CH 9
Gia pushed the paper that she just looked over and signed, to the man across from her and looked up at him. “So I can move in tomorrow?” She asked. “I think that everything is in order. We’ll call you tonight to make sure. But I don’t think there will be any problems. It was nice to meet you miss Campbell, congratulations, it’s a lovely suite.” He said. Gia stood up. “Thank you, it was nice to meet you too Mr. Kaman.” Gia smiled at him. “It’s Jarred.” He said smiling at her shyly. “Thank you Jarred, have a great day.” Gia flashed him a dazzling smile before she walked out. Her cell phone began to ring as soon as she walked out. “Hello?” She answered it. “Hey there gorgeous, what are you up to?” Gia gasped. “Derek!” she said. She heard his hardy laugh in her ear and smiled. “I’m glad I surprised you sweetheart. What are you doing?” He said. “Actually I just signed a lease to a beautiful penthouse suite. Congratulate me.” Gia beamed. “You did? Why didn’t you discus that with me first Gia?” Derek asked. Gia frowned. “Why? I’m an adult, I can make my own choices.” She said defensively. “I know that Gia but you could have at least told me. I’m just surprised that’s all.” He said. “Did you expect me to stay at the hotel all this time? I live here now Derek. I need a place to live.” Gia said. “I’m sorry Gia you’re right.” Derek said. “So what are you doing?” Gia asked, eager to change the subject. “Ugh I’m sitting in a conference room waiting for people to get to this meeting but my mind is a million miles away in, where are you again?” He asked. “Port Charles.” Gia laughed. “Yeah there. I miss you.” He said. “I miss you too. When will you be able to come and visit me? Soon right?” Gia asked. “Well that’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. I need to go out of town Gia. I’m going to Chicago for a few months. They’re having trouble with the branch out there and I need to take care of it.” Derek said. “A few months? Derek I want to be with you! Please just tell me, is this worth it? Will we ever be together?” she said, fighting back tears. “Gia of course it’s worth it. I want to be with you and I will. I just need to take care of this and as soon as I’m done I’ll come out there and see you, I promise. OK?” He said. “Yeah OK.” Gia said softly. “Well I have to go, I just wanted to hear your voice. I’ll be in touch Gia, bye.” Derek said quickly. Gia opened her mouth to say more but he had already hung up. She fought back tears as she put away her phone, feeling alone and abandoned.
Nikolas pulled the door to deception open and walked inside and up to the front desk. “Hi I’m just meeting my brother Lucky Spencer. I know that he’s in the studio so I’ll just head over there.” Nik said to the woman at the desk. “OK yeah he’s expecting you.” The girl smiled at him. Nik returned her smile and headed towards the studio. “Hey Lucky.” He said when he walked in. Lucky pulled back from his camera that was mounted on his tripod and turned to look at him. “Hey man! Where have you been? I’ve called you.” Lucky said walking towards him. “Well I’ve been busy, it’s good to see you bro.” Nik hugged his brother. “Well it seems you’ve been hiding something from me Nikolas.” Lucky said. “What do you mean?” Nik asked. “Don’t play dumb man. Gia told me about you two growing up together. How could you not tell me?” Lucky said. Nikolas looked away. The truth was that he hadn’t talked to his brother because he knew he would ask about Gia. He didn’t want to talk about her or see her. He figured if he came by early enough that he could avoid seeing her. When his brother said her name, his heart had skipped a beat, but a pain that had evolved since that day last week when he heard her say that she hated him soon took over him. “I wasn’t sure it was her at first Lucky and when I found out that it was, I didn’t tell you because she didn’t seem to want me to. We were just kids when we knew each other. Now we’re just acquaintances, nothing more.” Nik said. Lucky looked at him, he saw the same look on his face that he saw on Gia’s and he knew that neither of them was telling the truth. “Can we talk about something else please Lucky?” Nik asked. Lucky nodded his head. “Yeah sure. So Elizabeth called me and she’s doing well. She says she thinks she might be coming home in a couple of weeks. Her brother’s family really likes visiting with her so they want her to stay longer. I told her to just have fun and not worry about me.” Lucky said smiling. “That’s great I’m glad she’s having a good time. You must be pretty lonely without her. Do you want to get together for lunch tomorrow?” Nik asked. “Well I have a shoot with Gia at 12:00. How about dinner?” Lucky said. Again Nik’s heart did a little flip at the mention of her name. “Yeah sure.” He said softly.
