chapter 45: job offer

Chapa POV:

It was Tuesday. I woke up, my alarm buzzing way too early for my liking. Stretching, I rolled out of bed and lazily checked my phone. Just a normal day at George's studio ahead, but at least I'd be meeting Blaise for lunch later, so that gave me something to look forward to. I didn't spend the night at Bose's place—I needed some space after everything that went down. It wasn't anything bad, I just needed time to myself to think things through.

After a quick shower, I threw on some jeans and a hoodie, grabbed my art supplies, and headed out. The studio was already buzzing when I arrived. George was chatting with some clients while the team worked away on their different projects. I waved to Blaise, who was across the room working on her painting, before heading to my own section of the studio.

I lost track of time as I got into the zone, painting details on the painting I'd been working on for weeks now. The colors popped just the way I wanted them to. It was turning out better than I'd imagined. Still, by noon, my stomach growled, reminding me it was time for lunch.

After cleaning up my brushes and workspace, I met up with Blaise outside the studio. We always took advantage of the two-hour lunch break George allowed us—it was a chance to get some fresh air and unwind a little before diving back into work.

"Hey!" Blaise greeted me, her usual big smile in place as I walked up to her. "You ready to get some food?"

"Always," she laughed. We headed downtown to one of our usual spots. It was a cozy little place, nothing fancy, but the food was always good and it wasn't too crowded. Perfect for catching up.

We grabbed a table by the window, chatting about random things as we waited for our food. Blaise was deep into some anime she'd been binging, giving me a detailed breakdown of the characters and plot twists. I was half-listening, smiling and nodding, but then something caught my eye across the room.

I froze mid-bite, my eyes locking on the last thing I expected to see.

There, sitting just a few tables away, was Mika. But she wasn't alone. She was sitting with Andrew, of all people.

I blinked. Twice. Maybe three times.

Mika? And Andrew? What the hell?

They weren't just sitting there casually either. They were talking, laughing. And from where I was sitting, it looked like they were... close. Way closer than I'd ever seen Mika with anyone outside her family. I quickly pulled out my phone and snapped a photo, keeping my movements subtle so they wouldn't notice me.

Blaise, noticing my sudden change in demeanor, raised an eyebrow. "What's up? Why are you taking pictures?"

I hesitated, glancing at the photo on my screen. "Uh, it's just... my friend. Mika."

"Mika?" Blaise repeated, glancing over in the direction I was looking.

"Yeah, she's by the way Miles' twin sister." I said, still staring at them. "And she's sitting with Andrew, the guy she claims to hate."

"Andrew? That guy who was with Bose on the cover of Vogue? Weren't you also complaining about him one time?" Blaise leaned forward, trying to get a better look.

"Yeah, because he's annoying and from Rivalton," I muttered, leaning back in my chair, still processing what I was seeing. I mean, Mika and Andrew? Of all people? I hadn't heard anything about them hanging out, and seeing them together like this—laughing and looking... well, close—felt like something straight out of a weird dream.

Blaise's mouth fell open. "Wait I thought Miles was also from Swellview. So Mika as well, right? Doesn't she hate Rivalton?"

"She does," I replied quickly. "That's what makes this so weird. Besides, she always tells me how much she hates him and also doesn't date or anything like that."

Blaise let out a low whistle, clearly as surprised as I was. "Well, well, well. This just got interesting. Did Miles know about this?"

"I doubt it," I muttered, staring down at my phone. "I mean, if he did, he would've said something, right?"

"Right," Blaise agreed, then paused for a second before leaning in closer. "So, you're gonna ask her about it, right? Or are we just gonna sit here and speculate?"

I sighed, putting my phone down. "I don't know. I mean, it's her business, but... I kinda want to know what's going on. This feels... weird."

"I mean, I can't blame her, he's really good-looking," Blaise admitted with a grin. "Miles' sister hanging out with the Andrew from Rivalton? It's like something out of a soap opera."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, I guess. But still, Mika's not the type to just hang out with guys like him. There's gotta be more to it."

