[11]
Giselle ate the soup, which contained mostly seafood, with a wary look. Although she admits, the choice of restaurant this time is quite private. No one bothered her with curious and adoring stares like when she ate in public. And because of that, Giselle chose a restaurant that has a rather private place. Not arrogant because her name is getting famous all over the country. oh… not at all.
Giselle has never thought of bragging about what she has now. She is still far from the pinnacle of a famous model’s career. She was just trying out a whole new world and coincidentally, Justin’s cold hands led her to success.
He just wanted that in the little time he had to enjoy his meal, no one would disturb him. Because after she eats, there is another schedule waiting. Sometimes it’s more common for Giselle to eat at the shoot location to save time. Or even, in the car while listening to Brina deliver the results of the briefing before the shoot takes place.
“You should try the grilled squid at this restaurant,” Andrew said with a meaningful smile.
“No need.” Giselle chose to put on her best smile instead. “I’ve been to-”
“I’m afraid I’ve already booked.” Andrew chuckled. “After all, a model’s job requires a lot of energy, right? Why do they have to eat less?”
Giselle’s hands were clenched tightly into fists. Her eyes were gazing intently at her interlocutor. Her last mouthful of the slightly red soup, with a slightly spicy and sour but addictive flavor, was the end of her lunch. She did not lie that her stomach was full. Ever since Brina had regulated her diet, somehow what Giselle ate gave her more energy. Maybe Brina had calculated everything so that no energy was wasted or became a pile of fat. I don’t know, Giselle just obeyed what Brina said. Because if not, the woman who has the tenderness and patience to deal with Giselle could turn into the scariest bear in her life.
No, she didn’t. Giselle didn’t want to take that risk.
“We’re not reducing portions, but counting calories.” Giselle spoke up at last, because the other person was supporting her face with his hands. Staring at her more intently than before. And Giselle felt uncomfortable.
“Besides the invitation to dine together, is there any other purpose, sir?” asked Giselle as she reached for her drinking glass. Although the urge to chug it down was there, but you know, the look in her eyes was used to make a judgment and raise awareness of Andrew.
“Nothing.” Andrew laughed. “You received my bouquet of flowers, right?”
“You’re like a stalker,” Giselle said openly.
This was met with a big laugh from Andrew. “You know the power of having influence? Knowing where you live is a piece of cake.”
“But I object to such a delivery, sir.” Giselle said while carving a smile as wide as possible. “You took so much trouble when I don’t like flowers. Especially roses.”
“Really?” Andrew was quite surprised by Giselle’s confession just now. The girl’s eyes were as dark as night. They were sharp and had a special magic that made him bewitched. Ever since they first met, it felt like Andrew couldn’t look anywhere else but at Giselle. Making sure he witnessed every performance with his own eyes.
Sometimes he wants Giselle to stay with him all night but unfortunately, aside from the life he can’t live freely, Giselle is also not easy to receive just any guest. There are some restrictions that prevent Andrew from acting out. Or his extended family would drag him home and make him live a life he didn’t like.
As the old saying goes, enjoying you from a distance is more than enough as long as you always smile happily.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Wow! Sounds romantic, right? But that’s how Andrew feels about Giselle.
So now, he was overjoyed to see the girl he adored to death again. She also felt that she wanted to make Giselle not stay away from her anymore, especially since the current situation made it possible for Andrew to do so. Jilly had a lot to say about Giselle just before leaving the club.
“I think a girl likes red roses.” Andrew straightened his seat. “I don’t know much about you, apparently. In that case,” he leaned slightly towards Giselle who looked calm. however, Giselle’s beady eyes seemed to bulge.
Meaning… what he did was quite a surprise for the model. Andrew couldn’t help but laugh but really, seeing Giselle’s face from this close was something he never thought was possible.
“If I know anything you like, don’t ever refuse it.” Andrew sat back and relaxed. Letting Giselle catch her breath which seemed to be roaring with annoyance. Even those dark eyes were also staring at him with a determined gaze. Ready for battle. Gosh, how adorable was Giselle like this in front of him.
Normally, as long as Andrew knew who Giselle was on stage, ah… not Giselle. It’s Nami. That’s right. The Nami he knew, her gaze was so seductive. It broke down the minds and faith of many men around her. Not to mention the way she twisted every limb. It really makes anyone who sees, burn with desire until they can’t control it anymore.
“What is your purpose exactly?” asked Giselle quietly. But you know, that voice disturbed the man.
They exchanged glances without wanting to outdo each other. The girl waits for an answer, while the man chooses what words are appropriate. If he said his deepest desire; to take Giselle to his private bed, it would be a massive rejection.
Giselle is not the Nami she once was. But still, Nami is Giselle. The past cannot be easily removed from the skin of the body owner. Strongly attached, sometimes it is an encouragement sometimes it is a poison that is ready to make the owner’s body severely damaged.
