It’s already morning in New York. The sun is rising higher and higher above the city. But Raquelle is still lying in her bed under a warm blanket and embracing her soft pillow. And she is not going to get up, feeling a little tired and a little depressed yet. After meeting Natalia yesterday and spending a few hours with her, she was walking on the desert beach for a very long time and trying to distract and calm down a little. And in the end, she was back home very late. It was about two or three o’clock at night.
Because Frederick had already gone to sleep, Raquelle decided not to bother him and went to her room at once without drinking or eating anything. But she did not manage to sleep enough because she kept thinking of her by far not the nicest past again. That’s why she was twirling and even managed to cry a little, letting her emotions go out.
Raquelle barely opens her eyes after a short sleep and slowly looks around the whole room, lying on her stomach and embracing her pillow tightly. A little later, she lazily rolls onto her back and sets her dead eyes on the white ceiling. And then the girl takes her smartphone from a table and throws a look at the home screen. Seeing it’s almost half past eleven, Raquelle makes herself forget a wish to try to sleep a little and get enough sleep again.
A little later, Raquelle slowly sits up and runs her hands over her sleepy face, from which she removed her makeup before going to sleep. Her loose hair is strongly disheveled and a little matted. It does not look as gorgeous as on a photoshoot, a fashion show, or a commercial shoot. And after lying in her bed for some time, the girl lazily gets out of the blanket and gets up. At first, she comes to the mirror and notices she does not look good and definitely needs better sleep.
Raquelle is happy that she does not have any shootings today. It means she could spend a whole day at home and talk to nobody. Honestly, she does not want to see anyone now. She just wants to stay in her room, lie in her bed, and have a rest. And think of nothing. Today, she definitely has no wish to do something and go somewhere.
After Raquelle comes to the window and starts looking through this, tightly embracing herself with her arms, someone quietly knocks at the door of her room.
“Yeah,” Raquelle pronounces quietly, half turning to the door. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Frederick shows up on the doorstep, looking like he did not get enough sleep.
“Raquelle, my girl!” Frederick pronounces a little anxiously.
“Good morning, Grandpa,” Raquelle greets in a shaking voice.
Frederick takes Raquelle in a tight hug with a sigh of relief, but steps back from her two seconds later.
“Where were you the last night?” Frederick asks excitedly. “Why didn’t you spend the night at home?”
“Why didn’t I spend the night at home?” Raquelle rounds her eyes. “I did!”
“Seriously? You were back home in the morning!”
“Not in the morning! It was about two or three hours at night.”
“Exactly! You must have been back home a long time ago at that time. Instead of that, you were walking somewhere.”
“Grandfather…”
“I could not calm down and did not know what to think. If only you knew what I was thinking about! Seriously, I almost went insane! I thought something happened to you.”
“Erm, wait, but I did leave a note for you, in which I said where I would go. Didn’t you read it?”
“Yes, I read that note,” Frederick replies a little coldly. “But in the note, you promised you would not be late! And you came nobody knows when, probably!”
“Grandpa Frederick…”
“And yeah, why did you not come to my room and tell me nothing?” Frederick resents, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You already went to sleep.”
“And what? Even if I already went to sleep, you should have woken me up and told me you came home.”
“I didn’t wanna wake you up.”
“Or you should have gone home not earlier than nine o’clock.”
“Sorry, I didn’t wanna scare you.”
“But you did it!” Frederick pronounces loudly, excitedly. “You were not back either at nine, or ten, or midnight! And you were walking nobody knows where!”
“I can explain everything to you.”
“If only you had not decided to drink something alcoholic. If you had not gotten in a car when being drunk and drove the whole city.”
“No, I didn’t drink anything alcoholic.”
“If you are lying to me, I swear I will take the keys to your car from you.”
“What?” Raquelle rounds her eyes.
“I am not kidding, Raquelle. If you drank just a little bit, I will not let you drive the car.”
“But…”
“And I will accompany you on shootings and any meetings.”
“Grandfather…”
“Do you think I am kidding? No, my sweetie! I can do this!”
“This is unfair!”
“Since you decided you could walk in the city at the deep night and make your old, sick grandfather worried, I could quickly wash your brains.”
“For God’s sake, Grandpa, calm down, please,” Raquelle pronounces in a quiet, peaceful voice.
“Seriously? I should be quiet when my grandfather walks somewhere in the deep night and does not think of those, who are worried about her.”
“Grandfather…”
“Do you understand how many dangerous things there are outside at night time? How many criminals, killers, and rappers! Do you want to run into one of them and get some trouble?”
“I completely understand it.”
“No, Raquelle, you understand nothing!”
“I'm no longer a child and can decide what to do and where to go.”
“Now you are living with me and being under my view. Until you get married and move to your husband’s home, I am responsible for you. And until that time, you are a child!”
“I am twenty-three!”
“Exactly! Twenty-three! You must have brains!”
“Grandfather, please…”
“I am warning you, Raquelle, if you do one more similar thing, you will be deprived of the keys from your car and go everywhere only with me.”
“You can’t do this.”
“I can do a lot,” Frederick says confidently. “And if you began to forget it and think that you could do anything, I will quickly remind you of who you must listen to.”
“I did nothing wrong for you to treat me like this,” Raquelle protests. “Couldn’t I just walk with my best friend and find out how her trip abroad was?”
“You can! But not at the late night!”
“It happened!”
“You did not have enough brains, and Natalia was not smarter. Is she also the same lover of problems that loves making her parents worried?”
“She went home after we said goodbye, and I decided to walk a little longer.”
“In this case, where did you spend almost the whole night, let me know?” Frederick crosses his arms over his chest. “And the important thing is, why? Why did you leave nobody the hell knows where, not your home?”
“I just…” Raquelle moves her sad eyes aside for a second. “Natalia and I just…”
“What Natalia and you?” Frederick demands the answer loudly.
“We thought of my parents. About my past that I still can’t forget.”
“Your past?”
“I was very upset… The memories got obsessed with me again and made my good mood worse.”
“What does it have to do with that? How could the memories of the past stop you from going home right in time?”
“Just…” Raquelle sighs heavily. “When Natalia went home, I just went the straight way. I ended up on a beach and decided to stop there…”
“What were you doing there?” Frederick specifies gloomily.
“I was walking. Breathing in the fresh air.”
“What if there was a maniac there?”
“There was nobody there. I was walking all alone.”
“So, why did you the hell go there, not home?”
“I wanted to calm down a little.”
“Could you not calm down at home? In your room!”
“I couldn’t drive my car when I was so excited and wanted to calm down a little.”
“And how? Calmed down?”
“Yup… I braced myself and decided to go home.”
“In the morning?”
“Grandfather…”
“You did an irresponsible thing, Raquelle!” Frederick exclaims. “If you had not been lucky, everything would’ve been over in a bad way.”
“But nothing happened! Here I am! Alive and healthy!”
“Oh, Jesus Christ…” Frederick moans tiredly. “Give me patience…”
“Sorry… I’m very sorry for making you worried like that…” Raquelle inclines her head slightly and folds her hands in front of her. “But I needed it…”
“Someday you would ask for trouble,” Frederick says confidently. “And ask for great problems.”
“Stop, Grandpa… Nothing happened to me!”
“You do not think of your safety,” Frederick shakes his head. “At all!”
“Listen, I completely understand your feelings,” Raquelle says guiltily with sadness in her eyes. “I understand I risked much by walking alone at such a late time.”
Raquelle moves her eyes to Frederick.
