Chapter 119 - (Hundred) Eighteen: For You

" Close your eyes, Navaya." 

Navaya's brow shot up doubtingly but she still did what he told her to. She closed her eyes, hoping that letting him do her makeup wouldn't be the worst decision of her life. Trusting him with her face and praying he doesn't break that trust by doing something completely other than help her get ready, despite a part of her wishing he would.

What the fuck? Why would she want that? If not for anything, Navaya should get offended if he chose to do something else, not wishing he would.

She eventually tuned out her brain, it was useless at this point. It did nothing but give her stupid thoughts.

For the next Twenty minutes, Johnny's strokes and breath on Navaya's skin set her ablaze, only getting worse when his fingers met her lips in a light rub. 

It was always the light touches that did the most damage.

Navaya's breathing was simply all over the place— out of control, the sleeve of his coat grazing her heaving chest more than once. She didn't know whether it was by accident or intentional, it didn't matter much. Everything about it still managed to inflate the warmth of her body, and apparently, she was a sucker for it. 

The padded bra she wore did a good job of reducing the impact of his accidental touches on her boobs but her panties were no good. She needed a fresh pair.

He soon stopped painting her face. Painting— that was what Navaya honestly thought he was doing. He wasn't doing her makeup, he was painting just like he used to and her face was his canvas. 

His fingers then found her hairline, brushing it with his thumb and before she knew what was going on, a soft kiss landed on her forehead. 

She quivered in response.

" You can open your eyes now," Johnny said but Navaya's eyes stayed shut, too afraid of what she would see if she opened them. 

She heard him chuckle, probably amused by her behavior. How wouldn't he be when all she had done in front of him today was behave like an attention-deprived, horny fool?

" Open your eyes, Navaya and I promise you will see nothing but the best." He said, a laugh stuck in his throat.

Though Navaya knew he was only stroking his ego with those words, somehow his sentence alone revived a memory.

I will give you the best.

Johnny said those words to her but why this current situation reminded her of it was what she couldn't understand.

It was now or never.

Reluctantly, Navaya opened her eyes and froze as she stared at her reflection. The woman in the mirror looked like her but at the same time, she couldn't even recognize herself. So elegant, so confident, almost like she was a real model.

Beautiful. So fucking beautiful. 

She stood up from her chair and steered to the full-length mirror where she checked her front and back. She wore a golden off-shoulder sleeveless dress that hugged her around the waist, emphasizing her curves, a high slit that exposed her leg more. The dress even showed some amount of cleavage. It had everything Navaya liked in a dress. It was gorgeous but for some reason, she couldn't stop comparing the dress with the one Johnny picked out for her. 

Johnny. He did give her the best.

She grabbed matching golden heels and slipped her feet into them, the wide smile she had on nearly ripping her lips. Johnny took a step back, looking at her from head to toe. There was a slight quickness in his breathing as his eyes flickered with lust. The lust Navaya knew all too well but it only lasted for a second before completely vanishing without a trace, leaving her wondering if it was ever real or if she was just imagining things.

Johnny stretched out his hand in Navaya's direction, her heels clicking as she walked towards him without a thought, focusing on only his eyes. Their hands met and Navaya's palm that had gone cold with unease, warmed up immediately.

He sensed her anxiety and smiled. " Nervous?" He asked and Navaya nodded.

Despite how badly she wanted to act bold and pretend she wasn't having cold feet, she knew that Johnny would still see through her heinous lie— through her.

Then he placed a kiss on the back of her hand, never failing to evoke shivers in her.

" You will do great out there." 

With that, he led her out of the dressing room to the auditorium where he eased away, and an unbearable cold engulfed her instantly.

" Navaya, get a grip over yourself," Navaya muttered to herself as she walked towards the rest of the models, trying her best not to teeter in her heels.

Why the hell would Becca ask her to do something like this? It was equivalent to sending her to war— a suicide mission— and if the pain of wearing those heels doesn't kill her first, the stares of everyone in that auditorium would.

The show went ahead as planned. Becca gave the opening speech thanking all the generous support of the sponsors and appreciating Joaquin designs for letting Atlas feature their newest clothing line in its magazine. 

Becca's speech ended, giving way for the fashion show to commence. One by one, the models ambled elegantly on the runway, each of them wearing a dress featured in Atlas magazine. 

The time of dread.

Navaya's turn came and she fought hard not to pass out on the runway as she caught a glimpse of the crowd.

So. Many. People.

