CHAPTER 27

"ARE YOU BUSY THE NEXT TWO WEEKS???" I asked as we walked back into the room.

Adam said he was hungry and we decided to order in some food.

"Umm....why? do you have plans??" he asked and motioned for me to sit down on the couch with him.

"Yes... remember Ciara-Quinn? I met her at your hotel the other day...she proposed a lunch date but later said I should be her escort to someone's wedding instead. A friend I think....." I blinked hoping it'd help me recall much better. I really wasn't sure anymore. I looked at Adam and he took quiet sometime to reply.

"Well....um....sure. We can go....it'll be fun...." he smiled and I thought he wasn't sure.

"Are you sure? you took time .....and I thought....you might be busy or something....." I held onto his hand and he held on to mine.

He smiled and ran his fingers in my hair. I loved it just when he did that.

"Anything for you, I might be busy but not for you....." he glamorously looked at me and I knew my heart was in the safest place it could ever be.

When I was little, dreaming about a prince charming on my sixteenth birthday was always what I would do. Rollercoaster rides and attraction site dates where all I could think of. But sitting here and reminiscing about the little things I and Adam do, it was greater than what I had always wanted.

I couldn't ask for anything more. He was just the man I always wanted and I knew that the very moment I saw him.

His hair was long and wavering over his forehead. In his hands was a painting which I later found out he named 'the carolina'. He wanted to submit it into the Talent Enhancement Farm Project. It was a very hot program back then supporting young artists. Despite the fact that he didn't get in, he was happy for me after my very first shoot went well. I was cast as the young Tessa Mont in the novel adapted movie Be Mine.

After sharing an ice cream, we confessed to each other how we loved aquatic sceneries and that was the beginning of our love story.

Who knew we would be here celebrating our fifteenth anniversary?

I looked at him and wore that look...telling him just how much my heart felt for him.

**********

It was the last Monday in December and thankfully the year was coming to an end. It had been quite a good one and made us hope that the next would be even better. A lot of things had happened and some that would turn me into a monster if I took them at heart.

Knowing that my mother abandoned me and my aunt was simply a puppet to her was a slow poison killing me by the day.

Each time I thought about it, my soul was left drenched in dread planting goosebumps all over my skin. I couldn't believe it no more than I tried not to imagine it.

I finished my breakfast and suddenly my phone rang. I picked it up immediately had it go onto my ear.

"Hello...."

"Ciara-Quinn. In case you start thinking it's Adam...." she gave a spiteful comment again and I knew I had to brace myself. Two weeks alongside Ciara was going to be thick and heavy

"Don't mention him please....it's karma... don't..."

"Oh I won't...sorry....so I called to tell you I booked you an appointment..."

"Appointment??"

"Yes I just forgot to tell you yesterday. Don't leave with make up on...the saloon will do it for you... have you tried MAC cosmetics?? They've released a waterproof collection and I want you to give it a try....." she explained.

"Oh really?" I immediately floated in the whole room.

"Yeah....they haven't released it on the market yet so I was thinking you might wanna give it a try and land a jackpot....you know...be the model for them...."

"Oh my goodness that's incredible....." I grimanced. "Thank you...."

"Anytime sis....." she smiled. "I'll meet you there alright? Just text me when you arrive...."

"Okay...." I replied hanging up and tried not to jump around in the room. Ciara had reached great heights. She was signed to MAC cosmestics for four years now and counting. Due to her profound dedication, she was promoted to Executive Officer alongside modelling which she now does in passing. As if that's not enough, her posthumous collaboration with MAC cosmetics became the best-selling celebrity collection in cosmetics history. Impressive!

Better yet, Billboard magazine named her the top-selling Spanish artist of the our decade with six Grammy nominations in a row.

She was sailing on cloud nine.

I immediately called Adam and told him I'll be leaving for the saloon. I was a bit disappointed when he turned me down and said he had an errand to run and he would find me there. I told him I hadn't carried my luggage and he promised to take it along with him.

I walked out of my room and Aaron was right outside waiting for me.

"Please call Lauren for me and tell her I left for Florida...." I talked to Aaron as we got into the elevator.

"Okay ma'am..." he nodded and pressed the button.

I was wearing a yellow summer dress with a fury coat on top not forgetting a set of yellow framed sunglasses. I had a sunhat on and seemed quiet excited for this trip: mostly because I got to try a brand new set MAC cosmetics products.

As soon as we got into the car I took the coat off. It's purpose was only to conceal my identity and now that we were in the car, I was safe.

"Salon Ink. Goldfinch street....." I told Aaron while fastening my seatbelt.

He started the car and I did what I did best when I wasn't doing anything. Instagram. I had eighty million followers, 2,568 posts and I was following one thousand people. Most of which were my celebrity friends.

Seeing that almost forty eight hours had passed without a post was really a shame.

I went through my gallery trying to pick a photo to know my followers I was still alive.

While going through my gallery, I found a picture I look yesterday.

It was of the fruit salad I got from an anonymous sender aka RedLotus. The way the fruits were arranged you would tell it was no ordinary person who did it. Was this guy a chef?

And the fruits in the salad seemed to be not from around here. Yes they were regular fruits but something about them just screamed 'extraordinary'. Who was this from?

Then, am idea crept into my mind. Eighty million followers of mine would definitely see this post and they were from all over the globe. Definitely one of them would know something.

I happily posted the picture and captioned it 'anyone knows where I can find this? xoxox help a friend' attached kissy face emoticons and uploaded it.

Marvelous-Lori was first to like and she said 'cute. uh..dunno...maybe Paris? haha'

I smiled but no. These fruits didn't look like they were from Paris.

In five seconds, I already had over a hundred thousand likes and fortunately some were giving suggestions.

New Mexico, San Diego California, a food express restaurant in New York, sterling heights Michigan, Las Vegas Nevada, McDonald's, Wendy's, Hong Kong, Houston Texas, Lubbock Texas, Indianapolis and many more. My head immediately started to ache and I shut my eyes in disdain.

Maybe this wasn't a very wise idea.

"Ma'am... we're here...."

I raised my head to look at him a bit confused. "Here where?"

"Salon Ink. Golfinch street....?"

"Ooh....thanks..." I smiled and unfastened my seat belt. I walked out and suddenly walked back in.

"I uploaded a picture not so long ago....I want you to take note of the places people are suggesting and then you can list them up for investigation..." I explained and he nodded.

I handed him my phone and turned back around, in the direction of the salon.

I was so excited.