We continued eating, though I kept sneaking glances over at Mika and Andrew. They seemed completely absorbed in their conversation, oblivious to the fact that I was watching them. I still couldn't wrap my head around it.

After a few more minutes of awkwardly watching them, I decided to let it go. It wasn't like I could just walk up to their table and demand answers. But still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Bose POV:

It had been a long morning already. I leaned back in the chair in my office, staring at the ceiling as the thoughts in my head raced. Chapa wasn't at my place last night. I missed her. She'd been staying at my penthouse for days, and her absence felt more jarring than I expected. I kept thinking about how I woke up alone, and now she was busy at George's studio, so I wasn't going to see her today either. The sudden change of routine didn't sit right with me.

Today was all about work—nothing new, but it felt heavier. I had a photoshoot lined up for a magazine. Ever since the Vogue feature went viral, more magazines kept reaching out, wanting me to do shoots with them. Andrew had his fair share too, but this one was just for me. The photographers were setting up in the studio, lights and equipment everywhere, and Bridget, was making sure everything was running smoothly.

I pulled myself together, glancing in the mirror as Bridget came over to adjust my collar. "You ready for this, Bose?" she asked with her usual efficiency.

"Yeah, let's get it over with," I said, brushing my hand through my hair. Truthfully, I wasn't feeling it today. My mind was elsewhere—thinking about Chapa, thinking about how much my life had changed over the past few months. The spotlight was intense.

The shoot started off normal enough—posing in different outfits, changing the lighting, the photographers giving me directions. But then I noticed something odd. The photographers started whispering to each other, glancing at me like they had some kind of secret they didn't want to share.

My patience wore thin. "Bridget," I called over, gesturing for her to come closer. "What are they whispering about?"

She looked over at the photographers, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'll ask."

She walked over to them, speaking quietly before returning to me, her expression more cautious than usual. "Bose, they... they were discussing a suggestion for the shoot."

"What suggestion?" I asked, feeling my jaw tighten. I wasn't in the mood for surprises today.

"They want to see you with another woman in the shoot," she said carefully, almost as if she was testing how I'd react.

I raised an eyebrow. "Another woman? Who?"

Bridget sighed, knowing this was a delicate situation. "They want to shoot new photos next week with Addie Clarke."

"Addie Clarke?" I repeated, the name striking a familiar chord. Of course, I knew her—famous actress, model, big-time influencer. She was everywhere these days. But that didn't mean I had any interest in working with her. I barely knew her.

Bridget looked uncomfortable, probably sensing how this was going to go. "Yes, her. They think it would create more buzz for the magazine."

I shook my head, my frustration rising. "I'm not interested in working with her."

Bridget blinked, caught off guard. "You... you don't want to do the shoot with her?"

"No," I said firmly. "I don't need to pose with another woman to sell a magazine. Especially not her."

Bridget seemed to hesitate. "But Bose, she's a huge name right now. This could—"

"I said no," I cut her off, more sharply than I intended. "I'm not doing it."

She nodded quickly, retreating a bit. "I'll tell them."

As she walked away, I couldn't help but feel irritated. The whole situation felt wrong. They didn't care about my vision or what I wanted—just about selling copies and creating hype. It was always about the next big thing, the next hot photo, the next viral moment. But what did that even mean anymore?

My mind drifted back to Chapa. What would she think if I posed with someone like Addie Clarke? Not that it mattered—I wasn't doing it either way—but I could already imagine her snarky comments, her playful jabs. Maybe that was why I refused. I didn't want anyone else next to me, even in something as superficial as a photoshoot. There was only one person I wanted around me, and she wasn't here right now.

Bridget came back after a few minutes, looking relieved. "They understand, Bose. We'll continue the shoot as planned."

"Good," I muttered, my mood still sour. "Let's get this over with."

The rest of the shoot dragged on, each click of the camera feeling more and more pointless. When it finally ended, I felt drained—not from the work, but from everything around it. The industry, the pressure, the constant demand to be something I wasn't sure I wanted to be anymore.

