Chapter 8

8: Paparazzi << Sophia >> “Wear something hot! We have to Sophie… We HAVE to sign this guy!” “Don’t worry, his jaw will drop!” I promise, picking a dress worthy enough. This is my life now. Meet singers, make music, and change their lives... and our lives for good. It’s been two years since I left my old life. I quit it, cold turkey, like a bad habit one night. That was a time when I was so ashamed I didn’t want to show my face to anyone. Not even my father. At first, I thought I should tell him about What Nikki had done to me. But I was afraid that just like Caleb, he would choose beautiful Nikki too. He always favored her anyway. The thought enraged me, and I gave my body hell. Everyone says, be confident in your body and shit. But trample your heart if you are not beautiful enough. People behave rudely. Fiancés cheat. and fathers forget you. I thought my father cared for me a little. But if he did, he would have looked for me. Turns out he eventually favored Nikkie, anyway… and Caleb. I sigh heavily. He was a golden goose for the Brown family. A God sent. Its obvious Dad didn’t want to lose him. Probably that’s why he didn’t even look for me. Yes, I changed cities, but it isn’t hard to find someone who is as rich as my father. It’s been two fucking years, but still, sometimes the memories sting me. I have left behind my old fat body. I wonder how long it will take to leave behind the painful memories. Yeah, I did not belong to some poor family either. But we were not as rich as M though.. I think dryly to myself. Who hands out 42 million a month to a girl he barely knows. Over time, I have figured, M indeed has a sense of humor. Once in a while, he pulls off some strange stunts just to throw me out of the loop. Usually I get furious and annoyed, but I have to admit he is funny at times. Just like Lena had predicted two years ago. Still, I don’t dare to meet him. I am afraid, his good personality and everything I feel about him is an illusion and I don’t want to break it. …. As we pull over in front of Eleven Madison Square My eyes widen. “We better get him signed. There is no way we can afford this place!” I hiss at Lena. In my defense, we strictly follow a monthly budget. Lena makes fun of me about it, but that’s alright. She won’t make fun of me once she figures out what I eventually plan to do with the money. She smirks. “I believe in you, Sophie… Just watch, he won’t be able to resist you…“ “Thanks!“ I say, thinking she is admiring my skills to close the deal, but then she clarifies, “He is gonna drool all over you.” She glances at my dress. My cheeks burn. Is this dress too revealing? I don’t think so. It’s just a deep V neck I love. It’s not my fault I have generous boobs. “For a change, appreciate my business skills instead of my looks, Lena.” I roll my eyes at her and she chuckles. …. We sit in the beautiful ambiance waiting for the rockstar. As he enters the restaurant, his presence catches everyone’s attention. People around us are dressed in suits and gorgeous dresses, but he walks in casually in Jeans and a T-shirt, yet he looks… effortlessly handsome. I don’t have words. He can put prim and proper people around us to shame. Sigh! Pics and videos do not do justice to him. I get it now... why are people going mad over catching a glimpse and girls lust over him? We get up to receive him. We shake hands and exchange pleasantries. As Lena is explaining to him our terms and how we benefited our already signed singers, my cheeks burn to realize his eyes are fixed on me. “You are beautiful… You know that?” He says out of the blue. Lena smirks. But I turn red and uncomfortable. After so much hard work on my looks and my body, I should be able to receive compliments easily. But for some reason, when someone passes me a compliment, I feel like they are shaming my old body. It’s stupid, I know. But I cannot help but feel this way. “Thank you,” I mumble. We talk about our action plan for him and how he could be benefitted. Also, how he could focus on his work-life balance instead of burning his energy on both ends. I can not help but grin when he says, “I am in.” “Thanks! You won’t regret it.” “Honestly, so many people recommended you. I couldn’t help but get curious. I hope we will do good business,” He forwards his hand. “We sure will!” I give him a smile and shake his hand. He chuckles and wears his glasses as we walk out together. Multiple cameras flash in our face and some reporters swarm asking questions to Noah. God Damn Paparazzi and their flashlights! I and Lena walk to our car after saying goodbye to him. We are on the ninth cloud after closing our deal with him. “I will prepare paperwork today,” I tell Lena, grinning. I feel happy and content with our success today. “It calls for a party tonight! I will tell Jake..” She takes out her phone with a wide smile on her face. We party that night and we party hard! ….. The next morning, I woke up. Scratch that. I woke up at noon, to be exact. Cursing Lena and Jake for ordering and forcing me to take shots again and again. “You don’t loosen up… Celebrate!” Jake had told me last night. After an eternity, I gain the strength to open my eyes and finally take a shower to get ready. I check calendar and plan rest of my day while walking around my apartment. Suddenly a discreet van, parked outside my apartment, catches my eye. I lean in to figure out who this van belongs to. A person rolls down the window and clicks a picture of me. What the actual Fuck! Why are paparazzi following me? “What’s a paparazzi van doing outside my apartment?” I call Lena and ask her. “WHAT? I don’t see any van in front of my house. Don’t they think I am hot enough to be followed around with a camera?” I scoff at the idea. She is freaking perfect and my life support. “It’s not funny!” “Oh, that I agree… I don’t know how celebrities manage this shit…” “But why are they here?” I ask again. “They probably think you are dating Noah or something.” I roll my eyes. “You were with me yesterday. How could that be a date?” She hums, then says, “Well, I guess we need to wait a few hours soon. Whatever hot news they are cooking will be out!” Turns out Lena was right. The news does come out, and it isn’t good. It’s about my fucking past finally getting back to me. ….. As I walk out of my apartment, a reporter tags along with me asking questions, ”Miss Sophia… Would you like to make a comment on your ex-fiance Caleb & Your half-sister Nikkie’s marriage announcement?” I knew they got engaged a few months ago. It was all over the news at that time. Caleb has done well for his business. With the help of my dad, I am sure. He was in the top ten list of most eligible bachelors in USA this year. “No comments,” I say. “Is it true that you cheated on Mr. Caleb and left him heartbroken?” I stop in my tracks. “No!” “But you vanished! Why would you hide if you had nothing to be ashamed of?” My cheeks burn in embarrassment. I know this reporter is throwing bait. I know I shouldn’t answer him. But I am fucking furious. “He cheated on me with Nikkie!! I AM SORRY! but I didn’t want to get between two love birds. I was supposed to marry him in a few months… But he was busy fucking my sister!” I snarl at him and walk away.