Chapter 118 - (Hundred) Seventeen: Ignoring

"Fine. For Atlas." Navaya grumbled and the sad look on Becca's face perished in an instant, being supplanted with a smile so bright, it could replace the sun.

All Becca needed from the start was Navaya's consent and now that she had given it, she didn't wait a minute longer and began hauling her towards the dressing room. At one point between agreeing to do the show and being dragged, Navaya felt as though she had been tricked.

Was saying yes a mistake?

Too late, Navaya didn't even get the chance to reconsider her decision. Not with the vigor and speed at which Becca dragged her.

They got to the dressing room and Becca handed Navaya over to the stylists there so they would doll her up to perfection— as if she wasn't already perfect the way she was. Navaya didn't complain or object to this though, she loved getting all dressed up. It's what came after that scared her shitless. 

Why did she agree to this again?

With less than an hour to show time, Becca still had other things to supervise so she asked Johnny to stay with Navaya in the dressing room— to guard her— so she wouldn't change her mind and try to escape.

Navaya shook her head at Becca's clear lack of faith in her, disagreeing and saying she would never do such a thing. 

Well, that was a lie. If Johnny wasn't in that room, Navaya would have probably bolted out by now. Becca knew Navaya well so she expected something like that from her.

Becca exited the room and Navaya went into a stall in the dressing room where she pulled off her clothes and put on Laura's dress— or at least the dress Laura was supposed to wear.

She didn't know how she felt about Johnny being in the room while the stylists got her ready but one thing was for sure and it was that she didn't completely hate it.

Navaya stepped out from the stall and all the jaws of the stylists dropped, causing her to laugh. Her giggles died when she stole a sneak peek at Johnny. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't even looking at her and apparently, whatever he was looking at on his phone was way more important.

Again, she didn't know what to expect but his lack of interest in everything was a response she hadn't anticipated. She hated it.

Anger rumbled in her chest at his actions, later choosing to ignore it. To ignore him. If he wanted to pretend that she didn't exist then she could do the same thing too. 

The stylists beckoned her to sit in front of the mirror, a ring light positioned directly at her face and it was a miracle she didn't go blind with how bright they set that shit.

Johnny kept overlooking her, typing something on his phone. She knew, she couldn't stop herself from glancing at him. With the angle his chair was placed, Navaya got an explicit view of him and what he was doing just by staring straight into the mirror. And damn, she stared. A lot.

The stylists began unloading their expensive makeup kits, took out wipes and began rubbing off the light makeup Navaya had on her face before so they could apply a much better one while she sat there, pretending not to notice how the stylists were talking about Johnny, giggling flirtatiously. Just the sound those women were making almost made Navaya puke in her mouth. 

For the love of God. Yes, he is hot. It has already been established. Yet those women's egregious stares on him kept invigorating that fact in her head.

Damn, he's fine. Why is he so fine?

Were the only things Navaya could assimilate out of the sea of words flowing out the stylists mouths. 

Irritation was an understatement when used to describe what Navaya felt at that moment but alas she stayed calm. Mute. What would she say? What could she say? She couldn't just tell them to stop staring— even though the way they did was kind of rude and annoying. She also couldn't tell them to shut the fuck up. The only silver lining in all these was that while Johnny ignored her, he also ignored the stylists as well. Never indulging them even once. 

Wait, what? Why was that a silver lining?

All Johnny did was tune everyone in the room out and remained in his own little world.

" How would you like your hair? Tied up or let down?" The hair stylist asked.

" Let down." Navaya answered and It was at that moment Johnny decided to intervene.

" She will wear her hair up." He asserted without hoisting his gaze off his phone. So in other words, he was ignoring her but at the same time he wasn't.

Navaya's chest fluttered, an inexplicable feeling soaking her. Johnny had always been obsessed with her hair, every single thing about it. His actions in the past proved it. So guess old habits die hard.

She bit her lower lip on a smile, wondering why his voice sounded so good all of the sudden. Has he always sounded like that?

" I was thinking of wearing it down."

" But you will still wear it up." 

" Because you said so?" Navaya arched a brow and Johnny lifted his gaze, staring straight at her reflection in the mirror.

