Winning My Ex-Crush

Laird’s POVOriginal from NôvelDrama.Org.

A daddy long-legs? If I remember correctly, I once read a book with that title for an English literature class assignment in high school.

The novel tells the story of a man who provides many conveniences for a girl by keeping his true identity a secret. The man then fell in love with the girl, and they eventually got married.

Does Alan deserve to be called Daddy Long Legs? I don’t think so. He didn’t keep his identity a secret. In fact, he bragged his name and position as the boss to Fenella. Then he intended to marry Fenella?

It seemed Alan was indeed targeting Fenella. Perhaps he intended to offer career success to Fenella and hoped that she would marry him that way.

I snorted as I successfully connected Alan’s mindmap.

“Me?” I asked Alan. The man smiled broadly and nodded his head.

“I’d rather choose to be her lifelong best friend,” I said with a wry smile.

“Oh, isn’t that adorable? All fiction makes us dream, doesn’t it?” Alan chuckled.

“You know, most girls in this room have high hopes of achieving their dreams. They always strive to reach the happiness they desire. They also don’t hesitate to leave or destroy anything that might obstruct their path.” He said.

“They are so thirsty for achievements. Better jobs, bigger houses, more money,” Alan paused for a moment to breathe before continuing, “richer and more powerful men.”

Alan grinned again as he looked at me. “Fenella is just like those other girls.”

I understood Alan’s meaning. He thought Fenella had the same ambitions as the girls in this club. Therefore, he was confident that Fenella would choose him-a man who could provide money, a career, and a home-over me. Sometimes I curse myself for being so perceptive.

“I think you’re not good at judging people, especially Fenella,” I commented casually.

“Really? Do you think my opinion of her is wrong? How can you be so sure about her?” Alan asked.

I shrugged. “Experience.”

Upon hearing my answer, Alan grinned. He laughed to belittle my opinion, but I ignored his attitude towards me.

I swallowed my anger with a gulp of whiskey that burned hot in my mouth. I didn’t want Alan to feel triumphant over me, though that was my biggest concern right now.

I didn’t know Fenella as well as before, even though we started having more conversations this week. I didn’t know all the efforts she had made during her career journey as a model to reach this point. I didn’t know all the sacrifices she made to achieve her ambitions.

I didn’t even know what Fenella’s ambitions were now. She used to say she wanted to study communication and become a TV presenter. In reality, she switched to being a model who didn’t even need to speak at all while walking on stage.

Being apart for seven years made me almost not recognize her at all. Likewise, she didn’t know anything about me. There are missing moments between us, and I don’t know how much we can fill those gaps.

If Fenella is really like Alan said-that she will be like those women-I don’t know how to react. However, I know that change is the only certainty in this world.

“Hey, Alan. Hey, Jessy.”

This time a black-haired woman I didn’t know approached us. I guessed she was also one of the models at Gene.

“Hello, Kiara.” Alan and Jessy simultaneously greeted the girl.

Oddly enough, I saw Jessy’s disapproving expression in the girl’s presence. Alan still smiled warmly, but he was too two-faced for me to distinguish his expressions.

“You came to this party too. Did you come alone?” Alan asked her.

“No. I came with Tom, but then he disappeared. Have you seen him around here?” Kiara asked.

I immediately realized that this woman meant Fenella’s ex-boyfriend. I immediately understood why Jessy seemed to dislike this girl named Kiara.

“He’s out with Fenella,” Alan said with a wry smile.

“Really? That’s good, then. I hope Tom can mend things with Fenella.”

I pierced my gaze at that girl when she opened her damn mouth.

“You know, I found him looking very restless and worried near Gene’s office. He wanted to meet Fenella. So, I just told him that she’s going through a hell of a rough patch after their breakup.” She smiled sweetly.

“We exchanged contact numbers so I could reach out if Fenella needed…” Kiara paused her words and smiled wryly. “Help.”

I furrowed my brow, hearing all that. Jessy even gasped in surprise.

“You didn’t do that.” Jessy gritted his teeth in frustration.

Kiara turned to Jessy and laughed. “Yes, I did.”

“Tell me, Kiara. When did you meet Tom? Was it after you got fired from my office and threw eggs at my building door like a mad woman, or before?” Alan still wore a smile and asked loudly, as if he wanted to tell everyone around us.

His words seemed to sting the woman until she exploded in anger. People around us turned their heads, whispered, and chuckled at Kiara.

Kiara panicked and looked left and right. Her eyes then darted to Alan. Clearly, she felt humiliated by him.

So that’s how it was. I began to understand the direction of their conversation. There was an unresolved conflict between them, and somehow Fenella got dragged into it. That’s why she was trapped with her ex-boyfriend, left me alone, and chose to deal with Tom.

All because of her.

Is this really the nature of people in the fashion world? Alan and Kiara seemed to convince me that my initial suspicion about people in their world being full of intrigue, deceit, and joy in belittling others was accepted.

“I did it because you already belittled me and treated me unfairly! You know that I’m better than Fenella. You know I’m the one who deserves to be the main model at Gene.” Kiara screamed hysterically at Alan.

The man just smiled and replied shortly, “I don’t know about that.”

“You know nothing!” Kiara then stepped forward into Alan’s face and hissed loudly.

“Just so you know, I’ve already got an agency that deserves me as an artist and model. They invited me here. They didn’t doubt my abilities at all.”

“Of course. Your agency must be thrilled to have a new talent for adult films. Are you shooting a film in one of the private striptease rooms here?” Alan smirked.

Kiara swung her hand to Alan’s face.