Chapter 13

Andre met Caiden who agreed to model for us. I was so happy he accepted the offer as I know it would be hard for me to scout people while I'm in this kind of situation. For a while, I left Caiden with my boss as I believe they will be discussing the agreements and all that has in them.

I walked out of the office and thought to check upon Fabio. I arrived at my office area and then I found him there sitting on my chair. Napataas ang kilay ko at napahulukipkip na lamang.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked.

"I just wanna see you work," tipid nitong sagot sa akin.

I walked towards him at inagaw ko sa kamay niya iyong folders na malaman ay kanina niya pa sinisipat.

"Don't you have work?" I questioned.

"I've got no work today," he said. "That is why it'll be a good thing for me to stay here with you and see how you are doing."

I grunted, rolling my eyes at him. "Kainis. I'm just pregnant, Fabio. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can," he said. "But, I know that I can also stay here as it's my business partner's office."

I sighed, shaking my head. Hindi na naman ako makikipagtalo sa lalaking 'to dahil kung ano man ang sabihin ko, he would say a word against it.

"Just move out of my seat, and do you whatever you want."

Mabilis naman siyang kausap. Tumayo agad siya sa kinauupuan niya at inalalayan niya pa akong makaupo. Kahit minsan—madalas akong banas sa lalaking 'to, he's still a good person and I know that just not because of what kind of treatment he was showing to me now. But I would let him be a part of my life, but if he's not interested anymore, maybe this time, without saying a word would be fine than hearing it all from him.

Fabio then sits on the desk, just leaning his hips on the edge of my table.

"What's happening with your model now?" he queried.

"He's good," tipid kong sagot. "They're talking in Andre's office now."

"I see," he said, nodding his head. "What would happen then?"

I shrugged off. "I don't know yet, but as far as I know, the photoshoot will also gonna happen today so that'll be happening all day."

"Why would you look for someone else to model Andre's brand when you can just me," he said.

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya na may kasabay na pagtaas ng kilay. "Excuse me?"

"You know, I can be the image of this company and I'll be happy to do that, but you just lost me so..."

I rolled my eyes. "Good thing, I don't need you. Caiden's a charmer and I know he'll be a good ambassador."

Napangisi na lang din naman ito. May binulong pa siya, pero hindi ko na naintindihan kasi nag-italyano na at halos bulong na lang din iyon.

"I was just wondering," he said.

"Hmm..." I muttered without even looking at his face.

"Why do you still want to work? At this stage of pregnancy, I believe you should be relaxing and staying at home. I bet that would be a good thing for you. You know what, I should go and talk to Andre about you working at home."

"No," matigas kong tugon sa kanya. Napakunot na lamang ito ng noo dahil sa tigas ng pagtutol ko sa kanya. "You don't have to decide what's good for me or not. I know that I can still do this. This is my body and it's not yours, so I can do whatever I want. And I'm working because I needed to earn money, I don't your money and for you to give me your money just because this is your child."

He took a deep breath, nodding his head. "Alright... be right back."

Fabio just walked out on me. Wala naman akong sinabing masama, but to give him enough reason that what I was doing isn't for him. Hindi ako bibigay sa mga kagustuhan niya.

I tried focusing on work, but what Fabio and I talked about kept running in my head.

After a moment, I was called by Andre back in his office through the intercom. I headed straight to his office where I met them as well with Fabio. Tiningnan pa niya ako, pero hindi ko siya binigyan ng pansin at nginitian ko lamang sina Andre at Caiden.

"So, how's everything?" I asked.

"Everything is good settled," Andre said. "Our photoshoot will happen later today. I believe our photographers will be here at noon so we all be prepared and after lunch, we'll start the shoot. And I'm happy Andre is a good choice for this project. Well done, Jacinta."

"Thanks, Andre. I appreciate that."

Fabio then cleared his throat as if he was trying to get some attention. Andre looked at him.

