Chapter 24

I was torn about what to wear. One that I bought yesterday or the one that Konstantin gave to me. I liked what I prepared for myself, but I think what he left for me was perfect for the event. I guess it would please the man who brought me to this country. I would do it for once, but he doesn't know I've got other plans, and I won't tell him a thing about it.

After I picked my outfit, I went on with my makeup and hair. I thought I shouldn't overdo it. I only put light makeup on and straighten my hair. I found a bottle of glitter spray in the drawer so I tried spraying it in the air and created a mist of little shimmers in the air. I only pumped a few sprays on me before I grabbed the black strap silk dress.

I took a deep breath and placed it over me while I looked at myself in the mirror. It doesn't look bad on me. Actually, I looked good in it. If this would make Konstantin satisfied then I guess I was doing something right. I don't want to please him. I don't want to make him feel superior just because he can. I won't give him that kind of feeling. I don't even need someone like him in my life.

The big mistake I made was to look for him after we had sex. I thought we had something going on, but here I am, and he doesn't care a thing about it.

It was easy to put on the dress on me. It glided smoothly on my skin. I didn't fix much so when I looked in the mirror once again to see how I did, I couldn't stop smiling as I thought I was seeing a goddess—I lived in Greece—common sense. But I could really be a goddess?

When I remembered the scarf, I tried putting it over my shoulder, but I didn't like it. But could help me when the venue has gone too cold. 

I sat on the chair and put my heels on. I brought this one with me. It was hard to find a perfect size for me that I liked. Sometimes, it was too fit or loose on my foot. I guess, that's why Konstantin only gave me a dress.

Later on, I heard him knocking on the door telling me if I was ready, I'd be meeting them downstairs. I told him I'd be there in a second. I'd done a few retouches and once I felt pretty, I stepped out of the room and headed downstairs. I am holding onto the stairs handrails as I don't want to fall and roll down, with six-inch heels on, it wasn't my ankle would only be broken. I was so sure of it. It happened to Gaia once when she was flirting with a guy who didn't catch her when she tripped. Her ass landed on the floor so badly. I tried not to laugh at that moment but also worried about her.

"Hello, guys," I greeted them on my way and when I met their eyes, they looked at me like I was a ghost, but I noticed how Konstantin looked at me from head to toe. He only snapped out of it when his sister started squeaking complimenting me.

Gaia hugged me as I got closer to her. "You are so beautiful, Atissa. Wow. . . I'm out of words. Right, little bro?"

Konstantin swallowed as he put his eyes on his sister and back to me. "Ah, yes, yes. . . You looked wonderful. I'm glad you wear the dress I got for you. . ."

"Oooh," Gaia swooned. "You got this for her?" She squinted her eyes as if she were questioning him.

"Yes, I did, Gaia. . . Now, shall we go?"

"Are you ready, Atissa?" Both of them looked at me as Gaia asked me. I nodded and followed them to the front door where a car was waiting for us.

A chauffeur opened the door for us. I went in first and Gaia followed behind. Konstantin sat next to the driver and then we were all settled, it drove away. I was quiet during the ride while Gaia was the one who had a lot of things to say, especially about what the event was all about. She kept saying that our parents didn't even need to attend this business conference. They just sent their son away so they could take him away from doing stupid things. Remembering what they were trying to say to me before, it would make sense to me.

It didn't take us long when we reached the venue in Pasay. As soon as the car dropped us off at the entrance, the staff opened the door for us. Gaia went out first and as I was about to, I saw a hand in front of my face and when I looked up to see who it was, it was just Konstantin.

As I didn't want to embarrass him, I took his hand and he helped me get out of the car.

"You really look wonderful," he said as I found my balance standing next to him. My forehead creased as I tried to comprehend if it was genuine or if he was making it up to make me feel good. 

"Thanks. . . You looked dashing in that suit." I smirked.

He grinned. "Thanks. . . Do you want to put your arms on me?" 

I looked into his eyes, I was not sure what would he do if I rejected it, but I also didn't want to ruin this day for the siblings. I knew their father asked them to be here. It was a big deal even though they said it wasn't that kind of important. But I know for Konstantin, it was.

My hands snaked around his arm while Gaia watched at us. When we were told we could go inside the venue hall, we walked down the carpet and were greeted by a few people. There were a few people who stopped us for a picture, obviously, they only intended to take a photo of the Galluccios. I even had to move a few feet away from them as requested by the photographers and no one took a picture of me. Right, I was just an accessory and there was nothing to make a big deal out of it. Once this is over, I would be twenty-thousand richer in Mykonos.

We bumped into a few guests who happened to know the siblings. I put on a smile on my face even though some of them didn't care about me—most of them, sadly.

"Did you find the white scarf on the box?" Konstantin asked when we moved on from the people who talked to them.

"The white scarf? Yes. . . I've got them folded here. . ." I showed him my hand there he saw it.

