I'm Still His

Ashley and her best friend were inside the coffee shop owned by her sister. They were supposed to be discussing some of the shots they took before showing them to their clients. Both of them came from a well-off family but they wanted to open their own business. They took a photography course. Kat studied in Mumbai while Ashley went to a university in Arkansas. They recently opened their start-up business, a studio they named AshKat. Kat was more of the commercial photographer, Ashley on the other hand, was the food and event photographer but they could do each other’s jobs if they needed to. She could even ask Kat’s ex-boyfriend, Clyde, for help. He was a more versatile photographer than the two of them.

She sighed heavily before finally putting the camera down. Showing Kat the pictures was useless because her friend seemed to be busy checking out someone.

“Kat! Are you listening to me?!” she asked with a frown.

Her friend started talking as if to herself while her eyes were on the entrance of the café. “Please let him come in here. Please…please. I promise that I will stop criticizing our models and will be nicer to them, just let him come inside so I can see him up close.”

She turned to where her friend’s eyes were fixated. The café had glass windows. Outside, a tall man was surrounded by three women. Behind the man, two males were grinning while checking out the women. She could only see the tall man’s profile. He was in a white shirt, and from this far, it was obvious that he had a hunky body, and she noticed a tattoo on his arm.

With a raised brow she mumbled, “An actor?”

Usually, women went gaga over good-looking actors who were full of themselves, just like the one outside.

With another sigh, she shook Kat’s left arm. “Who are you looking at?” she asked in an irritated, small voice.

Kat turned and her narrowed eyes went to her. “Seriously, Ash? You are also a photographer so you should know him!”

She just rolled her eyes. “Look! I don’t have a very sharp eye when it comes to men, unlike you!”

Ashley stood up when she noticed that the barista seemed to be searching for something. She might as well just help him since her sister was not in the café.

“Gosh, Ashley! You really have no idea? Well, he is no other than the Jett Alejandre! The heir of Alejandre Group of Companies. His family is filthy rich, but he works as a part-time model. He is the newest male model of IRM, which stands for It’s Raining Men Apparel. The owner is his uncle. He also does model abroad, FYI!”

Ashley just stuck out her tongue at Kat. They may be friends, but they didn’t exactly like the same things. “Oh, okay! Now I recognize that name. So, the bad boy and playboy of the runway is outside. Do you want to welcome him with a drink to show your admiration?” she asked sarcastically before turning to leave.

That man might be very good looking, famous, and rich but Ashley was not into such males. She walked to the counter.

“What are you looking for?” she asked Neil, the bartender.

He smiled shyly at her, “The cinnamon powder, Miss Ashley. I can’t find it.”

“It’s here.” She opened the small cabinet next to the coffee machine.

The cute barista nervously grinned and apologized.

She smiled back. “That’s okay. “

Kat’s shrill voice made her turn her head. “Oh my gosh! This is it!”

Ashley shook her head from side to side. Her friend was even giddier! Ashley transferred her eyes to the entrance and saw that Mr. Arrogant-and-God’s-Gift-to-Women was about to come inside the cafe.

“Oh geez, Katherine! Will you just stop!” she angrily said before turning her back to go to the kitchen.

After a few moments, when she returned to check on Kat, she saw her holding the camera while looking at some photos with a frown. Cocking one brow, Ashley looked around and saw the reason for that distorted expression.

Jett Alejandre was sitting at one of the tables with his buddies. A woman in a slinky dress had her hand on one of his tattooed biceps. No wonder her friend looked annoyed.

“Ew, Kat! Don’t tell me you’re jealous?” She chuckled before sitting across her. Ashley had her back to Jett’s group.

Kat shot her an angry stare but didn’t say anything.

“You are prettier, and you shouldn’t even be bothering with that man! You have Clyde, you know.”

Kat finally straightened and leaned back in the seat. She crossed her arms in front of her while her eyes went to Jett.

“Thanks, Ash! You are really a nice friend. I know that you are just making me feel better. I am so plain, so I guess I better stop this nonsense. He is way out of my league,” she said sadly.

“You are too hard on yourself! You are pretty and nice. That’s why Clyde still loves you. It was you who broke up with him. He wants you back, but the problem is you. That Jett Alejandre is bad news. If you don’t want to have stress and heartache, avoid such players!” she advised, then took the camera Kat was looking at. She almost dropped it on the table when Kat slapped her arm, so she glared at her.

“Why am I so stupid? I am too confident. That’s why I get in trouble sometimes! I am not a good match for Jett, you are! You are gorgeous and you two are perfect for each other! You are a sexy single female who is ready to mingle!” she said giddily.

