"Good morning, Ms. Brooklyn. How's your day going?"
Briana took a deep breath and forced a smile on her face. "It's going okay, as you must have heard people love making baseless rumors."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. You know how people are, they always act like this because of two reasons only. They are full of envy for the person they slander or they despise being deceived by the person who got exposed." Adriana patted her shoulder.
"Don't think too much into it, okay? They will get over it soon." She finished making her coffee and started walking towards Briana until she walked past her.
"Are you saying they exposed me? Do you also think that the rumors are true? Me and Noah's relationship is perfectly fine!"
'Oh, no baby. That defensiveness is like admitting it right off the bat.'
Adriana who was already at the door halted her steps. "I never said that." She denied.
Briana turned around with a frown, already upset by this situation.
"You are my 'disciple' (I don't really like the sound of it) if that's what you call it. I'm only giving you some advice. The best way to handle such rumors is to ignore them. I never said that they were true, I only gave you two scenarios. It's up to you to choose one of them."
Briana who was on edge the whole morning clenched her jaw. "Obviously, they are all slandering me."
"See, if that's what you say, I put my faith in you. Don't worry, okay? We are friends I'm always by your side. Would you like me to help clear up the rumors? I have a few suggestions."
"Hmm, thank you." Briana now felt awkward.
'I guess she really got over Noah, even forgot all those memories.' She thought. remembering the conversation Noah and she had made her angry again.
She felt so pathetic at the moment, but it was fine because she had plans to solve it.
"Okay, let's have lunch after our meeting." Adriana smiled and walked away.
Yeah, she has a few suggestions alright.
"Humph." She took a sip of her coffee and continued walking towards her office.
When she saw who was exiting the elevator, she immediately took a turn and locked herself in the janitor's closet, since it was the nearest door.
Nope!
She was not doing this...not at all!
If a call hadn't interrupted them this morning they would have F%^^@&^*#^(@*&)&#)(&*#)(
*Due to the very inappropriate word for younger audiences the author has taken her time to blur it out. She asks for your gratefulness, after saving your innocent eyes.*
COUGH* COUGH*
She had been way too vulnerable last night! The thing with her sister, the fact that she thought of the past at that exact moment, and how she broke down in front of him. It was all unacceptable and embarrassing.
She patted her cheeks and tried to forget everything that happened this morning.
When she received a text message and heard footsteps right outside the door, she prayed it wasn't too loud.
She turned off the volume and answered her assistant's text.
She patted her cheeks and tried to forget everything that happened this morning.
When she received a text message and heard footsteps right outside the door, she prayed it wasn't too loud.
She turned off the volume and answered her assistant's text.
'I'll be there soon. Prepare the presentation and make sure everyone sits on the correct chairs.' She texted back since Natalie was asking her where she is and why isn't she in her office so they could go through the plans of the meeting one last time.
This was the first meeting and the last meeting she would host in this building.
In the middle of the meetings, she would receive a shocking call that would pave way for her leave to Paris.
Though she was born and raised in New York, few people know that when she was in the orphanage, the system had her switch different foster parents every week. The longest 'parents' that welcomed her into their home were from Paris, and so she spent a lot of time there when she was younger.
It was only after she was too old for any family to take an interest in adopting her, that she settled in New York.
Anyway, she didn't want to be here much longer than needed. The first step of her plan was a success.
There was now a broken trust between Noah and Briana. Her workplace would no longer help her spread the news of an engagement between them, and... well, her career would not move forward from now on.
'Well, that has to do with the 'present' I will leave her. To make up for all the birthdays and holiday gifts I failed to gift her these past 7 years.'
It was just a matter of time before she moved to the next step. As small and unsatisfying as this accomplishment was for her, Adriana needed to remain patient. She wanted slow and painful revenge after all.
'I can't wait to take my babies home.' She thought and unlocked the door, noticing there was no one outside.
"What were you doing in there?" Noah asked, pressing his body against the wall, It looked like he had been there for a while.
Adriana closed her eyes and gripped her phone. "I spilled something in my office, I needed to clean it up." She smiled.
"Really? You should have just asked someone else for help?"
"I didn't want to bother."
"Well, did you find it?" He asked.
"I did." She responded, picking up and random item from inside.
"You need a plunger, to clean up a mess in your office?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Were you perhaps, hiding from me?" He asked holding her back by her wrist.
"No. Please let go, we wouldn't want anyone seeing us?"
"I don't mind though."
"I very much mind."
"Fine, let's eat lunch together. I'll wait for you in my office." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of her palm before letting go.
"I have an appointment with somebody. Maybe another time." She refused bluntly.
"Is this person more important than me?" He asked.
"Yes."
"..."
After responding, she just walked away, leaving him speechless.
'Flirting has proved to be a failure today.'
When he saw Angel coming towards him from a distance to guide him into more work, his lips twitched.
It's okay, he'll have more time to talk with her later. (or so he hoped)
...
Adriana picked up her laptop and a fancy folder with her face on the cover. She was wearing a white dress that day, but only her collarbone, shoulders, and head appeared. There were small white gems on each side of her forehead and her lips were a pale pink. She had her eyes focused on something to the right with one hand on her forehead and the other on her chin as if adjusting her face.
She didn't want her face on it, but her photographer insisted on it, plus he let her wear a white mask that matched the theme of the photoshoot. It also went nicely with the line of clothing she had released.
She had done modeling to earn extra cash during her high school days. She stopped after she found a proper job and a part-time job in a popular cafe. To be honest, it was fun.
It was a way of expressing herself, her bold character really showed during photoshoots. It gave her certain confidence she never knew before.
That's why she despises her past self so much. That person had very low self-esteem, and she did her best to please everyone. She was afraid of making enemies, and even if she had her feelings hurt or got offended by someone, she would never speak a word.
She was pathetic.
After she got pregnant and she was living on her own with a son and a missing daughter, she had a lot of time to work on herself. It was hard molding herself into somebody drastically different. It really was, but the most important thing is that she wanted that change. She longed for it.
Anyway, when her photographer contacted her, he offered to put her face on her latest line. She had put nothing besides her name in the industry, which is 'Justine.' She never showed her face, and she was fine with it.
Currently, she had no intention of hiding her face. Actually, the only reason she played with the mystery thing was that she was so afraid and closed off when she first started. It was a moment in her life where she was still working hard to find herself. She didn't want any other judgment except for her talent.
And also because of her 'death.'
The world was cruel, and that's why she was afraid of showing her face and instead lived behind a mask. That obviously changed as the years passed, but she just rolled with it and never revealed her face or any hint of her identity.
Not only was it the perfect way to be off her enemy's radar, but she felt it would give her a significant advantage in her revenge.
When she walked inside the room, everyone went silent and all the chatter stopped. She smiled, "Good morning, please take your seats. We will start soon." She said in a neutral tone but with a polite smile.
'And the drama starts.'