Chapter 21 - A Turmoil

Their Point-of-View
"Dude, you are acting differently!" Said Nathan.
"Act what?" Nikolai begged.
"So, you are behaving innocently. I know you. How many decades have we been friends?
I idolize you with women. Your actions are distinct. Teach me to have a girlfriend again.
I am getting older and still living alone." Nathan told laughing.
"I cannot get it, Dude!" And Nikolai stopped signing the papers.
"They are all conversing about what you did to Eve. In the past, you caught her. Then you tied the shoelace for her.
And for sure, you sent the shoes to her. Nice moves, Dude!" He explained lengthily.
"What shoes are those? Why would I send it? I am just trying to be nice to everyone.
That was your advice to me. The same with Dad's recommendation.
Nothing more and nothing less." Nikolai shrugged.
"Really? Eve is an extraordinary woman." Nathan seated properly.
"Do you like her?" Nikolai's gaze deepened on his friend.
"Oh! Wow! Dude, your eyes are treacherous. What I want is her Manager, Ella.
Eve deserves another man!" He laughed at the same time.
Nikolai nodded.
"Have you seen her cover? She is the cover of Nativis magazine." Nathan announced.
"I have never seen the cover yet." He told promptly.
Nathan handed over the magazine.
Nikolai gazed at the cover few seconds.
He could not take his eyes off Eve's photo.
"Her face is so angelic yet so sensual. It has no vestige of imperfection. She is naively winsome!" As Nikolai stared at Eve's picture.
"I got it! I know you. You were like that with Gennina in the past." Nathan's comparison.
Nikolai rested deeply.
Did Nathan hear what was in his mind?
"For a long time, Gennina was the only woman my eyes could see. But why is it that every time I close my eyes, Eve's image keeps coming into my psyche?
No matter how many times I imagine Gennina's face I could not comprehend because Eve's face is the concern of my mind." Nikolai spoke to himself.
As Nikolai kept on watching over Eve's cover.
"Why can't I afford to miss a day without seeing her even from afar?" Nikolai's mind asked.
"So, you will just stare at her without saying anything?" Nathan pleaded.
"She could go far with her profession!" Nikolai said softly.
Nikolai and Nathan went to the parking lot at the same time that afternoon.
They planned to loosen up first after work. They have moreover not been able to go out and attend to their social life for a long time.
"Where are we going? To our favorite place?" Nathan inquired.
"Yes, let us go there!" Nikolai approved.
Nathan was about to maneuver the car when Nikolai stopped him.
He saw Eve and Ella walking with a man with them.
They were so pleased and laughing together.
The man opened the passenger seat for her and then assisted her into the car.
"Who is he in Eve's life? Eve has a problem with her foot. She can put on her seatbelt on her own. Nothing is wrong with her hand." Nikolai abruptly asked.
"Yeah! She can do that on her own but the man put the seatbelt on her." Nathan teased him.
"Who is that? Is he Eve's boyfriend?" Nikolai begged.
"Honestly, I have no idea if she has a boyfriend." Nathan shrugged.
"Last time, she was talking to someone on the phone. He told that person 'I love you'.
Then someone fetched her whose name was Luigi.
Does she not have a car?" He asked crookedly.
"Yes, she commutes going to TvN8 Station. That was the reason for your viral video in the past.
That man is probably Luigi. Possibly, he is the one bringing Eve and Ella every morning here at the station and fetched them too in the afternoon.
Eve should not be traveling alone. She is famous!" Nathan's conclusion.
"Yes, she should have a driver and not his boyfriend bringing her every day here." Nikolai grimaced.
"What is wrong with a boyfriend serving his girlfriend?
That man is too fortunate to have Eve as his girlfriend for that matter." and Nathan chuckled.
"Let us go!" Nikolai instructed him.
Nathan started driving Nikolai's Lamborghini Gallardo.
He is indeed an affluent man!
He has everything in the world.
Fancy clothes.
Fancy cars.
Fancy watches.
TvN8 Company.
But still, Nikolai knows that something is missing in his life.