Ashley groaned in frustration. “No way! He’s not my type and I don’t want any stress in my life! I am happy being single. Stop wasting time and just check these photos I chose for our new client.” She changed the subject by showing her friend the camera.

Kat sighed heavily. “I don’t know why you chose to be a photographer when you can be a model. If I were you—”

Ashley cut Kat off by showing her the pictures. “This one is good…”

***

(At Jett’s Table)

“I really have to go. Call me, okay?” the woman said to Jett before giving him a peck on the cheek. She even waved at Andy and Seth before leaving.

“Way to go, dude! Jett Alejandre did it again! Getting a woman is effortless!” Seth said with a chuckle before he and Andy gave each other a high five.

Jett just grinned. His friends were right. Women flocked to him all the time, but it could be tiring and boring.

“Look who’s here. We were about to split dude!” Seth told Dale, who had just entered.

They all fist bumped.

“Sorry, dudes! I had to take my car to the shop. Something’s wrong with the lights.”

Andy and Seth let out disapproving sounds from the back of their throats while Jett just shook his head.

“Better get a new one, dude! Last time it was the engine. You are just pouring money down the drain! Anyway, time to go! Gil is waiting for us. I am really interested in the monster bike he has been talking about,” Jett said.

“Give me a sec, dude!” Dale said.

Jett just nodded while checking his phone.

“Wow, dude! Who is that?” whistled Seth under his breath, which made Jett frown.

***

Ashley turned when she heard a male’s voice.

“Miss Gorgeous? It is really you!”

She stood up and smiled at the tall man approaching her. “Dorky? Is that you?” she asked with a light laugh.

Dorky didn’t suit the man anymore. He looked good and he dressed well, but she knew it was him. Only one guy in her high school called her Miss Gorgeous. And that was Dale “Dorky” Evangelista. He graduated when she was a freshman.

“I didn’t think it was possible that you could be more gorgeous! Can I give you a bear hug?” he asked. His eyes were pleading and twinkling.

She just nodded with a smile, then let him envelope her in his arms for a friendly embrace.

“Dang, man! Dale is so lucky! Where did that sexy woman come from?!” Seth said with envy.

Jett pocketed his phone and turned to see why Seth and Andy were gawking. His eyes narrowed. Dale released a petite, pretty, and sexy as hell female.

“Your flattery will get you nowhere, Dorky! I am far from gorgeous!” Ashley said with a grin, and he chuckled.

“I have always been honest, you know that. Let me introduce you to my friends. Tell me again that you are not gorgeous after seeing their reaction to you.”

Ashley didn’t have a choice but to go with him. Kat was not yet back from the restroom. Dale’s hand pulled hers. She frowned because they were heading to the man she never wanted to see face to face.

***

(Jett)

He cocked a brow. The woman was even lovelier up close. She was so attractive, and one thing was for sure—he wanted her—and he would have her.

His jaw clenched when he saw that Dale was holding her hand. He felt heat come up his face. He raised his eyes to see her pretty features. When their eyes locked, she was looking at him with something like disgust in her beautiful eyes. He didn’t like that. This very desirable

(Ashley)

Now that she was seeing him this near, this was her impression of Jett Alejandre: a manwhore, narcissist, vain, arrogant, and a sleazebag. Okay, she had to admit that he was also hunky, extremely good-looking, but the fact was he was still a Casanova. She hated the way he was looking at her. He seemed to be stripping her and it made her want to gnash her teeth. This man might be very good-looking, but she wasn’t interested. His name was familiar because it had been attached many times to a lot of female models and he was also involved with an aspiring singer. She almost clucked.

“You are staring and that is rude,” she heard him say. His tone had a hint of amusement.

She blinked a few times and she reprimanded herself for not realizing what she had been doing. She wasn’t aware that she had in fact been staring while assessing this Don Juan. She threw a glance at his friends who seemed to be drooling over her. Her brow raised. What did she expect? They were Jett’s buddies. Birds of a feather flock together.

Her eyes went back to him. “Excuse me? I wasn’t staring. I just remembered something. Aren’t you the infamous model who grabs female models’ behinds while on the ramp?” she asked.

His eyes glinted and his sneer was still on his lips.

‘What nice lips for a guy,’ she thought. They were luscious and a bit reddish. She shook her head to erase her thoughts.

Two of his friends chuckled and exchanged high fives upon hearing what she said. Dale, who was next to her just cleared his throat. Jett’s eyes were intently looking at her while he wished he could read her mind.

“So, you watch my shows. Live or online? But I just want to make one thing clear Miss...?”

“Ashley,” came Dale’s voice.

