Cyrus keeps on stealing glances at me while joining me in a conference room. He’s getting too comfortable inside the conference with his feet in the table and I glare at him for doing it. He puts his feet down and signals that the representative of ‘Tears’ is still here.

The representative clears his throat and smiles at us. I look at him and dare him to say something. I don’t want to be mean but it’s been half an hour but we are still exchanging gazes. I tap the table and wait for him to speak up.

He clears his throat again and adjusted his tie. “M-Miss Rin, here are the documents you might need and I write the notes there for you to be able to scan through it. Also, I will send the remaining copies to your secretary, if that’s okay for you.”

I nod, propping my elbows in the table and lean forward as I do so. “It’s okay. Nothing to worry about. So, do enlighten me about this company I haven’t heard of,” I say and focus my attention on him. Only.

He looks both ways and sweats forming in his forehead. He looks at Cyrus’s direction and I smirk as he shifts uncomfortably in his chair. I focus my attention on him even if I want to know what makes him nervous as he looks at Cyrus.

“It was e-established last two years and the company owner bought a company that is soon to bankrupt and that is why ‘Tears’ is established. Its main priorities are for the m-models and promoters of their products. Last year, due to an f-financial crisis, the company is forced to temporarily shut down.” He stammers as he speaks, he’s being too transparent.

“You mean, the company is heading to bankruptcy?” I ask while reading his moves. I see uneasiness and discomfort being in a confined place with only three people inside.

He meets my eyes and I can see the emptiness in his eyes. “Yes and no. The company is still standing high and tall…”

“But lacks financial inside? That is what you mean to say to me?” I ask and he did not nod nor shake his head. “I’ll reconsider your offer.”

He sorts his papers and makes his way towards the door. “It’s nice talking business with you, Miss Rin.”

“Likewise.” He nods and goes outside the conference room on his own. He closes the door and walks confidently away from this room but I can still see him. This room is a one-way mirror and people inside can see the outside but the people outside can’t see what’s inside.

Cyrus looks at me with amusement dancing in his eyes and I laugh as he snickers.

“What?” He asks and mimics how the poor man sorts his things.

“Stop doing that. You nearly give that man a heart attack, you know that.” I scold him and he just laughs. I remember what he asks yesterday and I become anxious all of a sudden.

“Not my bad.” He shrugs and stands beside the doorway. He opens it, peeking at the elevator, and closes the door again without locking it.

“You are my bodyguard. You are supposed to be outside, guarding me against intruders,” I say and tap my heels on the floor. What would my colleagues think when they would see me with Cyrus in the office alone? I don’t want to be the center of the topic tomorrow and I don’t want to be near him. The throbbing of my heart won’t stop.

“My mission is to protect you also, so, you can’t kick me out of here.”

I raise my phone, ready to call Yasmin to drag him away. “I can.”

“You can’t do that.” He shakes his head and gets my phone from my hand. I stand to reach for my phone and my toes are the only thing that’s touching on the floor. As I almost get it from him, I trip myself on his feet and fall in his hard body. He lost his balance also and we land on the floor.

The door of the conference room opens and the eyes of my colleagues display horror and amusement.

“Did we miss something?” Vladimir asks and the smirks at us. I hate him.

I got up from Cyrus’s body and keep some dirt and dust away from my skirt. “N-no. This is nothing.”

Vladimir gives me one of his lopsided grins. “If you say so but I can see the action there. You should learn the art of pretending, Ash.”

Cyrus laughs at what Vladimir told me and I sent him a death glare. I put a hand on my hips and give them my most menacing smile. “So, why are you here? What do these bunch of people doing here?”

“I believe you still have your ongoing photo shoot and I want to talk business to you about being the representative in States,” Vladimir speaks with seriousness. His playful side awhile ago is now replaced.

I nod. “I get it. Now, give me a second guys and I will talk to all of you later. You, too, Cyrus, you can wait for me outside.”

