Chapter 2
Since I was little, I always wanted to become a celebrity. A very popular person. Dad always said my face was for the public to see. I had always dreamt of showing it on TV. The thought of being surrounded by reporters and them shoving their mics down my throat always brought a thrill through me.
But as I watched the TV a few hours after I got home, I couldn't help but shiver from whatever emotion I was feeling. I cringed as I looked away from the TV and grabbed the remote from Katherine.
"Why did you off it, Zora?" Kathy glared, her lips curled up into a smirk. "I was literally watching an erotic scene."
I glared at her, standing up to dump my coffee cup in the basin. "Don't you dare put it that way? You caused this mess."
My friend chuckled as she got up from the couch. "I wasn't the one that kissed a total stranger who by the way is the youngest billionaire in the country to make her ex feel jealous."
"Kathy-" I groaned.
She raised her hands in surrender.
"But for real, Zora, are you crazy? I mean, you kissed Elliot Garrett." She screamed and I rolled my eyes. "Elliot Garrett, Zora."
"Yeah, I got that." I winced, as I unlocked my phone and saw the calls I missed from Aaron, my brother. "But I didn't know who he was. Plus, how the hell did the media get there that second? I wanted to apologize but then-"
Even I knew my question was stupid. Elliot Garrett was the youngest and hottest billionaire in the country so of course, the paparazzi would be all over him. He wasn't what I expected. Sure, I have heard the name countless times, and more often than not my best friend was always crushing on his pictures online. I never once saw him though, even in pictures because as much as I loved media and news, obsessing over a young billionaire was never on my to-do list.
And when I got home, after almost getting followed by the reporters, that is, my friend told me who I just had an encounter with. They shot the video live and before I got home, Kathy already was watching the TV.
In minutes I was all over the news. His supposed girlfriend was what I was tagged as, and countless calls came in most from people I couldn't remember the last time I heard from them. Hell! I even got a call from my Uncle, someone that I didn't even know had his number.
My picture, or more appropriately our picture was on the front pages of magazines and newspapers.
"I'm going to take a nap," I called out as my phone rang again. "Don't pick up any calls, Kathy. And please don't you dare book an interview with anyone.
"Sure. Sure. Now go." She mumbled with a chuckle as she switched back on the TV and again my face came up on the screen. Shaking my head at the irrational headlines, I strolled towards my room.
"Elliot Garrett displayed his affection for his new girlfriend in public."
I wondered how the guy was doing, planning ways to kill me, perhaps. How I was able to leave that vicinity without the reporters seeing me still left me baffled.
I crashed on my bed as I scrolled through my I*******m page. Just three hours and I had multiple messages. Some were threatening me about my relationship with Elliot Garrett while some were trying to form some sort of friendship with me.
"Arggh," I grunted as I threw the phone away and pushed my face into the pillow.
I had been expecting a call from Elliot at least. Before I sneaked away leaving him to battle with the ever-increasing paparazzi, I had slipped a paper into his palm. My number had been on it and I promised to sort out the mess if he ever needed me to. And in a way, I was thankful he didn't call or leave a message. Because, how in the world am I supposed to stop the viral news or video?
And the way he looked at me as I sneaked away from his sight made my breath hitch. Like he would kill me if we met again.
"Hello, and no this isn't Zora Walter so please hang up-"
"Big sis."
"Aaron?" I moved the phone away from my ears to check the caller's ID and indeed it was my brother.
"Wow, my sister has become a celebrity." He started and I let out a frustrated sigh.
"Look, Aaro-"
"No sis." He cut me off. "I am proud of you. I've got more friends in an hour, Zora not to talk of the girls all over me. You guys are everywhere, big sis. You should have left Marcus since forever."
"Aaron, I'm not in a relationship with Elliot Garrett, so please hang up and return to your lectures. I will talk to you later. Bye."
"But, sis I-"
I hissed under my breath as I ended the call.
Elliot Garrett.
Like I even wanted to have anything with him.
"Zora, come here. Elliot is giving a speech about the kiss."
I groaned, pushing my face into the pillow once more.
"Just what have you gotten yourself into, Zora?" I muttered to myself as I heard Kathy scream my name again.
