Elisse's POV
"Ohmigod, Jane!" I squealed in happiness as Jane told me all the details that transpired with her the whole day. "I love Tristan already."
"You haven't even met him," she said.
"I know, but he sure sounds gorgeous and just right for you. You need him in your life. He adds excitement."
"You made my life sounded so boring."
"Well, technically it is," I laughed as I heard her groan. "I'm kidding. I'm just glad that finally there is someone. Someone to give spice to your life. Gosh! I'm so excited for you. Your love life is finally getting colorful."
She sighed. "I hope so."
"What do you mean 'I hope so'? Grab it before it's gone, girl!"
She laughed and said, "We'll see how it goes. By the way, I'm calling because I am not sure what time I will be there and if ever my dad would let me go back to Manhattan tonight."
I frowned. "Why?"
"Well, it's my brother."
"Oh. Was he grilled again?"
"Yeah. You know my dad."
"Of course..."
"It will probably take a while. Plus, he still needs to discuss something with Tristan."
"Nothing serious, right?" I teased.
"No," she chuckled. "Business as usual."
"I see. I hope he gets the courage to tell your dad his intentions, too."
"Elisse..."
"What? I'm just saying. If he is really that adventurous and daring, then he should take the risk to tell your parents that he likes you."
"I'm not even sure if he likes me."
"Of course he does. Why would he ask you out?"
Jane was clueless on how men act when they like someone. I don't blame her. I was that naive, too at first but then I got better as I get to know more men. Some would be total a-holes who just like to get into your pants and calls you if they want a booty call. Others would be like James who wanted to take advantage of you even if you say no. But there are still others who were nice enough to even want to have a good relationship with you and yet I cannot give what they want from me, which is love.
"Do you think he really likes me?"
"Yes, I do. Anyway, just text me anytime when you are on your way, okay?"
"Sure. Thanks, Elisse."
"No problem," I said as we said our goodbyes and hung up.
Unlike Jane, my life has not been sheltered. I was orphaned when I was five years old and spent most of my entire life in an orphanage in Delaware. Not all girls likes me there. There were some who were mean and bullied me almost everyday. They would take my food, kicked me when I'm cleaning the floors and just did things that annoy me. Eventually, I learned to fight and because I was taller than most of the girls my age there, I was able to drag anyone by the hair who messed with me. Ever since then, I earned everybody's respect and never have I been bullied again.
I was fifteen when a couple adopted me. Even when they adopted me, they never changed my last name to honor my parents which made me love them immediately. I stayed in their beautiful home and placed me in a private school.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins were in their old age, perhaps in their sixties and never had a child. So they treated me as their own. They bought me some new clothes and took me to different places like Disneyland, Universal Studios and other wonderful places.
I felt like I had a family until Mrs. Collins got sick of breast cancer and my dream of a family crumbled into ashes. She died three months after she was diagnosed. It turned out, she had it for a long time and survived it, then it came back with a vengeance. A year later, Mr. Collins got depressed. I tried to help him but it was no use and one day, while I was in school, he took some pills in the closet and overdose himself. They tried to revive him but it was too late.
At the age of eighteen, I was an orphan again. On the day of my graduation, I was supposed to go up on the stage to get my diploma but instead I was in a funeral, burying my adopted father. They left me a good amount of money and a nice home but it felt empty. So I sold the house and took my highschool diploma with me as I bought a bus ticket to New York. There, I told myself, I would rebuild my life.
Eleanor discovered me when I was in a coffee shop. That time, I was looking for an apartment in the city while staying in a hotel. I used the money to open a savings account so I can have a down payment for the apartment I was going to rent. I was reading through a newspaper when she approached me.
"How would you like to work as a model?" She asked and sat across me on the chair. I looked up to her as I set the newspaper down.
"A model?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm the owner of a modelling agency here in New York. You have the height, the face and the body. You fit the job."
"Okay, but how?"
"Train with me for a few months. Then, I will be the one to endorse you to several of our clients. How would you like your face to be on billboards around Manhattan?"
