Alpha Dad, Cruel Mate

‎It was past noon when we arrived at the studio complex. Madam Marissa, who had just gotten off of yet another call, stepped out of the car first.

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‎She scanned around with a small frown on her slightly wrinkled face before turning to signal that we were clear to step out as well.

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‎Following my dearest agent's instruction, I stepped out, thanking Jade, my personal assistant, for holding the door out for me.

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‎" Is that her?"

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‎" Oh my God, she's gorgeous."

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‎" She looks even better in person!"

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‎A couple of awestruck stares and whispers rose from around, but I didn't pay them mind. The small crowd that lingered around, some with cameras flashing in their hands, were of course the paparazzi that couldn't be avoided. I was used to these kinds of reaction by now anyway being who I am, so I wasn't bothered.

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‎I pulled off my shades, squinting at the glass-steel building before me. The grand entrance was manned by bodyguards, making the place obviously VIP only.

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‎ " Not bad..." I muttered to myself. But deep down, I was amused at my own action. To think that five years ago, I wouldn't have been allowed past the sidewalk without being ridiculed.

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‎After all, Obsidian studios is one of the most popular industry building in New York.

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‎A part of me couldn't help but wonder, what would my family say when they see me now.

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‎Would they still look at me the same as when I'd been in Florida?

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‎I've long had this thought. I wanted to know.

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‎But I also knew the past should remain the past. I've worked really hard the past  years to get to where I am today. Letting my past weigh me down now would only slow down my progress. I can't be bothered about those wretched beings who tormented my life.

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‎Right now, I'm happy with the peace I've made with myself.

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‎" Shall we?" I turned to face Madam Marissa and asked, donning my perfect, bright face that I sold to the world. But, she just shook her head and said. " No need to rush. We set the pace of this shit."

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‎I expressed a wry smile, unsure if it was her potty mouth or her attitude that impressed me," Aren't we late already?"

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‎"There's nothing like a super, sexy model being late to a shoot, girl." Madam Marissa said with her usual, mischievous grin on her slightly wrinkled, overly-expressive face that screamed experience. "Look, they know it. And they love it." She pointed towards a lady walking out of the building, headed towards us.

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‎The middle-aged lady whose red hair was tied in a ponytail had a well-practiced, lovely smile worn on her gaunt, make-up enhanced face as she approached with a tablet in hand.

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‎" I'm so glad you made it Miss Hayes. I'm Holly, the director. Pleasure working with you." She hastily warmed up when she got close, extending a hand to greet. " Madam." She greeted Madam Marissa and nodded towards Jade as well.

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‎" Sorry, I got held up. Can we get started?" I reached to shake her hand and spoke this time with a sweet smile of my own, not wanting Madam Marissa to be my spokesperson everytime.

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‎ I have to establish myself as my own person; that's what the madam told me with her glance. In this industry, fake smiles and lies were the casual.

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‎" It's no biggie. Of course, please come with me so we can get started." Holly said, leading the way inside.

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‎Getting close to the entrance, I finally could see a clear peek into the interior of the building. It was all glam and loft, with marble-tiled floor, luxurious interior decor and dim lighting that set the building's ambience apart from the mid-day brightness.

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‎We went into the scanty lobby, passing the check-in desk where the receptionist eyed me with obvious envy, to the elevator.

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‎ If only she knew the life I'd lived before this...

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‎Entering the elevator, Holly set it to stop on the 12th floor.

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‎"The brand is really glad to have you be its face this coming issue. I'm sure it'd be nothing less than a great success." Holly said, turning to face me with that practiced smile of hers.

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‎" Oh please, you flatter me. The brand's already made a name for itself. I'm only here to represent that." I told Holly. In the corner, I could see Madam Marissa's approving smirk, proud of the way I'd responded with just the right words.

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‎Speak too arrogantly and you're marked a cocky bitch. Speak too lowly of yourself and you're marked a pushover. In the modeling industry, one had to know how to put on the right mask.

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‎Holly just nodded and smiled, turning away. She didn't say a word until the elevator stopped.

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‎" We're here." she announced as the elevator opened to the grand, busy sight on the 12th floor.

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‎Inside, a number of assistants and set crews roamed about carrying bags and cases of set equipments. A couple of models in different styles of sexy lingeries  stood around, some chatting amongst themselves, others talking with photographers with camera in hand. Some were even being shot in a set, stretching their flawless bodies and faces in different poses. Soft music played in the background, setting a comfortable mood in the otherwise hectic floor.

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‎It was just as I'd expected, the hellish scenery of fakery and manipulation that the industry sold as a perfect lie to the public. The studio set was like a warehouse, chaotic yet functional with just the right lighting angle and setting.

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‎Holly stepped out of the elevator first, causing many to look our way. However, when most gazes caught sight of me, everyone seemed to pause on whatever they were doing.

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‎The room hushed as all eyes fell on me with all the skepticism in the world. Every move I make, every word I say, every breath I took was being watched, closely.

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‎It felt like I was standing on needles. A feeling that always left me uncomfortable. However, I'd gotten used to such stilted stares.

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‎I donned my perfect face, adjusting to the lighting of the place as I stepped out of the elevator with confident steps.

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‎I held my chin up, taking pride in my beauty, making sure it commanded the room.

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‎Madam Marissa and Jade followed, their steps echoing behind me in support.

