Do I know you?
1703 Words
His dark hair fell on the sides of his mature, devilishly handsome, fair, angular face that I knew all too well. A face that I'd so much detested over the years. A face that I'd never wanted to see again, ever!
My heart dulled, and my stomach dropped at the sight of him.
Nicholas.
The name alone dragged me five years back. To a cheap motel room, entangled in the sheets…
A night I thought meant something.
I felt my heart tinge in hurt once again from the unhealed wounds he'd dealt me.
Yes, I used to be a stripper. And I'd met him at the strip club where I used to work as one. I never had intimate moments with any client, I'd always kept things professional. But when he walked in that night, I had felt something shift in me. I was extremely attracted to him, every look we shared, every touch, it felt enticing.
I knew he felt the same. The way his eyes followed me… the hunger in them… it had been impossible to ignore. The bulge in his pants as I danced had made his intent so obvious.
One moment we were staring… the next, we were tangled in something neither of us tried to stop.
He'd told me about his situation. How his father wanted him to marry some low-life daughter of a lady he owed some "favor". That was why he'd visited the strip club, to at least do something with someone before he committed. He said he wanted something to always remind him that he never wanted to be with her.
I had been blind to my feelings then. I thought it was just a fling. But as days passed, I realized I had found my mate.
However, I didn't know where to look for him. Not until I received a mocking message from Lisa, inviting me to her engagement party.
And on the photo shoot was Nicholas, the very same man I'd been looking for.
Believing we had something. Believing he felt the same way I'd felt, I went after him. But he denied me so ruthlessly.
He saw me as nothing but a prostitute...
I looked at him, now, rage surging within me. He approached me, his face delighted somewhat.
I wanted to scratch my nails across that face. However, seeing the invested look around, I quickly feigned indifference, looking him up and down.
" Excuse me? Do I know you?" I expressed offense, glancing at Madam Marissa and Holly as if this was their fault.
Nicholas stopped mid-step. His grip tightened around the camera in his hand, knuckles whitening slightly.
His eyes locked onto mine, like he'd looked away long enough. Like he had so much to say yet didn't know where to start.
Madam Marissa stepped forward, standing between me and him, and turning to face Holly. "What is the meaning of this? Can you explain who this is?"
Holly expressed a deep frown, walking up to Nicholas. " T-this is Mr. Nicholas Grayson, the photographer who's going to take the shoot." She stammered to introduce and turned to face Nicholas." Mr. Grayson, I know you might want to build a friendly relation with Miss Hayes here, but please, let's keep things professional." She warned sternly.
Nicholas was left speechless by it all, and somehow, I enjoyed the incredulous agony on his face.
Before he could say anything else, I quickly told Holly, "I would like to get ready for the shoot now. I don't care about any of this."
" Very well. Please follow me to the stylists." She said and led the way to a separate room on the floor.
I didn't glance once at Nicholas. I just followed behind Holly, holding my head high and steadying my steps.
It wasn't until we got in the room, away from all the gazes and stares that I finally let out the breath that I'd been holding in.
"Please wait here while I get the stylists." Holly said and I nodded.
Just as the door closed behind her, I collapsed on the sofa in the room, heaving deep sighs. My hands shook beside me as the panic finally got to me.
" Maddie?" I heard Madam Marissa call out to me as she rushed to my side.
I looked up, my eyes catching the reflection of myself in the full-stand mirror on the wall.
My eyes had reddened, threatening to break in tears. And my angular face was flustered, hot as anger bled across its delicate features. Only my dark-blonde hair that was thoroughly combed seemed fine.
I felt Madam Marissa's palm land gently on my shoulders, " Are you okay?" she asked.
She had no idea who Nicholas was. I never told her who the father of my four year old daughter, Elena, was.
I turned to face her. " I'm sorry Marissa. I promise to tell you everything later." I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. " But for now..." I opened my eyes, looking my reflection on the mirror in the eye. "We have a lingerie brand to model."
I had no idea why after five years, I've suddenly barged into him. Regardless, for the past five years, we'd remained nobody to each other. And I have no plan to change that!
...
Nicholas' POV
I tightened my grip around the camera case as I stood off-set, watching the chaos of preparation unfold.
The sting of Madison snubbing me just a moment ago still lingered, the short stares and glances from the people around reminding me of the humiliation.
I wasn’t supposed to be here like this.
I could buy half the damn building if I wanted to. And yet, here I am, suffering all of this embarrassment just to see her again.
I had been looking for Madison for the past five years. So no, seeing Madison again wasn’t just a coincidence. It was the result of my obsession towards what belongs to me that she'd decided to take away from me.
The moment I heard her name a year and a half ago, whispered in passing, attached to some rising model in New York, I knew it had to be her. No one else carried that name like that.
And fortunately enough, I managed to confirm it really was her from the fashion magazines and contests she'd been featured in.
I didn’t hesitate. I instantly made the move to find her. But all efforts proved futile to get in touch with her. She'd become so exclusive that only few people could reach her.
So I built connections. Bought my way into the industry. I had to.
An alpha CEO stepping down into the world of photography just to stand in the same room as her again. Pathetic? Maybe. But I didn’t care. She has something that belongs to me. And I would go any length to take back what is rightfully mine.
“Mr. Grayson.”
A voice pulled me aside. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
Holly, the director.
She approached with careful steps, her expression already tight with concern.
“Didn't you say you knew Miss Hayes,” she said quietly, glancing toward the dressing room. "That you had some sort of shared history?"
I let out a slow breath. “Yes. And it's true,” I replied.
Her brows tightened. “Then why did she react like that?”
I paused.
That was the question, wasn’t it?
I looked past her toward the corridor Madison had disappeared into.
Five years.
I'd searched for her for five years. And she still had the nerve to treat me like I was a stranger. Like I hadn’t played a part in what transpired in that motel room.
“I don’t know,” I said finally, heaving a sigh.
Holly studied me carefully for a long while, before finally saying. “Remember. To these people, you’re here for the shoot,” she said, but it wasn’t just a reminder. It was a warning.
“My daughter.” I said, tightening my jaw slightly as I told her. “She is the reason I’m here.”
Nothing else mattered. Not Madison. Not whatever she had become. Not the past she was clearly trying to bury. "Only. my. Child."
Holly exhaled slowly. “In any case, you need to be careful,” she said. “If rumors start to spread around that the photographer and the super model have personal history, especially with your… level of influence, it won’t stay contained. It could damage the brand's campaign and your child’s privacy. I'm only doing this for Celeste, I don't want to be caught in the crossfire of all of this while I'm only trying to help.”
I didn’t respond immediately. Because I already knew that.
I had built an empire... I understood consequences. But I also had something else deeply unsettled inside me.
I had been robbed of five years. Five years that I could have had with my daughter. Five years I would never get back.
And Madison had been the one holding that away from me. I wanted to confront her, I wanted her to take responsibility for what she'd done. But Holly made me realize, I should wait till I had the chance. I shouldn't do so in front of everyone here
- Writer
