Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Nadia is on cloud nine since her birthday, she still has not gotten over the moment she shared with Drew. Her phone rings and it is Peter calling her to know her decision, she wants to try the world of modeling. She thinks modeling will give her exposure and independence aside from it being a means of livelihood. "Hello Peter, I have made my decision and it is yes" "Great, we have to start shooting on Wednesday" "It's ok, I hope I won t regret this." She answers the phone "I promise you won t." Nadia is working with Mrs. Darrel in her flower shop, pending when her advert shoot starts. "Was that the photographer guy on the phone?" Mrs. Darrel s ask Nadia "Yes, he said the shooting starts on Wednesday." She says taking a pot of flower into the flower court under the sun Wish you the best dear, but please be careful. The older woman advises following her niece to the courtyard "I will," She said loving her aunt even more. Peter is fun to work with, the shoot went well. Nadia was a natural. The camera just loves her, so much she didn t waste so much time shooting, giving her plenty of time to get to know more about her clients and business, It is a shipping company, that embarks on tour and voyage giving Nadia a privilege of a shoot on the ship anytime in the near future. ****** Nadia is anxious as to where both of them are going for dinner. A package came in for her earlier in the day, after she got home from the shoot. It was a red dress with a matching shoe and a note that reads "please wear this for our special dinner tonight" It is their official first date, and Drew wants to make it special. Nadia is done getting ready; she looks absolutely ravishing when Drew came in to pick her for dinner. "You look delicious "he confesses "And you look edible?" she flirts, igniting a fire in the depth of his blue eyes, "Don t chart a territory you are not ready for" Drew warns, looking passionately at her. A restaurant is a beautiful place one of the best in Manhattan, and he makes sure there is no single person except the waiters. "Why are there no other customers in this place?" Nadia asks, noticing their solitude. "Because I want to have you to myself" his eyes never leaving hers over the rim of the cup, as he lifts the cup of red wine to his lips. "Thank you for spoiling me, and for the birthday gift." Nadia shows her gratitude "How did you know that was me?" "Because I have no one in my circle, who can buy such an expensive gift" "You deserve the very best Nadia" "How will she not fall in love with him? when he says such things to her." She admits she is head over heels in love with him, even if she is not sure what he feels for her. Nadia feels like Cinderella scared that everything around her is a fiery tale that will vanish by midnight. Their dinner was quiet and magical. Drew sees the love in her eyes, even if Nadia did not tell her she loves him, he sensed it from the way she looks at him, the way she melt in his hands when he kissed her, the way her body jumps in response to his and the beating of their heart when close to each other. Drew drops Nadia at her house, but sealed their night with a kiss that turned Nadia s feet into jelly. The guy is really awakening some emotions in her she never thought she could feel, and some parts of her anatomy that has remained redundant till now are sending signals to her brain for needed activity. "Good night golden eye princess" he whispers to her ear when he finally musters enough will power to pull her from him Nadia only nods her own "Goodnight" walks to the house as Drew watches the door close behind her. *********** Drew s meeting with some of his business partners is scheduled for late in the evening on Thursday evening he has invited Tracy to be his date for the night, the reason being that she accused him of abandoning her at his celebration party, so he needs to compensate by taking her to the meeting for old time sake, also he is in need of a partner for the night and Tracy is good at handling such meetings, and Nadia will only be a distraction to him anyway if he took her instead. Drew steps on board with Tracy on his arms as his date. Tracy is beside herself with joy as she carries herself with elegance and sophistication; both of them look the perfect couple. But all Drew could think about is his golden eye princess. He is becoming so attached to Nadia that he almost can not go 24hrs straight without seeing or talking with her. Nadia s shooting was great, peter always brings out the best in her, and she enjoys working with him. ?Peter had called her earlier that the boat session was scheduled for the evening so as to get good scenery for the pictures. Her client, who is the owner, also invites her for the ship tour after her work, and she gladly obliged, since she has never entered, let alone go on a tour of one before. Morris Santangelo has taken a liking to Nadia, what s not to like about the girl. Nadia enjoys the tour and made no effort to hide the fact, Morris like