THREE

The following day, Gemma arrived in Juan's car, and they both headed to her studio.

Ding!

The door opened, and Gemma stepped in at the same time. Anita walked out of the dressing room. She looked to her left and found Gemma smiling.

"Good morning, you look bright," Anita commented as she walked closer to her.

"I am," Gemma turned around, and Juan entered. Anita's smile fell, she looked at Gemma, and she had a massive smile. Confused, she managed a smile at Juan.

"Hi, Juan" He introduced himself like Anita didn't know who he was.

"Yeah, I know you, you're..." her eyes meet Gemma's. "You're handsome," through her gritted teeth and her brows raised.

"Thank you," He said with a small laugh and turned to Gemma. "Gemma wanted me to drop her off," he stated.

"Anita's brows fell, and she darted at Gemma, and she continued to smile, "Ah, so you didn't see any reason you should?" She asked.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand," Juan said, managing a smile which was already fading.

"What an impudent prick," she mumbled. "What is he coming here to prove?" She excused herself.

Juan forced a smile, his cheek already turning red with embarrassment. He turned to Gemma and slowly let go of her hand, his lips streaked with a smile.

"I am so sorry," Gemma started, finding words to please him as she could tell he was already mad, but he beat her.

"It's fine, and you can head in" he tucks a stray hair behind her ear. Gemma caught his wrist, staring into his eyes, "I have to go. I would call you, okay?" He said, leaning towards her and kissing her.

Gemma nodded right after the kiss, and Juan proceeded to leave. She watched till he was out of the studio. She lowered her gaze and raised them immediately with a sigh.

Angrily she headed for the dressing room, where she hoped Anita would be, but unfortunately, she wasn't in. The space was empty, but her clothes for the shoot stood in the corner of the room. Gemma dropped her bag on the table and pushed her hair backwards while she fell to the chair beside her.

Her phone rang, and Gemma immediately opened her bag; she thought Juan was the caller, but to her surprise, it was an unexpected caller. Someone she wouldn't believe you've called her this year, the caller ID wrote "Mom" Gemma swallowed, blinking blankly, stupefied. Suddenly she dropped the phone back and leaned backwards. She listened to her ringtone till it stopped.

The curtain opened, and Anita leaned on the wall with a book and pen. "Gemma," she called. Gemma turned and looked at her. "We are ready. It would be best if you prepared," she started, but she wasn't done.

"By the way, I can't believe you-" Gemma sighed heavily, interrupting her.

"I am not in the mood to talk. Why don't we talk some other time, when you're more respective," Gemma said, with her brows raised and a sassy look. Anita scoffed, shaking her head, Gemma had an attitude when she was pissed, but she didn't care.

"Whatever, I don't even want to speak to you either," Anita replied, walking into the room. She pushed the book under her armpit and the pen in her mouth. Anita took a Jean and tossed it to her. Gemma caught it nervously, earning a chuckle from Anita. She rolled her eyes angrily. "Den wants a better picture, or they will cancel the contract with you," Anita said and took her book in her hand, walking out of the room.

Gemma placed her hands on her head, pushing her silky hair backwards. She exhaled loudly.

The shoot started; Anita didn't glance at her for a minute, Gemma had a lot to say, but she couldn't because she drew the line first.

"Let me see the pictures," Anita said to the photographer; Gemma watched her as she whispered to the photographer. She then looked away.

"Is that all?" Gemma suddenly asked. Anita looked at her and gazed at the photographer as they continued their conversation.

Anita cleared her throat, "Yeah! I think we should wrap it up," she finally said as she clapped, alerting the crew.

Gemma sighed and proceeded to leave, but a voice stopped her, "You should go into acting," A deep sexy, baritone voice came from behind, and Gemma turned back, finding the handsome-looking photographer.

She quickly scanned his head to toe, and her eyes locked with his.

"Why should I?" She asked.

