...Present Day...

MARIANNA

My eyes flutter open and it is already morning. So much for sleeping. Pushing myself in a sitting position, I quickly slip into my joggers and shirt while I squint my eyes a little they adjust to the room light. I take my car keys from inside the drawer and start heading out, not wanting to disturb him. This is not what I want to do but it is the best I could think of for both of us this morning.

"Where are you going?" He asks. The thing is, Lucas is not a deep sleeper. I turn back to look at him; he has just his boxer shorts on, exposing his torso and other parts of his body.

"To work. It's a work day, remember?" I ask him, raising my eyebrows and a half smile gracing my face.

"And you wanted to leave just like that? No good morning kiss?" He asks wearing a goofy smile and wiggling his eyebrows. Supporting himself with one hand, he jumps over the chair and lands on the other end before walking to where I am, just by the door.

"As old as you are, you still jump over chairs." I say, looking at him as he stands in front of me.

"What can I say? I am young at heart." He replies me, spreading his hands and turning 360 degrees.

"Indeed." I scoff at him. Slipping a hand on my waist, he steals a kiss from my lips.

The way my stomach churns whenever he does these things, if only he knows. Well, it's my fault. I agreed to have this unhealthy relationship with him, knowing fully well that he does not commit. Yeah, we are fuck buddies and have been so for the past years. I have given my body, heart and soul to this man for those years.

He does these little things because he has no idea about how I feel. Lucas is immune to feelings. I know this because he says it all the time and I have to be in character. For one, I don't want the feelings to spoil our friendship because in that aspect, he is a great guy. Secondly, to satisfy my sexual interests. Sounds selfish, right? He does it too. Thirdly, I have feelings for him which is why the second reason is so difficult. One would think, why not find another guy? Truth is, he is the only guy I want and it is messed up.

I give him a side hug and leave his house. Arriving home, I park my car and get in.

Once I shut the door behind me, I find myself slowly sitting on the floor, resting my back on the door while at it. My eyes are shut as I take in my emotions. I just could not deal anymore. It's slowly eating me up; the feelings. I thought I could shut off my emotions but lately for the past two years, I find myself catching feelings that can never be reciprocated by him.

What's even worse is that I know he can never commit to me because Lucas is a playboy and has a long line of women on his trail. They all want a taste of the hunk of a man and he does not fail in welcoming their advances.

I open my eyes and they come in contact with the digital clock on the stand, 7:15, it read. I sluggishly use my hands to steady myself while lifting my body from the ground.

Time to prepare for work, wear that megawatt smile of mine and act like nothing is wrong.

•••••

The buzz at the office today is so noticable because the moment I step in, a document is shoved into my arms by my boss, who is running up the stairs in so much haste.

"What's happening?" I ask Nicole, a colleague. She does a gesture to my hand and the document it contains.

Glancing through it, all I can utter is Wow! They have agreed. Riley and Reagan Sinclair: the famous twin models, have agreed to work with our agency for their next project.

From our sources, it is meant to commence in a month's time from now, so why the hurry around the work place? Right now, I am still rooted on the same spot, reading through.

"Marianna, come upstairs now!" My boss' voice echoes from atop the stairs to the ground floor. Maybe my curiosity will finally be filled in.

My eyes widen in shock when I see them seating so gracefully in the office. I quickly fix a smile on my face, quietly accessing their figures.

"Mr. and Miss. Sinclair, meet Marianna Davis, the person that will be in charge of your next project." She says.

Well, I never expected her to give this to me because it is huge but I am grateful. You see, I work as a stylist in a small private establishment which was started by my boss here; Miss. West. Although, above 40, she has no kids and is not married.

She dedicated the early part of her life working for others and now this stage, developing hers. It is not my business why she has no family to call her own but I would be honest, I don't want to end up being like her. Honestly, being in my late twenties and still like this, the thoughts of ending up this way scares me to bits.

I send a smile their way and nod to her. After discussing formalities with the twins, they exit the building of which I saw to.

"Thank you so much for this. I promise to do what it takes to excel at it." I say to my boss and she just nods her head, patting me by the back before going up the stairs, obviously to her office.

•••••

The only other way I have learned to unwind from work stress is by listening to pop music. Although it gets me in my feelings and thinking, at a point, it evens the mental stress and gives a soothing effect to me.

Driving with my car filled with the soothing sounds of My heart will go on by Celine Dion, my eyes water a little as I pass by the building. DAVIS EMPIRE, it reads. Here it stands beautifully, mocking me everyday when I go to work and return. Sometimes, I do sleepovers at Lucas' place when I can't handle it because his place is in a different direction from this route.

My phone rings and I tap on the screen to answer it.

"André, it has been a while." I say in the most cheerful voice I could muster.

"Hi, Anna, how do you do?" Did I mention that it is only Lucas that calls me Marie? Most people go by my full name and the people I consider as friends are allowed to call me Anna.

"Great. I am actually driving. Can I call you back once I get home?" I ask because driving and being on a call does not end well for people most times. Safety precautions first. Asides Lucas, André is my favorite one amongst the guys. He is a nice person.

"Yeah, sure. Stay safe." And like that, the call ends.

You're here.....
There's nothing I fear......

I sing along to the song which starts off from where it stopped.

First stop once I arrive at home is my bedroom. Hastily, I take off my clothes, left in just my underwears, I head straight to the toilet to poo. Once I am done with it, I clean up, flush the toilet and have my bath. Changing into something comfortable, which is usually shorts and camisoles since I am home alone, I leave my room for the kitchen to fix dinner.

The moment I am settled, sitting on my couch and eating the remains of the rice I cooked the day before, I dial André's number, turning on the speaker. Just before he speaks, only the clinking sound my spoon makes when it comes in contact with the metallic plate is heard.

"Hey. Thanks for calling back." He says. Is that relief I hear in his voice?

"You're welcome. What's up?" I ask.

"I need your help."

"Oh, the great André Dumont needs my help." I tease and he snickers. It is amazing how all four of them turned out great but I am just here; plain Jane AKA Lucas' fuck buddy and bestfriend, a really amazing description indeed. The food looses its taste in my mouth the moment that thought crosses my mind but I fight it and keep eating. My body would not feed itself if I don't.

Wait a minute, I am not broke. I have my trust fund and I have access to it. Just that when it comes to earnings, I am just okay.

"Please, you know you love me like that." These men and their sweet tongues. Love my ass!

"Psst. Just go straight to the point, young man." I say to him, unfazed by his flattery.

"Alright. It is about Fabian's ball. I need your help in styling someone." He says.

"Someone? Halle?" His model girlfriend looks like she should be able to do fine on her own.

"No, not her. Someone else." Now this is getting interesting.

"I charge well, Mr. Dumont." I say, smirking even though he will not see it because we are obviously not engaged in a facial conversation.

"I know. Come to my office on Friday, we'll discuss the details." He says. Well, money is not his problem so I am not bothered.

"Alright, see you then, Sir." I say, teasing him.

"Shut it. It's André, silly." He laughs before ending the call.

Whoever this person is, she must be special because the guys never call me to do anything with respect to my job with any lady.

Well, Fabian is married and his wife is weird to me so I don't relate with her, André's girlfriend, well the one I know of is a model and does not need me, Nikolas and Lucas are playboys.

I finish off my food and listen to some music before taking off my ear phone, dropping the phone on my bed locker and finally going to bed, excited for the days ahead.