her openness and genuine interest in the things she sees, she learns fast and asks smart questions too. Drew is on board chatting with some other stakeholders and Tracy is beside him smiling and radiating the grace of a perfect companion. Drew caught sight of Nadia as she walks towards him, her face towards the man beside her, Santangelo walks beside Nadia laughing and talking about what must be funny because she kept laughing about something the man is saying. But he finds whatever he is saying very silly at the moment. Drew s hands clench and unclench in a fist at his sides, the green-eyed monster s horn evident on Drew s face as he watches Nadia with Santangelo. Nadia, shift her face back ahead she stops in her tracks, Drew stands looking at her with a smirk on his face. "Are you alright? You look like you saw a ghost" Mr. Santangelo asks "I m fine," she says forcing a smile, her face deadly pale. "Oh, are you surprised at seeing the famous Andrew Sebastian physically and not on the news?" he asks misunderstanding her expression. "He is one of the investors and we have a meeting, come let me introduce you to him and his longtime girlfriend." He continues. Drew s expression becomes rigid and tensed as the duo walk towards him. Tracy seeing Nadia quickly wraps her arms around Drew to mark her territory. Nadia's expression metamorphosed from shock to hurt, then to indifference. "Here meet the most eligible bachelor in Manhattan." Santangelo relates to Nadia as a form of introduction. Nadia gives a forced smile, as she takes Drew s hand. "Good evening Mr.…." "Sebastian... Drew Sebastian" He introduces himself in a tight voice, sharp enough to break a block of ice. "And his companion is Tracy, the CEO of Destiny Events, a good match I must say." Santangelo puts in for measure. Tracy extends her hand, a satisfied expression on her face like that of a cat that s got the cream. "Hello" she snarled in a voice that drips animosity, a very cold expression on her face. The ladies shake hands as the guys look on in appreciation, except for a pair of eyes trying hard not devour Santangelo alive as he stares at the hand he casually drapes on Nadia s lower back. Nadia excused himself to go back to her work after the introductions, she walks away but all the male eyes follow her as she gracefully finds her way out of their company leaving Drew to gape after her in disbelief. "That is one remarkable lady," Morris Santangelo remarks…… "Yeah right "Tracy mutters under her breath in sarcasm. The meeting commences, but nothing was the same for Drew as he keeps looking for a way to corner Nadia alone. ******* Nadia walks very fast her vision blurry with tears as she walks into the lady's room, thinking how she could be so stupid as to think that Drew would like her enough to pursue a romantic interest. She always knew that she is out of his league, but he was so attentive and genuine that she was starting to believe in fairy tales. But she is not going to allow him to see how much she has affected her. She wiped her eyes and talks to her reflection - you can rise above this girl. She powdered her nose and breathes in and out before coming out of the ladies room, she bumps into a solid chest as strong arms hold her steady before she spiraled to the floor. "What do you think you are doing?" He asks with arrogance "How do you mean?" Nadia retorts with a question of her own, feigning innocence and indifference. "You really do not know what I m talking about?" Drew asks "I don t have a clue" she retorts stubbornly "Darn!" he exclaims angrily. Nadia, don t test my patience he snaps, a little short of shaking some sense into her. Drew is losing is cool and he does not like this one bit, he is wondering what exactly has gotten into him. ?But he cannot bear the thought of Nadia with another man. Has she been pretending to be innocent? He is acting out of character and he does not have the will power to stop himself. Do you want to start telling me what you are doing here and with that man or you want me to make you? Nadia is becoming scared of what he might do, but she is not showing it. "For the records, I got signed to an agency" Nadia throws at him. "And might I ask what you are doing here with Margret Thatcher?" Nadia asks curiously as to what Tracy is doing with him? Drew smiled despite himself, at her description of Tracy. "I have a business meeting"… but before he could complete his statement. Tracy walks in on them. "I was looking everywhere for you Drew," Tracy asks if looks could kill Nadia will be lying on the floor Dead. Nadia tries to leave the two but he pulls her back, draws her to him, and covered her mouth with his ?Tracy looking on in astonishment. Nadia melts into his arms but wonders what she was doing, she wanted to pull away but stays to enjoy a little more of his assault before she summons the willpower needed to pull away. She gives him a kick that lands on his sheen before walking away leaving Tracy and Drew gazing after her in bewilderment and of course for different reasons.