“But I’m no longer a baby,” Raquelle adds more confidently. “I can take the responsibility for my actions and don’t have to be back home at eight or nine o’clock.”
“I repeat, while you’re living with me, I am responsible for you,” Frederick says with his head proudly raised.
“Stop thinking I’m a baby. I grew up a long time ago and don’t have to ask you for permission.”
“Yeah, but you must have at least called me. Was it so hard to contact me and tell me you were going home or being a little late?”
“Sorry…” Raquelle pronounces softly. “I didn’t wanna scare and make you upset…”
Frederick says nothing for a few seconds and then sighs tiredly.
“Alright, forget it…” Frederick throws gloomily. “What happened is happened! The important thing is that you’re fine.”
“I didn’t wanna scare you.”
“But if you do something like this again, I will do what I promised and will accompany you everywhere.”
“As you want…” Raquelle agrees quietly, inclining her head slightly.
“But I must confess that you made me really worried because you were not going back home.”
“I understand.”
“I know you’re no longer a baby and don’t need the constant attention.”
Frederick moves his eyes to the window in the room but looks at Raquelle two seconds later.
“But understand, walking outside at a late time is very dangerous for a girl,” Frederick adds confidently. “You may get robbed. Someone might attack you. Anything might happen.”
“I know,” Raquelle nods.
“Moreover, you’re a celebrity. The celebrity that prefers walking without security and using your personal auto without a personal driver.”
“You know well that I don’t want someone to always walk after me. While I don’t have to provide for my safety, I really wanna walk outside alone. Wanna feel like a common person.”
“Yeah, but it scares me much more. Anything might happen to a famous person if they are not surrounded by security and go somewhere alone.”
“I understand, but you’ve got no reason to worry. Even despite my fame, nothing bad has happened to me yet.”
“For a while, Raquelle. For a while.”
“Grandfather…”
“And you really scared me on the day you found out about the death of my parents.” Frederick puts his hands on Raquelle’s shoulders and softly caresses them. “When you didn’t come back home after midnight, I thought of that day. You also left home, telling me nothing, and were back only when I called the police, and you were found at a beach all alone.”
“I could’ve easily run to another person if I had had a chance to do this,” Raquelle replies thoughtfully. “Because I was mad and didn’t wanna go back to your home.”
“The police told me you refused to go with them for a long time.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Honestly, I still don’t understand how you ended up there. That beach was located too far from our home.”
“I didn’t also know how I reached that place,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “But I liked that place. And after that case, I often came there when I was upset by something or wanted to walk a little.”
“Yeah, you’ve been able to scare me and make me nervous since childhood…” Frederick sighs tiredly. “You ran away and were back home only after the police persuaded you to do it. And now you came here in the morning and said nothing.”
“I’ve already said I’m sorry.” Raquelle tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “And I didn’t really wanna scare you.”
“I believe you, Granddaughter,” Frederick says softly. “But I wanna hope you will no longer scare me like this.”
“I promise, if I have to stay a little longer, I shall surely call you,” Raquelle promises confidently.
“And if something bothers you, feel free to tell me. I am not your enemy and will always help you solve a problem. Well, or just support you by saying something good.”
“Don’t worry, Grandfather,” Raquelle cracks a slight smile. “You know I always tell you about my problems and share what I’m worried about.”
“Don’t hide anything from me. If you’ve got something to talk to me about, I’m always ready to give you time.”
“I know, Grandpa. You’re one of those, who I could tell anything.”
“Okay,” Frederick pronounces softly. “Anyway, don’t be mad at me for being a little harsh towards you.”
“It’s okay, I get it,” Raquelle pronounces amicably with a slight smile.
“I was just really worried and thought of many creepy things.”
“Sorry…”
“Ah, Granddaughter…”
Frederick takes Raquelle in his hug, which she accepts with pleasure, and tenderly caresses her head. And after stepping back from him, the girl glances at the reflection in the mirror hanging in her room, while the man decides to watch what’s happening behind the window.
“So…” Frederick pronounces thoughtfully. “Has Natalia been back from Italy?”
“She’s back, Grandpa,” Raquelle nods with a shy smile.
“Yeah, you were thinking of her yesterday.”
“Yeah, I didn’t expect a call from her.”
“How was her trip?”
“She really liked it. Natalia told me everything about all of her adventures.”
“Did she probably bring some souvenirs?”
“She promised to show me something when I go to her home. And some photos she took.”
“Italy is a very beautiful country.” Frederick moves his eyes to Raquelle. “I recently watched a show, in which they told about some places. I really liked it.”
“I know,” Raquelle pronounces. “After Rochester’s stories, I did even get a wish to go to Italy someday as a tourist.”
“What’s your problem? You could have a little rest and go to travel.”
“Someday I will go there.”
“I think you deserve a good rest. Have a right to get a couple of free weeks and go abroad.”
“It’s impossible now. I’ve got a very busy schedule and can’t have a vacation right now.”
“Don’t overwork, darling. Or you will have to come yourself after exhaustion and emotional burn-out for a very long time.”
“Don’t worry, Grandpa, working doesn’t give me discomfort. Besides, I often have absolutely free days. Just like today.” Raquelle smiles much wider. “Today, I’m absolutely free! No shootings, no meetings.”
“Really?” Frederick rounds his eyes. “Are you having a rest today?”
“Yup, Grandpa…” Raquelle sits on the bed and cutely embraces Frederick with a shy smile. “Today, I’m gonna spend the whole day with you.”
“Finally!” Frederick smiles widely, answers Raquelle’s embrace, and kisses her on the top of her head. “We’d spend a little more time together. You and I barely do this because you’re always too busy.”
“So, I’m all yours now. If you wanna walk, we will walk. If you need any help at home, I’m ready to help.”
“Yeah, but…” Frederick says thoughtfully. “I thought you’d love to spend time with Natalia a little later.”
“I shall call her later today and invite her here. Ask her to take the photos she took in Italy.”
“I guess, should we think about dinner?”
“Erm… We could do.” Raquelle puts a finger on her lip. “If she agrees, we can have dinner all together,” Raquelle says thoughtfully.
“So, I will not mind it,” Frederick shrugs, slightly massaging his wrists, which hurt a little. “And I will ask Natalia about her trip to Italy.”
“If only she agrees to have dinner with us.”
“Actually, she always agrees when we suggest her.”
“Yeah, but what if Natalia can’t do this today.”
“Well, if she doesn’t come, it’s okay! We will have dinner without her. And before that, we will do some homework, which I haven’t done yet.”
“I am ready!”
“Good,” Frederick laughs shyly. “But at first, clean yourself. Wash your face, change your clothes, brush your hair…”
“Oh, right…” Raquelle strokes down her disheveled hair slightly.
“I’ve gotta go to the bathroom… I haven’t been there yet…”
“Alright, while you’re washing and brushing, I will go to boil water and make a couple of coffee for you and me,” Frederick says confidently.
“Deal! But before coffee, I wanna also check my email inbox.”
“Couldn’t it wait?”
“What if someone sent me something important? Or maybe, I have time to reply to someone from my fans.”
“Okay, you can check.”
“And then I will surely come to drink coffee.”
“Deal. I’m waiting for you in the kitchen.”
Frederick turns and leaves the room, while Raquelle watches him with a slight smile on her face. And two seconds later, the girl also leaves the room and goes to the bathroom to do the water part and clean herself. Cold water helps the girl shake up a little and feel less sleepy and tired, and looking at the reflection in the mirror seems much better. She also has to do something to her hair because it got matted and can barely be brushed. However, some time later, it gets smooth and looks very good, even without getting it done.
