My Time

Chapter8

"Miss, what can you say about being the side chick between Ms. Lopez and Mr. Xu?"

"You barely even look legal. Didn't your parents teach you not to meddle in other people's relationships?"

"Are you already under Mr. Xu's protection?"

The questions came on after another without giving me time to breathe. Cameras were pointed directly at my face while microphones nearly hit my chin every time someone pushed closer.

I instinctively stepped backward, but more people surrounded me from behind. The hallway outside the meeting room suddenly became crowded, noisy, and unbearably stuffy.

My chest tightened as voices overlapped each other. Everyone kept talking at once, and it felt like the walls were slowly closing in on me.

I hate this.

I'm starting to panic. I could barely breathe properly because of how close everyone was standing. The cameras flashing nonstop only made things worse. My head was beginning to hurt when suddenly, someone pushed through the crowd.

"Move!"

Jamie.

"Where did those reporters even come from?" She snapped angrily while trying to make space around me. "Back off! All of you!"

I immediately moved closer to her like she was my lifeline. Honestly, if she hadn't appeared right then, I might've actually fainted from stress.

Before I could even calm down, a loud female voice suddenly spoke.

"Afraid to be talked about after what you did?"

The crowd instantly parted slightly as a woman wearing an elegant white dress walked toward me confidently.

Her heels clicked against the floor while her sunglasses rested perfectly on her face like she was filming some drama scene.

When she removed the sunglasses, a glow suddenly appeared beside her.

Nova's hologram.

Ah... so this is Ava. The female lead.

I stared at her quietly for a few seconds, then blinked and then blinked again.

This is the female lead?

Honestly, was the author half asleep while creating this character? Because from what I'm seeing right now...

She's an undeveloped, brain-dead fool.

"Are you saying..." I started slowly while trying very hard not to laugh, "...that I'm Thiago's lover?" I pointed at myself in disbelief.

Ava crossed her arms arrogantly. "Don't play dumb. I know you understand exactly what we're talking about."

I scoffed. Actually scoffed. Like physically.

"Leave Thiago immediately," she continued coldly, "or don't blame me if something bad happens to you."

"Huh..."

I slowly started walking toward her with my hands behind my back. The closer I got, the more I realized that she's smaller than I am. I leaned down slightly so our faces were level.

"So," I said calmly, "How exactly are you planning to do something 'bad' to me?"

Her expression stiffened slightly. "There are reporters everywhere," she said. "You don't want your disgusting actions exposed, right? Once everyone finds out what kind of woman you are, you won't even be able to stay in this city anymore."

I stared at her for a moment. Then suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

"Jamiieee...." I immediately grabbed Jamie's arm dramatically. "She's threatening me," I said, pretending to look scared. "I'm so scared."

Jamie looked at me for a second, then almost laughed.

"You—!"

Ava's face instantly twisted in anger, but before she could continue, the girl beside her stepped forward.

"You snake!" The shouted while glaring at me. "Ava is right in front of you, and you still dare act arrogantly?"

"That's right," another person added quickly. "Everyone in Manila knows Mr. Xu is in love with Ms. Lopez. If he finds out about this, you're seriously finished."

"How dare you say that?" Jamie snapped angrily. "Do you people even know who Aiza is?"

"She's just a mistress," Ava replied dismissively. "Why are you defending her so much?" Then she smiled arrogantly before crossing her arms.

"Thiago already said he'll share the company with me eventually," she added proudly. "I'll be the future Mrs. CEO here. When that happens, I'm firing you." She said, pointing at Jamie.

Silence... then I slowly pointed at her.

"You?"

Ava frowned. "What about me?"

"You're not even qualified." I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing. "The minimum height requirements should at least be five feet," I continued seriously. "And you're barely four feet eight."

Jamie immediately covered her mouth. The reporters looked stunned. Ava's face turned red instantly.

"There's no such requirement!" She snapped furiously. "The point is," she continued angrily, "you should be more worried about surviving after you're exposed."

"Miss Ava," I said calmly while crossing my arms, "I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"Oh, really?"

"I'm not Thiago's mistress," I said sweetly before putting on a finger against my cheek dramatically. "I'm his older sister."

Silence.

Then Ava laughed.

"Older sister? Who are you trying to fool?" She scoffed arrogantly. "You barely even look like twenty."

"Exactly!" The girl beside her quickly agreed. "Everyone knows Mr. Xu's sister died eleven years ago."

"Film her face properly," a reporter whispered excitedly. "This is definitely going viral."

"All of you are going to regret this," Jamie warned coldly, but nobody listened.

I sighed internally.

People really do love drama more than facts.

I slowly walked toward Ava until we were standing close enough to see each other clearly. "I'm curious about something," I said softly.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Don't you like Liam?"

The moment I said his name, her expression changed.

"D-Don't talk nonsense!" She shouted immediately. "Mind your own business!"

Interesting.

"So defensive," I muttered.

"Just stay away from Thiago and keep your mouth shut," she hissed quietly.

"If I were you," one reporter interrupted smugly, "I'd apologize to Ms. Lopez right now."

"Well, I'm not you," I replied immediately. "And thankfully, you're not me either."

"If Mr. Xu arrives right now," the reporter continued angrily, "he'll definitely choose Ms. Lopez's side!"

I rolled my eyes. "I genuinely don't care."

Ava's expression darkened. "Since you refuse to kneel on your own," she muttered coldly, "then I'll help you."

Suddenly, she grabbed my shoulder and tried forcing me downward.

The crowd gasped.

Before she could push harder, Jamie immediately stepped between us and harshly removed Ava's hand from me.

"You're a celebrity," Jamie said coldly. "How can you still act like this?"

Ava's face twisted in fury.

Then.

SLAP!

The sound echoed loudly across the hallway. Everyone froze.

Jamie's head turned slightly from the impact.

My eyes widened. "Jamie?" Looking at her with full concern.

The reporters looked completely shocked, but Ava only crossed her arms arrogantly.

"So what if I hit her?" She said confidently. "None of these reporters are filming me anyway."

The moment those words left her mouth. Something inside me snapped.

Before I could even think.

SLAP!

I slapped her. Harder. Much harder than what she did.

The entire hallway went silent.

Ava stared at me in disbelief while holding her cheek. "How dare you!"

"So what?" I replied coldly. "Do I need permission before slapping someone like you?"

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

Ah. Actress mode activated.

"I'll message Thiago right now!" She cried dramatically. "You're so dead!"

"Go ahead," I replied lazily. "As if I care."

Still crying, Ava quickly grabbed her phone. But before she could send anything, the crowd parted again.

Thiago appeared.

The moment Ava saw him, she instantly ran toward him and threw herself against his chest dramatically.

"This woman hit me!" She cried while pointing at me. "Get her out of here! I never want to see her again!"

I looked at Thiago. "I heard," I started slowly, "You're planning to kick me out of the city?"

The moment our eyes met, Thiago froze, then looked away.

Silence filled the hallway. The reporters held their breath while cameras focused entirely on us. Even Jamie looked tense.

Honestly, the atmosphere was suffocating, but not emotionally. Physically.

There were too many people breathing around me. Disgusting. Kidding... mostly.

Slowly, Thiago looked back at me again and stared.

The silence stretched longer and longer until suddenly. To everyone's shock, Thiago moved.

He kneeled.

Right in front of me.

The crowd gasped loudly. Cameras flashed nonstop. Even Ava looked horrified.

Thiago lowered his head slightly.

"I couldn't possibly dare to do that to you, Sis."