"Oh, yes! Fabrizio will be joining Caiden on the shoot. Both of them will be our models."

"I suggested myself," Fabio said. "And Andre was good with it." He smirked.

Hindi ako maka-react kaya ngumiti na lamang ako. "Oh... alright! That's good... then let's get it on."

As I excused myself to get out of his office, I know Fabio would follow and I wasn't wrong when I did.

"See? I'm a model material," he proudly said into my face.

I make faces at him. "Ano ngayon?"

He squinted his eyes. "There was a time you fall for my looks, Jacinta. Don't lie about it."

"Yes, was," I emphasized it. "You were the hottest person I dated back in the Philippines, but when I came here in Italy... there's more than what you can offer." Pang-aasar ko pa. "Well, are you saying something, Fabio?"

His jaw clenched and looked away.

"Cool," I muttered, tapping his shoulder. "See you in a moment, model."

I went back to my desk and luckily, he didn't follow me there. I'm not sure where he went, but now that I can work in peace and focus on what I have to finish today without any bothering me.

As I work, I could feel my stomach, and I was just trying to relieve the pain as I know it will pass by in a moment. Alam iyon ni Fabio at nakikita niya ako sa bahay kapag bigla-bigla akong aaray dahil sa biglaang paggalaw ni baby sa loob ng tiyan ko. And I know that's one of the reasons he was trying to pull me out of this job. But I just couldn't... not right now.

By noon, the production team arrived and I helped them set up the room where the photo shoot will happen. I was busy helping them, telling me not to do any heavy stuff since they've noticed I was pregnant so they just put me on the side and I was there when they asked for something else. Ang hindi ko lang din napansin ay nasa bandang pintuan pala si Fabio at pinapanood ko.

Hindi niya ako sinita. Hindi niya ako pinigilan. And I think our conversation earlier did something to him. Nang nilingon ko naman siya ay iniwas niya ang tingin niya sa akin at saka ito umalis.

"Miss Versoza, can I ask you for something else again? I'm sorry."

I smiled, shaking my head. "No, that's fine. Whatever you need."

I continued helping them to finish the set-up so we would be able to start as soonest. It took us a little while when everything has been finally be put right in place. I called the models, but I wasn't able to get Fabio. Lumabas lang daw saglit, pero babalik naman daw agad. Si Caiden naman ang dinala ko upang maipakilala naman sa production team.

Caiden's giving it all wearing a black tuxedo. He looked so elegant, so when he started posing with the bottle of alcohol in his hands, I tried sneaking photos of him and just putting them on my social media and leaving them there. I know at this point, I am loving the kind of work I have.

When the photographer asked for the second model, I panicked. Napatayo agada ko sa kinauupuan ko dahil pagod na pagod na ang legs ko. I was about to leave the room and find Fabio out there, pero ikinagulat ko naman nang makasalubong ko siya. Napatingala ako sa kanya at napatitig sa kanyang mata.

I know I shouldn't be devoured by those stares, so I snapped myself out of it.

"I was about to look for you. Where have you been?" I asked him. Nagsalubong pa ang kilay ko para makita niyang galit ako.

But then he showed the paper bag he had in his hand. "You've been busy and it's passed lunch already, I bought this for you. Eat it and take a rest in the meantime, alright?"

"Alright..." na lamang ang nasagot ko.

He handed the paper bag over to me and walked with me back to the photographer. As he was being instructed on what to do, I sat on the corner and have a look at what he bought for me. It was just a piece of chicken with rice, salad as a side dish, and sliced pineapples for my dessert. I don't know why, but it kind of brought a smile to my face.

I started eating when I couldn't handle the grumbling sound of my stomach. While eating, Fabio started his shoot. Just like Caiden, he looked so elegant on his tuxedo. I don't know why I dated this man, siguro kasi nagpadala na lang ako sa mga sinasabi ng mga kaibigan ko no'n na jumowa ng afam dahil tiyak gaganda ang buhay.