“From the beginning, I was your fan, Nami. Ah… no. Either Nami or Giselle, it’s all the same to me.” Andrew raised his glass. Shaking it lightly, he looked back at Giselle intently. “You’re my idol, Giselle Namiozuka. Is it wrong for me to have such feelings?”
***
Justin rubbed the tip of his chin. His eyes seemed to scan in detail every part of Giselle’s body who was now wearing a thigh-length black dress. Her hairdo was still being fixed by Brina according to Justin’s instructions.
“What’s missing?” she whispered questioningly.
“Come on, Justin,” Giselle whined, pursing her lips. She couldn’t stand pacing back and forth in front of her boss. I don’t know how many black dresses she’s worn but none of them have matched Justin’s vision.
“In a moment, Giselle. You look good in that dress but I feel like something is missing but what?”
Giselle chuckled. “I know what to do.” She hurried away from Justin and Brina who looked flabbergasted by her behavior. Giselle stayed in the room for a while. Fixing the makeup that she thought stood out but didn’t match the dress she was wearing.
If only to showcase her seductive side, Giselle is still capable of making it happen. The Giselle known to the general public is a gentle, loving Goddess of Beauty who has a smile that makes people around her happy. Not the sexy, seductive Giselle that she is now.
“Well, how about it?” she asked Giselle as she girded her loins. She had her mask on-reminding her of old memories but what could she say? She couldn’t refuse Justin’s request to accompany him. There was one client they wanted to meet. It was related to a new contract using Giselle as the main model.
Justin grinned slightly. “You’re the expert.” He extended his hand. Greeted with a faint smirk from the marron-red lips. Framing Giselle’s lips a little fuller than usual. Even the make-up on the model’s eyes was made stricter because it was only shown using a mask.
The hair that was styled earlier was only pinned in the center by Giselle. It was held in place with a black pearl-beaded circlet just like the dress she wore. A soft thin chiffon cardigan fell perfectly on Giselle’s shoulders, covering the exposed shoulders.
“Oh my!” Brina stared in awe at Giselle who was now with Justin. “You’re starting to learn the proper way to appear in public.”
Giselle just laughed at that remark. She left Brina back at her apartment. Walking side by side with Justin like star-crossed lovers. If that was the reality of Giselle’s life, she might have felt like the luckiest girl ever.
Justin is a good guy and knows how to treat a woman. What a lucky girl to win his heart. Or… was Giselle trying to get his attention from now on? After all, as long as she’s known Justin, no one has ever approached him personally, right?
“I heard you had company at the photo shoot?” asked Justin, frowning in surprise at Giselle’s behavior tonight. Instead of taking his hand – which Giselle was used to – she was now leaning comfortably on his arm.
What a lovely couple, right?
“Um, yes. Just accompanying him to lunch,” Giselle said, trying to remain calm. “I don’t know where Andrew’s knowledge comes from. He knows my exact unit and the time I break after the shoot.”
“Sounds terrible.” Justin could only surrender in the end. After all, he didn’t have any feelings for Giselle. The girl was under his protection. It was his duty to protect Giselle and make her comfortable. That was all.
There was nothing that made her feel like she had to have a special relationship like a couple between them.
“I don’t know what the purpose is. I’m trying to find out carefully. He knows me so well that he doesn’t even hesitate to make me uncomfortable around him.” Giselle closed her eyes for a moment, trying to normalize the turmoil in her heart.
“Never accept his presence again if you’re not comfortable, Giselle. We’ll never know what his desires are but if they intersect with your past, he’ll have to face me first.”
Giselle’s smile was very thin. This also made her more comfortable leaning against Justin. Even so, there was still anxiety in her heart. “What about you later?”
“Me?” asked Justin as he turned to the girl clinging to him. “What about me?”
“I mean, SEO,” Giselle corrected immediately.
“SEO won’t be affected. I can still bear it if Andrew does something silly. If he goes too far, I’ll meet him later.”
“Is he coming?” Giselle raised her face slightly. Making them stare at each other intently.
“I will. The main event of the party is the announcement of the Ambassador’s daughter’s wedding. That’s the kind of news Andrew and his team won’t miss.”
Giselle unconsciously bit her lower lip.
“If I’m being honest about your performance tonight, you really are a seductive Aphrodite.”
Giselle’s smile could not be covered at all. “Do you like it?”
“It depends on the perception of the question you’re asking, Giselle. As a normal man, I would say that I really liked your performance tonight. If need be, we don’t even have to attend the party. There are many reasons I can give the Ambassador.”
Giselle blushed, smiled embarrassedly, and looked down without realizing it.
“But as a big brother; this sister of hers really makes the heart work extra hard. It takes a bit more supervision to keep you safe in the midst of the males looking for the right queen to accompany them into the night.”
The smile just vanished.
“Come on, the car is ready. You’re okay with wearing a mask for a while, right?” asked Justin as he unhooked Giselle’s hand from his arm. “This time, let me talk to Andrew. Don’t let yourself get too far away from me there. Got it, Giselle?”