Chapter 4 Smiling For The First Time

"Hey Venice."

I turn my face and smile at Frank. "Hey, what's up? Oh Mr. Everett is having a briefing." I smile at him.

"No, I came here to have lunch with you. Since we can't have a date that night so I was thinking why don't I come over and have lunch together with you." He smiles at me and sits down across my desk.

"Well, we can have lunch in the lounge." I smile at him and fix my desk.

"Sure." He smiles at me.

I smile and get up from my chair after clean up my desk. "Hey there Colin." Frank smiles at Colin as he walks towards us.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Colin simply asks.

"Just asking Venice to grab some lunch together." Frank chuckles.

"Have you finish your report?" Colin turns his face at me.

"Yes I did, sir." I nod.

"Well, get back before 1 o'clock." Colin simply said and walks into his office.

I roll my eyes and let out a sigh. Why he always try to sabotage my date? I turn my face at Frank and smiles at him.

"Shouldn't we go now?" I smile at him.

"Sure. Lady first." He smiles back at me.

I walk lead him to the longue and find an empty table for both of us. "So, do you want to eat something?"

"I brought it here." Frank smiles at me and put the food on the table. "I made it by my own."

"Really? You or your housemaid?" I giggle.

"Totally me." He giggles and set up the table. "So, tell me about you."

"Well, ask me anything." I giggle.

"I heard that you just got a divorce." He turns his face at me.

"It's not finalized yet, still on process but we did signed the paperwork." I said to him. "Thank you." I smile at him as he give me his food.

"What's the cause?"

"He cheated on me and his lover is pregnant." I said to him.

"Are you traumatic with guys after that?" He asks me.

"No, not at all. I'm sure not all the guys like that." I smile at him and start eating the food. "Wow really delicious."

"Thank you." He smiles back at me. "Oh you got some mustard on your chin."

"Where?" I frown at him.

"Here." He smiles and rubs my chin using his thumb and wipes his thumb. "You look so beautiful."

"Thank you." I smile at him.

"I meant it. The first time I saw you I was blinded." He giggles.

"But you still can see right?" I chuckle.

"Yes of course I am. What do you think I am?" He laughs softly.

I laugh and continue eating my food. I look around and see Colin is having with some other bosses and take a look at us but when I turn my face at him, he suddenly look away. What is wrong with him?

"I was hoping that there will be another date from this." Frank smiles at me.

"Yes sure." I nod and smile back at him.

"What do you like to do for fun?" He asks me.

"I like walking down by the river and see the night lights from the city. What about you?" I smile at him.

"That sounds relaxing. Well, just like other guys maybe go to a bar have couple of drink." He chuckles.

"I see." I smile at him and sip the water.

Frank just smiling at me and eating his food. I like this man. He is so much different than Colin. He is fun and smiles a lot and so friendly. I don't know if he is hitting on the other guy. I'm just enjoying this moment.

~~

I walk into Colin's apartment and look around. I walk to his home office and take the file that he needs then walks back downstairs. I want to open the door but someone opens it from the front.

"Oh, who are you?" That woman frowns at me.

"I'm Venice Peters, I'm Mr. Everett's secretary. He told me to come over and pick this files." I smile at her.

"Oh I thought you're his girlfriend. But I'm not sure because he can't move on from me just yet. I'm Rose Jameson. His ex-wife." She said to me.

"We actually met couple days ago when you dropped Troy at the office." I said to her. "Hello." I smile at Troy.

"Yeah I don't remember with that." She simply said and walks away holding Troy.

I half smiled and close the door behind as I walk out from the apartment and run downstairs and get into Colin's car that he told me to take.

I start to drive and feeling the bright day in New York City. It's been a long time that I didn't drive by myself. I used to take a cab or bus a lot but now I finally get a chance to drive by myself.

I pull the car over to the building of our office and walk out from his car. I look around and smile. I really love New York but suddenly something fall off my head. I turn my face to the above and see a bird is pooping and the poop fell off right on my face as I turn my face.

I groan and run to the building quickly then get into the elevator quickly. I press the button many times to make it quick until I get into my floor and walk to the office quickly.

"Here is the files that you asked." I said to him and put the files on his desk.

"Well, thank you." Colin nods and turns his face at me. "Did you fell?"

"The bird was pooping above my head." I grunt.

"Okay, some said that's a good luck." He chuckles.

"It's not funny and it's not good luck. It's bad luck." I grunt. "Now if you'll excuse me." I roll my eyes and walk out from his office and walk into the restroom.

I wash my face and clean up my hair from this dirt. I walk out from the restroom and walk back to my desk. I take out my electric fan to dry my hair.

"Venice we are in trouble." Todd walks to my desk.

"What is it?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"The model for today's photoshoot couldn't come and we can't postpone the deadline of the magazine production." He said to me.

"What should we do?" I frown and thinking.