With Fabio, it was really just for fun... I never thought we'll take it seriously—not even sure if he took me seriously, but seeing him now, makes me wonder what's going on in his head right now.

He's the man that every woman would ask for. Mayaman at gwapo. And many would say that pushing him away was a wrong decision for me, that's why I decided to give him a chance and make things right.

If what he was showing to me now is something that wouldn't change, maybe that is something I should hold onto, but it's too early to tell it now. We just got back together... I still don't know a lot of things about him.

"Hey." Napatingala naman ako sa tumawag ng pansin ko.

"Hey, Caiden," aniko saka nagpunas ng bibig.

He chuckled. "I really don't wanna bother you as I saw you were eating, but I believe this is a great opportunity for me to say thank you for choosing me to be part of this project. I believe when my friend saw that photo of mine, surely he'll try to be a partner with Andre."

"No worries. I'm happy you also accepted our offer," I said. "And who was your friend? I think that would be amazing."

"I'm not sure if you know him, but he's an American name, Devin Carrington."

My face lit up when he mentioned that. "Oh! I feel like I've read and saw him somewhere else sa social media before."

"Yeah, could be," he said.

Saglit lang din naman ay muling tinawag si Caiden to do the second part of the shoot. He immediately excused himself and changes his outfit. Hindi na rin naman siya pumunta ng dressing room. Caiden was just assisted on the corner removing all of his clothes leaving only an underwear. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko at natigil sa pagkain dahil hindi ko inaasahan na ito pala ang magiging second part ng shoot.

They put oil all over Caiden's body to tone his muscle and his feature. I couldn't hide my smile when I'm only seeing him in his underwear and then I noticed Fabio who just finished the first part of his shoot. He was looking at me and glancing at Caiden then back at me, shaking his head.

When they put Caiden back on the roll, Fabio remove his clothes leaving only on his underwear. Nakatingin din naman ako sa kanya at pinapanood ko silang lagyan ng oil ang katawan nito. Pinasadahan sa braso papunta sa dibdib hanggang sa dibdib at pababa sa legs nito. He was smirking and glancing at me when they were doing that.

Fabio's body is very toned and I don't see him go to the gym frequently, but he was still able to have a perfect physique. Saka hindi na naman niya need pumunta sa gym, if he had all the equipment needed inside his home.

When it was his turned, para bang nag-init ang buong paligid. He was looking at the camera and then give me a quick glance. Masisita pa sana siya ng photographer, but he was able to take it away.

And for the last part of the shoot, both of them are on the spot each holding a bottle of wine and they were just in their underwear. Pansin ko naman na iyong iba naming kasamahan sa loob ng kwarto ay parang normal lang sa kanila 'to... or maybe they've seen much explicit than these, but this made me stop eating at all and just watched them pose for the camera.

As soon as they finished, I stayed in my seat and was somehow able to continue eating. They put robes on themselves and check the shots they did. Andre called me to look at the shots they did at natapat pang pinakita sa akin ay si Fabio at lahat sila ay nakatingin at nag-aabang ng komento ko.

"It's so good... that was so hot..." I flushed when I muttered that and they just laughed at what I said. "My bad, I apologize."

"No, no, it's okay," Andre said. "That's what we needed... you know, it would be also good if we have a female model."

"She can do that," Fabio said, pointing at me.

Agad naman akong umiling. "No, no. Look at my belly. It's so big and it wouldn't be a good thing to be advertised."

"Why not?" Fabio questioned. "It doesn't matter."

"Yeah," Andre agreed, nodding his head. "You should do it, Jacinta," he said and I don't know what to say. He looked at the photographer. "Can we work on that?"

"Absolutely," the photographer responded. "Show us what you got, Miss Verzosa."

And I looked at Fabio and he was grinning. I don't know if I should be annoyed with it or not, but I guess I just really have to do it.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter13 #WTS9