Burning Passion

CHAPTER 62: THE MISTRESS

She came back because she left behind the smartphone provided by the hotel, and it has access to her work like tonight's event, where she verifies the guest lists.

But when she was about to knock, it surprised her to hear Doctor Ben and Theo talking about something, which she heard her name mentioned.

Making hasty steps away from that place, she wipes her tears harshly.

What does that mean? She couldn't understand yet, but one thing is clear, Theo is the mystery man she's sleeping with.

She wants an explanation. She wanted to know why Theo was lying to her this way? Now her mind messed up.

Nikki saw an exit door. She pushes it open and steps outside, breathing air as much as her chest can take. The Securities that guarded the back of the castle were surprised to see her.

"Miss, where are you going?" asked one Security. They noticed that she was crying.

"Are you okay, Miss?"

The team looked at each other when she wasn't responding.

"What's the matter, boys?"

"Director Isagawa!" At once, they salute Daichi.

"What's going on here?" Daichi stared at the woman whose head remained lowered. "Nikki? Is that you?"

She looked up, and it surprised Daichi to see her cry. "Brother Daichi…" she stutters. "Can I borrow your back?"

The Security team looked at each other, and Daichi gestured to them to turn around. Everyone goes back to their post and ignores what they have witnessed.

Nikki cried at Daichi's back. Despite her flooding eyes, she could hear Miss Jean singing the song that was a favorite of hers. The song was about a happy lover, but it only brings hopelessness, which breaks her heart.

Jean sang two more songs before Nikki settled down. She anticipates Jean's performance, and now she hasn't watched even that.

"Do you want to go home? I will ask Matt to send you home," Daichi's offers. He is curious about what made Nikki cried, but he understands that she doesn't want to talk about it yet.

"Thank you, brother Daichi. But I have to go back, and I have been slacking too much in my first week."

"But you aren't well. Also, if you want to talk about it, I'm all ears."

Nikki pushes a smile. "Thank you, brother Daichi. I am fine now."

"Are you sure?"

Nikki nodded. "I will go back inside. Might they need more hands?"

"Okay. But if you think you aren't feeling better, let me know."

She nodded and tore a smile on her lips. She's grateful Daichi was here. Every time she thinks of her father, Daichi, who was there, she found nearby.

Nikki headed back inside. She was not herself yet, but everything was flashing back to her mind. The texts, encounters, and coincidences meeting with Theo seem all is a plan.

Why does he need to lie to her like this? He was always around her, and he was everywhere. Suddenly, he was like a mushroom showing up elsewhere.

Nikki was contemplating when he crossed Min Xi in the hallway. But she is not alone, and the actress who criticized her before is now the person she has argued with.

"I am not like you!" Min Xi hissed at the woman.

The actress known as Sandra Meng smirks and never shows Min Xi threatened her.

"You will be soon," Sandra taunted her.

Min Xi was about to counter, but she noticed Nikki appeared somewhere. At first, Nikki's sudden appearance bothered her. After she recovered, her expression was even more vicious. She grins, then states this;

"That won't happen to me. The Shang family won't mind if I won't bear a child. They already paid someone to become Theo's mistress and bear his offspring, while I could enjoy my success without stopping to reach the top."

"Are you insane? You're out of your mind!" Sandra barked at Min Xi.

Concerned, she glances in Nikki's direction. It astounded her at how Min Xi vocal to express this when someone overheard them.

She never thought there was a more destructive revelation she would hear tonight. "Excuse me," Nikki walked past the two women without taking a glance at them.

She feels like blood runs out her face. She turned pale and was like to faint at any moment. Nikki walks straight to the powder room and locks herself in a cubicle. With inaudible sounds, she cried.

So, that was Theo's reason?

He won't let her know it was him so that there will be no real attachment between them. Theo was friendly to her because he cared about the child on her belly and not because he likes her.

Something she must not expect since the very beginning she sleeps with that man.

What now? Still, she could not sort her head.

She was confused, but she didn't want to get affected by this.

Nikki went to the staff room. She washed her face and applied another makeup. For now, she fixes herself and is forced to smile. She should not act immaturely and abandon her work because she learns that the man she was in love with is playing a trick on her.

Nikki scans her reflection. Her eyes were red. But the event has lesser lighting; it won't notice much. Maybe she has to add more concealer and dark eyeshadow.

Nikki added more mascara, and it hid her swollen eyes but emphasized the shape. She inhales several times before she steps out and heads back to the event.

"Nikki, what took you so long?" Mely approached her the moment she appeared in the hall.

"Sorry, I needed to use the powder room. What is happening now?" 

"You should see Miss Min Xi's bridal gown earlier!"

"Ah, yes. I miss the Entourages introduction."

"Yes. The kids are too cute! I want to take a photo of them, but we're working."

"Yeah," she reacted lazily.

"Did you fix your makeup?"

"Huh? Why? Is it bad?"

"Oh, no! You so pretty!"

"Girls?" Miss Nina approaches them. "Assist the other guests in the East tables."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Nikki and Mely approach the Eastern part of the hall.

"Honey! Can you pitch me a glass of water?"

"Right away, sir!" Oh my, is that a Parisian designer? Nikki thought to herself. She left to get a glass of water, immediately served it to the guest.

"Monsieur, here is your water."

"Merci!" The guest thanked Nikki, and he actually scanned her body. "You look lovely."

"Oh, thank you." Did not expect to be praised by a designer, Nikki blushes.

After assisting a few guests, Nikki stood in the corner and watched the next batch of models wearing a casual white dress. They were all beautiful.

"Hey, miss pretty!"

Nikki wonders if she's the one who is meant for it. She turned to head to her right when a man was aiming his camera at her.

"Can you smile?" he makes a request.

"Oh, why?"

"Just one!"

Nikki recognizes this man. He is Lucas Green, a famous photographer who receives recognition internationally. Shy to do what he's asking, but she doesn't want to consider rude. Nikki smiles, and Lucas takes not only one photo of her, but he clicks his camera many times.

"Great!" Lucas raised a thumb's up. 

Back to the stage, a host announces the three supermodels on their casual bridal wear. The person who came out last is Min Xi. She looks like a goddess in her white dress with a touch of gold on the neckline and waistline. Her long legs are displaying proudly every step she makes. Everyone applauded her walk.

Nikki recalls what Min Xi mentions earlier. The Shang paid someone to bear Theo's child, and it was her, who Min Xi meant as that mistress. If she hadn't heard Theo and Doctor Ben's conversation, she wouldn't have the idea. She shook her head and focused on the event. This is not the time to care for her drama.

"Hello, everyone!" the primary host of the night greeted the guests. "Before we will proceed with the highlights of our Show! First, let us give the stage to this amazing woman who gives her love and passion for making us all beautiful. Let us welcome the Founder of the Rise in Fashion, our remarkable lady, Miss Anna Lawrence!"

Head toward the stage, husband Dave escorted Anna. She was now in her six months of pregnancy, the reason Dave was very careful to lead her to the stairs.

"Good evening, everybody! Thank you so much for attending our event tonight. Hoping you have enjoyed it?"

The crowd applauded. So then, Anna began acknowledging all the sponsors, thanking them, then mentions all the special guests from the International Fashion Association. 

"Now, before I close my speech. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge one person who is the entire overseer of this event. In fact, without his effort, this Show would never be this successful. I want to present it to you. Oh, before I forgot! The reason I have this acknowledgment—"

Anna smiled warmly at the crowd. Everyone wondered what it was, and they grew the thrill.

"Nikki? Can you please come to the stage?"