Beauty in Walking Away (FINISHED)

The Meeting (Chapter 20)

I woke up the next day because I heard a loud knock.

"Good morning!" Benina said.

Benina, enthusiastic as ever.

"Good morning Benina come in." I said.

"Let's go. I'll accompany you to the designers. Don't worry Theia, you'll get used to the time difference after awhile." Benina said as she sat on top of the bed and I got ready. 

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"We'll take a cab to the stores of the designers." Benina said.

"Wait, I'll just tell Chrome that we're going already." I said.

"No need. I already told him and he woke up early for he has a shoot."

"Oh. Okay." I said as we went out of the hotel and get inside a cab. 

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"I can sense something." Benina said.

"Sense what?" I said.

"I can sense that there's something going on between you and Chrome."

"Chrome and I are close friends there's nothing wrong with that."

"That's not what I heard."

"Then what did you hear?"

"That Chrome is wooing you."

"Wooing? Isn't that old-fashioned?"

"No honey. It is not. Chrome likes you. You go out on dates don't ya?"

"We eat lunch together. He always takes me home. He also takes me out to dinner."

"Those are considered dates honey. But do you like Chrome back?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Don't worry about it. Chrome is the kind of guy who is easy to love." 

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"Tara!" Benina said to the girl as we arrived at the last designer I need to contact.

"Benina! Nice to see you again." Tara answered.

"You too. By the way, Tara this is Theia. Theia, this is Tara. She's the designer behind Bonjour Belle!"

"Nice to meet you. I'm from Azalae's." I said.

"Nice to meet you too. Ah. Azalea's, the styling boutique. Carina told me about you already. Here come with me. I show you the dresses." 

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"A month had passed already. Still no news about Raine?" Lloyd told the person on the other side of the line.

"Sorry Sir. I'm really trying my best to find your girlfriend. But I have news. I just don't know if it's bad or good for you." the guy on the other line answered.

"Just tell me about it."

"Sir, I tried going back to the bar. Luckily I was able to talk a bartender there. That bartender said that he remember seeing your girlfriend. And he's sure that your girlfriend was the one who saved the drunken guy and got hit by the car. He added that the time when you came looking for your girlfriend, he wasn't around that's why he wasn't able to help you. He also told me that he knew the guy your girlfriend saved. He knew him as Chrome." 

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"We're done. Thanks Benina." I told Benina.

"Well, it's my turn. It's still early so why don't you accompany me to my shoot?" Benina said.

"Sure. Why not?" 

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"Good afternoon everybody!" Benina said.

We arrived in a studio.

"It's a photoshoot for a perfume. You'd be the one who'll pick my clothes okay?" Benina whispered to me.

"I don't know. I think they already have their own stylist."

"Don't worry. I'm good friends with the photographer. Just ask for the theme of the shoot the go ahead pick clothes for me okay?"

I had no choice but so say yes.

I was fixing Benina's looks when suddenly I heard a familiar voice. My heart started to beat fast again.

"Lloyd! Nice to see you again. I didn't know we'd be working together." I heard Benina said to someone.

"Benina, nice to see you again. Me too." someone said.

His voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Wait, I'll introduce you to someone." Benina said then pulls me gently to face the guy.

"Lloyd, this is my stylist friend Theia. Theia, this is Lloyd. He's a famous star here."

"Hello! Nice to meet you." I said as I extended my hand for him to shake it.

I don't know why but he suddenly looks flabbergasted that it is as if he had seen a ghost.

"Lloyd?" Benina said.

"Sorry. Hi! Nice to meet you too." Lloyd answered as he takes my hand and gave it a little shake. 

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"One hour dinner break." the photographer said.

"Don't worry. I already told Chrome you'd be going home late." Benina said.

"Benina.." I said.

"He has the right to know." Benina joked.

Suddenly, Lloyd approaches us and sat beside me to also eat.

"Theia, she's the one I was telling you about. He needs a temporary stylist. You know to boost up his career again. No offense Lloyd."

"I understand. I know I'm a mess. My life's a mess right now."

"Lloyd is looking for his missing girlfriend."

"Really? Why? Did something happen to her?"

"It's a long story."

"So is it okay for you Lloyd if Theia would be your temporary stylist? At least for a week since she'd be going back to England next week."

"Sure no prob."

"You Theia?"

"Sure. You helped me so I'll help you too Benina."

"It's settled then." 

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"You said you are from London?" Lloyd said.

I was startled.

"Sorry to I didn't mean.."

"It's okay. Yes. I work as a stylist in a styling boutique."

"You look like someone I know."

"You're the second person who said that to me."

"Who's the first person?"

"An Italian photographer named Giovanni."

"Oh. Uhm. Theia.."

"Yes?"

"Does the name Raine ring a bell to you?"