Chapter 5

“I know you said you are my fan.. but I still want to be clear that I am already in love with someone else. So, please don't get any false hope”. Giving a smiling expression on her face, Juliana said. But deep down in her heart, Juliana felt a little bad for Alberto. Like she felt some kind of guilt for not liking Alberto.

“I totally understand…. You. I know that you are…. In love… with someone else. It's okay. It's not that we choose ourselves whom to love or whom to love not. Love… can just.. happen… with anyone…. Right?” Hiding many emotions in his heart while taking pauses, he said. But his eyes were failing to conceal his emotions as they were filled with tears but he didn't let those tears fall. And quickly said, “I think…. It's been late…. I need to go… Bye”. He turned around quickly and walked fastly towards his car, trying not to turn around to see Juliana.

Juliana was just looking at his back. She was sad for him but she also felt relief for not confusing things with Alberto. She went into her room. She was looking at the pictures of hers with her mother. She touched the frame of her mom's picture and started crying. She saw a necklace which her mom was wearing in the photo. She remembered the moment when her mom was on her deathbed and she gave that necklace to Juliana. But Juliana lost that necklace. She started weeping and hardly said, “Mom! I am sorry for not keeping your necklace safe.” Juliana slept with her mom's photo in her hands.

The next day, Juliana went to her studio for a new Photoshoot which was for her latest male collection. She was waiting for the models to come out of the dressing room. Suddenly, she got wonderstruck after seeing Alberto coming out of the dressing room. The makeup enhanced Alberto's handsomeness and he was looking very dashing in that beautiful pant coat. Juliana was just unintentionally looking at Alberto. She looked at his eyes which were always unique, then his lips and then his hair. Unintentionally she whispered, “ What a hot groom!”

“What? You said something?” Alberto asked in a questioning tone. As he was a bit away from Juliana. He couldn't hear her whisper. “Nothing!” Juliana said, posing that Alberto is just looking average and she didn't get impressed. But while walking close to him, she said, “You are looking good”. But then again, she didn't show any affection.

“Let's start our shoot”. Juliana said in a loud voice. The staff gathered around her and the photographer also arrived there.

Photographer was taking Alberto's solo photos. Different male and female models were looking at his photoshoot. Alberto was posing on the chair and the photographer was cheering him on by saying, “Just like that… yeah… you are doing good… keep that pose for a second”. Juliana took a look around her and she noticed that everyone was looking at Alberto.

Suddenly, the photographer said to Alberto, “Unbutton the first two buttons of your shirt and waistcoat.” Alberto gave him a confusing look and hesitated a bit by looking at people standing around him. But then again the photographer gestured with his hands to do it.

Alberto smiled nervously and did what the photographer said. The photographer asked him to bend a bit and expose the upper part of his torso. Alberto did it and the photographer cheered him on.

“Wow! Look at him. He is looking way too hot.” The girl standing beside Juliana said to other girls. “Yeah, just look at him.” One of them replied. Juliana felt a little jealous. She quickly said, “It's time to do the solo of other models.”

As soon as Juliana said, Alberto said thanks to the photographer and came straight to Juliana while buttoning his two buttons. “Was I good?” He said to Juliana but didn't notice that by going to Juliana, he gave all the attention of the crowd towards them.

“Yeah.. you were''. While trying to keep her cool, Juliana said, she was also moved by Alberto. She felt happy that Alberto came straight to her and the other girls were jealous. She liked his attention. She told him that he has just one more couple shoot which will take place after one day. Albero went to the dressing room to take off his makeup and suit. When he came out, many models said to him that he looked good and professional during the photoshoot. He said thanks to them but he didn't give any special attention to anyone except Juliana. He was constantly looking at her even when he was talking to other models. Some didn't like it as they noticed his eyes. Juliana also felt that Alberto is not moving his eyes from her. It was not a creepy way but still she felt a little uncomfortable.

As Alberto was going, Adrian came there. Alberto was going to say goodbye to Juliana but before he could say anything, Adrian said, “Juliana! I am so sorry. I didn't make it to your parents' anniversary. I was stuck in a very important business meeting”. Alberto stood there just to say goodbye to Juliana.

“Hope that meeting didn't involve Alice!” Juliana replied to Adrian. “Come on, I would've never skipped it for Alice”. Adrian said confidently.

“By the way, that's Alberto. He's the same guy who danced with me at my birthday”. Juliana wanted to see jealousy on Adrian's face. But Adrian didn't pay attention and said, “Oh hy, so you are a model. I am Adrian… Adrian Butler”.

“Hy… I am Alberto… Alberto Mathews. And you are her fiance?” Alberto replied.

“Yeah, I am.. but professionally I am a businessman”. Adrian answered. Juliana gave a look to Adrian. He didn't like to be known as Juliana's fiance. She also noticed that Alberto said that deliberately to get that answer from Adrian or maybe to hurt Adrian's ego.

“Nice to meet you but I was going..”. Alberto said to them and pointed to the exit door. He watched Juliana and Adrian holding hands and departed from there. He took his car from the parking lot of the studio and went to the parking lot of another studio in his car. He parked his car behind a pillar. He looked here and there and saw the location of cameras in the parking lot. He wore his cap and mask. He went close to the front seat of a black car. He looked in the car from the window. A man was sleeping there on the front seat. Alberto took out a very sharp needle from his jacket’s pocket. He was wearing gloves. He sat down and punctured the two tires of the car. He quickly ran to his car before anyone could see him.

He took his cap, gloves and mask off. He brushed his hair, looked into the mirror and whispered, “perfect”. He sat in his car and was staring at that black punctured car. Soon, a girl came there and walked towards the car. She said to the driver, who was earlier sleeping in the car, “Why are you being so late? I've been waiting for you.”

“Ma'am! The tires got punctured.” Driver replied.

“What? How am I supposed to go home now?”. The girl got annoyed.

“Ma'am! I called the mechanic. He is on his way.” Driver replied. The girl opened the car's door and was going to sit in it but at the same time, Alberto came there in his car and lowered the window of his car, “I can drop you if you are comfortable”.

“Who are you?” The girl replied.

“I am a new model, working for Juliana's latest male collection. My name's Alberto… Alberto Mathews.”

She began to think whether she should sit with him in his car or not. But Alberto continued, “Your driver can also come with us!”. The girl agreed and sat in the front seat with Alberto. Driver also sat in the back seat.

“Do you know me?” The girl asked.

“Of course, you are Alice… Alice Rivera.”