FAYE
Faye’s first week on the job is considerably uneventful, which, as a bodyguard, is a good thing.
But unlike her, the Apasra Corporation staff are busy, though. Everyone is preparing for an upcoming fundraiser event tomorrow.
Faye volunteered to help.
She patiently waits on the passenger seat as they load the frameworks in the van, when her phone rings.
“Hello Marissa? Is everything alright?”
“Hi,” the young woman said cheerfully. “Everything’s fine. Just checking in. Are the frameworks coming?”
Faye checks the rear mirror as the men continue loading.
“This is the last batch, right?” she asks the driver and double checks the receipt.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We’ll be on our way.”
“Alright.”
“Uh, Marissa.”
“Don’t worry about Yoko. She never left my sight.”
Amidst the background noises, Faye heard Yoko complain. “Stop that. I’m not a baby!”
Marissa laughs before whispering. “She’s having tantrums. I better feed her now. Bye!”
As the rest of her company unloads the remaining steel at the unloading bay, Faye lets herself in. The venue offers ample space but lacks organization, with fake flowers strewn across the floor and organizers securing a black and gold curtain to the side of the raised platform, which will function as the runway.
A couple of women are testing the spotlights, too.
She’s looking around when someone bumps into her. “I hope the traffic is not that bad,” Marissa said.
“No.” Faye wipes off the sweat gliding on her neck. “It’s just hot.”
When she volunteered to help, she didn’t take into account the scorching heat.
Marissa hands her a bottle of water.
The woman is fiddling with a few of the fake flowers. “I’m trying to help,” she said proudly. “Oh, Yoko is at the back office, if you want to go to her. Though, the air conditioning there isn’t any better. They’re still fixing something.”
The rather silent venue explodes in a cadence of murmurs. And the two of them look at where the commotion is coming from.
Most of the staff, if not all of them, took out their phones and took pictures of the woman at the entrance.
Tall, fair skin, and blonde; she’s so beautiful Faye doesn’t know where to look at first. She’s certain of one thing, though. “That’s the woman on my shampoo bottle!”
Marissa nearly face palm herself. “That’s Earn.”
The young woman does not seem amused, though. If anything, she looks uncomfortable. “I need you to hold your fan girl in and keep it together.” Marissa looks around. “What is she even doing here?”
“Marissa!” Earn exclaimed upon seeing the young woman.
With fake enthusiasm, Marissa approaches her. The actress hugs Marissa tightly.
“Err — what are you doing here?” Marissa asks once she can finally breathe.
“What do you mean?” Earn said.
Faye, blinded by the phone flashes that are now on their way, restrain herself from taking pictures, too.
“Imagine my surprise when I found out I’m not in the final draft of models for tomorrow’s event. I mean —,” she flicks her hair. “That’s impossible!”
Marissa scratches her neck. “Yoko finalized the list herself.”
“Exactly! There must be some mistake. Where is she, anyway?”
Marissa frantically pulls Faye’s arm, forcing her in front of the woman. “Stop her,” she whispered.
“Right.” She blocks the woman, who might as well be as tall as her. “I’m afraid she’s occupied at the moment, miss.”
Earn’s wide, gorgeous eyes study her from head to toe. The woman stands straighter to match Faye’s height. “And who are you, exactly?”
“I’m her bodyguard, miss.”
“I see.” Earn crosses her arm. “Well, Ms. Bodyguard, why don’t you tell your boss that her girlfriend is here?”
“What do you want?” Yoko said, barely giving the visitor any attention as she continued flicking thru the papers on her table. It’s the pictures of what the venue will look like. “As you can see, I’m busy here.”
Faye stands as still as she can beside Yoko’s desk. She never heard Yoko raise her voice like this before.
Is this beautiful woman really her girlfriend?
Because from the cold shoulder her boss is giving the visitor, Faye must say they’re not even acquaintances.
Earn crosses her legs before regarding her boss. “You’re having this event and you didn’t call me. Why?”
“I prefer amateur models for this one. I don’t need you, Earn.”
Girlfriend? Definitely not.
Yoko might as well slap the woman with what she just said. The heir must have realized it, too.
“If I sign you up, what’s in it for me?”
Earn’s face brightens a little more. “Well, you will have the most sought-after actress at your fundraiser event!”
“Don’t give me that excuse.” Yoko closed her folder not-so-gently. “What did you do to need this event to brighten your image?”
“Come on, now.” Is all Earn can say. The actress didn’t even disregard Yoko’s accusation.
Yoko sank in her chair in exasperation. “Fine! Just stop nagging me after this.” She throws a glance at Faye before squinting again at the actress. “And stop telling everyone you’re my girlfriend, because we’re already done.”
Without saying another word, Yoko leaves the room.
Earn looks at the ajar door confusedly. “Why is she like this?” She then regarded Faye. “Is she seeing anyone?”
“Have a good day, Ms. Earn,” Faye said before following her boss outside.
YOU ARE READING
The Wish You Left Behind
Roman d'amourCan Faye do her job as Yoko's bodyguard? Or is it her heart that needs guarding from the playgirl heir?
