Her Substitute Groom

Connor Hughes

‘Not everyone is like you. Ace is not a fuckboy like you’ I scoffed unbelievably as those words replayed in my head and I felt like seeing that bastard and strangling life out of him. How could she compare me to that bastard of all people?

If not that I already gave my words to Mr. Clement, I wouldn’t have gone for this shooting. Mr. Clement is one of my business partners who just launched a perfume company and asked me to do an advert for him. Well, he paid a huge amount of money to me and since I love business, I had to take it. Well, coupled with it has been a while since I was last into shooting because of my busy schedule. Not that I had anything important to do here, so I thought it would be fun to do it.

My phone rang and when I checked and saw that the call was from Janice, I rolled my eyes and tossed the phone on the seat. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her.

After what seemed like forever, I finally got to the company and soon pulled over at the parking lot where I saw a few cars which I assumed must belong to the workers here.

“Welcome, Sir,” Mr. Clement’s bouncers came to welcome me as if they were standing at the doorway and waiting for me earlier.

“This way, please,” One of the two bouncers uttered, gesturing toward the entrance door while working, so I trailed behind him.

As expected, the company was bigger, but not as big as his other company, anyway. We took the elevator to the fifth floor where I assumed his studio would be, and when we arrived, the bouncer opened the door for me, and I walked inside elegantly.

“Mr. Hughes. I’m glad you made it. I was scared you wouldn’t come over,” Mr. Clement, a man in his late fifties smiled at me as he extended his hand for a handshake, and I took it.

“I don’t go back on my words,” I said to him bluntly, and he nodded with a smile on his face.

“Is that not Mr. Connor Hughes? The famous model and CEO,”

“Wow! He’s so cute,”

“I didn’t expect to see him here. He’s so cute in person,” I heard some of the female staffs whispering, but I didn’t give them attention. I heard a shutter sound, and I turned to find one of them taking a picture of me. She panicked when she saw me, and even though the urge to snatch her phone and smash it spurred through me, I tried to keep calm.

“Mr. Clem… Can you please tell your staffs to stop taking pictures? I’m not comfortable with it,” I said to Mr. Clement, and he quickly nodded.

“I’m sorry about that. Stop taking pictures, you all,” He said to them and turned to me.

“We should head to the dressing room. It’s over there,” He pointed toward a room and asked one of the staffs to take me there.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go myself,” I said to the young lady who was asked to send me there, leaving afterward.

Stepping into the dressing room, I stopped on my track when I saw the person sitting in front of the mirror and getting a makeover on his face. It was Ace. What the fuck is going on here?

“Oh, you’re here?” He turned to me and smiled like we were some close friends.

I scoffed and walked out of the dressing room, heading back to the studio.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Hughes? Don’t you like the stylist? I can get another one to get you…”

“What’s that guy doing here?” I asked, and he raised his eyebrows.

“Excuse me? Which guy?”

“Is Ace his name? Yeah, I think so. Why’s he here?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. Ace is his name. I invited him to advertise along with you. He is going to partner with you,” He even had the guts to smile at me even with the annoying shit he was saying to me.

“Why didn’t you tell me that I was going to shoot with someone?” I asked angrily.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hughes. We had to invite him at the last hour…”

“Forget it. I’m not doing this shooting. I’m sending your money back to you immediately. Call your account details,” I stated angrily as I reached for my phone, ready to transfer his money to him because there was no way in hell I was going to shoot with that annoying bastard.

“Forgive me, Mr. Hughes. You can’t do this, please,” He pleaded with me.

“I’m not going to shoot with him, so it’s either you ask him to leave, or I refund you and leave this damn place,” I said to him flatly.

“Can you do this one favor for me, please? I promise, this won’t happen ever again. I promise,” He pleaded with him, and seeing the way his staffs were looking at me as if I was some arrogant jerk, I had to change my mind.

“Thank you so much. I’m grateful,” He said to me, but I ignored him and went to the dressing room, but I stopped when I walked inside and found the least expected person. That feminine guy that came to my house some days ago. What’s that his name again? Nick, I think. Why do I keep running into jerks today?

“Oh, it’s you? We meet again,” He smiled at me, but I scoffed and went to sit. I didn’t imagine that this disgusting jerk would ever do make-up for me. Gosh! The thought of his painted fingers touching me made me want to puke. It’s giving a gay vibe, and I’m not a gay for fuck’s sake!

“I didn’t imagine we’d run into each other here. What a small world,” He uttered as he applied different layers of makeup on my face which I didn’t think was necessary. I’m already good-looking, so why the fuck do I need the make-up? Well, I ignored him because I didn’t want anyone to know that I’d run into him before.

“How is Ms. Janice? I haven’t heard from her. Is she good?” He asked, but I stayed mute.

“I guess you are not going to talk to me,” He sighed.

“Hey! The CEO said we’ll be shooting together later. Let’s work hard,” I heard Ace’s voice, followed by his footsteps, but I didn’t even open my eyes to see his annoying face.

“Why are you always so grumpy? It doesn’t suit you,” Nick uttered, maybe hoping for a reply from me, but I ignored him. How could I imagine myself speaking to a man who is acting as though he is a woman? Can never be me.

“It’s done now,” I opened my eyes and checked out my reflection in the mirror. Not much changes were made to my face but he took almost forever which had me wondering what he took so much time for. I thought he wanted to transform me into a Korean idol.

“That’s the way to the fitting room. Call me if you need anything,” He winked at me, and I huffed unbelievably. Who the fuck allowed this dude in here?

I shook my head and went inside the room where I changed into the dress kept for me. A black leather jacket and black leather trousers.

Stepping into the studio minutes later, I was welcomed by another surprise. The person I’ve not seen in years. Liana Patterson. Liana is a famous model and was the face of American Beauty Talent for three years in a row before someone else took it just recently because she left the modeling industry to start a career as an actress. Well, we met back in 2019 which was about four years ago, had fun, and ended up having sex. Well, it was just one time, and although she wanted to start a relationship with me, I turned her down. I wasn’t ready to be committed to any woman, and even if I was, she wasn’t my style. I don’t feel a twinge of feelings for her. We were just seeing each other for the first time in three years and six months.

“Connor! Is that you?” She shrieked excitedly and rushed to hug me like we were close or something.

“People are watching you. Behave,” I sounded as cold as always to her, pulling her away from me lightly. I expected to react rashly, but she was cool and it was so annoying.

“It has been a while. I’ve missed you so much,” She whined, giving people the impression that we were together or whatever her motive was.

“Hmm. It has,” I stated bluntly and walked away from her. I could swear that she was embarrassed with all the eyes on her.

“Why is Liana here?” I asked Mr. Clement, hoping it was not what I was thinking.

“She was invited too,” Mr. Clement stated, and I sighed. I didn’t bother to complain again knowing he would end up getting me to do it, so I just kept quiet and walked away.

The shooting soon started and I felt uncomfortable with the way Liana was being so clingy to me.

It seemed like forever before the shooting ended, so I went to the restroom to clean off the makeup. I couldn’t just leave with it like that.

I took the backdoor after I left the restroom, but another surprise welcomed me yet again when I walked out of the company. Janice was sitting on the floor.

“Is she crazy?” I mumbled.

“What are you doing here?” I called her attention, and she stood up and faced me…