As I changed out of the last outfit and grabbed my phone, I considered calling Chapa. I wanted to hear her voice, to talk to her, even just for a few minutes. But I knew she was busy, so I held off.

Still, part of me couldn't shake the feeling that something was off today. I wasn't myself. Maybe it was because I missed her.

Chapa POV:

After a long day at George's, I finally made it home, feeling completely drained. It was 8 PM, and all I wanted to do was crash on my bed. No energy to even change out of my clothes—I just threw myself down, letting the tiredness take over. After work, I'd grabbed some food with Blaise and the others, and that was nice, but now the exhaustion had caught up to me.

I laid there for about an hour, just staring at the ceiling, half-asleep. That's when I heard a knock at the door. I groaned, not in the mood for visitors. It was 9 PM; who could it even be? Dragging myself up, I shuffled to the door and opened it, only to see Bose standing there, looking like he'd just finished something important.

"Hey," he greeted me with that signature smile, his voice low.

I leaned against the door, squinting at him. "Bose? What're you doing here?"

"Missed you," he said simply, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. He looked around like it was his first time seeing my place, even though he'd been over plenty of times.

"I thought you had a photoshoot today," I said, yawning and still not fully awake.

"Yeah, I did," Bose replied, walking into the small living area and tossing his jacket over a chair. "Long day. Same old thing—posing, changing outfits, all of that. But there was this weird moment with the photographers."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Weird moment?"

"They wanted to bring in Addie Clarke for a shoot," he said, shaking his head as he sat down. "Like, next week. They were trying to make it this whole big deal, like posing with her would sell more copies or something."

I rolled my eyes. "Addie Clarke? Isn't she that famous actress? The one everyone's obsessed with?"

"Yeah, that one. I shut it down though."

"Good," I said, not hiding the relief in my voice. "I would've hated that."

Bose chuckled softly, then glanced at me. "Why? You worried I'd fall for some actress?"

I smirked. "No, I just don't like sharing you with anyone, especially some celebrity."

He leaned back, looking a little tired himself. "Trust me, I wasn't interested in it. Honestly, the whole thing felt off."

We sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company after a long day. He was fiddling with his phone while I laid back down on the couch, not saying much. It was nice, just having him around, even if neither of us was really talking.

But as the minutes passed, I couldn't help but notice the tension growing in the room. It was subtle at first, the way Bose would glance over at me or how he'd shift in his seat. And then it hit me—I missed him, more than I realized. I'd slept at my own place last night, but I was so used to waking up next to him at his penthouse, his warmth, his presence. It felt weird without him.

I sat up, glancing at him. "I hate your work outfits," I muttered out of nowhere, breaking the silence.

Bose looked at me, surprised, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "What?"

"Your work outfits," I repeated, standing up and moving toward him. "They make you look too... stiff."

He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What do you suggest then?"

Instead of answering, I slowly reached for the buttons on his shirt, unfastening the top one, then the second.

His eyes followed my hands, his body stiffening slightly, but he didn't stop me. There was something intoxicating about how easy it was to undo him, how he didn't protest, just let me take control.

"And this shirt," I whispered, working my way down, "it's way too formal for you."

His breath hitched as I continued, the fabric parting, revealing the smooth skin beneath. I could feel the heat radiating off him as I got lower and lower, his eyes darkening with each button I undid.

"Let's see what you're hiding under this thing."

I felt a rush of adrenaline as my fingers grazed his skin.

"Chapa, what are you doing?" he suddenly asked as I paused at the last button of his shirt.

"Just getting you ready for a proper evaluation," I said with a grin.

"Okay, okay," He murmured. I felt his heart racing as he pulled me closer.

"You're really good at this." he said.

I chuckled against his skin. "I know," I said playfully, looking up at him. "I just want to see how handsome you really are."

"Chapa," he said softly, his voice full of warning, but there was no real resistance in it.

I didn't respond, just kept going, letting my fingers trail along his chest. I could feel his muscles tense slightly under my touch, his breathing getting deeper, matching the growing tension between us. When I reached the last button, I pushed the shirt open and leaned in, pressing a slow, teasing kiss against his collarbone.