Cyrus nods and leads the rest of my production team.

“Now, tell me the truth. Is there something between you and Cyrus?” Vlad looks at me with a grin on his face. Now I know, that seriousness is only a façade.

“And here I thought we will be talking business,” I paused and went back to my chair again. I look at him while waiting for him to say something.

“Yes, about the ‘States’ thing,” he quoted with his fingers the word ‘States’ and look at me with seriousness. Now, he’s back with being serious. Really, what’s with him today?

“What is it about?” I get the papers and sort it out just to avoid answering Vladimir’s question.

“I have a proposition for you.” He walks to the other side of the long table and sits like a boss. We are facing each other now with a distance of more than 5 meters.

“And what is it? Could you just go straight to the point? You are making me anxious,” I say and begin to tap the table with my fingers.

“Be anxious all you want.” He props one leg in the table, something Yasmin would not approve if she’s here. What’s with them putting their legs on the table?

“I am serious here, Vlad. If you keep beating around the bush then I will leave now or I will be the one forcing you to leave.”

“You will go to the states and be a representative there. Don’t worry, Cyrus will be there too. In exchange, I will grant your vacation leave form,” he says and crosses his arms over his broad chest.

“You can’t bribe me now, Vlad.” I smirk at him.

“Oh, I can. Or you want me to force you there?” He puts his leg back to the floor and makes his way towards the door.

“Fine. I will go, just make sure that you’ll give a good accommodation and don’t do anything stupid.” I warn him but he just laughs at it.

“If you say so.” He went outside and Cyrus makes his way inside the office.

“I bet you heard all of it. Just be prepared whenever I call you. For now, you will accommodate me towards the photoshoot venue,” I say to Cyrus.

“Yes, Ma’am.” He makes a gesture of saluting to me.

“Let’s go.”

I walk ahead of him and make my way inside the elevator and press the button for the second floor of the building where the production team resides. The elevator door opens and we head straight to their office and I bow my head whenever someone would greet me.

“Ma’am, here is your full schedule for today,” Katarina says and hands me the papers she has been holding.

“Could you get the papers from the conference room and hand me an outline of it this coming Monday?” I ask and she nods, then, walks back to her station.

I open the folder and scan the products I will be having a photoshoot. Most of these are essential vitamins for women.

One of the production members greets us and shows us the way towards the small room with a white screen in it and the crew is still cleaning up the things inside it.

“this way, Ma’am, you could have your make up first.” He gestures towards a room full of costume and makeup kits and looks up at Cyrus. “I am sorry, sir but we don’t let an outsider in…”

“Let him under my command or I will reschedule this?”

He opens the door for Cyrus and went to go to the photographer today and part of me wish it is Fred. I went inside the makeup room and Cyrus went with me. His face is crumpled as he saw lots of boxes and costumes hanging.

“You will get used to this,” I say.

“Where is your makeup artist? How much time does setting up takes? Why did they put you into this place?” He sweeps his gaze and looks for an extra chair inside this chaotic room.

“Could you ask one question at a time? You are making me dizzy.” I close my eyes as I recline back to this chair while waiting for my makeup artist.

I could hear the constant lifting of boxes but I pay him no attention. I remain in my seat when he asks a question. “What’s taking your artist so long? Could you just put a make up yourself?”

“You are noisy. If you want answers, ask someone who guide us here, not me.” I pull the handkerchief from the bag, not realizing that the real owner is just near me.

“You still have my handkerchief?” The amusement in his voice is evident.

“What about it?” I ask, taunting him to say a comment. I read the description for this photoshoot and I think I could pull off the makeup well.

“Nothing.” And I could hear the opening and closing of doors.

I start to put some cream before I put some primer and then let it scatter evenly. Before I put a concealer, the door opens and someone I don’t know went beside me while looking sorry.

“What’s wrong?” I ask the woman who twists her shirt out of nervousness.