After washing and brushing, Raquelle goes to her room, comes to the writing table, opens her laptop, and turns it on, deciding not to change her clothes and to keep wearing her light, tender pink pajamas and slippers of the same color. When it’s turned on some time later, the girl opens her inbox and starts checking a list of all the incoming messages. The brunette moves some of them to trash because they do not make sense and quickly replies to some of them as they are sent by her friends or good familiars that often write emails to her.
At some moment, Raquelle, scrolling down the list of the incoming messages with a touchpad, notices a message from someone she does not know. No letter subject. She could assume this is another message that could be moved to the trash with no regret. But something makes the brunette interested in this letter.
“Hey, what kind of letter?” Raquelle frowns slightly. “What kind of strange letter? Interesting… No name of the one to send it… As well as the letter’s subject…”
A few seconds later, Raquelle decides to open the letter and examine it for curiosity, assuming it might also be some kind of spam that she would move to the trash and forget it once and forever.
“Okay…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully, biting her lip slightly. “Let’s see what this is…”
Raquelle opens the letter from the anonymous with a couple of clicks of a touchpad.
“Interesting…” Raquelle frowns slightly. “The letter was sent yesterday… When I turned off the computer and went to the meeting with Natalia…”
Raquelle scrolls down the page a little bit more with a touchpad and decides to start reading the letter. But examining the content of the one, she realizes this is not an offer for work or a letter from one of her friends. This letter contains insulting words for the girl, who is addressed by her name.
“I am welcoming you, Raquelle Cameron.
I do not exclude that the first thing you might come up with after you see this letter is this is kind of a fake. This letter is sent by a bot that sends some bullshit to everyone. I do not exclude that you would love to delete it and forget about it once and forever. But I am assuring you that you received the letter from a real human. You should not know what my name is, who I am, or how I got your email. I just want you to be careful from now on. Why? Who knows what might happen to the young girl that literally all the men are dreaming about.
But to be honest, I do not understand why everyone loves you so much because you are by far not a beauty. By far not a sexual and attractive girl. I do not understand everyone’s admiration of the model called Raquelle Cameron. You have nothing that people could like you for. You are a pathetic gray mouse. That gray mouse, which was just madly lucky. That probably paid to someone to get promoted so hard. Anyway, I am absolutely sure you did not deserve everything you have gotten. Did not deserve!”
There are much more talented girls in the world. More beautiful. I think you have nothing to do in the show business and want something to happen and ruin your career once and forever. So, you are not able to raise your head because of a sense of great shame. So, you are not afraid of leaving home because everyone will start pointing at you with a finger and insulting you somehow. I mean, not insulting but telling the truth. The truth about you being too selfish. You overrated yourself and your work.
Here’s my advice for you, dear Raquelle Cameron. Leave the modeling business before it’s too late. Or go somewhere to study or work. I understand it’s much better to shake your naked ass for a camera for much more money than to work at work for a whole day. But trust me, it would be much better. Nobody would get upset if you decided to leave it all. You are not the queen of the runway you pronounced yourself. Not a queen of people’s hearts. Not a queen of glossy magazines. You are a freak. Pathetic lofty with no ass and boobs. Who needs your fucking photos? Who do you walk on a runway for? Nobody but little children that would grow up someday and get brains!
Follow my advice. Do not hurt everyone’s eyes. There are more talented and beautiful models that I personally admire much more than a pathetic girl, who is getting promoted just because she is sleeping with someone. You did not deserve all the money you have earned. You did not deserve the luxury you are living in!”
Leave, Raquelle Cameron, leave! Nobody wants to see you!”
Raquelle runs her eyes over the whole letter again, which makes her worried, get very upset and think of something not very good. She does not usually answer when she gets similar letters with threats and insults if she gets them, but this time, the girl cannot brace herself and just close the letter and delete it once and forever.
“Oh, no…” Raquelle thinks. “It seems like my haters decided to make my mood worse with their insults in the early morning. And this person wasn't too lazy to write a whole letter. But I usually get letters that contain only a few words. For example, they can say I’m slim and ugly. Or I’m a fucking whore, the fame of who was paid by a sugar daddy. Or I am lofty with no boobs and ass…”
Raquelle frowns slightly.
“Damn…” Raquelle shakes her head. “I’ve got a bad mood after what happened yesterday, but now I got much sadder because of this letter. Because of this person. Because my haters know the email that I actually created for my fans and aren’t afraid of telling me everything they want.”
Raquelle swallows up nervously.
“I know I shouldn’t pay attention to them,” Raquelle thinks. “I know there are no people, who are loved by everyone. I know any famous person has their own haters. But it’s so hard… So hard not to listen to these words and keep doing what I’m doing.”
Raquelle sighs quietly.
“I feel bad because of my past…” Raquelle thinks. “Because of the way I was insulted at school. The way everybody hated me. My schoolmates made me think I was really so ugly, stupid, and worthless. Everything I got through still bothers me a lot. The past doesn’t let me go. It has not done it for many years. Anyone, who wishes to hurt me, makes me think of what happened. What happened when I felt absolutely unprotected.”
Raquelle thinks for two seconds.
“Damn, I shouldn't have wasted my time and should’ve just deleted this letter,” Raquelle thinks. “Letters from anonymous people, who hide their names never lead to anything good. And I, idiot, decided to read it. Oh, damn…”
Raquelle frowns slightly and reads the letter from the anonymous again.
“And yeah, why did someone write that I should be careful?” Raquelle wonders. “Why does this person say such strange things? It’s okay that they’re insulting me. But why do they say I should be careful from now on? I don’t understand anything… They are… Gonna do something to me? Something terrible?”
Raquelle thinks for a few seconds.
“Should I be careful?” Raquelle frowns slightly. “Or does someone just wanna terrify me? Somehow, I got letters with much more serious threats. As far as I remember, a girl threatened literally to make me ugly ‘cause she was mad that her boyfriend got a crush on me. But nothing happened. Nobody threatened me. I’ve always quietly walked outside alone, but luckily, nothing has happened to me. Maybe, this is letter one from those?”
Raquelle reads the letter from the unknown person again.
“Alright, stop worrying!” Raquelle exhales sharply. “For the past years, I’ve gotten tons of similar letters, but I quickly managed to forget everything before. So, why should I be worried now, when I got a letter from another hater? Alright, stop it! I’ve gotta delete this letter now and forget about it once and forever.”
Raquelle deletes the letter from the anonymous with a couple of clicks of a touchpad.
“Oh, it seems like I should delete this email once and forever, create a new one, and give it only to checked people,” Raquelle thinks, tightly locking the fingers of her hands folded in front of her. “My fans can contact me on social networks. And my haters would be afraid to leave comments with threats to the public.”
Raquelle sighs heavily.
“Alright, forget it!” Raquelle decides. “I don’t wanna make my mood worse because of another hater, I deleted this letter and can now no longer think about it.”
A few seconds later, Frederick says loudly from the kitchen:
“Raquelle, where are you? The water in the kettle is already hot!”
“I’m coming, Grandpa!” Raquelle says loudly. “Now! One second!”
After putting herself together, Raquelle turns off her laptop, closes it, gets up from the writing table, and quietly goes to the kitchen to eat and drink something. Frederick is already waiting for her with a couple of cups of strong coffee for her and himself.
“Here you are!” Frederick exclaims. “I already made coffee for you.”
“Thanks a lot,” Raquelle thanks with a slight smile.
