Gift
Paparazzi
8: Paparazzi
<< Sophia >>
“Wear something hot! We have to Sophie… We HAVE to sign this guy!”
“Don’t worry, his jaw will drop!” I promise, picking a dress worthy enough.
This is my life now. Meet singers, make music, and change their lives… and our lives
for good. It’s been two years since I left my old life. I quit it, cold turkey, like a bad habit
one night.
That was a time when I was so ashamed I didn’t want to show my face to anyone. Not
even my father. At first, I thought I should tell him about What Nikki had done to me. But I
was afraid that just like Caleb, he would choose beautiful Nikki too. He always favored her
anyway.
I
The thought enraged me, and I gave my body hell.
Everyone says, be confident in your body and sh7it. But trample your heart if you are not
beautiful enough. People behave rudely. Fiancés cheat and fathers forget you. I thought my
father cared for me a little. But if he did, he would have looked for me. Turns out he
eventually favored Nikkie, anyway… and Caleb.
I sigh heavily. He was a golden goose for the Brown family. A G7od sent. Its obvious
Dad didn’t want to lose him.
Paparazzi
Probably that’s why he didn’t even look for me.
1/4
been two fu7c7king years, but still, sometimes the memories sting me. I have left behind my
old fat body. I wonder how long it will take to leave behind the painful memories.
Yeah, I did not belong to some poor family either. But we were not as rich as M
though.. I think dryly to myself. Who hands out 42 million a month to a girl he barely
knows.
Over time, I have figured, M indeed has a sense of humor. Once in a while, he pulls off
some strange stunts just to throw me out of the loop. Usually I get furious and annoyed,
but I have to admit he is funny at times.
Just like Lena had predicted two years ago.
Still, I don’t dare to meet him. I am afraid, his good personality and everything I feel
about him is an illusion and I don’t want to break it.
As we pull over in front of Eleven Madison Square My eyes widen.
“We better get him signed. There is no way we can afford this place!” I hiss at Lena
In my defense, we strictly follow a monthly budget. Lena makes fun of me about it, but
that’s alright. She won’t make fun of me once she figures out what I eventually plan to do
with the money.
She smirks. “I believe in you, Sophie… Just watch, he won’t be able to resist you..
“Thanks!” I say, thinking she is admiring my skills to close the deal, but then she
clarifies, “He is gonna drool all over you.” She glances at my dress.
My cheeks burn.
Is this dress too revealing? I don’t think so. It’s just a deep V neck I love.
It’s not my fault I have generous boobs.
“For a change, appreciate my business skills instead of my looks, Lena.” I roll my eyes
at her and she chuckles.
We sit in the beautiful ambiance waiting for the rockstar. As he enters the restaurant, his presence catches everyone’s attention. People around us are dressed in suits and gorgeous dresses, but he walks in casually in Jeans and a T-shirt, yet he looks… effortlessly
handsome. I don’t have words. He can put prim and proper people around us to shame.
Sigh!
Pics and videos do not do justice to him. I get it now… why are people going mad over
catching a glimpse and girls lust over him?
We get up to receive him. We shake hands and exchange pleasantries. As Lena is explaining to him our terms and how we benefited our already signed singers, my cheeks burn to realize his eyes are fixed on me.
Paparazzi
“You are beautiful… You know that?” He says out of the blue.
1/4
Lena smirks. But I turn red and uncomfortable.
After so much hard work on my looks and my body, I should be able to receive
compliments easily. But for some reason, when someone passes me a compliment, I feel
like they are shaming my old body.
It’s stu7pid, I know. But I cannot help but feel this way.
“Thank you,” I mumble.
We talk about our action plan for him and how he could be benefitted. Also, how he
could focus on his work-life balance instead of burning his energy on both ends.
I can not help but grin when he says, “I am in.”
“Thanks! You won’t regret it.”
“Honestly, so many people recommended you. I couldn’t help but get curious. I hope we
will do good business,” He forwards his hand.
“We sure will!” I give him a smile and shake his hand.
He chuckles and wears his glasses as we walk out together. Multiple cameras flash in
our face and some reporters swarm asking questions to Noah.
G7od Dam7n Paparazzi and their flashlights!
I and Lena walk to our car after saying goodbye to him. We are on the ninth cloud after
closing our deal with him.
“I will prepare paperwork today,” I tell Lena, grinning. I feel happy and content with our
success today.
“It calls for a party tonight! I will tell Jake..” She takes out her phone with a wide smile
on her face.
We party that night and we party hard!
The next morning, I woke up. Scratch that. I woke up at noon, to be exact. Cursing
Lena and Jake for ordering and forcing me to take shots again and again.
“You don’t loosen up… Celebrate!” Jake had told me last night.
After an eternity, I gain the strength to open my eyes and finally take a shower to get
ready.
I check calendar and plan rest of my day while walking around my apartment. Suddenly
a discreet van, parked outside my apartment, catches my eye.
I lean in to figure out who this van belongs to. A person rolls down the window and
clicks a picture of me.
What the actual Fu7ck!
Why are paparazzi following me?
“What’s a paparazzi van doing outside my apartment?” I call Lena and ask her.
*UMUAT? I don’t aan anu uan in front of mu bauan Nan’t thou think i am hat annuch to
2/4
Paparazzi
“WHAT? I don’t see any van in front of my house. Don’t they think I am hot enough to
be followed around with a camera?”
I scoff at the idea. She is freaking perfect and my life support.
“It’s not funny!”
“Oh, that I agree… I don’t know how celebrities manage this s7hit…”
“But why are they here?” I ask again.
“They probably think you are dating Noah or something.”
I roll my eyes.
“You were with me yesterday. How could that be a date?”