"Is this better?" I murmured, my lips brushing against his skin.

Bose exhaled sharply, his hand coming up to cup the back of my neck, pulling me closer. "Much better," he said, his voice rougher than normal.

Before I knew it, his lips were on mine, the kiss deep and slow, filled with all the unspoken words between us. The rest of the world melted away as we lost ourselves in each other, the frustrations of the day forgotten in the heat of the moment.

I kissed his collarbone again, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath my lips. His skin was warm, solid, and I could feel the tension building between us. The air felt heavier, like it was charged, and I knew exactly where this was heading. But I didn't want to rush. I wanted to savor it, every second.

Bose let out a low breath, his hands instinctively finding my waist. His touch was gentle, but there was an unmistakable tremor beneath it. He was holding back, waiting for me to decide how far we were going to take this.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice deep and soft, but laced with a kind of restraint I hadn't seen in him before.

Without a word, I pushed him backward, my hands on his chest, guiding him until his back hit the bed. His eyes widened just a bit, surprised, but there was that heat, that unspoken connection between us. He didn't fight it. He let me take the lead, his gaze never leaving mine as I straddled him, still fully clothed, but feeling every inch of his body beneath me.

"I'm more than okay," I whispered, my lips curving into a smile as I leaned down, my breath brushing his neck before I kissed him again, harder this time.

I ran my hands across his chest, trailing my fingers down to his abs. God, his abs. I paused there, my fingers lightly grazing his skin, feeling the hard lines beneath. I bit my lip as I took in the sight of him—every inch of him so perfectly built.

He let out a quiet chuckle, his hands sliding up my back. "Like what you see?"

"You have no idea," I murmured, my fingers tracing the outline of his muscles like I couldn't believe he was real. "You're... I mean, look at you."

He chuckled again, a little louder this time, but it quickly turned into a low groan as I kissed my way down his chest. "You're killing me," he muttered, his voice more strained now. His hands moved to grip my waist, fingers tightening slightly. "Chapa..."

I glanced up at him, meeting his gaze. "What?" I teased, kissing his skin again, this time just above his abs. "Too much?"

He shook his head, eyes dark with heat. "Not enough."

That sent a thrill through me, and I couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face. I kissed him again, harder, my lips following the lines of his muscles as my fingers trailed lower.

His hands tightened on my hips as I pressed myself against him, feeling the heat radiating off his body. "You're incredible," he breathed, his voice thick with a mixture of frustration and need.

I paused, my hands resting on his chest, my fingers tracing the hard planes of his abs. "You have no idea how much I love this," I whispered, looking into his eyes, my voice almost lost in the heavy air between us.

He smirked, but it didn't last long. His breathing was getting faster, his body tensing beneath me as I continued kissing him, my lips never leaving his skin.

"God, you drive me crazy," he muttered, his voice low and gravelly as he tugged me closer.

I grinned down at him. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Not even close."

I felt my heart race, the heat between us building with every passing second. "Good," I whispered, leaning in to kiss him again, this time lingering, my fingers tangling in his hair.

His hands slid lower, resting on my thighs, his fingers digging in just enough to make me shiver. He kissed me back, harder now, his control slipping as I deepened the kiss, pressing my body against his.

"I can't—" He broke off, his breath hitching as I kissed him again, his words cut short. "Chapa..."

I pulled back slightly, just enough to catch my breath, but our foreheads were still pressed together, our noses brushing. "Yeah?"

He looked at me, his eyes dark and serious. "I love this... but you know where this is heading, right?"

I grinned, my lips brushing his again before I pulled back. "I know exactly where it's heading, and I want that."

He exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening on my hips as he pulled me down for another kiss, deeper this time, more urgent. We both knew there was no turning back from this now. The tension was too thick, the heat too overwhelming.

But I didn't care. I wanted this. I wanted him.