“C’mon, sit at the table.”
Raquelle comes to the table, sits on it, and quickly looks around at what surrounds her. The kitchen is small enough but very light, as much light gets into it in the daylight thanks to a wide window that is slightly covered with a transparent curtain. There is also a spacious refrigerator, multiple kitchen drawers hanging on the wall or placed on the floor, and a small table for four people, at which the girl is sitting now. There is light brown laminate on the floor, and there are some halogen lamps on the ceiling, which light up this place in the evening time.
“What will you eat while drinking coffee?” Frederick asks.
“Just eat a few vanilla cookies,” Raquelle replies thoughtfully. “You know I can’t eat much in the morning.”
“Alright.”
A few seconds later, Frederick finds a pack of cookies in one of the kitchen drawers, quickly opens it and puts everything on a white plate that he places on the table in front of Raquelle alongside her cup of coffee.
“Thanks a lot,” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“Listen, does it seem to me that you suddenly got kind of sad?” Frederick frowns slightly, sitting at the table with Raquelle, while she thinks about something with sadness in her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yup, I’m okay.”
“But why are you so sad?”
“Nothing special.” Raquelle drinks some coffee from her cup and bites a piece of a cookie. “My haters just sent tons of bad things to my email again.”
“Haters?” Frederick specifies.
“I know you’d say I shouldn't pay attention to them, but sometimes it’s too hard.”
“Are you reading everything they’re reading?”
“Nope. I read just one letter, which someone sent me yesterday.”
“Why, Raquelle?” Frederick drinks some coffee from his cup. “Why do you make your mood worse because of those, who aren’t even worth your tear?”
“They just remind me of those times when I was humiliated and insulted at school.”
“Granddaughter…”
“It’s been very many years, but I still can’t forget what happened. The past is still chasing me and not leaving me alone.”
“I completely understand it, sunshine, but you worry for nothing. You weren’t just lucky to be among such cruel people.”
“But they ruined my self-rate.” Raquelle drinks some coffee from her cup. “Because of them, I began to think I was talentless, ugly, and worthless. It’s still hard for me to believe I’m really beautiful.”
“But you know it’s not the truth. You’re a very beautiful and talented girl, who has reached much in her life.”
“But it’s clear that it’s not enough to prove that they were wrong.”
“Raquelle, why do you prove something to someone? Do you think your haters will appreciate it early or late and start to love you? They will not do! If someone hated you before, they would not have the best feelings after. Someone would hardly sharply get the love for you and start to tell you tons of compliments.”
“I know…”
“And remember, there are no perfect people. There are not those, who are loved by everyone. Even the kindest and most decent people are not absolutely loved. Even innocent angels, who give people just kindness and positivity are not absolutely loved. It’s fine. It’s impossible to make everyone like you.”
“I know…”
“Don’t try to get the love of everyone. You would never do this. You would just waste your time.”
“But I wanna prove that I deserve something.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
“Does it make sense, Raquelle? Does it?” Frederick drinks some coffee from his cup. “What’s the meaning of that? Why do you need it?”
“I wanna stop knowing there’s someone not to love me,” Raquelle confesses hesitantly and eats some cookies.
“I tell you again, it will never happen. Never, hear me. You can work like crazy, spare no effort, and feel no sorry for yourself. But trust me, nobody would appreciate it. None of your haters would start to praise you to the sky.”
“Yeah, Grandpa, you’re right…”
“Remember, the most important thing is to be loved by your close people. Your family. Your best friends. You should listen only to their opinion. And you should not care about others. They can tell you anything they want, but you should keep moving on without turning on the sound of their voices.”
“I’m trying, but I can’t do it.”
“You’re doing a bad thing if you still remember what you were told by your schoolmates. As if you want to prove to them that they were wrong.”
“I dunno… Maybe…”
“Jesus… It’s been so many years since that time, but you still remember everything. The other people probably forgot you a long time ago and are now living an interesting life full of emotions.”
“I can’t do this, you know.”
“Don’t be some kind of perfectionist and try to make everything brilliant. Making mistakes is fine and should not make you ashamed. Besides, sometimes a person also needs to get some criticism. Not to insult them and deprive them of a wish to keep doing what they do. But to help them get better. Critics exist not to hurt or humiliate someone, but to help them fix their mistakes and make their work much better.”
“You’re right…”
“So, my sunshine, just keep doing what you’re doing and listen to nobody. People can say and write anything about you. The most important thing is that you are loved and will be loved by your family and your closest friends.”
“That’s what saves me in hard situations,” Raquelle cracks a slight smile.
“Don’t let haters make your mood worse with their insults. Or better don’t read them. Delete all of their letters. Ignore all the bad things. Focus only on good things. What gives you a belief in yourself.”
“I’m trying to do it, Grandpa Frederick.”
“And actually, I thought you already learned to fight with it. You’ve been criticized and insulted so many times over the past years, but you kept doing what you were doing. But sometimes there is nothing from that.”
“Alas, I can’t stay as strong as a stone. Sometimes your past may give you too much pain that doesn’t leave you through the years. That can make someone doubt themselves all their life and prevent them from getting better and making their dreams come true.”
“So, you’re just making yourself think you learned. So, you’re too far from that.”
“Maybe…”
Silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Frederick and Raquelle drink their coffee and eat cookies placed on the plate in front of them.
“Sometimes I’m ashamed of people for lying to them,” Raquelle confesses hesitantly. “I’m lying to them by saying I’m really strong and confident. And the phrase, ‘stay strong, brave and happy’ is not about me.”
“I guess you need to change your tactic.”
“What?”
“Confess that you’re really not feeling confident. But say you’re fighting with it. And encourage people to change with you.”
“And ruin the image I’ve had for ages?”
“Many celebrities ruin some legends about them. Besides, they often support an image that was made for them by their managers.”
“I dunno, Grandfather…”
Raquelle drinks some coffee from her cup.
“I’m insisting on nothing,” Frederick says quietly. “But I wanna say any lie would be revealed early or late. Early or late, people will realize you are not as strong and confident as you want to be. You can actually be hurt by criticizing cruelly.”
“I wanna be an example to everyone.”
“I get it. But pretending to be someone else is also not good. People should love the real you, not the girl you made. That was made by your managers.”
“Gosh, Grandpa…” Raquelle smiles shyly. “How smart and wise you are…”
“Learn, girl, and memorize while I am alive,” Frederick says confidently and drinks some coffee from his cup. “Nobody else would tell you these things.”
“I always learn from you.”
“And for God’s sake, stop paying attention to those, who say bad things about you. They don’t deserve your attention.”
“Gonna try to do.”
Frederick says nothing and just cracks a slight smile.
“Okay, you drink your coffee quickly, and then we will decide how to spend this day,” Frederick says confidently. “Maybe, we’ll go somewhere or organize general cleaning at home.”
“I said I would be all yours today,” Raquelle recalls and drinks some coffee from her cup. “Ready to do anything you need.”
“Oh, how happy I am that you’re gonna stay home. You didn’t have any free days for such a long time. You were working literally every day with no break.”
“What can I do if everyone wants to work with me?” Raquelle shrugs.
“You could at least ask your managers to give you a couple of free days. What’s the hell? No free days! I work almost every day, but I do have free days.”
“If I realize I wanna have a rest, I will ask Serena to free a few days for me and schedule all my shootings for another day. But now I ain’t tired yet.”
“It’s weird she didn’t plan anything for today.”
“It happened. But tomorrow I’m gonna have a few shootings.”