She hums, then says, “Well, I guess we need to wait a few hours soon. Whatever hot
news they are cooking will be out!”
Turns out Lena was right. The news does come out, and it isn’t good.
It’s about my fu7cking past finally getting back to me.
As I walk out of my apartment, a reporter tags along with me asking questions, “Miss Sophia… Would you like to make a comment on your ex-fiance Caleb & Your half-sister
Nikkie’s marriage announcement?”
I knew they got engaged a few months ago. It was all over the news at that time.
Caleb has done well for his business. With the help of my dad, I am sure. He was in the top
ten list of most eligible bachelors in USA this year.
“No comments,” I say.
“Is it true that you cheated on Mr. Caleb and left him heartbroken?”
I stop in my tracks. “No!”
“But you vanished! Why would you hide if you had nothing to be ashamed of?”
My cheeks burn in embarrassment. I know this reporter is throwing bait. I know I
shouldn’t answer him.
But I am fu7cking furious.
“He cheated on me with Nikkie!! I AM SORRY! but I didn’t want to get between two love
birds. I was supposed to marry him in a few months… But he was busy fu7cking my sister!” I
snarl at him and walk away.
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California Baby!
California Babyl
Gift
California Baby!
9: California Baby!
<< Sophia >>
I rush to Lena’s apartment in shame.
Fu7c7k!
Why?
Why did I lash out like that?
Lena has been sitting next to me for the past half hour listening to my sob story. Even
her plush sofa is unable to comfort me today.
I have spent nights sleeping on it. When I felt too alone in my apartment and wanted to
be near a friend. We would talk for hours, watch movies, then go to sleep. But today even.
this isn’t comforting me.
“Media wasn’t interested in me when they got engaged. I am not sure what changed
now.” I exclaim in frustration.
Lena rubs my back to calm me down.
“They are a big name now… They also signed a big construction contract a few days
back… Any news… Any gossip they can find now. Media will dig in.”
Her answer makes me feel worse. Because she is right. Caleb’s company made such a
good name. I am sure he made my dad tons of money too. That could only explain how
dad forgot me.
My shoulder slump again recalling how I lost my temper in front of that reporter. Now they will play that clip on replay… I cover my face in shame. It’s not good for my music
company either.
SH7IT!
I hope Noah doesn’t back off from our contract agreement when he sees this news. This company and reputation matters to me.
My phone rings, and my heartbeat quickens as I see a number from California ringing
on my phone.
“Sophie!”
I suck in a breath as I recognize that voice. “Dad!”
“I saw the news.”
Is he calling to tell me how I shamed him, by exposing his to-be Son-in-law?
I stay quiet because my heart is aching.
To my surprise, he asks, “Is it true?”
Tears shimmer In my eyes. I try to control my emotions and say, “Every single
“Come home, my child.”
“I have my life here, Dad… and I think nobody missed me there.” I say, trying to control my voice from breaking. Trying to sound strong.
“I did…” He says in a calm voice. “You have no idea how much I looked for you…”
I find it hard to believe.
He adds, “My only mistake… I left Caleb and Nikkie in charge of finding you. Now I can see how shortsighted I was. How careless… about my own daughter…”
His voice breaks with emotion and tears slip out of my eyes.
“I know I am a bad father, Sophie. I should have looked for you myself. But your old
man wants to meet you and do you right. Please come home…”
A sob escapes my mouth, hearing words I never imagined he would say.
I thought nobody wanted me.
Dad tries to convince me to come home for good, but I only agree to visit him for a few days. I will come back to New York City after meeting him.
Lena hugs me as I cut the call and I say, “I hope I am not making a mistake by going
to visit him…”
“No you are not,” she assures me.
The next day, Lena and I take a flight to Los Angeles. We land late in the evening and
decide to stay at a fancy hotel. I am not in the mood to meet or stay with my stepmom or
meet Nikkie.
Lena takes in a deep breath as we step out of the plane. She widens her arms and says, “California Baby!!! I missed you!”
I didn’t.
“What do you miss about this place?”
She sighs, “Fresh air! It’s not concrete all around. New York City is so fu6cking crowded
and Oh G6od, it’s so noisy there…”
I chuckle. Well, she is right.
“It sometimes smells too.” I admit and she laughs.
“Yes, it does!”
“Let’s freshen up and go out for some drinks.” I suggest, and she squeals in
excitement.
Lena invites some of her old friends and all hell breaks loose when we party again. I drink, trying to smother the dread of meeting everyone again. G6od knows who else will be there when I meet dad for lunch tomorrow.
When I am a little tipsy, I realized I missed this place too. I spent my whole child here, and this place has its own charm. We drink and party hard for hours. It’s late at night
California Baby!
2/3
and Lena is still not in the mood to get back to our hotel room.
“I am leaving… I have to meet Dad tomorrow.” I shout into Lena’s ear so she can hear me over the deafening music,
ears.
She nods and I walk towards my hotel room, swaying with the music still ringing in my
I am sleepy and drunk.
I somehow make it to my floor. I don’t remember my room number, but I know it was three doors after the lift on the left.
One-door.
Two-door..
Three-door…
Nooo… it’s first door, second door, third door…
I giggle correcting myself.
I turn the handle and it’s already open.
But How?
Who cares? I get to sleep sooner.
I remove my clothes one by one and throw them over the floor while walking into the bedroom.
The bathroom shower is on.
Lena is back already?
“When did you come back?” I ask her and crash into my bed without listening to her
answer.
I can ask her tomorrow. My bra’s hard-wire pokes my skin so I get rid of it and throw it
over the floor and pull the sheet over my waist so I wouldn’t feel too cold.
“It’s too cold Lena… turn down the F6ucking AC!” I mutter under my breath and slumber.
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