"We can use you as the model." Todd grins at me.

"No, no. I just had bird pooping on my head. That's why I had this manual hair dryer." I shake my head.

"We have stylist and don't worry. Come on. I'm the editor and I'm saying you so please." Todd takes my hand and walks lead me to the upstairs.

"I'm not ready for this." I frown at him.

"I believe in you. You can do this." Todd smiles at me. "Guys, I found us a model." Todd grins at them.

"Well, let's get her to get ready." Rafael simply said.

"Come on." Todd takes my hand and walks lead me to the dressing room.

I sit down in front of the vanity mirror and the stylists start doing my hair my make up. Well, I'm not complaining for this. When I was little I like to be a model for my mom's photo album and she said that I'm very photogenic.

~~

"Coming!" I shout as the door is knocking . I open the door and see Colin is standing by my door. "How could you know that I live here?"

"I was in the neighborhood. Troy wants to see you so I brought him here beside I'm sure it's boring to have dinner alone and singing to the All By Myself." He says and walks in.

This man is really annoying. I guess he lives by his own rules. I shake my head and continue cooking dinner as he is sitting down on the couch in my living room.

"Troy has requested for the mac and cheese you made him. I tried to make that one but he pulled that away." Colin says to me.

"I will make him one." I nod and continue cooking. "Finally you found someone who can go against you." I mumbled. "Hi." I smile at Troy. "Stay away for a bit. Don't get too close to the oven or the stove. Sit down here." I said to Troy and sit him down on the couch.

"Puppy!" Troy giggles and picks up Bubba.

"His name is Bubba." I smile at him. "He loves getting rubbed on his tummy."

"Hi, Bubba." Troy smiles and holds Bubba.

I smile and set up the dining table and wash my hands. "Come here, bring Bubba here. It's time for him to have dinner too." I smile at Troy.

Troy puts Bubba on the ground and squat down in front of Bubba watching him as I put the food on Bubba's bowl

Troy puts Bubba on the ground and squat down in front of Bubba watching him as I put the food on Bubba's bowl.

"Now wash your hands first." I smile at him and pick him up and turn on the faucet. "Don't splash the water!" I laugh and close my eyes.

Troy laughs and keeps splashing the water to me. "You wet." Troy giggles at me.

"Because of you." I chuckle and wipe my face and my hands. "Here sit down here and enjoy your mac and cheese." I smile at him and give him the food. "Do you want to eat or not?" I turn my face at Colin.

"Do you put poison in my food?" Colin walks to the dining table.

"Yes. Very poisoning." I simply answer and sit down next to Troy. "Remember when I teach you how to eat the pasta?" I smile at him.

"Uh huh. Spoon!" Troy grins at me and takes his spoon.

"That's a good boy." I smile at him.

Troy smiles back at me and pulls his face closer to me then cups my cheeks and pecks on my lips. I smile at him and peck on his lips back.

"He is probably the youngest guy that ever kissed me." I chuckle.

"Well, he likes you. He is very selective about people." Colin simply said.

"And you didn't compliment about my food anyway." I said to him.

"The rice is too dry and the meat is overcooked and the cheese is too creamy. There's the compliment." He simply said.

I roll my eyes and pout. This guy will never change to be a nice one I guess. Once he is being nice, he then kick me out an hour later. Why do I have to stuck with him?

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*Colin's POV*

I'm walking down into the bar and sit down on the bar and look around. I frown when I see Frank is dancing with another girl who isn't Venice and made out with her.

I sip my drink and keep looking at him until he walks over to me and sits down next to me. "So, what's up, man?" He grins at me.

"Aren't you seeing Venice, my secretary? Why are you made out with another girl?" I ask him.

"Why? She doesn't know and you won't tell her right? So what?" He laughs and shakes his head.

"But you could be loyal for her." I frown at him.

"Why should I? She fall in love so easily. She will believe everything I said. Later, man." Frank laughs and walks away hitting on other girls.

"Why are you seems so upset with that?" Dennis turns his face at me.

"Nothing. I mean, he could be loyal but he is still the same old Frank who is a manwhore." I answered and sip my drink.

"Yeah you keep being cold heart guy." Dennis laughs softly. "But what I see right now that you have interest in someone. You like her. You have desire to protect her and never want to hurt her but you always being you, playing it cool."

"You know I don't believe in everything you said." I chuckle.

"Well, you should because this girl will be your last. Thank me later." Dennis laughs and walks away.

I shake my head while chuckling and sip my drink. I turn my face around and see Frank went to the restroom with the woman that he made out with. I guess that they're going to have sex there.

I want to tell Venice of what happened but she probably won't trust me. I know how much she hates me but I love seeing her little smile or make her grunt cutely. Wait, what am I talking about?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Venice's POV*

"Yes, I will see you tonight." I smile and hung up the call from Frank. I turn my face quickly as Colin walk passed me over my desk. "Sir, excuse me, sir. Can I come home early tonight? I have a dinner date."

