Laird’s POV
A daddy long-legs? If I remember correctly, I once read a book with that title for an English literature ss assignment in high school.
The novel tells the story of a man who provides many conveniences for a girl by keeping his true identity a secret. The man then fell in love with the girl, and they eventually got married.
Does n deserve to be called Daddy Long Legs? I don’t think so. He didn’t keep his identity a secret. In fact, he bragged his name and position as the boss to Fene. Then he intended to marry Fene?
It seemed n was indeed targeting Fene. Perhaps he intended to offer career sess to Fene and hoped that she would marry him that way.
I snorted as I sessfully connected n’s mindmap.
“Me?” I asked n. The man smiled broadly and nodded his head.
“I’d rather choose to be her lifelong best friend,” I said with a wry smile.
“Oh, isn’t that adorable? All fiction makes us dream, doesn’t it?” n chuckled.
“You know, most girls in this room have high hopes of achieving their dreams. They always strive to reach the happiness they desire. They also don’t hesitate to leave or destroy anything that might obstruct their path.” He said.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
“They are so thirsty for achievements. Better jobs, bigger houses, more money,” n paused for a moment to breathe before continuing, “richer and more powerful men.”
n grinned again as he looked at me. “Fene is just like those other girls.”
I understood n’s meaning. He thought Fene had the same ambitions as the girls in this club. Therefore, he was confident that Fene would choose him-a man who could provide money, a career, and a home-over me. Sometimes I curse myself for being so perceptive.
“I think you’re not good at judging people, especially Fene,” Imented casually.
“Really? Do you think my opinion of her is wrong? How can you be so sure about her?” n asked.
I shrugged. “Experience.”
Upon hearing my answer, n grinned. Heughed to belittle my opinion, but I ignored his attitude towards me.
I swallowed my anger with a gulp of whiskey that burned hot in my mouth. I didn’t want n to feel triumphant over me, though that was my biggest concern right now.
I didn’t know Fene as well as before, even though we started having more conversations this week. I didn’t know all the efforts she had made during her career journey as a model to reach this point. I didn’t know all the sacrifices she made to achieve her ambitions.
I didn’t even know what Fene’s ambitions were now. She used to say she wanted to studymunication and be a TV presenter. In reality, she switched to being a model who didn’t even need to speak at all while walking on stage.
Being apart for seven years made me almost not recognize her at all. Likewise, she didn’t know anything about me. There are missing moments between us, and I don’t know how much we can fill those gaps.
If Fene is really like n said-that she will be like those women-I don’t know how to react. However, I know that change is the only certainty in this world.
“Hey, n. Hey, Jessy.”
This time a ck-haired woman I didn’t know approached us. I guessed she was also one of the models at Gene.
“Hello, Kiara.” n and Jessy simultaneously greeted the girl.
Oddly enough, I saw Jessy’s disapproving expression in the girl’s presence. n still smiled warmly, but he was too two-faced for me to distinguish his expressions.
“You came to this party too. Did youe alone?” n asked her.
“No. I came with Tom, but then he disappeared. Have you seen him around here?” Kiara asked.
I immediately realized that this woman meant Fene’s ex-boyfriend. I immediately understood why Jessy seemed to dislike this girl named Kiara.
“He’s out with Fene,” n said with a wry smile.
“Really? That’s good, then. I hope Tom can mend things with Fene.”
I pierced my gaze at that girl when she opened her damn mouth.
“You know, I found him looking very restless and worried near Gene’s office. He wanted to meet Fene. So, I just told him that she’s going through a hell of a rough patch after their breakup.” She smiled sweetly.
“We exchanged contact numbers so I could reach out if Fene needed…” Kiara paused her words and smiled wryly. “Help.”
I furrowed my brow, hearing all that. Jessy even gasped in surprise.
“You didn’t do that.” Jessy gritted his teeth in frustration.
Kiara turned to Jessy andughed. “Yes, I did.”
“Tell me, Kiara. When did you meet Tom? Was it after you got fired from my office and threw eggs at my building door like a mad woman, or before?” n still wore a smile and asked loudly, as if he wanted to tell everyone around us.
His words seemed to sting the woman until she exploded in anger. People around us turned their heads, whispered, and chuckled at Kiara.
Kiara panicked and looked left and right. Her eyes then darted to n. Clearly, she felt humiliated by him.
So that’s how it was. I began to understand the direction of their conversation. There was an unresolved conflict between them, and somehow Fene got dragged into it. That’s why she was trapped with her ex-boyfriend, left me alone, and chose to deal with Tom.
All because of her.
Is this really the nature of people in the fashion world? n and Kiara seemed to convince me that my initial suspicion about people in their world being full of intrigue, deceit, and joy in belittling others was epted.
“I did it because you already belittled me and treated me unfairly! You know that I’m better than Fene. You know I’m the one who deserves to be the main model at Gene.” Kiara screamed hysterically at n.
The man just smiled and replied shortly, “I don’t know about that.”
“You know nothing!” Kiara then stepped forward into n’s face and hissed loudly.
“Just so you know, I’ve already got an agency that deserves me as an artist and model. They invited me here. They didn’t doubt my abilities at all.”
“Of course. Your agency must be thrilled to have a new talent for adult films. Are you shooting a film in one of the private striptease rooms here?” n smirked.
Kiara swung her hand to n’s face.