"Because you're very pretty on camera," he said. Gemma looked at him head to toe again, and something about him made her comfortable enough to talk to. He had a lovely and excellent sense of fashion. Unlike most people or men, he looked more like a rich dude, and his clothes and walk said it all.

She turned to him and folded her hand across her chest, "Why exactly are you here? You don't look like you want this job," she stated.

His look was ironic. "I am your photographer," He uttered while showing her his expensive camera.

"You must be earning a lot from it," She said sarcastically. Gemma looked at Anita, who was busy with whatever she was doing. "I would be leaving then" She checked the time. She had planned her lunch with some of her high school friends.

"You can't leave yet!" Anita suddenly yelled from where she was. Gemma looked at her, and she looked at her makeup artist instead, whispering something to her.

"Why! I have to be somewhere!" Gemma yelled back.

Anita looked back at her and said with a laugh. "Do you think this is your business?"

Gemma looked around, and everyone was staring at them, including the handsome photographer. She didn't understand why she had to scream when Gemma could come over and say what she wanted.

She took a few steps toward her, "What's wrong with you?" Gemma said, glancing around. Some people were still looking at them, while others continued with what they were doing.

"Get ready for the next round," Anita said, and Gemma glanced around. She opened her mouth to speak, but Anita ignored her and headed towards the others with a sly grin.

Gemma flung the curtain away, puffing. Anita was unbelievable. Just because she was older doesn't mean she gets to treat her like a child. She battled with her soul.

The curtain opened, and Gemma looked back. Her makeup artist— Gira, walked in. Their eyes met, and seeing the look on her face, she opened her box that was placed on the table already.

Gemma looked at the mirror, sighing over and over frustratedly.

Gira seeing how she reacted, suddenly said. "Don't be mad," she started, but the look Gemma gave her from the mirror's reflection made her shut her mouth nicely.

Gemma's phone beeped, and she reached out for her phone on the table. She unlocked it, and a message popped in.

It read, "We agreed, and everyone decided to meet by 8 pm, right? Venue still the same." Gemma stared at the confusing message, she didn't say anything and wondered when they made the decision, but that wasn't her problem; she was happy she wasn't late anyways. She breathed a breath of relief; at least she could still make it.

"Gira," She called.

"Yes?" Gira smiled, replying.

"Do you know the photographer?" Gemma asked curiously, and she blinked as she awaited her reply.

"Isaac?" she asked. Gemma raised her brows, he had a nice name, after all, and she was impressed.

She blinked. "Is that the name?" she cleared her throat, furrowing her brows simultaneously.

"Yeah, he's a very famous photographer, his father..." But Gemma interrupts her.

"I am not interested in his family," Gemma uttered. She was slowly closing her eyes to let her apply the eyeshadow.

"Okay," Gira's face showed annoyance at being probably interrupted.

"If he's famous, then why is he here?" Gemma's questions had no end. She had no idea why she was suddenly interested in him, but she continued to ask.

"He's working," Gira said with a chuckle, confused by her questions.

"Why?" She asked Gira looking at her from the mirror, and she shook her head, "I meant, why- how did he get here?" She asked, knowing her questions were silly, but then.

"Oh, Anita-" Gira was about to explain when Anita interrupted.

"Gira! Be quick and stop talking!" Anita ordered, closing the curtains immediately. Gira looked at Gemma, waiting for a reaction.

"You heard her" Gemma picked up her phone and scanned her pictures. She had lost the urge to continue.

After taking pictures for hours, Gemma was finally ready to leave the studio. She didn't care about approaching Anita anymore and needed to attend the meeting before eight. It was past seven now. And she only had a few minutes.

Gemma waltzed her way towards the door but stopped when Isaac also tried to walk in. She looked up at him, and he instantly had a smile on.

She rolled her eyes and slowly said, "Excuse me," she said with a sign.

"Oh, here," He says, stepping away. Gemma moved past him but stopped and looked at him, wondering why he had a smile on those pretty, sensual lips. Were they for a showoff? She stared at him intensely.

