Chapter 144 - Someone Like You 1: The Nerd & the Superstar (2/2)

The smile the man called JT gave me was so bright, that my brain became haywire, totally forgetting what I had been lamenting upon just minutes before. The thousand-megawatt look never failed to render me into a bumbling idiot. Overwhelmed, I inadvertently looked away, gathering my thoughts, and preparing my mind. I knew this man would be up to throwing my resolve into chaos once more.

”Our business isn't until Monday next week. I don't remember setting an appointment with you today,” I told him, amazed that I was able to put a semblance of control to my voice. God knew I was starting to get upset again, and I wanted to get rid of him – to make him go away.

”Who said anything about business? Haven't you been listening? I said it's a date, remember?”

Unabashedly, JT flashed me another smile, and my upset only worsened. It's not that I disliked the guy. In fact, amazing as JT was, there was no one who could ever dislike him, including me. But…

”Nixie, I heard you turned him down again. I told you to be nice, remember? You know what will happen if JTsuddenly changes his mind and decides to leave.” The reproachful voice echoed in my ear and I placed a hand against my throbbing temple.

”There are so many other people out there – beautiful people, so why do I have to be his playmate? It's not in my job description to date him,” I reasoned out, and a derisive snort came from the telephone which made me frown.

”Job description? Haven't you been listening Nixie Kim? If JT leaves, you wouldn't even have a fuċkɨnġ job at all.”

Hey this was plain blackmail, right? Feeling a wave of resignation, my shoulders slumped.

”Why me?” I almost wailed.

There was nothing in this world I could ever think of as to why JT, one of the top artists of the country, the enigmatic, yet, most sought after actor, model, and our company's current endorser was so attached to me.

As the head of the department ȧssigned to the product he was modeling, I was tasked to cater to this man who surprisingly accepted our company's offer in spite of being a small corporation. The moment we got introduced to each other a quarter of a year ago, the man in question had been a constant presence in my life.

”I'm not sure why either, Kim. I don't understand why someone like you can interest him so much. All I know is that I was right on taking you with me when I presented the project to him – and now, I'm just glad JT likes you enough to stay with us,” my superior said thoughtfully, thinking of the three projects JT did with the company before clearing his throat. The man was clearly exploiting this phenomenon, and I was getting more and more upset by the situation.

”But what about my sanity?” I complained.

”What about it?” my boss countered coldly, and I was taken aback. ”What do you have against the guy anyway? He's treating you nicely, isn't he? I heard he's even in love with you that's why he's been pursuing you. You're one lucky girl – what are you complaining about?”

”That's just it…” I sighed in exasperation. Honestly, my superior was right – except that I really didn't feel right with any of what's happening. I…

Even though I had a beautiful face, nobody had ever seen it after high school. After being turned down painfully by the boy I had admired before, I had lost confidence and decided to hide my real self from the world. I couldn't even look at my own face, so how could people look at me? Why was JT even bothering with someone like me? I was and still am a coward.

”You have that wary cat look again.” Again, JT's voice penetrated my thoughts and I had no choice but to look at him. ”Do you hate me?”

The point-blank question caught me off guard, and I immediately shook my head.

”No.” Of course not. How could I?

Looking at him now, the way my heart pounded painfully against my ċhėst, what I felt about this man was a far cry from hatred.

”I don't hate you,” I replied honestly as I turned my gaze away once more.

No, I didn't hate him. I just felt that I didn't deserve this much attention from him, and it was stressing me so.

”Really?”

Like a young boy given his favorite toy, the superstar's face brightened as he stood up from his seat.

”Then let's go and have dinner together. I've always wanted to try out the newly opened Italian place nearby,” he said enthusiastically, and I no longer had an excuse, much less energy left to turn him down.