It sounded appealing and I needed a job. So I took her offer and there, I trained in her agency for a few months until one of her clients, Miguel Lee, one of the top designers of clothes, asked me to model his new line along with other women in the agency. It was the start of my career as a model. It was fun for awhile since I was earning my own money. We would go out to parties, and I learned to drink and smoke.
I have learned that men can be vicious creatures. They tend to get what they want from you and will use you to the extent. Miguel was one of them. I thought I was one of his favorites, and he promised me that he will get me into tv commercials. He said he knew some people. So I believed him. He said so many sweet words to me and eventually hooked me in. I was lost. I thought I was in love and I didn't care if he was married. For me, I needed that security. I needed to feel loved again... only to be heartbroken.
He never made his promise. He just used me and I was vulnerable. I let myself fooled by him. His wife eventually learned that we were having an affair and threatened to tell everyone about it.
"I will end your career," she told him. "And for you, you little slut! Stay away from my husband or I'll make sure your face will never be seen again in the face of the earth."
I was shamed, threatened and degraded but I held onto Miguel. He was my security. I was so sure about it until he let me go.
"I cannot lose her, Elisse. I'm sorry," he told me.
Eleanor let go of me, too, telling me that I was not a good role model to other young aspiring models and she needed to protect her company.
Since then, I vowed not to let any man in. I banned myself from feeling anything. I don't want to be in love.. and get hurt. I cannot risk it anymore. Sex becomes part of a routine. Something that may or may not happen and according to my terms. I won't let any man degrade me again like that. I took control over myself and my body. I will do it only if I feel like it, not to gain something... not as an object but something to enjoy and only to the men I wanted to do it with.
For some, I looked promiscouos, indecent, but for my friends, I am me. They never judged me. They accepted me for who I am and never asked about my past. Never once that I heard them question how I look and act. We were all like sisters, and I wanted to stay that way forever.... so I never told them.
I guess I wanted to leave my past behind. I wanted to completely forget who I was before. I wanted to erase Miguel in my life and start a new one without him. My friends didn't recognize me as a model before. Maybe because partly, I was never that famous and was mostly seen on the runways.
Jane, despite of her being rich, was not the kind of woman who would go to a fashion show since her parents were strict. Trudy and Heather, on the other hand, had never heard of the word "fashion" in their entire life. Maybe that's why they were the ones I chose because they were simple and kind unlike the other girls in school. I was never into popular girls most especially those who wore signature things to flaunt them and belittle others.
There was one incident that a girl from the university tried to taunt me because she felt intimidated and accused me of stealing her boyfriend.
"Slut!" she called me and I looked up at her. She was dressed in a Ralph Lauren pink tennis dress which she probably bought somewhere as the logo does not look original. She was Agnes, one of the popular and mean girls in school who has a boyfriend named Trent Jones. Trent is the basketball star in the university who carelessly showed his interest on me while his ex-girlfriend watched with jealousy.
I was sitting with my friends that time and Heather was particulary irate by this girl that she stood up. They were the same height, about five feet two inches, and she raised her chin at her as Agnes tried to taunt her as well.
"You better f- off, Agnes, if you don't want me to drag your horse face all throughout the campus," she told her.
"Really, lesbo?! Ooohh! I'm scared," Agnes mocked her.
Heather clenched her jaw and started to lift her fist when I intervened.
"Stop, Heather! It's not worth it," I told her and I stood up.
Heather looked at me, confused.
"I'll deal with her," I told her and walked towards Agnes as she chuckled.
"You know what? I pity you," I told her as I stood in front of her and immediately her smile was wiped off her face. She stared at me with narrowed eyes. "I pity you because you let yourself go so low just for Trent, who probably don't love you anymore. I pity you because you would rather stand up here and taunt me and my friends because of your insecurites.
"You try to fight with everyone yet you still don't get the man you love. I pity you because this is how you see yourself, that whenever you bully someone like me and Jane or anybody for that matter, you tried to hide your fear because you felt like it was a weakness. Because you don't want anybody to see who you really are... all the ugliness underneath. Sorry, but I don't have time for your useless crappy show you wanted everyone to see. You need to love yourself more and move on."