“So, today, you and I will use the moment and spend time together.”
“With pleasure, Grandpa,” Raquelle smiles shyly.
A few seconds later, Frederick and Raquelle drink coffee from their cups and eat a few pieces of vanilla cookies.
“M-m-m, the coffee was just amazing!” Raquelle pronounces with enjoyment.
“I did everything you love,” Frederick says with a slight smile. “Strong, with a spoonful of sugar.”
“Thanks a lot. I really liked it.”
Frederick says nothing and just keeps smiling shyly. And then he gets up from the table, takes the empty cups and a plate from the table, puts everything in a sink, and starts washing them under warm water.
“Okay, I will go to my room,” Raquelle says thoughtfully. “Change my clothes…”
Raquelle gets up from the table quietly, leaves the kitchen, and goes to her room. After closing the door, the girl comes to the closet, opens it, and starts to check all of her clothes. She tries to choose something for some time, wishing to find what she has not put on for a long time. But at some moment, the girl hears her smartphone lying on the writing table near the laptop starts vibrating. Loud sounds of a simple melody start ringing, letting her know someone is trying to call her.
Raquelle, frowning slightly, throws a look at the calling phone, quickly comes to the table, takes the smartphone, looks at the name of the one to call her, and decides to answer the call with the thought it might be something very important.
“Hello, I’m listening,” Raquelle pronounces quietly.
“Hello, Raquelle,” the feminine, soft voice pronounces. “It’s Serena Oliverson.”
“Oh, Serena…” Raquelle cracks a slight smile. “Hello.”
“Sorry, am I not bothering you much?” Serena asks.
“No, no, it’s alright.”
“You probably got ready for a rest because nothing was planned for today.”
“Well… Actually… Yes…” Raquelle bites her lip slightly. “My grandfather and I wanted to talk about what to do today.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry, my sweetheart,” Serena apologizes. “I feel embarrassed taking your free day, which you rarely have, from you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You know, I need to talk to you. I would like to meet you at the nearest time and discuss something.”
“Meet me?”
“Yes, could you give me two hours to meet me?”
“Erm… Yeah… Sure… I can meet you. Whenever you want.”
“The case is that I got a very interesting offer for a shooting that I would like to talk to you about.”
“An offer for a shooting?”
“And it would be great if we met and talked about it as soon as possible.”
“Erm…” Raquelle thinks for two seconds. “Alright. I agree to meet you.”
“I promise I will not hold you for too long,” Serena promises softly. “We will just discuss the offer I got, and you will go home again and have a rest.”
“Yes, of course, I will meet you. Yes, I… Was planning to go nowhere and stay home. But… For our meeting, I… I’m ready to change my plans.”
“Excellent! Thank you so much.”
“Just tell me where and when I should go, and I will immediately go. If you want, I can come to a café.”
“Erm…” Serena pronounces thoughtfully. “No, come to the agency. I will be waiting for you at my office.”
“Alright… I will go to the agency.”
“I want to warn you that I will be not alone but with some people. Who you are going to work with.”
“I got it,” Raquelle nods confidently.
“Wonderful then!” Serena falls into silence and thinks for two seconds. “What about meeting in two hours? What do you think? Could you come just in time?”
“In two hours?” Raquelle asks and quickly moves her eyes to the watch hanging in her room above the door. “Great! I’m pleased with it.”
“Excellent!” Serena smiles widely. “So, did you and I agree?”
“Yeah, agreed,” Raquelle nods with a slight smile. “I will try not to be late.”
“Even if you are, it’s alright. I will sit and wait for you.”
“No, no, I will come in time.”
“Alright then. In this case, see you soon!”
“Yeah… Goodbye.”
Raquelle finishes the call, puts her smartphone on the writing table, and sets her eyes into the distance.
“Oh, I stayed home…” Raquelle thinks. “Now I have to go to the meeting with Serena. In two hours, I should be at the agency to talk to her…”
Raquelle sighs tiredly.
“Alright, it’s fine,” Raquelle thinks. “I will go there, quickly talk to her, and then go home. This meeting would hardly change the plans of Grandpa and me for spending time together.”
Raquelle swallows up nervously.
“Okay, I’ve gotta get ready now,” Raquelle thinks. “I need to quickly put myself in order… Do makeup, brush my hair, and decide what to put on…”
When Raquelle wants to come to the closet and decide what to put on for the meeting with her manager, Serena, she hears a quiet knock at the door, which opens after this. And then Frederick shows up on the doorstep.
“Were you talking to someone, honey?” Frederick asks.
“Yup, I just got a call from Serena,” Raquelle says quietly.
“Serena? What does she need?”
“Asked me to come to the agency and meet her.”
“Meet her?” Frederick rounds his eyes. “But why?”
“She said she wanted to talk to me about one offer of a shooting.”
“Couldn’t she wait until tomorrow? Why didn’t you ask her to meet her on a different day? Is that woman going to deprive you of the first in a long time free day?”
“C’mon, Grandpa! Don’t grumble! It’s just a meeting! It’s gonna last for about one hour or one and a half hours. When it’s over, I will be back home.”
“What if you don’t?”
“I promise I will be back home soon and spend a whole day with you.”
“Oh…” Frederick sighs tiredly with sadness in his eyes. “Alright… If you need it, go there.”
“Don’t worry, I will be back soon,” Raquelle promises confidently. “This meeting isn’t gonna change our plans. I will quickly talk to Serena and then be all yours.”
“You and I spend so little time together because you always go somewhere.”
“Sorry… It’s my job. I’ve gotta go to meetings and discuss all the offers I get from my managers.”
“Okay, Raquelle, I got it. Go to the meeting if you need it. I will find what to do.”
“I won’t be late. I promise.”
“Don’t be late. Go home after you meet Serena.”
“Okay!”
“Alright, I will not bother you. Get ready now. Or you might be late. I’ve always taught you that coming somewhere even five minutes earlier is a bad thing.”
“Yeah, sure…”
Frederick being little sad turns and leaves the room, closing the door. Raquelle watches him and sighs quietly after he leaves this place. She stands in the same place for a few seconds and then decides not to waste time and to start getting ready for the meeting with Serena. The girl opens her closet and starts to check all of her clothes to decide what to put on.
Somewhere one hour or one and a half hours later, Raquelle finally cleans herself, quickly does nude makeup, and gathering her hair she got done with a straightener in a ponytail. The girl decides to choose a slim-fit light brown suit jacket, sleeves of which she half rolls, a simple white shirt, light skinny jeans, and lacquered black shoes with heels and a closed toe. When meeting important people, she always puts on something like this and forgets some of her favorite clothes that are not good for these events.
Raquelle fixes her hair slightly the last time while standing in front of the mirror, puts her smartphone and the keys from her car in her purse, and warmly says goodbye to Frederick, who got upset because his granddaughter did not manage to have a rest but decided not to mind it with the thought that it was one of her duties she must do.
Some time later, Raquelle leaves the apartment, while Frederick closes the door after her. Then she quickly goes down to the first floor in the elevator, leaves the building, goes to the parking lot where her car is placed, unlocks it with the key, sits in the driver’s seat, starts the motor, and slowly goes on the road.
Because she is going to take not such a long way to the right place, Raquelle is sure she will come there in a short period of time. So, she does not worry about a little traffic jam she gets into two minutes after she goes on the road. On the way, the girl thinks much about what kind of job Serena wants to talk to her about, forgetting about the letter she read some time ago by this moment. And something tells her the offer is really good and interesting if her manager did not want to wait at least until tomorrow and asked her ward to come to her right now.
