Chapter 3 : First Meeting

"Just call me if you need anything or having any trouble. I talked with XY entertainment's president. His staff and band members will take care of you. Just be safe and don’t work overtime. Call me as soon as you reach A city. Don't off your phone carry it with you all the time. Text me daily before you go to bed. Understand?" said Ty with concern written all over his face.

"I am not a kid Ty. I am twenty-four and it's not the first time. Have you forgotten how many times I travelled alone before. You are talking as if you are my boyfriend. Even my dad don't nag me like you." said Val, frustrated. She closed her eyes, resting on chair while waiting for the company’s private jet. He has been saying the same thing even during the ride from her home to the airport.

"I wish I am your boyfriend" mumbled Ty with sad face.

"What did you say?" asked Val, clearly not hearing his words.

"Nothing just take care and remember to eat on time." said Ty. At the same time someone came and said that the private jet is ready to fly. Val stood up to leave, followed by her assistant carrying Val's bag even though she objected. Phoebe, Val’s assistant, admires her a lot and has been working with her for the past two and half years.

"OKAY Grandma!!!! I am leaving take care." said Val giving Ty one last look before walking towards the exit of private room.

"No hug kitty?" shouted Ty spreading his hands widely, staring at her back.

"Hug anyone you want buddy." said Val waving her hand without turning back and left the room completely.

It is hard to hug Val because she resists touches from anyone except her parents. It took almost two years for him to even hold her hands. How can she be this difficult? After remembering her words, he just smiled while mumbling "Grandma?? I will soon be your husband kitty." and left the airport.

After flying for six hours Val finally landed in A city. Ty already booked a presidential suite in a five-star hotel for her even though ABC luxury brand took care of accommodation for all staff members and XY entertainment people. But Val decided to take the room booked by ABC luxury brand.

At seven in the evening, A dinner meeting is arranged for both clients and band members. So, Val decided to take some rest before the meeting and suggested Phoebe to do the same. Just as she decided to call her dad and Ty, her phone rang. She just sighed and answered the phone "Where are you Val? Why didn't you answer my call?" asked Ty before she can say anything.

"Easy buddy! I just checked-in and want to sleep now." said Val, yawning. She is dog tired and badly need some rest.

"How is the room? liked it?" asked Ty eagerly as he planned something for her in the suite but his excitement soon died after hearing her reply.

"Sorry buddy! I don’t want to be treated differently so I chose the normal suite booked by ABC luxury brand." said Val.

"Okay fine. Your choice. Call you later kitty. Bye." with that Ty hung up the call not bothering to hear her reply.

Val sensed nothing wrong, so she took a nap after making sure to call her parents, telling them that she landed safely.

Ty felt sad to hear that she didn’t checked-in the suit he booked because he made some decorations with rose bouquets to impress her but now his plan failed. “Don’t worry Tyler. You’ll have many opportunities in the future so be calm" He said to himself to assure his broken heart and continued his work.

"Finally! we landed after a very long flight." said Zach after coming out of their agency's private jet.

"We travelled more than twenty-hour-flight before Zach it's just seven-hour journey. Stop exaggerating, Let’s go.” said Paul walking towards their car, prepared by their agency.

"Whatever." said Zach before entering the car. After approximately thirty minutes they reached their destination. After entering their respective rooms, WESFA decided to take some rest before heading to the meeting in the evening.

After taking some much-needed rest, everyone gathered at the hotel's restaurant for dinner to meet and socialize with the people they are going to work in this project. Val got four people with her, ABC luxury brand got three people and XY entertainment got ten people of which four are their bodyguards.

All entered the private room in the restaurant and started greeting each other but Val is nowhere to be found. Because, she overslept and is now getting ready in a hurry, scolding herself a million times for sleeping like a log. Val sleeps a lot when she is tired that's one of her weaknesses. As a result, she is fifteen minutes late.

Everyone is waiting for Val to show up. Phoebe already told them that Val is on an important phone call to stall some time. When she is getting anxious and don’t know what to say them anymore, Val showed up at the private room doorstep. She is dressed in a pastel green suit with a white tank top, looking so gorgeous and professional at the same time.

As soon as Val entered the room, all heads turned towards her. "I apologise for letting you all wait for me." said Val with embarrassment.

"No worries, Ms. Norris. We too came just now. By the way, pleasure to meet you." said Max Nash, Manager of ABC luxury brand, extending his hand for a handshake.

