Chapter 3

The masked guy started to make a noise in pain when Juliana again sprayed that pepper spray in his eyes. His strength on Juliana's hand weakend, Juliana quickly pulled her hand away and took that mask off from his face. Patting his eyes, he was groaning in pain. Juliana smirked and said, " Finally, caught you, Mr stalker". But time stopped for a moment when Juliana saw his face. He looked very handsome. Juliana took out her water bottle and while extending her hand holding bottle, she said, "Here, take it".

He quickly took the water bottle and washed his eyes. He was hardly opening his eyes as they looked swollen and red. "So, tell me! Why are you stalking me?" Juliana asked. Still patting his eyes, he looked at Juliana and remained quiet. "So, what's your name?" Juliana again asked him.

"Alberto… Alberto Mathews". He answered in his American accent. Pain was evident in his voice. "You danced with me at my birthday party. You were also photographing yesterday at my shoot. Why are you stalking me?" While making her voice from low to high, Juliana asked.

"Because I like you!" Without any hesitation, Alberto replied. Juliana's heart started beating fast. She was lost for a moment and then she said in a low voice, "What?"

"I really like your work. I am your fan. I heard that you are now going to start designing male clothes. I really want to be a model of your collection. I was finding ways to ask you but I couldn't find the courage to ask you, whenever we met". Alberto explained to her.

"Then, why are you being some creepy Mr Stalker? My agency is holding auditions for male models. You should give an audition to them". After hearing him, Juliana said. She was now relaxed as Alberto didn't look like a threat to him.

"I already did. But I don't have any modeling experience and they prefer experienced models. So, I wanted to tell you personally that I am your fan. I really like you… mm.. your work and I want to be a model for it". Alberto replied.

"Well Mr Stalker, I have a team and we make our decisions together. We will select models and if you would be good enough to be a model. Then we will call you. So, no more stalking. Otherwise I will have to call the police and neither of us want that to happen. I think you would understand that". Juliana said.

"Yes, I totally agree. I am sorry!". He said in a low voice. Juliana took her water bottle from his hand and put it in her bag. She turned around and took a step; when she heard, "Excuse me Juliana!". Juliana turned around and replied, "Now what?" Alberto said, "I think my phone got dropped here somewhere. I can't see anything and it's also dark . Can you please call my phone?".

"Okay, tell me your number". Juliana replied. Alberto told her his number. As Juliana was calling she asked, "Why were you calling me by my name".

"I think we are of the same age. And after our flirty dance, I don't want to call you ma'am". His voice sounded soothing to Juliana. It had a certain kind of coarseness. His phone rang and it was in his jacket's pocket.

"Oh, it was here. I didn't know". While smirking a bit, he said. Juliana also tried to hide her smile. "Should I call you ma'am?" Alberto asked. "No, you yourself said that we are of the same age".

"Then should I save your number as Juliana on my phone?". He asked again while tilting his head a bit.

"What do you think should be other than that?". Juliana questioned. "Ammmm… My idol". He replied and smiled. Juliana looked at his smile. She liked it very much but didn't tell him. "Was that a pickup line?" Juliana said in a sarcastic way.

"Did that work?" He questioned.

"No", Juliana answered straightforwardly but deep down she liked it.

"Okay…. Then, under what name are you saving my number". Alberto asked. He saw her saving his number. So, he called and asked Juliana to show it. Juliana didn't hesitate to show him as her phone rang. It said, "Mr Stalker" on her phone screen.

"Now, your turn". Juliana said as she called him. He tried to hide his phone behind his back but Juliana insisted. She started to move slowly towards Alberto. She was making solid eye contact with him. Alberto got lost for a moment in that eye contact like he was starstruck, after seeing Juliana's eyes. She quickly took the phone from Alberto's hand. She saw it on the phone's screen and it said, "Julie called".

"What? You saved my number as Julie…". Alberto replied, "I just like it better that way".

"Okay, then I am going". Juliana started to walk towards her house. Alberto was again following her while maintaining a distance between them. Juliana stopped and looked back, giving him a death stare. Alberto quickly said, "I am not stalking you. I am just making sure that you reach your house safely. It's night". Juliana didn't reply and continued on her way to her house but she murmured, "After scaring the hell out of me… he will now walk me home"

Juliana went to her room. She quickly ran towards the window. She saw Alberto who was standing at some distance away from her house. He walked away after seeing Juliana in the window.

He did make an impression on Juliana. Juliana was now relaxed as she thought that she wasn't hallucinating. When her team was deciding who would be the model of their male collection. Juliana saw Alberto's picture and selected him. Her team was shocked and her manager Mary said, "Ma'am, he is not an experienced model. How can we select him?"

"Mary! His face is perfect for my campaign. I am just giving him a part. So, he is selected". Juliana said in a bossy tone.

"Yes, ma'am". Mary replied. Mary called models to tell them they got selected.

Juliana stopped in a popular restaurant to get cake for his father as it was her parents' wedding anniversary. Though her real mom was not alive, she celebrated it every year to remember her mother. As she was picking up cake, she saw Adrian and Alice, sitting at a table opposite to each other. Infact, they were holding hands which was clearly visible because their hands were on the table. Juliana again felt anger.

She went to the bathroom. She was washing her face and was trying not to cry. She remembered earlier, when she asked Adrian where he was. Adrian told her that he was in his office. But he was here with Alice. Juliana wanted to celebrate her parents' anniversary with Adrian but he excused her. As she turned off the tap. Alice came into the bathroom. Juliana was looking in the mirror and Alice said, "How does it feel when you know the fact that your fiance is with you just because of money and a business deal. When you know that your fiance doesn't love you truly and is playing love games".

"How would I know that Alice? Actually, you should tell how it feels when you are in one-sided love with a committed man". Juliana counter attacked.

Alice smirked and said," One sided? Really? You sure about that, Juliana?"