CH 8

“Hey Gia, you ready?” Lucky walked up to the camera, his back was to her and he shouted over his shoulder. It was just the two of them, Laura had seceded that this intimately decorated shoot might be better if it were just that, intimate. “Yeah I’m ready, lets get a move on.” Gia walked up to the set. Lucky’s eyes landed on her for the first time and he gawked like a 14-year-old boy, his mouth agape and his eyes bulging. Gia had on a pink silk nighty; it was short, making her smooth sexy legs seem longer, and her shoulders were bare except for a thin spaghetti strap in the middle. She walked up to the antique Victorian style sofa that was in the middle of the set. She sat down and looked up to see his staring, laughing softly as she blushed a little. “Lucky come on.” Gia said a tad annoyed. Lucky shook his head in efforts to clear his mind. “I’m sorry.” He mumbled softly. Gia smiled at him softly. He smiled back and draped his arm over his tripod, resting his chin on his arm. “So was that my brother’s jag I saw dropping you off today?” Lucky spoke with a teasing voice. “Yes.” Gia felt herself flush on the topic. Lucky grinned broadly. “So is there something going on between the two of you?” He said in that same voice. Gia laughed and averted her eyes away from him briefly. “I have a boy friend, and plus, Nikolas is a little too cocky for my taste.” Gia answered. Lucky laughed. “Cocky? Oh and I can’t think of anyone else around her who’s cocky.” He said sarcastically. Gia glared at him. “Can we get on with this please?” Gia arched an eyebrow at him. “Sure thing, the one and only.” He grinned.

Nikolas clutched the little black day planner in his hands as he walked through the doors of Deception. He had been on his way to work when he spotted it on the seat next to him. He decided to check and see if Gia was still at the photo shoot so that he could return it to her. He looked around the building, and couldn’t believe it. It still blew him away that Gia was working here, at his mothers company of all places. Nikolas recalled a memory of when they were younger that made it even more ironic.

“Come on Gia it’s just a camera.” Nik said as he held it up. “I don’t care, I don’t want my picture taken.” Gia insisted. “But it’s new and I want to try it out. My uncle wants me to be good at taking pictures too. Please Gia.” Nik said, his voice rising in a pleading tone. Gia shook her head as she climbed away from him. The two kids were playing on a pile of rocks that were overlooking the ocean. Nikolas fallowed her. Gia sat down and turned to face him. “Why not Gia?” Nik asked. Gia frowned. “The kids at school tease me. I think it’s my hair, its too bushy, and it looks like a mop. I’m just not pretty.” Gia said sadly. Nikolas frowned, with a slight feeling of gratitude that he didn’t have to suffer the pains of going to public school. “You are pretty Gia.” He insisted. Gia shook her head. “No I’m not. I’m ugly.” Gia said. Nikolas was shy as he moved to sit next to her. “I like your hair like that. It’s pretty.” He said as he touched it lightly. Gia smiled. “Really?” she asked excitedly. Nik nodded. “Yeah really Gia, and you are the prettiest girl I know.” He said. Gia beamed from ear to ear as she glanced at the ocean. “Thanks.” She mumbled softly. Nikolas smiled and brought the camera up to his eye. Gia smiled and let him take her picture.

His uncle still had those pictures on his desk. He was so impressed with the young boys photography skills that he had to fame them. The black and white pictures of the beautiful little girl remained in his office till this day.

Nikolas walked over to the studio, opened the door and silently stepped inside. He sucked in a breath as his eyes landed on her. Gia’s back was to him, and the camera. Lucky was taking a picture of her from behind. She then turned around and laid her body flat along the couch, her hands were on her stomach and her face was turned to the side, she gazed into the camera seductively. She still had not noticed Nikolas standing there, off to the side behind Lucky and the camera. Next Gia smiled, ever so softly, the corners of her lips curling just slightly; it made the men who were watching anticipate a bigger smile. “God I think I’m going to pass out.” Lucky said. Gia laughed and Lucky snapped away, eager to capture the beauty of her smiling face. “OK Gia now turn around, and look over your shoulder.” Lucky instructed. Gia did as was told, and gazed intensely into the camera. Lucky took several shots like this. Nikolas couldn’t move. He just stood and watched her with fascination. She was definitely not camera shy any more. Watching her was so intense. Every look was so personal, her eyes taunting the camera. With every intimate look, Nikolas was drawn in more, to her beauty, her aura, and her heart. “Here Gia, tilt your head back and spray this on.” Lucky handed her a bottle of perfume. Gia took the bottle, tilted her head back and Lucky took the picture as she sprayed it on her exposed neck. Nikolas looked away, it was too much, and he couldn’t think this way about her, his best friend. Out of the corner of her eye, Gia caught the movement of his head jerking to the side. She gasped slightly and Lucky turned around. “Oh hey Nikolas.” He said. Nikolas looked up, with his heart pounding and a panicky feeling like he had been caught. “Hi I’m sorry to interrupt I just, Gia left her day planner in my car and I wanted to bring it to her.” Nik said nervously. Gia was standing up now, with her arms crossed over her chest and a frown on her face. “How long were you standing there?” She snapped. Lucky’s eyes widened a little in shock. “Whoa hey take it easy.” He said. Gia glared at him. “Only a few minutes Gia. I just didn’t want to disturb you OK?” Nik said defensively. “Well thank you Nikolas, the day planner has been delivered, so you can stop watching me like a pervert and go now.” Gia said as she took the book out of his hand and put it on the table next to her. Nikolas’s eyes darkened, he was looking directly into her eyes. Gia didn’t back down from their gaze, her look remained cold and hard. “Hey you guys it’s pretty tense in here, lets back off alright?” Lucky interjected. “I’m not the one with the problem here.” Nik turned to his brother. Gia huffed. “I didn’t say you were Nikolas, I just think it’s best if you two cooled down a bit.” Lucky said. “If you have something to say Nikolas, why don’t you just come out and say it?” Gia said, with attitude. Nikolas turned to her. “Fine, you want me to say what I’m thinking? I’m thinking that you are nothing but a, selfish, spoiled uptight bitch!” He said with venom. Before she could even think it through, Gia slapped him across his face. Nikolas quickly grabbed her hand out of instinct. He held it firmly, Gia’s heart was pounding, they were standing so close now, Nikolas was in her face, and he looked furious. “Don’t ever do that again Gia.” He said firmly. Gia’s eyes danced across his face, she started to say something but he let her go and began to walk away before she could. “I’ll talk to you later Lucky, try not to let this little diva wannabe boss you around too much.” He said before he left. Gia watched him leave, mad but at the same time, panicked that he was mad at her. When she had looked up to see him standing there, watching her with intense, undeniably lust filled eyes, she panicked.  She was shocked by her own reaction to him, the way her heart pounded and the lack of air in her lungs. Lucky pulled her out of her thoughts and memories of the feelings she just had. “What was that?” he asked in shock. Gia turned to him. “Nothing, I just got mad that he was watching the shoot OK?” she said defensively. Lucky shook his head. “No, there’s something going on here that you two are not telling me. I want to know what it is.” He said. Gia frowned. “Fine, I’ll tell you. Nikolas and I grew up together in Greece. We were just kids then, but we were best friends. We’ve grown up and we’re both changed now; he’s not the person I used to know. He’s a jerk and I hate him.” Gia said. Lucky was shocked at this information, and he somehow doubted what she just told him about hating his brother.