" Yes." 

Navaya snorted, playfully. " You are an egotistical control freak, do you know that?" 

" Absolutely, thanks for noticing." He smirked and warmth engulfed Navaya, rapidly spreading through her. 

The stylists stayed silent throughout the interaction, silly smiles plastered on their faces as they began speculating things in their heads.

Johnny won at the end, Navaya got her hair styled up but then that was it. He went back to ignoring her right after as though she wasn't worth being spoken to.

With her makeup being the next and only thing the stylists had to do, Navaya continued spying on Johnny and it felt like high school all over again when she used to stalk him. 

Stalking was an exaggeration though. It was merely Navaya taking pictures of him and kissing them at night. Her obsession. Though she hated admitting it, she had gotten so used to Johnny always paying attention to her and It was kind of frightening now that he wasn't anymore. It was weird. But then again, why should she care? 

She hated him. He hurt her by marrying another woman so why the hell does she still care? 

Navaya's sanity now hung on a slacked thread, dangling. She was one provocation away from completely losing her shit. Nothing had ever bothered her in her three years of self independence as much as this current situation did. She hated being ignored, especially when it's intentional. Johnny doing it now made her hate it even more.

She frowned as the first make up brush grazed her skin, her body burning with accumulated rage, begging to be dispelled.

" No need for that." Navaya muttered and the brows of the makeup artist crumpled.

" Huh?" She asked in confusion and Navaya breathed out a sigh.

" You don't have to do my makeup." 

The stylist's frown deepened. " But I was paid to-" 

" You don't have to, okay?" Navaya glanced at the woman before returning her gaze to the mirror, her voice sounded irritable as she spoke. " Just go." 

The two women nodded and left just like Navaya wanted them to or at least what she thought she wanted them to.

She only realized how rudely she had just behaved towards them as soon as they left. It wasn't their fault she got angry. No, it was him. Johnny. It was all his fault.

Navaya parted her lips to call out to them but couldn't because they were already gone. Her shoulders slumped.

" Thirty minutes to the show." Johnny voiced out and Navaya glared at his reflection. Oh, now he speaks.

She chose not to respond, huffing as she searched for foundation amongst the swamp of beauty products in the makeup kit and Johnny watched her as she did. Even when she thought he was ignoring her, he still watched. Not once was his attention away from her. 

The anger she felt was a result of her attempts to push back her feelings. The feelings she had kept locked up for years were now banging at the walls of her heart, demanding release. Her past feelings for Johnny, her hate for Nicky, Ace's betrayal, the sadness her parents caused her. Everything. They were overwhelming her.

Johnny stared at her as she proceeded to start doing her makeup, slipping his phone into his pocket, he rose from his chair and Navaya seized all forms of motion as he ambled towards her. She even forgot to breathe.

He came closer and stood behind her. So damn close, she could feel the warmth radiating out of him. 

Then he spun her chair so she would face him. Navaya didn't resist it though, the view of his face had never been this good. 

" What are you doing?" She asked, feeling both curious and skeptical when she saw him going through the makeup brushes.

" I will be doing your makeup." He smiled while Navaya's eyes widened.

" Excuse me?" She couldn't believe what she just heard. He will be doing what?!

" You heard me." His smile turned into a smirk. " Or are you doubting my skills?"

The tip of his fingers grazed her face. Just a light touch yet it shot waves all the way to her core. She trembled. This moment was different from the previous times he had touched her ever since he came to New York. Anger and hate didn't inundate her at his touch anymore, almost as if she enjoyed it. Loved it. 

But then again, why would she? It was Johnny we were talking about here, the man who chose another woman over her. So it was either she suddenly lost her ability to think rationally or she was getting used to him touching her all over again.

He picked up a brush." Close your eyes, Navaya." 

Seriously? " Are you really going to do my makeup?"

" Sure. You already succeeded in chasing all the stylists away. " His brows then wrinkled. " Or are you planning on chasing me away too?" 

Now that was a tricky question but for some reason, Navaya didn't have to think. Not this time. Being ignored by him was enough torture to handle for one day.

She shook her head and a grin creeped onto his lips as he trailed his finger along her left cheek.

" Good, girl."