"Kathy, please-" I shouted back. "I'm not listening to any damn speech. If Aaron calls you, tell him to get back to his lectures. And don't say "the kiss" again. I've heard enough of that."
"You wanted to be popular, bestie." Her voice reached me from the sitting room and I sighed. "You are trending on Social media now, your dream came true. Stop sulking."
"I'm not having this conversation again, Kathy. Get off that TV or I won't pay for the subscription again."
I didn't hear any word after that and I knew she understood what I meant. My stomach rumbled and I grunted in frustration.
I didn't even get the groceries before I disappeared, I couldn't. And God knows how Marcus and his girlfriend got lost among the paparazzi.
My phone pinged again and I swore. How most of them got my number in two hours still baffled me. I had many followers in an hour and they were increasing by the minute. Although it was absurd, I was happy with how much I had grown popular. Just that unlike what I dreamt of, I was popular because of a young multimillionaire.
Shutting my ears and trying to ignore the buzz sounds my phone made every second, I rolled on my bed.
"That's it," I mumbled, grabbing the phone and putting it on Airplane mode. Just as I wanted to shove it under the pillow, my eyes caught a message.
"Meet me at Shirley Restaurant tomorrow by noon. You ought to sort out this mess, don't you think?"
My heart leaped and my stomach churned as I saw the name just below the message.
Elliot Garrett.
He messaged and now I had to get this cleared up. Rolling my eyes, I switched off the phone and screamed into my pillow.
"Fucked up. This is soo fucked up."
Chapter 3 I did my stuff at the very last minute. I never met up with time and getting out of my cozy bed was something I always did with difficulty. I was lazy, I knew that much and it was funny because I worked as a waitress in a restaurant. "It's 12:30, Zora," Kathy shouted as she strolled into the room. "Don't keep your Prince Charming waiting." She threw me a wink and I glared at her. "Aren't you supposed to be at work, Kat?" I groaned, slipping into baggy pants, and a purple crop top. "I could do without your presence." "I love you too." She laughed, as her eyes wandered over me. "What are you wearing?" I rolled my eyes, grabbing my phone from the table. "Whatever it looks like," I replied with a grin pulling the hoodie over my head. "I'm off." When I called in sick at my workplace, I was granted permission immediately which surprised me because not only were we short on waitresses these days, the manager wasn't someone that approved shitty excuses to skip work. "Get s
Chapter 4Elliot Garrett wasn't just a popular figure. Apart from him being the CEO of Garrett Corporation, he was one of the hottest billionaires in history. There were no magazines that wouldn't have his picture, even though I rarely read them. No news that wouldn't have Elliot Garrett's name on it. He never announced anyone as his girlfriend not to talk of his fiancee. He wasn't known to have any girlfriend so more often than not, he had his things with ladies. He didn't spend more than one week with any of them, and after he was done with them, he paid them off. The only lady that stayed with him for almost three months now was Sharon Myles.These were things Kathy had recounted to me yesterday when I found out who Elliot Garrett really was.My mouth slacked off as I stared at the guy. He held this nonchalant face that made me question his sanity. His grin didn't waver as he shifted them back to me."Baby, are you okay?" I blinked rapidly, my eyes fixed on the guy before me. I c
Chapter 5 I wasn't sure what I expected when I got down from Elliot Garrett's car, but the chilly breeze that hit me was not it. I shivered, my body getting used to the cold as I flagged down a taxi. I hugged myself tight as I rushed into the car. "Chicken and Co, Restaurant." Five minutes later, I was in front of my workplace. The cars were more than thirty, something that hasn't happened in a long while, and people were scurrying in and out of the restaurant. Snickering to myself, I pulled my hoodie over my face as I ambled towards the entrance. "Move." I blinked, turning around to see a pregnant woman with a boy struggling to get into the restaurant. For a second, I wondered if the Manager put up a promo but then, I would have known about it. I hurried towards the kitchen, nodding at some staff as I walked past them. "Hey, Bella," I whispered to one of my colleagues. "Is something wrong?" "Zora…" She screamed. I narrowed my eyes at her, swiftly clamping my hand over her mouth
