The ride was slow and quiet. Diego couldn't help but glance at Nora now and then to see if she was ok. He heard her sniffing and sometimes wiping her eyes with her hand. He turned the car around and found a spot to park the car. Nora looked at him wondering why he stopped the car all of a sudden. "Why did you stop?"
"I can't watch you crying and pretend like it means nothing." He said.
"Don't worry about me, I am fine." She forced a smile on her face.
"You can't fool me with that fake smile."
"This is not something to discuss now Diego, please just start the engine and drive." He was about to say something when his phone rang. He saw who the caller was, instead of picking up the call, he started the engine and drove off.
"just know this discussion isn't over." Nora turned to look at him and he also turned to look at her. "I am serious." Nora rested her hand on the window. She has had a long day already. How she wishes she could just skip the whole shoot today, go home, get some rest and forget everything that happened. But it was her first day at work and she didn't want to seem lazy. She decided to use the opportunity to get some rest in the car.
Diego arrived at the company so he tapped her shoulder a little and she woke up. "We are here already," he told her.
opened her eyes widely and she could see the company in front of her but she couldn't move. "What's wrong?" asked Diego running his attention to her.
"Can I not go for this?" She asked.
Diego gave her a weird look. "What do you mean?"
"I don't feel like working right now." She told him. "I don't feel up to it."
"Is this because of what happened back there?" he asked.
Nora nodded. "Can I come back tomorrow?"
"Nora..I.."
"I know that it's important I am there today and all that but I am scared I would make a mistake and then.."
Diego raised his hand stopping her from speaking further. "Just today." He told her. "I will come to pick you up tomorrow."
"You don't need to do that. I know my way around here already."
Diego pretended not to hear her. "I will come to pick you up tomorrow. We ain't debating on this." He turned the car around and took her over to her house.
Nora thanked him before stepping out of the car. "Put in a good word for me."
Diego rolled his eyes at her. He started the engine and zoomed off.
Nora stood still for a while. She brought her phone out and gave a call to Sara. It was three in the afternoon which means Sara would be less busy at the bakery. She waited for her to pick up the call and when she did, she explained everything that happened.
"I don't understand, you mean Michael did what?"
"He saw me and he was acting as he wanted me back."
"I hope you are not going to fall for that."
"Of course not."
"Good. Michael is a viper. He is a green snake under the green grass, a wolf in sheep's clothing. After breaking your heart, he wants you back?"
"I am not saying he does, I might have read it all wrong."
"I don't care. Stay away from him at all costs. I also heard he broke up with Kayla after he had his way with her."
"What?!" Nora asked in disgust.
"Everyone warned her though but she wouldn't listen. Anyone thinking of going into a relationship with Michael should know what to expect."
"My hatred for him has just moved from forty-nine percent to one hundred percent."
"Let the hatred continue growing," Sara suggested. "So about the job, what's going to happen?"
"I told Diego I needed to rest and he agreed to give me a day's rest."
"That guy is very kind."
Nora then remembered the words Lindsay said to her about not hurting him. "Sara, I will call you back."
"Is everything okay? You were silent for a while."
"Everything is okay. I will call you later." She hung up the call after they had said their goodbyes.
~~~
Diego arrived at the company. He took a deep breath before stepping out of the car. He shut the door and locked it with the key. He climbed the stairs up to the company hall where he had to greet lots of people. Fortunately, he met Kelvin attending to a lady on his way inside his company. He waited a while for the woman to leave before he joined to meet Kelvin.
Kelvin entered his office concentrating on a file in his hands. Diego joined him inside without him knowing because he was focused on what he was reading. Kelvin finally noticed a presence so he turned and there he saw Diego standing next to him with a fake smile. "You are four hours late."
"I know. A lot of things happened and..." Diego noticed Kelvin's eyes were scanning the exit looking for his model. "...about her, she couldn't make it."
Kelvin dropped the file on the table, took a seat, and stared at his cousin.
"She just wasn't ready for the shoot today. She was nervous and I had to permit her to get some rest."
Kelvin stared at him in disbelief. "Can we do the shooting tomorrow?" Diego asked.
Kelvin went through some files on his shelf. he brought out an album filled with pictures of beautiful models. He threw the album over to Diego which he caught. "Choose any model you want. I will talk to the company where she works and she will be your model."
"Come on Kev."
"I gave you three days to find your model. I can't keep waiting for her to get a hold of herself and let this company run down. So do us a favor, pick one model there and prepare for your shoot tomorrow."
Diego tried to say something but was interrupted by the knock on the door.
"Come in Loretta," Kelvin instructed.
Loretta came in wearing a short black suit skirt and coat with a white shirt inside and black heels to go with it. "Good day sir Kelvin and Sir Diego, there is a lady outside wanting to see you."
Kelvin looked at Diego. "Her name?"
Loretta thought but when no name was coming out, she then realized that she didn't ask for her name. "How many times have I told you to always ask for people's names?"
Loretta apologized. "It will never happen again."
"It better not," said Kelvin. "Tell her to come in."
Loretta bowed her head before leaving to get the lady.
"Well, am I allowed to see him?"
"Yes. The office is a little by the left." Loretta explained showing her the direction.
"Thanks a lot." She walked in the direction and when she got there, she knocked at the door.
"Come in," said Kelvin with his head to bowed down while looking at the files on his table.
The door opened and Diego was the first to get up from his seat. Kelvin noticed the sudden movement from Diego, he had no other choice than to look at what made him stand up at such speed. Looking up, he saw Nora standing close to Diego. She was smiling and apologizing. He couldn't help but stand up to look at her. He was shocked. He couldn't tell if it was because of how she looked or maybe he was just surprised to see her here.
"Nora meet my boss, Kelvin Netherland."
Author's Notes
What will happen now? Will she take the job or run away?