“I am sorry. My name is Ginger and I am your makeup artist for today. I don’t expect you to forgive me for being late but I have my reason. My brother is sent to the hospital and I have to be there for him, I am sorry.” She bows down her head and meets my gaze in the mirror in front of us.

“I am not that heartless. Anyway, I already put on some cream and primer, I believe you’ll do the rest.”

“Sure, Ma’am. It’s my pleasure working with you.” She has this bright radiance with her but the sadness in her eyes is transparent to those who would look right into it.

After a couple of minutes putting a different shade of makeup in my face, I am loving the result. She starts to clean up the brushes and putting the makeup in a bag. I look at her as I feel that something is wrong with her and I see the constant shaking of her shoulders and I can say that she is crying.

“You could go back to your brother now, Ginger.” Ginger scurries away and Cyrus makes his way inside.

“What’s with her?” He asks and the moment he looks at her, he was in shock. I scrunch my nose if they know each other, but Cyrus just shakes his head.

“None of your business,” I answer him and Cyrus is still looking intently at her. “Is everything set?” I ask.

“They are just waiting for you to get out of here and that photographer keeps on shouting at people. I start to get irritated.” He leans on the doorframe and moves aside as I start to walk his way.

I tap his shoulders and walk past him. “Calm down.”

“How can I calm down when that--”

As soon as I saw who the photographer is, I immediately went on his side and hug him. He hugs me back and cups my face and mess with my hair lightly. As I look back at Cyrus’s position, his face is contorted and so hard to describe. Serves him right.

“Act like a man, Fred, or I won’t invite you any more to our house,” I whisper at him and he sits erect in his chair like a man. If only he’s a man, but he’s not.

“Are you ready? Or you still want to play with that pretty boy in the corner?” he whispers back and went on directing again while positioning his camera in its designated angle.

“What do you know? Well, it’s easy to see his reaction.” I playfully hug Fred while looking at Cyrus with his eyes sending daggers to Fred. Poor guy.

I send a flying kiss to Fred as I went into position and as I move my head to see Cyrus, he storms out of the room.

“One, two, three, and action,” Fred shouted and the lighting man is on the action. Snap. Snap. Snap.

I pose for different styles while I still hold the beauty soap and shows most of my shoulder to back skin to the camera.

“Nice. Nice. Perfect.” Fred shouted as I get to the position he truly wanted. “And we are done.”

I walk back to Fred and give him his well-deserved hug.

“I am jealous. Now, chase your pretty boy.” He shoved me away and disassemble his camera lenses.

“He is not my pretty boy and I won’t chase him. It’s not my fault he storms off the set, I didn’t do anything.” I reason out, but still feeling guilty for what I have done to Cyrus.

Fred raises his eyebrows to me. “Well, girl, you make him jealous and you are using me to chase him away. You mean girl.”

“Aren’t you my friend?” I fake a hurt and clutch my heart.

“Not anymore.”

I look around and no one dares to look at me and Fred. I tap the shoulder of the one who shows us the way here. “Have you seen the man I have been with?”

He shakes his head and leaves to help clean up the place.

I went outside and walk in a corner and I saw Cyrus with his shoulder slump. What’s with him? I stop beside him and before I can put my hand in his forehead, he caught my hand without looking me.

“Is the photoshoot finished?” I nod and he looks up at me. “What other tasks you should be doing today?”

“Another photoshoot, this time it is outdoor. Meeting with Yasmin, lunch meeting with the rest of the board members, and the paper signing for the upcoming fashion runway. That’s it for this day.” He loses his grasp in my hand and I take it back to my side.

“What should we do first?” he asks and stands. He starts to walk and I follow him.

“Meeting with Yasmin.”

He just continues his way towards the elevator and presses floor number four without looking at me or giving his attention to me.

I look at him and then look at the floor before I murmur something.

“I guess I need some apologizing.”