"She is so lovely!" Exclaimed Bev, Manager of Kisses.
"Is that me?" Kisses asked while having her manicure.
"Eve Lopez, the cover girl of Nativis!" Bev answered back.
"That woman is disturbing! Do you find her pretty? I am better than her. I am the best!" she said in a loud voice.
"If that so, why did she get a Nativis contract and sponsorship while you did not?" Bev's sarcastic question.
"I should not have given her the Nativis lipstick!" she slapped her leg.
"Oouucchh...!" she shouted because he was hurt by the manicurist.
"Why did you give her lipstick?" Bev pleaded.
"I tried to ask Nikolai if Crimson lipstick was good for me. He said no. Then Eve Lopez was praised by the people with her pink lipstick. I could read their comments on social media.
I prefer to apply pink lipstick. And so that Nikolai would not notice her either. But, that irritates me even more!
Nativis got her as their new model. I hate her!" Kisses screamed again.
"But she is undoubtedly beautiful. And I chatted to her on TvN8 Station, she is polite. Humble and modest!" Bev continued.
"Bev, do you want to lose your job?" Kisses eyes widened.
"I said, you are better than her." Bev suddenly recovered.
At the TvN8 Station...
"Do you want to go with us? Eve and I are going to have dinner." Ella asked Lara, King, and Sittie.
"Oh Ella, I cannot come with you. Today is my boyfriend's birthday." Sittie retorted.
"I wish I could come but I need to work overtime. I have to pass this tomorrow." Lara refused too.
"How about you King?" Ella pleaded.
"I am sorry too! I cannot go either. I have to take care of something that Sir Nathan requested me to do." King answered back.
"Ella, it is just the two of us." I shrugged.
"Next time, let us set that up!" Said Lara.
After work, we booked a rent-A-car.
We headed out for some relaxation. We have been working seven days a week.
We are too much occupied these past few days.
"Wow! It is so delightful here!" I admired the place.
"This place is very elegant, right!" Ella averted her gaze.
We sat down and then ordered food. This is a thing called a 'food trip'.
Even though I eat a bunch, I am not gaining weight. Probably my metabolism is just active.
"I am still thinking of the sender of the shoes," Ella mumbled.
"Could it be Luigi?" I asked.
"I do not think Luigi would send that.
Why would he hide his identity as your number one fan?
He could give the present directly to you." Ella explained well.
"You are right! I feel ashamed because that shoe is costly." I frowned.
"Could it be Sir Nikolai?" she giggled.
"Of course not! He will not give me a gift. I am not Kisses." I sneered at her.
"Ella, I will just use the restroom." I changed the topis and I let her know.
Ella shook.
This is an Al Fresco dining. I could sense the breeze caressing my skin.
It looks like a big garden surrounded by wonderful flowers.
I entered the restroom. I am just a human that could feel the call of nature too.
Then I faced the mirror after I used the cubicle.
"Eve Lopez!" I heard a woman say.
"Yes, she is Eve Lopez!" Confirmation of the other one.
I peeked at them in a mirror.
"Can we have a picture with you?" They asked.
"Sure!" I answered.
After the picture taking, I went out of the restroom.
"She is beautiful! Let us tell them." And the two women walked quickly.
Wow! Should I say that I am famous?
My life is however typical. I do not want to be assuming the fame that other people would say.
I looked around at the flowers. Then unexpectedly people came to me.
They surrounded me.
"Eve, let us take a picture too!" one of them shouted.
"I want an autograph from you!" the other one.
"You are pretty in person!" I could hear them say.
They are already in turmoil. What will I do?
"Wait!" I said.
They speak one by one. They are all wanting my attention.
I abruptly felt someone clench my hand. And he was so powerful that he could get rid of the many people who were making a fuss.
He pulled me over and we ran away from the commotion.
We stopped at a tree. He leaned me against the tree. Then he blocked my face.
"Where is Eve?" the people asked.
They stopped in front of us.
Shocks! They will catch me again.
"Maybe she is there." The other one pointed in a different direction.
Then they went straight ahead to locate me.
I swallowed.
I felt a sense of solace!