Jett’s eyes went down to her hand which was still in Dale’s bigger one. Consciously, Dale released her hand.

Right after that, Jett’s eyes came back to her. She did her best to hold the stare. She could sense that he was angry about something. From her peripheral vision, she felt Dale put a distance between them.

“As I was saying, Miss Ashley, I want to make things clear. I don’t intentionally grab women’s asses. It’s either the organizers want me to do that to make the show more intense and interesting, with the models’ consent of course. Or there are instances, believe it or not, that the models themselves request me to do that. I am not complaining though,” he drawled with a smirk. His dark eyes ran over her body, which made her grit her teeth.

She protruded her chin and squinted her eyes. “Of course. A true-blue player would enjoy something like that, but you didn’t have to explain to me,” she said in a honeyed tone.

His eyes, which were roaming her body, went up to her eyes. Dale cleared his throat again.

“Ahem...I guess introductions are needed...Ashley this is...” Dale began but she interrupted him.

“I don’t think there is any need for that. Anyway, thanks, Dale.” She looked at him. “Maybe I will see you again…” she said with a small smile then she threw Seth, Andy, and lastly Jett, a glare. “…minus people who are immodest, vulgar, and who look at women like a piece of meat. I am allergic to such men. I have to go. Bye,” she added, then turned her back to go to the kitchen.

Dale wanted to go after her, but Jett grabbed his arm. He looked him straight in the eye, which meant don’t even think about it.

With furrowed brows, Dale gave up and Jett let go of his arm while still looking at Ashley’s back. A female staff member walked up to her.

“Dude! She called us immodest because we were drooling over her! Dang, mates! Can she blame us? She is so sexy and really gorgeous!” Seth said while the four of them were looking at Ashley’s back as she talked to the employee.

“Stop staring at her morons or I will poke your eyeballs out! Just wait for me outside!” Jett hissed.

The three exchanged glances before doing what they were told. They had witnessed Jett when he was pissed. He was a generous friend, but very scary and dangerous when he was angry.

***

(Ashley)

She had just finished talking to Nancy when something made her look behind her. She regretted that she did. She got goose bumps. Jett was now alone and staring at her. She snorted and walked to the kitchen. She had enough of him for today.

Her day had been ruined. That Jett Alejandre was a jinx. Two of their clients cancelled their afternoon meetings. She was more annoyed because Kat said she couldn’t get back to the studio due to some family matters. There was only an hour left before closing time, so Ashley was thinking of closing up already instead of wasting her time. She frowned when the door opened. She almost groaned in frustration when she saw who just came in.

“What are you doing here?” Her frown deepened.

It was Jett Alejandre. He was in a plain white shirt and faded jeans. The way he was looking at her was somehow different compared to a few hours ago.

“I talked to your friend this morning and she mentioned that you have a studio,” he said with a wry smile.

She almost rolled her eyes. Kat didn’t tell her anything about their talk.

“I want to have my pictures taken for my portfolio,” he continued with a grin.

She looked away and walked to her worktable. “Come back tomorrow. Kat isn’t here right now. That’s her job. I am the food and event photographer,” she said coldly with her back on him.

“Your friend said that you do each other’s job if necessary.”

“She can do that better than me.”

“Are you turning down a client? I am sure that you can do it as well as her. Or you probably don’t want to do it. Makes me wonder why…” He sounded a bit sarcastic, which made her turn to him.

“And what do you mean by that?”

Jett shrugged. “I now think that you feel uncomfortable looking at me because you are self-conscious...” he said while he seemed to suppress a sneer.

“Don’t get above yourself, Mr. Alejandre...” she hissed.

“Then tell me why you are refusing a client? Your business has just started, so you have to grab every client who wants your service. You can’t be like that with me,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

He was right, of course, but she would rather die than apologize to him.

She jutted her chin. “Well then, let’s not waste time. I almost forgot that you are a well-known model and doing business with you will be good for us. So, let’s get started then, sir. Where is your entourage, your wardrobe assistant, and makeup artist?” she asked sarcastically as she got her camera ready.

“I don’t need them.”

Her back was to him as she arranged the set. “You need them because your pictures are for your portfolio, right?” she asked.

“I want it in the raw,” he said, which froze her. “I am ready when you are,” he added in a bedroom voice.

She slowly turned and closed her eyes for a second or two, groaning. He was bare-chested already. How did she get into this situation? She would strangle Kat tomorrow.

“Take a few shots of me in my jeans first, then in my birthday suit.” He was grinning from ear to ear while his eyes went down her body.

The mind was powerful and since Jett saw her this morning, he had a goal. He would make Ashley his…whatever it took.