CHAPTER 8

Third Person POV

Brianne wears a formal black dress and three inches height of heels, she quickly grabs her shoulder bag as soon as she saw her phone screen light up and saw got to read the message from Nicholas.

“Hey, you’re going out?” Her manager Clea ask confused as she doesn’t remember her having appointment to day.

“Ahm, yeah. I have an appointment with a friend.” Brianne answered.

“Friend? Who? You know that there is still reporters and paparazzi that are still very much interest with the rumor about you and Mr. Leone, right?” Her manager said and she nodded to her.

“But I can’t let that thing isolate myself from everyone than I already am.” Brianne said and sigh.

“I’m sorry, I tried asking them why did they back out and who is the one that made the brands change their demand about the artist, but everyone’s mouth is sealed. I could get anything, I’m sorry.” Clea said and Brianne shake her head at her and walk up to her and held both of her hands.

“It’s not your fault, I’m even thankful to you that even everything is not working out for me, you never left me and continue to believe in me.” Brianne said smiling at her with gladness in her eyes. “Maybe they just really don’t like me, we can always get another project. So, don’t worry about it.” She added and her manager hug her that she quickly answered. “Anyway, I need to go now. I’ll call you as soon as I arrive.” Brianne said and rush to the door and wave to Clea that also waved back.

She was on her phone as the elevator opens on ground floor of the building and as soon as she steps out of the elevator a hand grab on her wrist and drag her.

“Hey!” She said as she takes her wrist back making the man stop from dragging her. “Who the heck are you?” She asks and the man grab her wrist again and brought her to a hallway corner where there are no people around. “I said let me go!!” She said trying to get her wrist out of his grip.

“Brianne, stop!” The man demands. “It’s me Vander.” He said as she took off his hat and mask.

“You really have a thick face, don’t you?” Brianne said as she scoffs looking at him.

“Brianne please, just hear me out first.” He said grabbing her hand with a pleading look on his eyes. “I will explain everything, I wear this time I will tell you the truth and everything.” He added that made Brianne chuckled bitterly.

“Truth? What truth?” She asks look at him with a bitter smile on the corner of her lips. “Truth that you cheated on me with the person that keep taking everything from me? Tell, me what truth are you still planning to say that you think I didn’t know?” She asks that made him silent for a couple of second. “We are done, Vander. The day you decide to be with her despite that we are in a relationship is the day you accepted that you can lose me, I just had to finalize it when I caught you with her.” he said as she takes her hand away from his.

“I didn’t mean it, I was pressure----" Vander tried to say.

“Oh my gosh, you’re fucking stupid in lying.” Brianne said who can’t believe with her ex-boyfriend’s reasoning in front her. “Pressured? Did they tell you to fuck her? did they tell you to kiss her without any camera around? Did they tell you to touch her? did they?” She asks and Vander could say anything and just look at her for ac couple of second and look down and slightly shake his head. “You did it because you wanted to, you did it because your life her. it’s that easy, Vander. Stop blaming things to others, you know to yourself that you did that on your own.”

She said and push him away from her and walk pass him when Vander grab her wrist again, that made her stop and look back at him.

“Please forgive me, let’s start over. I love you, Bri.” He said with tears in his eyes.

“No, Vander. You don’t love me, because if you do at the first place you would be able to cheat on me. You love the idea of me chasing after you, but you don’t love me. So, please don’t come here again to do this. You’re just putting both of us in a difficult situation.” She said and tried to get his grip out of her wrist but he would let go. “Vander let me go---” she tried to said when a voice of a man speaks behind her.

“Is there a problem here ma’am?” the man with a huge muscular body said and look at Vander. “Sir, is asking you to let her go. you should listen to her.” the man said that made Vander frown btu did what he said. “Thank you,” he said him and look back at Brianne. “Ma’am Mr. Leone send me here to pick you up, for your lunch appointment.” The man said that made Brianne nod.

“Sorry for the delay, sure let’s go.” She said a start to walk.

“It’s not even been long time since we broke up and you already got a new one?” Vander said and scoff bitterly.

