Chapter 16
In California, the whirlwind of fame had swept me up in its relentless current. Between endless schedules, shoots, and collaborations, I hardly had time to breathe, let alone regulate my sleep.
The fast–paced lifestyle meant I often caught whatever rest I could in the van during long rides, only waking when Rita, my manager, shook me gently upon arrival.
The highlight of my career thus far was approaching, it was my first US Tour.
The luxury beauty brand I represented was launching a new line, and as their brand ambassador, I was tasked with promoting Valerie’s Pick, a line named exclusively after me.
“Valerie, don’t forget to pack
sunscreen,” Rita reminded me as she skimmed through my luggage. “The first event is at a beach in LA. We can‘ t have
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you looking streaked under the sun.
I nodded, rummaging through my collection of skincare products and carefully packing the essentials.
My once modest makeup collection had grown into a mini–beauty empire thanks to the endorsements and countless free samples sent to me by brands.
I even had an entire room in my apartment dedicated to makeup and skincare.
“Oh, before we leave, we‘ re filming a Pack with Me video for your YouTube channel,” Rita said, glancing at her watch.
“Pick out products that we want to highlight, okay? Filming starts in 5 minutes.”
I sighed but nodded, setting aside one of the suitcases. “I’ll use this one for the video. It’s mostly casual outfits and the
latest products we‘ re promoting. What do you think?”
Rita inspected the contents, nodding
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approvingly. “Perfect. Don’t forget to highlight the new line, though, and draw it out a bit–it keeps the engagement high.”
The crew set up as I sat cross–legged next to the suitcase, arranging products on the sofa for display.
“Ready, set, go!” Rita called, signaling the start of the shoot.
I smiled at the camera. “Hello, Valovies! Welcome back to my channel. Today, I’m so excited to share my first–ever US Tour packing routine. Can you believe it? I am so happy for the opportunity that given to me and….”
For the next hour, I walked my viewers through my essentials, from my skincare favorites to the latest makeup launches.
Once we wrapped up, I posted a quick Instagram photo with my luggage and the caption, [Ready for the road! See you soon, LA!]
Ak
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Our bus was ready, and soon, we were on route to Los Angeles. Exhausted, I let sleep claim me almost immediately, hoping to recharge during the long drive.
When I stirred awake and stretched, blinking the sleepiness away, I was startled to find none other than Gordon Kingston
seated beside me.
“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, jolting upright.
Gordon, engrossed in his tablet, glanced at me calmly. “What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”
I looked around, confirming I had not gotten on the wrong bus.
My manager Rita, the stylists, the makeup team, and the brand representatives–all familiar faces were there. Everything seemed normal… except for Gordon.
At that moment, his secretary, Landon, appeared from the back of the bus. “Sir, we’ll arrive at the hotel soon.”
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“Good,” Gordon replied, not missing a beat. “Make sure the guards are in place. Everything needs to be secure.”
Landon nodded and walked off, leaving me
staring at Gordon incredulously.
Unable to hold it in, I asked, “Are you… following me, Mr. Kingston?”
He raised a brow, feigning surprise.
“Following you? No. I’m just here to check on our branch office in LA.”
I frowned. “Then why are you on this bus? You could’ve taken a private jet or car.”
Gordon leaned back, looking a little hurt by my suspicion. “Don’t you like me sitting next to you?”
His expression softened, his normally confident demeanor replaced with
something almost… puppy–like. His eyes seemed to shimmer as if I had just crushed his spirit.
I bit back my instinctive “Of course,” and
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instead replied diplomatically, “I
appreciate your company, Mr. Kingston. I just didn’t expect someone as important. as you to take the same bus as me.”
He gave me a small, satisfied smile.
“We’re headed in the same direction, aren’t we? No need to complicate things.”
He casually returned his attention to his tablet, effectively ending the conversation.
To my surprise, we were not just on the same bus only, but Gordon also checked into the same hotel as our team and consistently joined me for dinners during
the tour.
While the rest of the crew dined together in groups, Gordon and I always ended up seated at a separate table.
In the end, I could not deny that Gordon’s presence kept things interesting. And though I tried to focus on the tour, I could not shake the growing tension between us.
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**
After a month, we finally arrived at the last city on my US Tour‘ s list, it is New York.
Along the way, Gordon also kept following
me.
At first, I did not think much about Gordon always arranging private dinners in every city we visited. After all, it was part of his charm–or so I thought.
But on our last evening in New York, when he reserved a private box, I could not hold back my curiosity anymore.
“So, do you just happen to have a company in every U.S. city?” I asked, setting my fork down and crossing my
arms.
Gordon did not even look up, his knife. gliding effortlessly through the steak. “My family has interests in various industries, so yes. We have offices or branches in almost every corner of the U.S.”
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I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “I see. So, the U.S. is your playground. But…?”
Before I could finish, Gordon interrupted, his tone casual but laced with amusement.
“We’ve got plenty of assets in Europe. too. My playground is global, Valerie.”
I rolled my eyes, though I could not help but smile. “Must be nice.”
He slid a plate toward me with a few perfectly cut pieces of steak, a small gesture he had made a habit of during our
dinners.
Gordon always found subtle ways to help me, whether it was ensuring I had the best seat or slicing my food when I got too distracted talking.
It was those small, thoughtful acts that had begun to chip away at my guarded heart.
I speared a piece of steak with my fork and asked, “Mr. Kingston, is this your first time pursuing a woman?”
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Gordon froze mid–cut, his knife poised over
his plate. His piercing blue eyes flicked up to meet mine, curiosity glinting in them.
“Is it that obvious?”
I tilted my head, pretending to think. “No, it’s not. If anything, I’d say you‘ re the type of man who’s been surrounded by
women your
whole life. You‘ ve mastered treating them well–gentle and attentive.”
His brows furrowed in genuine surprise, and he set his knife down. “Me? Gentle? That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that. Even Landon says I come off as cold–like I could kill someone with just a look.”
The mental image made me laugh, an unrestrained sound that echoed in the private box. “Honestly? That suits you too.”
Gordon leaned back in his chair, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched me laugh.
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Then, without warning, he stood up and moved to sit beside me. The proximity made my laughter die in my throat, replaced by a sudden awareness of how
close he was.
He leaned in, his face mere inches from mine. His voice softened, but his gaze remained piercing. “But my gentle side suits me too, doesn’t it?”
I swallowed hard, biting my lip out of
nervousness.
His eyes dropped to my mouth, and his voice dropped an octave. “Why do you bite your lips like that?”
I panicked, my voice unsteady. “It’s just a habit.”
Gordon was not buying it. He reached out, his fingers gently pinching my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. My breath hitched as his touch sent an unbidden
warmth through me.
“Are you sure you‘ re not interested in
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me?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.
“My answer is still the same,” I replied, keeping my tone as calm as possible despite the thunderous pounding in my
chest.
His smirk deepened. “Let‘ s test that.”
Before I could process what was happening, Gordon leaned in and brushed his lips against mine.
It was only a smooch, but my heart raced and my mind went blank, unable to form a coherent thought.
When he pulled away, he studied my expression carefully, his hand still resting under my chin. “How about now?” he asked, his voice a seductive whisper.