"Well, we have deadline of the production, Venice. Try to ask Michael for a permission." He simply said and sits down on his chair.

"But..."

"I will take you out to dinner tonight so don't worry. You still can have dinner." He said to me.

"Last time you had dinner in my house you insulted my food." I grunt and walk out from his office.

I go back sitting down on my chair and lean my head on my desk and text Frank that I can't have dinner with him tonight. My boss is always trying to sabotage my date.

I sigh and keep looking at my computer and scrolling the page of the website. I turn my face when someone is placing a magazine on my desk.

"The issue with you as the model just come out. It's the sample copy." Todd grins at me and sits down across my desk.

I open the magazine and look at me in it. "I look so beautiful." I grin at him.

"Yes you are. Thank you though. Now because of you we don't have to postpone the production." He smiles at me.

"Well, if we get postponed. Who else will getting fired? Me." I chuckle and keep looking at the magazine.

"That's true." Todd chuckles. "Alright I will get you something as a thank you. What do you want?"

"Just red velvet cake and ice latte." I smile at him.

"Will be right back, madame." Todd smiles back at me and walks away.

I smile and keep reading the magazine. Who knows that if those model agencies hit me up after and ask me to sign up with them and be their model. That's like a big dream comes true.

~~

I'm sitting down on my chair and read the menu. "This is like five star restaurant. Can we go back? I live alone now." I whisper at Colin.

"I can't hear you." He simply said and turns his face at the menu.

"Oh you're a bitch." I shake my head and turn my face to the menu and read it.

"So would you like to order?" The waiter smiles at us.

"Yes, how about two glasses of wine and then a medium well steak with the side salad and fresh water. Thank you." Colin close the menu book and give it to him.

"Yeah thank you." I giggle and give the menu book to him. "I don't want to wash the dishes to eat here."

"You won't. I will pay, don't worry." He simply said. "Where are you planning to have a date with Frank this time?"

"At the bar. And actually that's not your business." I shake my head.

"Well okay." He simply nods.

I let out a sigh and look around while waiting for the food. Colin just take out his phone and look at to his phone.

"The time I came to your house to pick up the files. Your ex wife was there." I said to him.

"What did she say?" He turns his face at me.

"She didn't say much but she is very arrogant, I think." I shrug.

"She is. She always thinking about herself. Nail appointment and saloon appointment is more important than Troy." He simply nods.

I nod and smile to the waiter as our food is coming. I don't know why Colin asked me to have dinner with him instead of letting me have a date with Frank. All I know is that once again he sabotage my date.

~~

"I will walk you home." Colin says to me as we walk out from the restaurant.

"But it's late wouldn't you be worried about Troy?" I turn my face at him and having my hands inside my coat pocket.

"He is fine. My mom is in town. Have you ever thought about having a kid of your own?"

"How? By adopting? Maybe but I can't be a single parent. I want my kids have both mom and dad so I don't know." I shrug.

"There are you are." Frank suddenly blocks our way.

"Frank, I didn't know you're here." I smile at him.

"I know why you always sabotaging my date with her. You like her. You don't want anyone else have her include me because you still hurt of what your ex-wife done to you." Frank glares at Colin.

"Rose slept with you. We have been friends for so long and how could you did that to me?" Colin frowns at him.

"Well, now since you both are finish having dinner. Can I take her?" Frank asks Colin and takes my hand.

"No. She is mine!" Colin takes my hand and pulls me closer to him. "You're such a dick. You don't remember what did you say to me at the bar? You even had sex with other girl there!" Colin frowns at him and walks lead me and still holding my hand.

"Oh I got it. She is one of your mistress right?" Frank laughs.

Colin suddenly turns around and punch him in the face. "You shouldn't have to say that. Look at you, a manwhore." Colin glares at him.

Frank gets upset and punch Colin in the face and make his nose bleeding then walk away. "I will never forget this thing!" Frank yells and walks away.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" I frown at Colin and take out handkerchief from my bag. "Here. Let's get you an ice bag." I said to him and walk to a 7-11 and buy an ice bag.

"No, I'm fine." Colin shakes his head and cover his nose with my handkerchief.

"No, I got it. The 7-11 is right in front of us." I smile at him and press the ice bag on his nose. "Now I know what you're trying to do. You showed me that Frank isn't a good guy."

"He isn't. I saw him with bunch of girls in the bar. When I asked him about you, he said that you don't need to know. So.. I thought he is just another type of your ex husband." Colin says to me while compressing his nose with the ice bag.

"Thank you." I smile at him.

"Don't mention it." He smiles back at me.

This is first time I see him smiling like that. I never see him smile before. Mostly he insult me and annoys me with everything he said but now he smiles at me and I couldn't believe that he does.