I saw her gaped at me as Heather smiled wickedly. We walked out of there leaving her frozen from where she was standing.
"Wow! You just summed up who she really is," Trudy said. "That was impressive, Elisse. I wish I can do the same. Attagirl!"
Heather clapped at me and Jane just smiled as always.
"We should never let anyone do that to us. We are our own person and I hate it when people try to belittle someone just to get attention and control over you. So, let me tell you one thing, never let anyone put you down like that. Deal?"
"Deal," they said in unison and laughed. Ever since then, our bonding was much stronger and no one has ever messed us up.
One thing I have learned about human behavior is that we become very defensive creatures when we felt threatened. When our weaknesses are being exposed, we tend to hide it in different ways. Others would fight back but still others would crawl away. In my case, I tried to just bury them underground for others not to see. Forgetting them... leaving them behind and hoping it will never be dug up anymore and I have been living like that ever since. I lived happily without remembering my past life and just live for today hoping everything will continue as it is..
My phone beeped as I was about to go to the shower. I was already getting ready for the night and read a nice relaxing book when I saw a text message from Olive, the lesbian woman I met at the bar before. We have been hanging out sometimes ever since that night and tonight she was asking me if I was free.
Olive: Going to a bar today. U free? Let's meet up.
I looked at the time. It was only eight o'clock so I decided to meet her for a little bit while waiting for a message from Jane.
Me: Okay. B there in a few.
Olive: Great. C u at NoMad. Btw, got someone i want u to meet.
I wonder who it will be this time. Last time we hanged out, she introduced me to her new girlfriend, Chelsea. Then, their gay friend, Brian and their straight gorgeous guy friend who tried to hook up with me, which I did somehow, the brown hair blue eyed Alexander. He was interested on a serious relationship while I am not... or will never be again. I am happy just the way it is. No strings attached, just fun.
I jumped into the shower and got dressed. I chose a red tank dress and my favorite heels. I took my purse and keys then head out the door. My apartment is on the tenth floor and the elevator stopped on the third. The door opened and in came a tall gorgeous man, two inches taller than me. I couldn't stop noticing him as he stood beside me.
I have seen so many men before, but this guy particulary caught my attention. He was wearing a casual blue collared shirt and jeans. I usually stop being attracted to Asian guys since Miguel, and I wondered why this one was different. His presence made my heart skipped which never happened before and it scared me in a way but I dismissed it.
I studied him as he looked on his phone. My palms were sweaty. What was it with this guy that made me nervous? He is gorgeous, yes, as his physique looked like he goes to the gym everyday but I have seen more gorgeous guys before and why would this be different? His black hair is so shiny that some of its strands fall on his forehead. I suddenly had a vision of me running my fingers through his silky shiny ebony hair and I bit my lip at the thought.
I moved a bit closer to smell his perfume. He was probably wearing a Bvlgari Aqua, and I felt like my whole body almost lost control over the scent. Gosh! He smells so good, so sexy, and I closed my eyes, imagining his strong hands caressing every part of my body.
"Miss?" he suddenly spoke. His voice sounded husky.
"Hmmm..." I answered.
"You okay?"
"What?" I felt like I was in a trance.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and I opened my eyes. His small attractive black eyes were staring at me as his eyebrows furrowed. My eyes fell on his lips and I wanted to taste them as they looked appetizing. I saw his eyes stared at my lips, too, and swallowed as he placed his hands on my shoulders, trying to keep me in balance.
"A-Are you okay?" he stammered.
Suddenly, the elevator doors opened and I felt like a whole bucket of ice just fell on my head. My eyes grew wide as I straightened myself and my dress. I tried not to blush as I feel like I peed a little.
"I-I'm fine. Thank you," I said and I smiled sheepishly as I exited the elevator. As soon as I came out of the building, I breathed in the cool night summer breeze and regained my control as for the first time in my entire life, someone had shaken all my senses and hopefully would not change my life.