"I think you should put them on," he suggested. I didn't make a response to it. "Do you want me to do it for you? It gets cold in here. . . Come on, let me put it on you. . ."

I handed over the scarf and he loosened it to wrap it around my shoulder. A lot of them saw his gesture and I heard a few clicks from the photographers. I didn't pay any attention to them when I couldn't take my eyes away from Konstantin. I felt like something had changed. I don't know what it is, but there was something in him that I couldn't read anymore.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm okay. . ." I said simply. "Thanks. . . I appreciate it."

"No problem. Let's go?"

I put my hand on his arm again and there we noticed we just lost Gaia. Sooner we found her talking to a female guest. I've noticed something about her, but I wasn't sure. I might be making it up just because I knew how my female friends act around with their girlfriends. I didn't bother asking Konstantin about it. We just joined her in their conversation and she introduced us to the guest.

As soon as the event started, I knew it was my cue to leave the venue. Just before we settled in on our seats, I excused myself that I would be going to the restroom. Gaia asked if I knew where it was so she could come with me to show me where it was. I told them, I would be fine and I could ask some people around. Konstantin didn't mind, and so I left the table and found my way to the exit.

I called the chauffeur to pick me up at the entrance. I just had to make up some lies so he would pick me up. It took him about ten minutes before I got on the ride and told the driver the location of the studio somewhere in BGC. I turned my phone off because I knew Konstantin would call me if I didn't come back, but I've got plans, I had to do this for myself, or else, I would lose the chance to have a better life. Just like I said, I don't need a Galluccio in my life.

It wasn't a rough ride. We arrived in the building just around twenty minutes from where we've come from. I told the chauffeur to wait for me as I would be quick. I entered the building and went straight to the front desk where I asked them the studio for Harold, the Talent Manager.

They gave me an access badge to the sixteenth floor. I went to the elevator and pushed the button to my destination. I don't know what I was feeling, but as soon as the elevator landed on the sixteenth, I stepped into the hallway, finding myself around. When I found the front desk and told them that I was here for Mister Harold, she asked me if I had an appointment, but I just told her that her boss was expecting me.

As soon as she delivered the news, she assisted me to the studio where I met Harold. He opened his arms widely to welcome me, even kissing me on both cheeks. He was complimenting me because I came prepared, I wasn't able to explain that I'd come from an event and just went here to see if his offer was right.

"Where are the clothes? Did you like them?"

I smiled, nodding my head. "Yes, I like them a lot. . . Thank you so much!"

"Where is it? Did you bring them with you?"

"Uh. . . No. . ." I shook my head. "I left them all in the house. . . But here I am, I'm wearing this silky strap dress for you. Was it enough for you? Will you offer me a modeling job?"

He walked around me, criticizing me. I was nervous because this would be the first time it happened to me so I hoped I would get it.

"No."

"What, sir? What do you mean?"

"I won't give you an offer," he said. "You didn't even bring the clothes I bought. Those aren't yours. I bought them so you could try them on when you visit me. I paid them with my money and they aren't yours. Give me back my clothes or I will call the police on you."

"Wait? What? I don't understand."

"If you don't give me the clothes now, you can pay me double—no, triple the price of it! I paid fifteen thousand pesos for it. Pay me forty-five thousand and I will let you go. If not, I call the police on you and let them arrest you for theft."

"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't steal anything."

"Yes, you did! You stole my clothes. I paid for them!"

When the moment he grabbed me on my arm, I started shaking as I couldn't shove his hand off of me. "Let go of me! You're harassing me!"

"You came into my place! That's not harassment. . . Pay me or I will call the police on you."

"I don't have any money!" I shouted.

"Then call someone who has money and pay me forty-five thousand or you'll sleep in the jail tonight."

"No, I don't want to do that."

"Then so be it. . . Until I haven't got my money yet, you'll be staying here!" He let go of my hand, but what he did next shocked me. He locked me inside the studio and I tried opening the door, but it won't open. I kept shouting and screaming, but Harold wasn't paying any attention to me until he turned the lights off inside the studio and I couldn't see a thing.

The emotion I had inside started making me panicked, I didn't know what to do. When I thought I could use my phone. I turned it on and used the phone's flashlight, but then a few seconds, messages and missed calls were coming through and it was all from Konstantin. By the time my phone rang once again and his name was on the screen, I cried because I knew I made a huge mistake, and I didn't want to answer his call because he would be mad at me.

But I've got no choice. . . I answered his call.

"Thank God, Miss Aramouni! Where—" he heard me sobbing from the other line. "Why. . . What's happening?"

"I—I need your help," and my voice cracked. "Please. . . Come here. I don't want to be alone. . . Your chauffeur drove me here. . ."

"I'll be there, Atissa. Wait for me. . . Don't hang up, alright?"

I let my phone on and on the other line, I knew he was panicking, but my phone didn't last long and it died before he could reach me. Oh god. . . Am I gonna die in here?

***