Gia walked into the studio with her spirits down from her phone call with Derek, and when she spotted Nikolas, her anxiety increased. She had felt terrible since that day in the studio and had wanted to apologize, but she wanted to do it in person. So when she saw him with his brother she prepared herself for a heavy apology. She slowly approached the men. “Hi.” Gia looked at both of them. Nikolas was startled at the sound of her voice, and he felt like he couldn’t breath when he turned to look at her. He willed his eyes away from her. “I have to go Lucky, I’ll call you about dinner.” Nik said as he turned to leave. “Nikolas.” Gia said quickly. Nik cursed his heart that betrayed him by racing when she said his name. He kept walking but he felt her fallowing him. She fallowed him all the way to the door. “Nikolas will you please listen to me?” Gia asked. Nikolas stopped. “Why Gia? All you’ve ever said to me since you’ve gotten here has been mean and insulting. Why should I listen to you?” He looked at her. Gia looked away, losing some of her courage. “I wanted to say I’m sorry Nikolas. I shouldn’t have slapped you like that. I was way out of line. Please don’t be mad at me.” She said. Nikolas scoffed as he shook his head. “Sorry? Wow Gia that was touching. Careful you’re starting to even sound like you mean it. Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Just act like we never met each other again OK? I know that’s what you wish, is that you never came to this miserable two-bit town and saw your little… how did you describe me? ‘Runt with no personality’ who you forgot years ago? You know what, you enjoy your modeling career while it lasts Sparky. Because sooner or later, people are going to get tired of working with a bitch like you.” Nik said her nickname with a loathing tone that made Gia cringed. She stood there in shock; she didn’t know what to say, she didn’t even react to the fact that he called her a bitch again she was completely stunned. “Nikolas I… I’m sorry I hurt you so much.” She said softly. “Hurt me?” Nik laughed. Gia eye’s had filled with sadness, her chin began to tremble. Nikolas almost lost his cool as she looked at him. “Don’t think for one minute that you have that kind of effect on me Gia. We’re nothing to each other and I was fooling myself for thinking that we could ever rebuild something that died a long time ago. Just do us both a favor and try to avoid me.” Nik walked away before Gia could even say anything. She didn’t see the way his face contorted with pain as he walked, and his viciously heaving chest.
“Gia are you alright?” Lucky yelled. She had run to her dressing room and sobbed until she was drained. “I’ll be out in a minute Lucky.” Gia shouted back to him. She picked up the glass of water in front of her and popped a diet pill in her mouth, and swallowed it down with a swig of the water. She looked into the mirror, she didn’t know if it was even worth trying to continue with the shoot with the way she looked. She had on the dress that Laura wanted her to wear, and her hair was done up, but even through the makeup on her face she could see the puffy redness of her eyes. She took a deep breath and stood up. She walked out the door and slowly approached Lucky. “You look beautiful.” Lucky said when he turned and looked at her. Gia huffed. “Please, I look terrible. But you’re sweet to say that. You’re always sweet to me and I have been such a bitch to you. I’m really sorry.” Gia said. Lucky walked closer to her. “It’s OK Gia. I have fun with you when you’re mean to me. It turns me on.” He smiled. Gia laughed, but it was quick and she soon frowned again. “Are you sure you’re OK?” Lucky asked. “Yeah I’m fine. Can we get on with the shoot? I just want to get it over with.” Gia said. “Yeah sure.” Lucky said.