Click.

"Turn, no to your left- yes! Right there."

Click.

"Oh my god, Sequoia how many more do we have to do?"

Click

I smirk from behind the camera, preparing my sarcastic remark as I clicked the button again. "As many as I feel like, why are you complaining? You literally have the best job in the world, Sura. " I pointed out, my fingers itched to readjust my lens again; my lips pursed to hold back a laugh as I watched Sura's facial expressions change as I spoke.

A huff escaped her lips as she did another pose, "A job you could have also-" here we go. Sura had been trying to get me into the modeling business for years, I've did a few ads and campaigns here and there but as far as anyone in the world knew; I was an amazing fashion photographer and bestfriend of Sura Giovanna, she was apart of the richest family in France and America. "- I mean you have the hair, body, personality! To top it off, you're adorable and young. You reach the requirements for our target audience!"

Target audience meaning horny teenage boys who will have my bikini pictures over his walls, no thanks.

I ignored Sura's rants as I took a few off guards, everyone I knew was telling me the same things. Jade and Ryan, the insane yet adorable couple, my father and mother, my stepsister Karina, and even my freaking neighbors! No one could respect my decisions, I didn't want to become a supermodel and I had my reasons: Privacy. Sura never got any and me being her friend, whenever I'm around her I never get any either.

Lord knows I needed that.

"I'm not modeling, Sura. Take five."

As soon as I told her that, various makeup artists , designers, interns, and assistants buzzed to life behind me. Shouting orders to each other while sura silently pouted while they fixed her hair, she hadn't said anything else about the topic but I knew I would hear about it at least two more times today. One thing I learned about Sura after only three years of friendship; she was persistent. When I first met her through my job, she insisted instantly that we have a sleepover claiming I was her bítch already. Surprisingly, I was not offended whatsoever maybe because I'm used to Jade still speaking to me as if we were highschool teenagers. Jade was a lot like Sura, and thats why we all got along although they often grilled me for being young and sexless, we've gotten along.

My thoughts were rudely interrupted when one of my employees informed that I had a visitor. A knowing grin stretched across my face as I watched him approach me, his grey eyes portrayed happiness and a smile stretched across his bearded face; My boyfriend, he was so youthful to be as stressed as he says he is. Before I could even say anything, he was pulling me into his strong arms while I grunted softly as he squeezed me.

"My little kitten." Nigel purred, his large fingers spread across my back and he presses me tightly against his chest. Nigel gave the best hugs, that's probably the only reason I was with him; kidding. "I've missed you."

I laughed a pulled my head from his chest, looking him in his eyes. "You saw me this morning." my tone teasing, mainly because I did see him hours ago but I was in a rush and so was he. Nigel's job was about to become more demanding, his construction company was expanding to the states and that required planning, organization, and most importantly, time. Of course I understood his situation because often there came times where I was the one leaving the country, he hated it.

Nigel wasn't much of the possessive type but when it came to being thousands of miles away, he wasn't the happiest. I couldn't even get a word in when calling him to tell him I was doing well, he would immediately shoot questions at me; when will you be back? Is work really that important? Come home to me darling, please? There are more explicit things said but they're a little too explicit.

"Yes, right. I did catch a glimpse of you in a very tempting position. "

The smile that was on my lips was quickly replaced with a nervous lip bite, my eyes looked at the people who passed by us. Checking to see if anyone heard what Nigel said, then quickly turning back and slapping his shoulder in a scolding manner. "Don't say things like that in public!"

Nigel chuckled and kissed my forehead softly, "You know I'm kidding, the position was tempting but I couldn't act on it if I wanted to-" he muttered, his tone changing and I knew where it was heading. He was constantly upset when I wouldn't give into him, I wanted to wait to have sex with him; I didn't know my reason behind it but all I knew was that I was going to wait until I felt like I was ready, I wish he'd understand but he doesn't. "- since I hadn't even made love to the woman I love yet."

He uses the same line to guilt me.

It wasn't working well for him either, Nigel was a manipulator and I knew that from the start but yet I knew how and when to detect lies from him. Like now, he wasn't lying about loving me because I knew look in his eyes when he saw me, I've witnessed it before. The problem was I didn't love him back, I wasn't sure what being madly in love felt like anymore; I sure as hell wish I knew. Nigel knew I needed time, but had been a whole year since we've been together and he often broke his back bending to my needs wanting me to love him.

I just.....couldn't.

I sigh before pressing my forehead to his chest, "Nigel, ywu knuw I'me nwot rweudy." I attempted to communication but I realized he couldn't hear my muffled words, his small huh? made it obvious also. "You know I'm not ready Nigel. " a sigh escaping my lips also, Nigel's eyes softened and his hand immediately went to trace my jaw softly.

"I know Sequoia, you know I do. The cold showers and my helpful hand will continue to be in use."

