Chapter 4 4

Another sleepless night for me. After we talked-more like argued-at the bar, I went home. I didn't even wait for him to finish his sentence. I got into the car and drove away quickly.

I haven't seen him in a month. Which was good. Seeing him brings back all the pain. All the heartaches. So it's better this way. I'm still hurting. It's hard to accept the fact that I'm in love with a person who used to love me.

I want to cry and hug myself out of pity for some reason. I used to mean the world to him, but now, he can't even look at me without feeling angry. I saw that in his eyes. He loathes me.

The ringing of my phone brought me back to the real world. I pressed accept upon seeing that it was Christian. "Hello Cassidy! Good morning!" He enthused.

"Good morning. What's up?" I answered tersely.

"I don't think you've forgotten, have you? They're finishing the construction of your billboard on Edsa today!"

"Wow. Whoopee." I replied disinterestedly. He laughed and even called me grumpy. I rolled my eyes. Whatever.

"Oh, alright then. I'll pass by Theia's condo. Bye!" He dropped the call. I sighed. Can somebody please teach my manager some manners? Doesn't he know that it should be the woman who ends the call? Ugh!

I stood up from the bed. It's already nine am. I went down to the living room to eat breakfast but unfortunately, Alvido hadn't left yet. He was seated at the dining table. I didn't intend to join him, but my stomach was growling, which meant I had to eat breakfast with him even if I didn't want to.

I went down and sat at the far end of the table. He looked up from his newspaper and I noticed the bags under his eyes. He's been getting thinner lately. "What happened to you?" I asked, feigning interest.

"I'm stressed. There are a lot of problems in the company." I nodded. Okay. I don't care. As if I could help with that, right? The maids brought the food to the table.

"Please tell Ate Pining to make my coffee." I instructed the maid. "Ah well, ma'am..." the maid didn't finish because Alvido interrupted.

"Pining is no longer here, Cassidy." WHAT?! "Why?! Where is she? Who will make my coffee now?!" I grumbled. I only allowed Ate Pining to make my coffee because: a) she's kind. b) She knows exactly how I like my coffee.

Alvido looked at me. "We're reducing the number of housemaids here." I rolled my eyes. Reducing housemaids? Why? Are we in financial trouble? Hah! As if.

I ignored him and continued eating. My phone rang. I took it and saw that it was Ivy. Christian's assistant. "Hello, Ivy. Is there anything wrong?"

"Ma'am, yes! Please come here! I'm at the office where they hired you to model denim. They want to hire you for another project but suddenly someone barged in here!" She sounded really alarmed.

"Wait, wait. Have you tried calling Christian?"

"I cannot reach him, ma'am. His battery might be dead. Sir Christian should be here but he sent me first because he'll be late. Please, come here! This man just won't stop!"

"Why me?! Well, how should I know why that man is causing a ruckus. Call the guards instead! What does it have to do with me?"

"Well, ma'am, he's causing a scene because he wants your billboard on Edsa taken down."

WHAT NOW?! Why?! Why does he want it removed?! Am I ugly?! Is my body ugly?! No, it's not! My blood boiled suddenly.

"Okay, Ivy. Wait for me." She thanked me and I hung up. Whoever that disrespectful person is, they better be ready for me! I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

I didn't finish my food, I stood up immediately and was about to head back to my room when Alvido spoke. "I need your help."

I stopped walking and turned to face him. "No. Fix your own problems. I have my own dilemmas to solve." Then I left him.

Help? I would never help the man who poisoned and corrupted my mother's brain. He doesn't deserve my help, or anyone's help. He deserves to be alone. I thought bitterly as I ascended the stairs.

I quickly took a shower. In under thirty minutes, I was ready. I stormed out of the house and got into my car. I drove out of our garage, feeling extremely teed off. Who the hell is the jerk trying to take down my billboard?! They're in for it. Once I find out who they are, they're really going to get it. I was grumpy the whole drive to the said office.

When I arrived at the building, I was surprised to see guys in barongs talking to the security guards. What is really going on here?! I took the elevator and went out on the fourth floor. As I approached the office, I could hear commotion. It sounded like a chair being thrown. Shit. Will I be able to get out of there alive?! Ugh. I clenched my jaw and pushed the door open.

I saw Ivy's terrified face and the client who hired me to model denim. There was a broken chair nearby. Fuck!

"JUST TAKE DOWN HER FUCKING BILLBOARD!" That voice echoed through the whole room. Startled, I looked at the person who shouted. My eyes widened. "AARON?!" I asked in astonishment. He eyed me, obviously pissed off.

"Why did you accept?! Why did you agree to pose like that?! Don't you know that perverts passing by Edsa will desire you? Huh? Are you not thinking at all, Cassidy Margaux?!" He shouted angrily, kicking the wall.

I was too stunned to react. He faced me, and I could see that his face was already red from anger. "What?! Why can't you fucking answer me?! WHY DID YOU ACCEPT?!"

"It's my job, okay?!" I raised my voice. He looked at me with newfound hate. "Well, I don't like your job! You're showing too much skin!"

I put my hand on my head and the other on my hips. Dammit! It's so hard to explain to him! This is my job! What can I do?!

"Stop! Can you please?! I'm not naked on the billboard!"

"You almost are!" He hissed. I raised my arms in surrender. "Say what you want to say. But I won't let you take down my billboard." I replied in frustration.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I don't need your permission to do that," he said with finality in his tone, almost scaring me.

"What do you mean? What are you gonna do?" I asked, panicking. He reached for his pocket and pulled out something. A pad of...

I gasped when I realized what he was about to do. "No!" I shouted, but he ignored me. He took a pen from his other pocket and signed the paper. Then he tore it from the pad and placed it in front of the client who hired me.

I looked at him in horror. Mr. Chu - our client - looked at the piece of paper on his desk. Aaron stared at him and spoke.

"I'm paying you twenty million to take down her fucking billboard."