***
Some time later, Raquelle arrives at the right place. The agency where she is going to meet Serena and some people, who, as she said, are going to work with her. The girl quickly finds a free place in the parking lot placed not far from the building, and leaves her automobile in it. After this, she turns off the motor, leaves the salon, locks it with the key, which she puts in her little purse, and comes to the agency slowly but confidently, sometimes looking around.
On the way, the paparazzi start running after her, photographing the girl, who just came here without stopping. However, she, as always, just smiles shyly at these people, waves her hand at them, greets those she has met before and answers a couple of questions, which, however, might be the same as always.
Raquelle quickly goes by the paparazzi and quietly enters the building of the agency, where everyone cannot go so easily. The girl greets some people she knows, quickly answers their questions about how she is doing, and why she came here, and says a couple of more words to them. There are usually many people here, but today, it’s kind of too quiet and calm at the agency. Yes, someone is walking down halls and focused on their own business. But there are days when it’s literally impossible to walk here.
Raquelle confidently goes down all the halls for some time and goes up to the right floor, looking around at times. And later, she comes to the office she needs. After quickly looking around and making sure she looks good, the girl quietly knocks at the door and hears the voice she knows very well:
“Come in!”
Raquelle opens the door, quietly goes to the living room, and sees an adult woman sitting on the writing table. The attractive gray-eyed brunette of middle age has a thin body, nice features, a kind look, and a smile that definitely makes people trust her. She is here all alone. There are not those people she might work with. After seeing the young girl, the woman smiles at her widely and gets up from her place.
“Oh, Raquelle, hello again,” the woman pronounces amicably.
“Good afternoon, Serena,” Raquelle says with a shy smile.
“Come in the office. Sit down. Feel like home.”
When Raquelle enters the office and closes the door, Serena comes closer to her, shares an amicable kiss on the cheek with her, takes her in her hug, and steps back two seconds later.
“Sit on the table,” Serena points at the table.
“Thanks,” Raquelle nods confidently.
While Serena goes back to her place, Raquelle sits on the chair placed in front of the woman, placing her purse on the back of it.
“Sorry for making you come here and breaking your plans for your first in a long time free day,” Serena apologizes shyly.
“It’s alright,” Raquelle replies amicably. “I understand it. Even if I have a rest, I’m ready that I might be asked to come to the agency at any time.”
“Yeah, I could wait for tomorrow, but I decided not to do this and talk about everything today.”
“The earlier, the better.”
“Sorry for bothering you again.”
“It’s alright, Serena, you did not bother me.”
“And yeah, thank you so much for coming just in time,” Serena thanks.
“How long have you been waiting for me?” Raquelle asks.
“Since I called you.”
“That’s how…”
“I finished doing a couple of important things before you came. I made a couple of important calls and solved some questions that had to do with my wards.”
“Alright…”
“Anyway, I’m going to repeat that I love you for being punctual.”
“Thanks.”
“You know that I love those, who understand that making someone wait is a bad thing.”
“Glad to hear it,” Raquelle pronounces with a slight smile.
“I guess you got interested in my offer?”
“Yes, I got interested. Besides, I know you always look for very good work for me.”
“I’m trying to do,” Serena smiles shyly.
“And I can’t wait to find out why you asked me to come here today.”
“You will know everything now. And I hope you will get interested in it as well as I did. I mean, you will be interested in the important people you are going to work with.”
“I can’t wait to know everything.”
Serena says nothing and just smiles shyly. Silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Raquelle quickly looks around the whole office of her manager, where she spends a larger part of her time and accepts all the visitors.
The office is spacious enough and well-lighted thanks to high windows, from which there is a breathtaking view of a part of the city. White and gray colors dominate the design. And as the office is located on one of the highest floors of the building, someone, who fears heights, might definitely feel dizzy and get their legs weak. On the white writing table, there is a modern computer, an expensive mobile phone, a big bunch of paper, a glass with multiple pens, markers, and scissors, and a small lamp that lights the desk at the dark time of the day. There is a white sofa placed in front of the table and a small bookshelf with some books on the side. There are also a couple of chairs that are similar to the one Raquelle is sitting on, and the room is lighted in the evening time thanks to multiple halogen lamps placed on the ceiling.
“By the way…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully. “On the phone, you said someone else would be at the meeting… Someone I’m going to work with.”
“Ah, yeah…” Serena nods. “Sadly, they will join us a little later.”
“Later?”
“Yes. I had talked to them before you came here, and they said they would be a little late due to personal reasons.”
“But will those people come?”
“Yes, yes, those people will come here. And I will introduce you to them.”
“So…” Raquelle moves her eyes to her hands for a second. “So, we will wait for them.”
“Of course, we will,” Serena says confidently.
“Excuse me, Serena, who are those people if it’s not a secret?”
“One of them is a person you are probably going to work with, and the second one is his manager.”
“That’s how…”
“I have already talked to the manager of your partner and met him many times. We have agreed about everything. And now it’s time for you and your colleague to meet. And you can also ask all the questions you have and agree about something you do not like.”
“Is that a model?”
“Erm… Not quite a model…”
“No?”
“But that person is well known in the show business. His word might change very much.”
“Alright…”
“Don’t worry, sweetie.” Serena caresses Raquelle’s hand with a slight smile. “I’m sure you will get on well with your colleague and work with him well.”
“I do not worry,” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“It’s gonna be okay. You know I wouldn’t make you work with bad people.”
“I know, Serena.”
“Alright…” Serena leans back in the chair. “Before our visitors come, I’m suggesting you drink something.”
“Actually, I had drunk coffee before I came to you,” Raquelle confesses shyly.
“Well, just drink water.”
“No, Serena, thanks.”
“Alright then. But I would be happy to drink a cup of strong coffee. And I will do this.”
Serena moves her eyes to the wired phone placed on the table near the computer, takes it, types a number, and waits for a reaction.
“Hello, Kelly?” Serena pronounces. “It’s Serena.”
“Yes, Mrs. Oliverson!” the feminine voice on the phone pronounces.
“Be pleased, make me a cup of strong coffee.”
“With sugar?”
“Yes, one spoonful.”
“Got it! I will do this now.”
“When you do, bring the cup to my office.”
“As you want.”
“Thanks a lot.” Serena ends the call, puts the phone, and moves her eyes to Raquelle. “I’m working like crazy and don’t barely have time to eat and sleep well. I have to save myself with coffee and frequent snacks.”
“So much work?” Raquelle asks.
“Very much. You know I have many wards. Not just you. I’ve gotta have control of the business of every single model and remember everything not to get confused. But it’s too hard. I literally feel dizzy.”
“I get it…”
“I don’t exclude that I would get a vacation soon and give my work to the other members of the managers’ team.”
“If you need, It, do this. I’m sure the guys from my team would do your work well.”
“I trust them, but I would watch them not to let them mess up everything.”
“I’m sure they will not,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “There are only the best people on my team. Very decent and responsible people that care about their work much.”
“I wish, my darling, I wish.”
Raquelle says nothing and moves her eyes to her hands with a shy smile. That’s why silence settles in the air for two seconds.
“By the way, you didn’t visit me for a long time,” Serena notices thoughtfully, tightly locking her fingers. “I completely understand you’ve got very much work, but still…”
“Sorry…” Raquelle apologizes. “I really wanted to visit you somehow for nothing and talk, but I didn’t have free time.”
“Well, tell me how you are doing now.”