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‎Awe, respect, envy, indifference, and hatred. I met each gaze directly.

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‎She was once a stripper... Selling her body in fact to feed herself.

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‎She used to squat around with her friends...

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‎Her mate once denied knowing her and dumped her for her step-sister...

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‎I could see my past staring me in their eyes, echoing the past names I'd been labeled with in my head. I could tell the scorn in their gazes. I knew they would all look at me different if they knew the truth about half of my past. Even those who admired and stared in awe would look at me with disgust and criticism.

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‎But right now, all that was there was just me. A top model and a rival to most.

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‎I had nothing to worry about. My life in Florida was way in the past. I'm not the same person anymore.

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‎I marched like I owned the place. Each step a gracious stride as I followed behind Holly. The crowd moved aside, allowing us passage.

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‎"Madison!?"

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‎Suddenly, I heard someone call my name. I turned, thinking it was perhaps someone I'd worked with in the past. Afterall, no one else would be close enough to call me by my first name like that.

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‎But I froze when I saw who it was.

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‎His dark hair fell on the sides of his mature, devilishly handsome, fair, angular face that I knew all too well. A face that I'd so much detested over the years. A face that I'd never wanted to see again, ever!

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‎My heart dulled, and my stomach dropped at the sight of him.

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‎Nicholas.

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‎The name alone dragged me five years back. To a cheap motel room, entangled in the sheets…

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‎A night I thought meant something.

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‎I felt my heart tinge in hurt once again from the unhealed wounds he'd dealt me.

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‎Yes, I used to be a stripper. And I'd met him at the strip club where I used to work as one. I never had intimate moments with any client, I'd always kept things professional. But when he walked in that night, I had felt something shift in me. I was extremely attracted to him, every look we shared, every touch, it felt enticing.

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‎I knew he felt the same. The way his eyes followed me… the hunger in them… it had been impossible to ignore. The  bulge in his pants as I danced had made his intent so obvious.

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‎One moment we were staring… the next, we were tangled in something neither of us tried to stop.

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‎He'd told me about his situation. How his father wanted him to marry some low-life daughter of a lady he owed some "favor". That was why he'd visited the strip club, to at least do something with someone before he committed. He said he wanted something to always remind him that he never wanted to be with her.

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‎I had been blind to my feelings then. I thought it was just a fling. But as days passed, I realized I had found my mate.

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‎However, I didn't know where to look for him. Not until I received a mocking message from Lisa, inviting me to her engagement party.

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‎And on the photo shoot was Nicholas, the very same man I'd been looking for.

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‎Believing we had something. Believing he felt the same way I'd felt, I went after him. But he denied me so ruthlessly.

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‎He saw me as nothing but a prostitute...

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‎I looked at him, now, rage surging within me. He approached me, his face delighted somewhat.

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‎I wanted to scratch my nails across that face. However, seeing the invested look around, I quickly feigned indifference, looking him up and down.

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‎" Excuse me? Do I know you?" I expressed offense, glancing at Madam Marissa and Holly as if this was their fault.

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‎Nicholas stopped mid-step. His grip tightened around the camera in his hand, knuckles whitening slightly.

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‎His eyes locked onto mine, like he'd looked away long enough. Like he had so much to say yet didn't know where to start.

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‎Madam Marissa stepped forward, standing between me and him, and turning to face Holly. "What is the meaning of this? Can you explain who this is?"

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‎Holly expressed a deep frown, walking up to Nicholas. " T-this is Mr. Nicholas Grayson, the photographer who's going to take the shoot." She stammered to introduce and turned to face Nicholas." Mr. Grayson, I know you might want to build a friendly relation with Miss Hayes here, but please, let's keep things professional." She warned sternly.

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‎Nicholas was left speechless by it all, and somehow, I enjoyed the incredulous agony on his face.

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‎Before he could say anything else, I quickly told Holly, "I would like to get ready for the shoot now. I don't care about any of this."

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‎" Very well. Please follow me to the stylists." She said and led the way to a separate room on the floor.

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‎I didn't glance once at Nicholas. I just followed behind Holly, holding my head high and steadying my steps.

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‎It wasn't until we got in the room, away from all the gazes and stares that I finally let out the breath that I'd been holding in.

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‎"Please wait here while I get the stylists." Holly said and I nodded.

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‎Just as the door closed behind her, I collapsed on the sofa in the room, heaving deep sighs. My hands shook beside me as the panic finally got to me.

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‎" Maddie?" I heard Madam Marissa call out to me as she rushed to my side.

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‎I looked up, my eyes catching the reflection of myself in the full-stand mirror on the wall.

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‎My eyes had reddened, threatening to break in tears. And my face was flustered, anger bled across. Only my dark-blonde hair that was thoroughly combed seemed fine.

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‎I felt Madam Marissa's palm land gently on my shoulders, " Are you okay?" she asked.

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‎She had no idea who Nicholas was. I never told her who the father of my four year old daughter, Elena, was.

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‎I turned to face her. " I'm sorry Marissa. I promise to tell you everything later." I  shut my eyes and took a deep breath. " But for now..." I opened my eyes, looking my reflection on the mirror in the eye. "We have a lingerie brand to model."

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‎I had no idea why after five years, I've suddenly barged into him. Regardless, for the past five years, we'd remained nobody to each other. And I have no plan to change that!

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