Her head spun with vertigo but she kept going. For Atlas. For Becca. Her eyes then roamed through the crowd of faces, only stopping when she locked gazes with Johnny and he smirked at her.

For you.

She finished the walk of doom, slightly hastening her pace so she could flee from the piercing stares of the audience.

The event soon drew to a close and Navaya stood beside Becca as she gave the concluding speech, still wearing the dress meant for Laura as she vowed to herself never to do something like that again in her life.

Navaya's gaze veered in Johnny's direction, her brows furrowing when she saw he wasn't staring— at the stage— at her. No, he seemed to be talking to someone. A woman. Blonde hair, brown eyes. And judging by that seductive smile on her face while she spoke to him, Navaya could see that the woman was aiming for something much more than a simple conversation.

Anger and disdain charred her soul as she saw the woman touching Johnny's shoulder, her fingers slowly slithering down his bicep with that infuriating smile still plastered on her face. The more Navaya stared at the scene in front of her, the more her brain regenerated images of Nicky, memories of her with Johnny. Soon, Navaya no longer saw the seductress who sat next to him but Nicky this time. 

To her, it was Nicky who was sitting next to Johnny. It was Nicky who was touching him. Nicky was back to take Johnny away again, only this time, Navaya wasn't in the mood to watch it happen. 

She quickly looked away and right after she did, Johnny grabbed the hand of the woman sitting next to him— touching him. His hardened gaze drilled painful holes through her as he pushed her hand off his body.

" Don't."

After the final speech, Navaya fled the auditorium, almost running with how wide her strides were. Reaching the dressing room, she scampered into the stall and slammed the door shut, the tightness in her chest threatening to suffocate her. 

Without waiting a second longer, she began stripping off the dress. The sight of it only enraged her even more. Everything enraged her. 

" I hate you so much." She muttered under her breath.

She didn't know what tormented her more. The fact that what she just said wasn't true, or the fact that Nicky still intimidated her despite already being dead. Nicky still made her feel less important in comparison.

If only she could bring herself to hate Johnny just as much as she hated Nicky, then maybe she wouldn't be affected by what she saw.

Navaya finally came out of the stall after standing inside it for a while, knowing fully well that if she hadn't done that, she stood a chance of literally biting someone's head off. Preferably the head of that slut that touched Johnny. Standing in there helped, she regained control over her emotions so no one would get mutilated.

She picked up her purse, stepping out of the dressing room, and as soon as she did, she heard a voice calling her from behind. 

She, first of all, thanked God that it was Becca's voice and not Johnny's. She didn't know if she could have a decent conversation with him without losing her damn mind.

" The launch was a success." Becca squealed as she neared and Navaya forced a smile.

" You see, I told you it would. So the next time I tell you to calm the fuck down, you listen." 

The grin on Becca's face widened. " You did great out there today. I was just looking for Johnny so we could all go out and celebrate. Have you seen him anywhere?" 

Becca asked and the smile on Navaya's face faltered.

He is probably fucking that whore in one of the bathrooms.

A bitter taste filled Navaya's mouth at the mere thought.

" I haven't seen him," Navaya answered. " Anyway, I'm sorry but I can't join you guys."

" What? Why?"

" I have this annoying headache that just doesn't want to grant me peace." Navaya lied so she wouldn't have to tag along, that way she could avoid Johnny even more. " I think I will just sit this one out." 

Disappointment tainted Becca's face. " Are you sure?"

" Yes, I'm sure." 

Navaya left Becca and went to where her car was parked, anger oozing out of her as she clenched the steering wheel. She started the car and drove around the city, aimlessly. 

She drove further away from Atlas and the memories of what happened in the dressing room rippled through her.

Johnny's touches. Him doing her makeup. The makeup she still had on. 

She grimaced as she checked her reflection in the mirror, taking out a handkerchief to wipe off the makeup but her hand froze before it even reached her face.

She couldn't do it, not like this. Navaya loved pretty things too much to even think of ruining it.

Navaya's long drive around the city came to a halt when she remembered that she was out of groceries at home and by the time she did, it was already getting dark outside. She turned the car around and steered to the nearest grocery store in the area where she quickly bought all she needed, heading back out again, only to bump into a man on her way to her car.

Her grocery bags dropped and he immediately bent to help her pick them up.

" Thank you so–" 

Navaya's words died in her throat when he lifted his head and she got a clear view of his face.

" Ace?" She turned morbid from shock.

" Long time no see, Sweetheart."