Chapter 6 I swallowed, the lump in my throat getting bigger. My chest tightened and my hand shook as I struggled to hold the phone to my ear. "Is there no other way?" I whispered slowly, and the sigh I heard from the other end made a tear slip down my cheek and I wiped it off. "Doctor, say something." I held my breath. "No, there's not, Zora." He replied. "The other way is for him to live on medicines and I won't recommend that because even his medicines are expensive." "The cons of the surgery?" I scrolled through my laptop, my eyes searching for companies that might need a part-timer. "Is it assured that he will make it?" He must. There would be no essence of my living if he doesn't. He has to! "It's not 100%, Zora." Doctor Kim explained and I shut my eyes. "Mr. Walter is getting worse by the day. Even if the surgery won't go well, the least I could do for the poor man is let him rest in peace." "No." My voice was sharp as I shook my head vigorously, even though the man
Chapter 7 "Zora." I threw off my sneakers, as I walked into the room, ignoring Kathy's call. "Zora." She yelled again and I knew if I didn't reply this time, my best friend might just murder me. I turned around, letting out a sigh as I stared at Kathy, raising my eyebrows. "What?" I rolled my eyes at her. She was smiling at me which made me narrow my eyes. "Did Fredrik propose to you or something?" Fredrik was her boyfriend and even though they have been together for just two months, Kathy was head over heels for the guy. And the guy was cool so I had not a single problem with their relationship. She rolled my eyes at me, her eyes holding this glint to them. "I wish." She huffed. "But that's not it, Zora. Tell me, how did the meeting with Elliot Garrett go?" I hopped on the bed and pushed my hair into the pillow. "Bad. He is a jerk." I felt the bed dip beside me and the next second, my best friend smacked me on my butt. "Elliot Garrett? Who are you to call Elliot Garrett a j
Chapter 8 "Shitty alarm," I grumbled as I moved my left hand around the table. With my eyes still closed tightly, my fingers brushed against the alarm clock and immediately switched it off. I opened my eyes slowly, and just like I had expected, Kathy was on her bed, her body sprawled out on the small bed. I walked to the wardrobe and picked blue jeans and a purple top with a purple bandana. I threw it on the bed and shuffled into the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I was out and I pushed Kathy off the bed. She fell with a thud and I burst out laughing as she scrambled up, glaring daggers at me. "Get your shitty ass off the bed. You will be late for work." She rubbed her eyes and stood up. I watched as she staggered into the bathroom and shook my head. Kathy wasn't a morning person. I made some pancakes and scrambled eggs and by 7:30 am, we were all done. I grabbed my bag as Kathy wobbled down her meal. I sent a message to Aaron and the next second, he replied. "Hey, sis. I'm
Chapter 9 It was one thing to be in one of the most affluent companies in the country but to stand in the CEO's office with a dashing young man staring right at you, was something I could have fainted from. Averting my gaze from his, my eyes scanned through his office, taking in the beautiful decor. Starting from the small parlor on the left side of the office with a long sofa and small glass table in front of it, a 60-inch flat-screen tv, a refrigerator to the left, a water heater, and back to the main dish. Seated at the center of the office was a big glass table with two black leather chairs situated in front of him. To his side were a telephone, a notepad, a stack of beautifully designed pens, and an award frame with his laptop situated directly in front of him. I let out a short breath as I brought my eyes back to him, letting them hold the god-like being before me. I had seen him before but the way his black hair smoothed backward, and how professional he looked suited up
Chapter 10 As soon as we got into the car, my nostrils were once again assaulted by the same scent of Elliot I had perceived back at the office. For a minute there, I inhaled deeply, ignoring everything else as I let my eyes flutter to a close while I tried to have this scent forever imprinted in my brain. "Drive." In a simple but clear order, Elliot instructed the driver and we left. All through the drive, no one spoke to each other until it pulled up in front of a breathtaking building. Elliot's door opened and I watched as he stepped out of it before rounding the back to get mine for me. Such a gentlemanly act, I noted inwardly but kept my smile simple. My eyes remained glued to the magnificent structure before me, as they screamed one word – rich. I couldn't help but look around and take note of the decorations hanging from the ceiling which was covered in glass that showed my reflection. With our elbows locked, Elliot led me to a table he had reserved for the occasion a