Castle Of Glass | B. Wayne

[02]

Calmia knew getting engaged to Bruce Wayne would come with a lot of consequences. The foremost being hounded by the press for every single thing she did or even for the things she hadn't done.

Ever since the proposal, reporters had started showing up at her workplace or wherever she went in hopes of getting a word with the future Mrs. Wayne. And it was exhausting trying to escape from the paparazzi.

She wondered how long Bruce had been dealing with it and though he had warned her very early in their relationship that it was something he couldn't control, it would at times get on her nerves. But of course, she couldn't change her decision of marrying the man she loved due to some nosy journalists.

However, with the press hounding her, working on her projects had become more tiresome. That day she was on a site visit for a coffee shop in Robinson Square but by the time things got wrapped up and she stepped out, there were crowds of reporters waiting once again.

"Miss Hardin, when is the wedding taking place?"

"Miss Hardin, what is your opinion on Mister Wayne's past relationships?"

"Miss Hardin..."

"Miss Hardin..."

"Miss Hardin..."

She couldn't even hear them over the noise of them throwing all sorts of questions at her. And with the camera flashes going wild, all she wanted to do was to leave that place.

Her friend Jade came to her rescue, making the reporters back off. "Please clear the way, we have another site to visit. If you really want her to answer all your questions, why don't you show some professionalism and book a date for an interview with her manager?"

Calmia gently took her hand as if to say something but Jade didn't listen, simply steering her out of the crowd and to the car. Once they were in and Jade had backed the car off the parking lot, she spoke up, "but I don't have a manager..."

"I know, let them figure that out for themselves," she replied, driving to her place, "I know you're tired so we can order something in and you crash at mine tonight. Then we can bitch about the press together."

Calmia smiled, "that's a great idea but Bruce had invited me for dinner at his place today."

"Oh, so like a family dinner?"

"Yeah."

Jade had been Calmia's closest friend since high school and both of them shared a passion for designing so while Calmia had pursued it as a profession, Jade had gone into visualization. That day Calmia had been showing Jade the coffee shop that was going into the finishing touches of the walls and furniture. 

Calmia had collaborated with her on the project as both of them worked on the ideas together and Jade came up with the visualization and rendering of the setup way before the site had been given as well. In a sense, both of them were equally connected to the project.

"From all you have told me about them, they seem interesting," Jade remarked, leading her in as they had reached her home, "and definitely different from what the press paints them out to be."

Calmia sighed wearily, "did you see the article on our proposal? The press is painting me out to be a bridezilla."

"Which is absolutely preposterous," she laughed, "sometimes, I am curious what are they high on when they churn out such stories."

"Sometimes, it's hurtful."

Seeing that her friend looked both tired and disappointed, Jade brought her close in a reassuring hug, "don't pay any heed to whatever these people say. I know it's hard because you are not used to so much attention and the paparazzi turning up everywhere you go. But if you think you will be happy with Bruce and are willing to marry him nevertheless, then take all these stories and throw them in the trash. Put yourself first."