"The pleasure is my Mr. Nash." said Val returning his gesture.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Norris." said David Gilles, Manager of WESFA.

"Glad to meet you Mr. Gilles." said Val shaking his hands as well.

"Meet Ms. Valerie Norris, the CFO of Wood Design and Management. She is our project manager." said Max introducing her to all the people present there.

"It's my pleasure to work with you all." said Val standing near her chair.

"We too Ms. Norris" said WESFA in unison and Val took her seat smiling.

"She is gorgeous man!!!" whispered Zach in Jack's ear after everyone settled in their seats.

"Shut up!!" said Jack glaring at Zach. ‘He never knows how to behave.’ thought Jack to himself before engaging in the ongoing conversation.

They had a formal dinner while discussing about locations and costumes, regarding the shoot. After dinner, they had few drinks, but Val just drank juice.

After agreeing to meet at exact eight in the morning in the hotel lobby, everyone retreated to their rooms to take some rest and prepare for tomorrow’s hectic schedule.

"OH MY GOD!!!!!! Valerie they are so handsome. I can’t believe. I just met the world-famous pop band. I am so lucky Val. It’s because of you. Thank you for tagging me along with you" said Phoebe with so much excitement. Val and Phoebe are in the elevator, returning to their rooms. She tried her best to be normal in front of WESFA but now she couldn't control herself and started bragging about her ‘little achievement’. Of course, meeting them is the lifetime goal for many young girls. Phoebe is just one of the fangirls.

"Come on Phoebe they are just men." said Val rolling her eyes. They all say like these boys are some Greek Gods. She admit that they are handsome but Ty is also handsome whom she can see all day. She saw many handsome men in her career till now.

"Yes but 'SEXY MEN'. Did you hear Zach's voice? God!!! he is worthy to be called THUNDER and did you see Jack Kelley his lips are so beautiful, making me want to kiss them to my heart’s content. Nathan is so sweet his smile is so genuine. Paul is really God damn sexy oh!! and Joseph he is like husband material." said Phoebe blushing. "Seriously Phoebe!!!How can you fantasize about all of them?” asked Val looking at Phoebe with wide eyes.

"I don't mind having all of them, they are all so handsome and sexy." said Phoebe with puppy dog eyes just then elevator doors opened.

Val shook her head and walked out of the elevator, towards her room. "Valerie it's okay to have fantasies about men and I know you don't appreciate relationships but it's not crime crush men with your eyes." said Phoebe, winking playfully at Val.

"You are right Phoebe but it is also not a crime to not have any fantasies about men." said Val opening her room's door.

"Didn't you see their music videos? Just by hearing them, their music you can get poisoned Valerie. Just try to be normal and enjoy your life." said Phoebe standing before Val’s room, stopping her from closing the door.

"I am normal, and I am enjoying my life as hell so don't worry about me." said Val a little frustratingly, facing Phoebe.

"It's hard to convince you Ms. Heartless. Good night" said Phoebe, opening the door of her suit. Phoebe named Val as Ms. Heartless after knowing about her lack of interest in men. She first thought Val is a lesbian, but later Ty told her that Val has a reason for avoiding relationships. So she just concluded that Val is heartless to not feel anything when she is around handsome men almost all the time.

“Thanks for the compliment. Good night to you too Phoebe” said Val closing her door.

“Man, she is beautiful. I thought CFO is someone who is in mid-forties or fifties but she is just in her early twenties I think. Jack what do you say?” said Zach, preparing his bed. Jack and Zach always share a room as Nathan and Paul does. But Joseph took single room as always.

"Well! we met so many beautiful girls Zach" said Jack, browsing his phone.

"Come on Jack, she is so natural, and I think she didn't use much makeup. She is flawless." said Zach covering himself with duvet by only popping his head out to look at Jack.

"I am in no mood to talk about her Zach. I am sick of girls. If girls exist so does the scandals. Aren't you tired? So just sleep" said Jack putting his phone on nightstand beside bed and covering himself, ready to sleep.

"Admit it, Jack." Said Zach playfully. He seems like he won’t sleep until he makes Jack say YES.

"What do you want me to admit?" asked Jack annoyingly.

"That she is beautiful"

"I said yes already. We met a lot of gorgeous girls. So, she is nothing different from them."

"I just felt she is different dude" said Zach switching off lights.

"I felt it too" mumbled Jack, closing his eyes.

"What?"

"Good night"

"Good night, bro"