“More or less good.”
“What’s new? Something interesting happened in your life?”
“Nope, nothing happened.”
“How’s your grandfather doing?”
“My grandfather is doing fine. He goes to work and is still living a very active life.”
“Does he still mind you working in the modeling business?”
“He does. But thank God, he insists on nothing and lets me decide what to do.”
“Aren’t you going to leave him and live in your own apartment?”
“Sometimes I think about it and check out variants of apartments to rent,” Raquelle shrugs. “Yes, Grandfather and I live very well together. He doesn’t feel lonely, and I don’t feel bored. But we should live separately anyway.”
“That’s right. You can’t live with him forever.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m thinking about renting an apartment.”
“By the way, haven’t you still met a man? Haven’t you fallen in love with anyone?”
“Not yet.”
“Don’t you still like anyone?”
“Alas, I don’t like anyone from those, who would like to date me.”
“But you can just go on dates and speak to men.”
“Yeah, but before going on dates, I should like someone first. However, there is nobody else I would like to talk a little longer and closer with.”
“But you at least try. Going on dates doesn’t mean you should immediately fall in love with a man and pronounce yourself his second half. A date is a way to get to know a person and spend a good time with them somewhere in the city.”
“Oh, gosh, Serena…” Raquelle smiles shyly. “You’re speaking like my grandfather, Frederick.”
“It’s the truth, Raquelle. Nothing would happen if you just went on a date with a man and talked to him a little. Who knows, maybe, you like him.”
“No, I don’t want to do this yet.”
“Why? It’s so great!”
“I haven’t met a man that would make me wish to go somewhere with him.”
“But you go somewhere with your friends. Among whom there are men, just saying. So, you can think it’s almost the same. But something a little different.”
“I know, but still.”
“Just don’t think I’m making you immediately play a wedding and give birth to a baby. It’s okay, if you don’t want to, don’t do it. But don’t refuse to go on dates and communicate with men.”
“Honestly, I don’t want this at the moment,” Raquelle confesses shyly.
“Why?”
“Besides, when do I go on dates when I’m always busy?”
“But you’re not busy twenty-four hours per day.”
“Yeah, but…”
“I think you can always find at least two or three hours to go somewhere with a man and talk to him.”
“Oh, Serena…”
“I understand, you are probably a little shy about talking to men, or you think all of them want the same from you. But trust me, not all of them are the same. There are very good and decent men. You just should look for them. Go on dates, talk, ask questions, watch their behavior… Listen to your feelings, in the end. If you don’t like someone, you can always say it clearly and keep looking for your man. You know how many times people go on dates before they find someone they like.”
“Yeah, you’re absolutely right.”
“Besides, I think you’ve had too much work. I checked how many shootings were scheduled and got a little horrified. Because a literally whole day is taken. You go from one shooting to another.”
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” Raquelle says with a slight smile.
“No, Raquelle, it’s not fine. I want to review your schedule for you to have much more time for you and your close people.”
“Don’t do it, Serena. I’ve got a very good schedule.”
“I didn’t think about it when I was agreeing with people about shootings,” Serena says thoughtfully. “But it’s okay, I will fix it.”
“Working doesn’t get me exhausted. Vice versa, it gives me pleasure. I always wait for every single shot with impatience.”
“Yes, sweetie, I know, but you are not a robot. You must have a rest and do your business.”
“I’ve got enough time for my business.”
“Alright, the next week, I will check your scheduled shootings and try to make you less busy.”
“Wouldn’t you refuse some shootings?”
“No, I will not refuse, I will just reschedule some shootings. Besides, I should pay attention to the fashion shows you are going to participate in. I need to give special attention to the shootings scheduled some time before them and make sure they do not prevent you from getting ready.”
“Alright, do what you want,” Raquelle agrees quietly. “But please, try not to reject offers. I agree to work for any money, shoot for any magazine, and participate in any fashion show.”
“As always, all the offers will be discussed with you. Don’t worry, I don’t reject any offers for work without your permission.”
“Wonderful. I would work with everyone to want it.”
“I understood you.”
Silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Raquelle looks at her hands, and Serena glances at a window. Then someone quietly knocks at the door of the office, and the woman moves her eyes to it.
“Yes, yes, come in!” Serena exclaims.
The door of the office opens, and a young, short, dark-haired girl shows up on the doorstep, holding a cup of coffee she recently made.
“Mrs. Oliverson…” the girl pronounces quietly.
“Oh, Kelly, come in!” Serena exclaims, making a calling gesture.
“Here’s your coffee, as you asked.”
The girl named Kelly comes to the writing table and carefully places the cup of coffee on the table.
“Thank you so much,” Serena thanks with a slight smile.
“Want something else?” Kelly asks.
“Not yet, You can be free.”
“As you want.”
When Kelly wants to leave the office, she moves her eyes to Raquelle sitting on the chair, and smiles much wider.
“Oh, Raquelle!” Kelly pronounces happily. “You’re here!”
“Hi, Kelly,” Raquelle greets amicably, waving her hand.
“Good afternoon…”
Kelly and Raquelle share an amicable kiss on each other’s cheek to welcome.
“How are you doing?” Raquelle asks.
“I’m fine,” Kelly says. “What about you?”
“Fine.”
“What brought you here?”
“Serena asked me to come here for one important business.”
“Ah, okay…”
“Sadly, our guests are a little late yet,” Serena says thoughtfully. “Because of them, we can’t start discussing the offer for work.”
“It’s alright,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “I do not hurry anywhere and will wait.”
“But they’re doing a bad thing by making you wait,” Kelly notices. “Being too late is a very bad thing. That’s what my mother has always said. She says you can be at least five minutes late. No more.”
“Maybe, they have some important business.”
“Yeah, but they could warn you and say they would come later. Instead of saying nothing like this…”
“Right,” Serena nods. “Those people called some time ago and promised to be here literally in a few minutes. But none of them has come yet.”
“My gosh…” Kelly glances aside for a second. “Alright, I will better go. I will not bother you. If you need something, let me know.”
“Alright, Kelly, go,” Serena softly allows.
“With your permission.”
Kelly turns and closes the door of the office after she leaves it.
“Such a sweet girl,” Raquelle notices thoughtfully.
“Agree,” Serena nods. “And she can make incredible coffee.”
Serena takes a little sip of the cup Kelly just brought.
“M-m-m, excellent,” Serena pronounces with enjoyment. “She quickly understood what I liked more.”
“At least, it smells very good,” Raquelle notices with a slight smile.
“Sorry about you refusing to drink with me.”
“I already drank coffee at home. Sadly.”
“It’s okay! We can do this the next time.”
“I would be very happy to go to a café with you and drink a cup of coffee.”
“We will do it somehow. When I finish my business, we will decide when we can go and talk about something.”
“Yeah, sure…”
Serena silently cracks a slight smile and drinks a little bit from her cup, enjoying the incredible taste of strong coffee that gives her the energy she needs while she has so many things to do.
“Excuse me, Serena…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully, knocking at the surface of the table with her fingers. “Could you tell me what kind of offer you have?”
“Do you really want to know?” Serena asks.
“Yes. At least, a couple of words.”
“Alright. To be short, you got an offer to participate in a photoshoot.”
“For a magazine?”
“Yes, the cover of one famous magazine and a few pages of it.” Serena drinks some coffee, puts her cup in front of her, and quickly clears her throat. “But the issue with photos of you would be out in a few months.”
“That’s how…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully.
“Do you remember I mentioned the fact that you are going to have a colleague?”