Bose POV:

I lay in Chapa's small bed, our undressed bodies intertwined under the blankets. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the small bedside lamp. It felt cozy, almost too tight, but I relished every second of it. The warmth of her skin against mine was intoxicating, and I couldn't help but run my fingers along her arm, feeling the softness there.

"Did you miss me?" I asked playfully, glancing down at her with a smirk.

"Maybe just a little," she replied, a hint of a smile teasing her lips as she nestled closer to me.

I let out a soft chuckle. "Just a little? I'll take it." I brushed a stray hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. My fingers lingered, tracing the outline of her jaw, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my touch. "You know, I was just thinking how nice it is to be here with you. After the chaos of the day, this is exactly what I needed."

Chapa rolled her eyes, a grin spreading across her face. "You're lucky I'm so accommodating with you. It's hard being this charming all the time."

"Charm is my middle name," I said, feigning seriousness. "But I don't mind sharing some of it with you. I think you need it more."

"Ha! You're hilarious," she teased, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "But I do appreciate your attempts to make me feel better. It's not easy working with George and his endless demands."

"I can only imagine," I replied, brushing my fingers lightly along her arm. "You work too hard, you know that?"

"Maybe," she said, shrugging. "But it's worth it. I get paid a lot."

I chuckled,  "You could always work for me instead. I pay much better."

"Really? What kind of job are we talking about?" She raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Well, let's see... how about I pay you to keep me company? Just think about it—endless fun and I'll give you a bonus for every time you kiss me." I said with a mischievous grin.

"Is that your big offer?" She teased, nudging me playfully. "How would I even justify that on my résumé?"

I laughed, and leaned in closer. "Just tell them that job is called being my girlfriend."

"Now that's tempting," She said, smirking back at me. "But what would I actually have to do?"

"Oh, you know, just charm me with your presence and make sure I don't get too serious," I replied, pretending to ponder. "It's a tough job, but someone has to do it."

"Alright, I'll think about it," She said, laughing.

Then Chapa shifted slightly, her playful demeanor fading into a more serious curiosity. "So, I saw Andrew and Mika at that restaurant today. They were sitting together, all cozy. What's up with that?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh, really? What were they doing?"

She laughed, her tone light and teasing. "Honestly, I thought I was imagining it at first! Like, 'Wait a minute, is that Andrew with Mika?' They looked like they were on a date or something."

"Wow, that's... surprising." I tried to keep my expression neutral, but a smirk crept onto my face. "Did you take a picture? That could be valuable evidence."

"Of course I did!" Chapa said, feigning an exaggerated seriousness. "You know me. I'm like the paparazzi of my friend group. I just can't let moments like that slip away."

I laughed, leaning closer. "So, what do you think? Are they a thing now?"

Chapa's brows knitted together as she considered it. "I mean, you're friends with Andrew. Do you know anything?"

I sighed, knowing this was a touchy subject. "Well, they did kiss a few days ago. It's a bit complicated, I think."

Her eyes widened, genuine surprise flooding her features. "Wait, seriously? They kissed? I can't believe I missed that!"

"Yeah, it's been a bit of a whirlwind for them," I explained, watching her expression shift to intrigue. "But honestly? With those two, it's hard to keep up. I just hope they figure it out without too much drama."

Chapa leaned back against her pillow, a thoughtful look on her face. "You know, for a while, I thought Andrew was hopeless with girls. But maybe he's finally gotten it together."

"Or he's just really lucky," I added, trying to keep the mood light. "But enough about them. I'd rather focus on us right now."

"Good call," she said, her tone softening as she snuggled closer, resting her head against my shoulder.

The atmosphere shifted, and I felt the warmth between us grow. I couldn't help but let my fingers brush along her waist, relishing the softness of her body beneath my touch.

"Chapa," I whispered, her lips brushing against my skin, "this is nice."

"Yeah, it really is," She replied, letting my hands explore her waist gently, savoring the connection between us.

"I could get used to this," I murmured, she looked up at me with a playful glint in her eyes.

And as we laid there, our bodies tangled under the blanket, I knew we were on the brink of something beautiful.