I threw my head back and laughed, just as Nigel's phone rung. He shot me an apologetic look before pulling it from his pocket and bringing it up to his ear. His business voice was present, I knew it was important when he began to speak rapid French. I took that as a sign to walk away, soon more interns came up to me; they knew not to interrupt Nigel and I, they learned very quickly.

"Ms. Smith, you have a call. I think its your mother."

I couldn't even stop the groan that fell from my lips, everyone around me chuckled and dispersed quickly. All of my employees knew how my mother was and if I gave them permission they would describe her as one word: bothersome. She calls me at least four times a day, at first it was nice to know she cared but now after a few years, it got annoying. I love her with my heart but I wish she would cut down the phone calls to twice a day.

With urgency, I walked out of our filming room and down to the closest phone which was at the receptionist desk. The temporary worker handed me the phone with a knowing look; she had only been here for a month and she already knew. I didn't have to put my ear to the phone to hear her yelling;

"Sequoia, honey, is that you? Oh god, I'm having trouble with something. " her voice was panicky, which caused me to instantly be worried. I constantly asked her what was wrong as she yelled into her background, "I need help, I have to ask you one of the most important questions I've ever asked you before."

"Ma, you're scaring me. Are you okay? Is dad okay? Karin-"

"oh they're fine, I just wanted to know what color icing you wanted for your cake."

Seriously?

Is she-?

I let out a chuckle of disbelief, she was getting worked up over what color icing for cake? "Mama, you can't give me heart attacks like this. Especially over something as petty as a cake." I spoke softly to her, she gasped when I said petty.

My mother didn't immediately curse me out, I heard her talking to someone about champagne in a completely different language before I got an earful. "petty? Sequoia tomorrow is your twenty sixth birthday! Be excited, I know that boyfriend of yours is-" I rolled my eyes, preparing to hear her brag about my boyfriend to me. I was grateful that my family loved Nigel, but I felt like the women in my family loved him too much. My dad still hated him though, says he gets a bad vibe from him. "-when are you two getting married? Time is ticking. "

The last sentence of her speech of admiration caught me off guard,my eyes widened and my grip on the phone became tighter. "You know I don't like marriage talk, so soon. Nigel doesn't want to marry me." I reply back cooly brushing her comment off, I hated marriage talk with my mother; that's all she could think about, claiming it had been her dream to plan her only daughter's wedding. I understood where she was coming from but I still didn't want to get married yet, my mother just couldn't wrap her head around that.

"but you were quick and ready to marry that other man, I don't get it."

I grew silent, my mother knew she hit a soft spot. That other man happened to be a thirty year old, probably with a new wife; and years later, it disturbingly still bothers me when it shouldn't. I press my lipstick coated lips together and listen to my mother sigh. "Honey, I'm sorry- I shouldn't of said that. I'm just curious, why don't you want a good marriage with a nice man?"

"Because mama, I don't think life revolves around marriage. I'll get married when the time is right, until then I want to take care of my business. I'm sorry." My business was taking off, I didn't need the extra stress of planning a wedding that would probably fail. And Surprisingly, she dropped the subject and proceeded to ask me things for my birthday party tomorrow; apparently turning twenty six is a big deal, but to me its just a reminder that I'm getting old. But at least I'm happily getting old, that counts for something.

Finally after ten more minutes of her going on about wine choices, cakes, and a guest list, she let me go. I sigh with relief as I sat the phone down and ran my fingers through my hair, I'm convinced that woman will put me in a grave. Pushing myself from the receptionist desk, I forgot the temp was sitting there listening to my mother and I conversation, I was too engrossed in something else to care.

"Ms. Smith!" I hear a voice call me, I turn to see my personal assistant running towards me with an envelope in his hands. Jamie appeared in front of me, breathing heavy; I had a grin on my face as I looked at his choice of shoes today, bright red pumps. His black hair laid back, and his blue eyes shining as he regained his posture."I have to catch my - I'm never ever running in these shoes again. You have mail."

I snicker as I pull the mail from his hands, he shot me a glare as I did so. "Thank you Jamie but I didn't ask or make you run in those tall ass heels, they're cute though." I teased, laughing loud as he scowled

"Miss Sequoia, you pay me to do things for you. If running is one of them, so be it." and with that he walked away from me, straight to the men in the processing department where he'd flirt his way through.

I shook my head as I turned, then made my way back to the filming room. Greeting others as I passed, my attention on the stack of mail in my hands; bills, magazine subscription, more bills, wedding invitations, letters of appreciation from clients, bills. When I finally looked up, everyone had left the room causing me to look at my watch, the room no longer buzzed with multiple voices. We wouldn't be done shooting until 2 and it happened to be 12:38pm now, who the hell did I have to fire?

Before I could start yelling orders to these lazy people, I hear a squeal from behind me and seconds later I was hugged tightly by a person behind me. I knew who the person was, mainly because no one squealed like her and no one hugged me like they were trying to cut off my blood circulation.