Brianne could help herself from chuckling hearing him uttered those words, she stops and look back at him with bitter smile one the corner of her lips.

“Why not? I can’t do that?” She asks him. “You did that too remember? Oh, maybe not really? I mean we haven’t even broken up but you already involve with someone else. That is the big difference between from what I did and what you did, you cheated, I move on. I hope you remember that.” She said and turn her back at him and back with the man that sent by Nicholas.

Their whole drive on the way to the restaurant is quite as Brianne look outside the window as the words that Vander uttered to her continue to echo in her ears.

“Ma’am we’ve arrive.” The driver said that made her snap out of her deep thought.

“Oh, sorry.” She said and fix herself and remove the seat belt as the doon her side opens by the driver. “Thank you.” She said and he nodded at her and lead the way inside the restaurant.

“She’s here for Mr. Leone.” The driver said and the waitress smiled and nodded and look at her.

“Please follow me madam.” The waitress said smiling before walking ahead of her.

They when to the second floor of the restaurant where there are not people around only a waiter and a man wearing a formal suit and sitting by the balcony of the restaurant while looking at the scenery and taking a sip from a cup.

“There is Mr. Leone Madam,” The waitress said and she smile and thank her before walking towards Nicholas.

Brianne could feel her heart racing so fast in nervousness, she could think of a way to approach him after all the trouble she cause him. She took a deep breath as she walks up to him and put on a big smile as she wants out to the balcony.

“Mr. Leone.” She said and she approach him.

“You’re here already,” Nicholas said and stood up. “Have a seat.” He said as she walks behind the other chair across him and help her sit comfortably.

Brianne couldn’t hide the little smile that she had on the corner of her lips with his gentle gesture,

“I’m sorry for causing you a lot of trouble Mr. Leone, I am truly sorry.” She said.

“It’s fine, It’s not that big deal. Besides no matter how much paparazzi try to get close to me, they would have any chance.” He said.

“Then, may I ask why do you suddenly as for us to meet?” she asks.

“Don’t be in such a rush Ms. Brianne. Let’s have lunch first, I didn’t get to each as my schedule is hectic today and you, you look a little down maybe some good food can cheer you up.” He said that made her smile.

“Thank you, just been a little challenging lately.” She said as the waiters approach them with different dishes with them. “Woah, isn’t this too many?” she asks amaze by the foods.

“I eat a lot.” He said while looking at Brianne who is still looking to amaze at the floor plating. “Come let’s eat.” He said as he took some food, so does she. “I heard you receive good number of projects, isn’t it too soon to work yourself to much?” he asks.

“Say the person who had a hectic schedule to today” she said as she put a steak on her mouth that made him chuckle.

“Well, you not wrong.” He said, but I think compare to my job and yours, yours is much tiresome to do.” He said.

“Not really, specially if your projects got canceled.” She said as she took sip of the wine.

“Canceled?” Nicholas asks like he doesn’t have any idea to what she meant.

“Hmm, they had a change of mind.” She answered that made Nicholas notice the sadness in her eyes.

“Well, their lost.” He said that made her look at him with a  smile,

“Oh maybe mine,” she said and chuckle.

“Actually, the reason why I ask you to meet me here is that I want to ask a favor.” He said that made Brianne stare at him. “I would like to ask if you can accompany to a party, It was a business party and my mother that is usually the one I’m attending those events with is currently in Scotland, so, I don’t any choice but to find someone else.” He said.

“Sure, I mean I have a pretty clear schedule, so, why not?” She answered.

“Great,” He said. “I’ll get you pick up for you to be ready.”

“Sure.” She answered.

“By the way, is there any chance you know Mr. Lazani?” He said that made her stop from cutting her stake.

“Wha…what? Who?” she asks with an expression that Nicholas couldn’t really much understand.

“You know him?” he asks again that made her look away.

“Will her be there?” she asks.

“No, there is no space for a scumbag in that party.” He said that made her look at him.

“What do you mean? And what do you know?”