed, “Of course mom. You better buy Iris some good toys. She never had some before except a rag doll.”

She smiled apologetically, as if she was silently apologizing for the fate her two children have because of financial difficulties, “Yeah. How about a shopping for today?”

I beamed widely, “Let’s go then. Iris! Come over here!”