"Sequoia motherfucking smith, oh my god !"

And no one spoke to me like that.

"Jade."

Her hands spin me around suddenly, causing my hair to whip around in my face. "Jesus, calm down." I laugh, then push my hair away before pulling her into a tight hug. I haven't seen her since Christmas, and even then we didn't spend much time together mainly because of the fact she and Ryan were occupied. "What are you doing here? It the beginning of July. "

Jade openly gaped at me, "Tomorrow is your birthday, did you forget again?" she questioned incredulously, folding her arms across her chest. I shoot her a glare, she knew I only forgot it once and that was because I was running a business; I'm a busy woman also. '' I'm kidding, but I couldn't miss that party your mom is throwing you. Sura put it all over social media, half of France will probably attend."

"I told her I didn't want a damn party, and I'm gonna kill Sura. Where is she?"

"Over in the refreshments room, she and Ryan will probably be fighting in a mo-"

Just before she finished her sentence, Sura came stomping through the doors with Ryan hot on her trail. I groan loudly, I knew they were about exchange hurtful yet playful words. "Jade get your fiance!" sura demanded like the spoiled brat she was, Ryan was chuckling silently.

Fiance?

when I shot a confused look at jade she smiled sheepishly and held up her hand while Ryan stood next to her with a proud grin. Hold fùcking - "Shit!" I gasped in excitement, before I could stop myself I pounced on the couple trying to wrap my small arms around the two at the same time, that didn't work out. "Finally! Oh my god, I'm so happy for you two, it took you four years to grow some balls!"

Ryan rolled his eyes and pulled me into a hug , "Yes it did take me four years to win her family over, I am completely sure that her mother still hates me though." he muttered the last part in my ear, I laugh quietly and slapped his back. Jade's mother could be a bit difficult, other than the the constant questioning, Mrs. Morales could be the sweetest little lady alive.

"I heard that, my mother is not difficult."

"Oh yeah? Let's bring up that time that I told her about my plans to marry you, " he challenged as he pulled out of the hug, but still held me by his side. "She hit me with a cha- I don't know how to say it but I understood her message perfectly clear."

Jade folded her arms and shook her head, laughing as Ryan complained on. "Enough about you Ryan, Sequoia where's that handsome yet annoying boyfriend of yours?" she rose her eyebrow and gave me a knowing smirk, I groaned inwardly because I knew where this was heading.

"Okay , let me leave before you two try to determine his dick size. Jade, you know I don't approve of that but I'll let you have your fun....for now."

And with that, Ryan stalked out of the room while Jade hurriedly pulled my arm until she was dragging me to the black couch; we plopped down while sura who was still in the room, came over and sat with us a tray of fruits in hand. "First and foremost, how are you and Nigel? "

How were we?

Normal?

I shrugged as I pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear, Jade rolled her eyes and I knew that she was expecting a real answer. "We're okay, actually we're great." I answered truthfully, at least I thought it was the truth; Nigel and I weren't having problems, our relationship normal but I didn't like normal.

Sura laughed as she popped a grape into her mouth, "Lies, that man is dying slowly. The way he looks at her is sad, but cute- ya' know?" she spoke as she chewed, which surprisingly hadn't annoyed me like it usually would. "I mean, god he looks like he wants to pounce on the girl every time they're together. Poor Nigel, Sequoia won't even touch him."

Thanks, Sura.

Jade glared at me while I did the same to sura who was snickering as she picked at the plate. "What? Sequoia- sex is important for woman!" Jade stated, tilting her head as she spoke. "Why haven't you been enjoying yourself with the man you love? You know how much I press you on enjoying yourself, not holding yourself back. What's going on? "

Maybe, just maybe, there was something else.

"I don't know."

Lies. I knew why but would I ever utter the words of truth aloud? No, never. Who would? It was pathetic and I knew it, deep down I knew Jade was aware of the real reason I hadn't given myself to Nigel, and quite frankly that was embarrassing. She knew me more than anyone, and just by the look she was giving me now I could tell Jade felt sympathetic still after all these years. But the thing is, she understood why I couldn't completely let go. My thoughts hadn't been on that man this much in over three years, although I threw myself into my projects I still thought of him from time to time. What was different about today? Why had I relapsed?

"she's scared of that di-"

"Shut up Sura, leave her alone."

Sura shrugged and fed herself more fruits, Jade placed a hand on my knee as if she was telling me its okay

But god, this wasn't okay at all.

------------------------------------

Hey guys, here's the chapter I promised Saturday but suddenly everyone made plans with me so I'm just now getting to this. Sorryyyyyy, I love you guys.

The next chapter is a look into that other man's life lmaoo.

Even though its short, I'm happy with the info I covered. Thanks for waiting guys, ily.