"Isaac?" She called, maintaining eye contact with him. She remembered his name, she loved the way his name sounded, and it wasn't something she could forget.

He looked surprised for a moment before it was gone. "Yes?" he cocked his head to the side, "Huh? you know my name?" His eyes brightened with happiness.

"Don't you know mine?" She raised her brows at him.

"Oh," He looked away, and Gemma tucked her hair behind her ear. "Well, Anita calls you a lot, and you're the model," he said, still smiling at her, making her curious.

"Why are you always smiling?" she blurted out.

"Huh?" Isaac chuckles. It was the first time someone had complained or commented on his smile, and he loved she was the one. It made him flush with a broader smile.

"Nevermind," she brushed, as he tried to control his smile, he was cute, and she couldn't deal with it. Gemma took out her keys and headed towards her car. Issac watched her drive off.

"It's because of you," He whispered to himself and walked in.

Arriving at the venue, Gemma dialled Juan's phone while she waited inside her. He hadn't called her the whole day and promised he would call her, he made her worry more whenever he didn't, and she wondered if everything was okay. His phone was unavailable throughout the whole time she called. Gemma had parked her car in front of a nice fancy restaurant, and when she could reach him, she tossed her phone inside her bag and headed out of the vehicle. Then, nervously, she took it out and continued to dial it, but it sang unavailable.

"Emma!" She heard a voice call. Gemma looked up and found Sarah waving at her. She pushed her phone inside her bag and waved back. Immediately Sarah rushed over to her. Sarah— Gemma's best friend/ high schoolmate.

"Hey!" she rushed towards her with her hand spread wide. Sarah ran forward till their body met, hugging each other tight. They pulled away, staring at themselves.

"Gosh, you're so pretty," Sarah said after drawing back. Gemma laughed and asked.

"How's Aria?" Gemma ignored her as she didn't want to talk about herself. She knew Sarah loved talking about her child, and that was an opportunity to cover hers up.

"Oh, she's fine, recently..." she started. Gemma locked hands with her, taking her into the restaurant. "Her father said it was unnecessary like, can you ever imagine!" Sarah said as they entered the restaurant. She had no idea what Sarah was talking about but nodded in disbelief.

"Emma!" Lucy— another high school friend, rushed forward. Gemma let go of Sarah, opening her arms for Lucy.

"Oh, Lucy! I've missed you," she said, hugging her even tight. "How're you?" Gemma asked, pulling away.

"I am fine. What about you?" She asked. Lucy's eyes danced around hers.

"Fine," Gemma sighed with a smile. Lucy narrowed her gaze to her side, seeing Sarah beside her.

"You're here?" Lucy's smile faded, and Gemma smiled at them both from high school. They've always been like cats and dogs. Although they were best friends, Lucy and Sarah were married to brothers, so they were practically in-laws.

"Oh, stop it!" Gemma placed her hands around them, heading to their table, and they laughed, kissing her cheek.

Soon after, the others came one after the other and the long table was filled with food and drinks.

"Emma" Gary— A classmate which she hated. Their history wasn't good, Gemma hated the sight of him, and she side-glanced at him, taking up her drink and sipping from it.

"What!" Sarah replied instead. Sarah was already half drunk by this time.

"I wasn't talking to you!" He glared at Sarah and then at Gemma.

Gemma looked at Sarah, and she rolled her eyes with words. "Whatever," she said when Gemma tapped her. The least she wanted was trouble.

"What is it, Gary?" Gemma answered.

"Did you hear?" Gary smiled and moved closer.

"Hear what?" She raised a brow at him at the same time, gawking at him while she threw in her mouth a nut.

"Juan..." Gemma stopped chewing, suddenly curious, Gemma couldn't care less what he said, but the moment it was Juan's name, it made her curious because Gary and Juan were friends. "Juan sent me a wedding invitation," He spat with a laugh.