“Yeah, sure…”
“So, you are going to shoot not alone but with one person, who is supposed to come here alongside his manager.”
“But if they’re not a model, who are they?”
“An actor. Very famous.”
“That’s how… Actor…”
“Yes. He already gave his agreement for the shooting of the cover of the magazine, and his partner still cannot be found. However, the editors paid attention to you. They want you to become the one as you perfectly fit that man.”
“Maybe, I know him? If it’s so, it would be just wonderful!”
“Maybe, you don’t know him personally yet, but you have surely seen him before.”
“But when?”
“Who knows. But girls of your age and much younger know that man very well and just adore him.”
“Oh…” Raquelle cracks a slight smile. “You’re intriguing me…”
“But I’m asking you, don’t worry,” Serena says confidently, takes her cup of hot coffee, and drinks a little bit. “That man is very good and gets on well with everyone he works with. I haven’t heard someone complaining about him and saying that it’s impossible to work with him.”
“I would like to find out who he is as soon as possible.”
“I’m sure you won’t be disappointed and would be happy with the one that was chosen as your partner.”
“He’s young?”
“Young…” Serena smiles mysteriously. “Unmarried, without children, and really good-looking.”
“Really?”
“By the way, when that man found out you might become his partner, he was very glad.”
“Really?”
“Yes. His manager secretly told me it would be a great honor to his ward to work with such a famous model that has driven so many men crazy.”
“I hope it’s one of those I’ve been dreaming of meeting in real life for a long time.”
“Maybe, that’s true.”
“Honestly, I already can’t wait to meet him.”
“Soon, my darling, soon.” Serena glances aside. “When that man comes here, we will talk about everything and make sure you two agree to work together.”
“I can’t wait for that man to come,” Raquelle sighs with a slight smile. “I wanna know who he is.”
“I know who he is, but I want to keep it a secret until the very end. So, you guess.”
“Serena…”
“Don’t try, I will tell you nothing.”
“But why?”
“Don’t be so impatient, girl.”
“At least call me the name of that actor.”
“It’s a secret now.”
“Gosh, you say it like that actor is one of the greatest people in the world. As if even a chance to stand next to him would be a great honor to anyone.”
“Any girl would sell her soul just to stand next to him.”
“Why did they choose an actor? Why's it not a model?”
“Well, the editors of the magazine decided it. They offered – our thing is to refuse or agree.”
“Did you already give them my agreement?”
“I said you would one hundred percent agree.”
“I agree to shoot for that magazine,” Raquelle says confidently. “Whoever my partner is, I will be happy to work with anyone and meet a new person.”
“I got it,” Serena nods with a slight smile. “Besides, I think you would not be able to refuse if you saw that man.”
“I would not refuse anyway. You know I don’t almost reject offers I’m getting.”
“Alright. In this case, your partner and I will talk about everything again, and the team working on the magazine will start getting ready for the shooting.”
“Would that actor be late for the shooting as well as for the meeting with you and me?” Raquelle shows anxiety. “What if the shot is going to be messed up because of him?”
“I can’t say anything.”
“I wonder, what makes him come here so late?”
“I don’t know, my darling, But the important thing is that he comes here.”
“Kelly was right when she said being so late is a bad thing.”
“If I had known he would be so late, I would have asked not to hurry and to come much later,” Serena confesses.
“It’s okay, I’m not rushing.”
“I’m really sorry about distracting you on your free day. One of the fewer free days.”
“Please, Serena, stop. You know you can call me at any time of day or night if you have an important business.”
“I know, my girl, I know.” Serena drinks some coffee from her cup. “But you’ve always been very punctual and are never late.”
“I just understand I can’t betray those, who count on me,” Raquelle says quietly. “Those, who wait for me.”
“It’s a wonderful feature.”
Silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Serena keeps drinking her hot coffee, and Raquelle looks at her hands or looks around. At some moment, they hear someone knocks quietly at the door of the office.
“Come in!” Serena pronounces loudly.
The door of the office opens, and two men show up on the doorstep. One of them is young, tall, and has black hair, and another is a blond, who is a little older and lower. The two men look at Serena a little guiltily, as if they are apologizing to the woman for something not very good.
“Mrs. Oliverson…” the older man pronounces.
“Gosh, finally!” Serena exclaims. “We thought you would not come!”
“Sorry for being late,” the young man, whose voice seems very quiet and soft, apologizes shyly. “We had some business we could not delay.”
“Yeah, we should have solved them,” the older man says. “We are sorry.”
“It’s alright,” Serena says confidently, waving her hand. “The important thing is that you have come.”
“We should have come.”
“Do not stand on the doorstep. Come in, sit down…”
The two men enter the office by one, and the younger one closes the door. Then they go further and come closer to the table, at which Serena is sitting. Meanwhile, Raquelle moves her eyes to them to look at those, who came here. While the girl does not pay much attention to the blond man with a little gloomy look, she gets more interested in the black-haired man.
The thin, young man with piercing blue eyes and perfect features gets her really impressed. His gorgeous luxury jet-black hair strongly stands out against his aristocratically white, perfectly clear skin. The tall, six-foot-tall, handsome man keeps his head proudly raised and looks very confident. As if he knows who he is and does not doubt his attraction. And he knows he could easily disarm any young girl with just his stunning smile. At least, he just almost killed one girl…
After looking at the stranger, Raquelle cannot move her eyes off him and realizes she gets a little nervous, and her heart suddenly starts beating much faster. He literally made the girl fall in love with him with his self-confidence. And he makes her feel what she has never done before. No man has made her feel something like this. She suddenly began getting a little shy, and for a slight blush on her cheeks. And the brunette could definitely not be able to talk to this attractive man as easily and quietly as she talks to many other men she knows.
It seems like the young man is supposed to be confused because Raquelle cannot move her eyes off him. But he is not! He does not care about it. Besides, when he moves his eyes to the girl, he also cannot stop looking at her with interest. This young, attractive girl cannot leave him indifferent and literally paralyzes him for some time. She makes him feel like a hesitant boy, who does not know how to behave with a girl he likes. So, looking at this gorgeous beauty, the man forgot about any confidence and felt that his heart began to miss beats, and it became harder to breathe.
But sadly, no matter how much Raquelle and the young, handsome stranger would like to look at each other forever, they have to move their eyes aside. The man, being a little confused, quickly clears his throat and swallows up nervously, while the girl tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
“By the way, how are you doing?” the older man asks, coming closer to Serena, shaking her by the hand, and kissing it gently. “I hope you are in good health.”
“Thank God, I am fine,” Serena replies gently with a slight smile. “And you?”
“I am fine, as well.”
“I’m glad.”
“We apologize to you again for being so late.”
“It’s alright, gentlemen,” Serena replies amicably. “Do not apologize.”
“Sorry…”
“You better sit down. Take chairs for you and sit down in front of me.”
After quickly looking around, the men take two chairs placed in one of the corners of the office, place them in front of Serena's writing table, and sit down. In parallel, the younger man glances at Raquelle, who folds his hands in front of himself and sometimes shyly moves her eyes down.
“By the way, who is this girl?” the younger man asks. “What is she doing here?”
“This girl is going to be your partner for the photoshoot,” Serena says confidently with a slight smile.
“Really?”
“I hope you will get on well and work well together.”
“Ah, this is my partner…”
The stranger gives Raquelle a charming smile, which already drives her crazy and makes her feel much shyer.
“So…” the stranger says thoughtfully. “Let me introduce myself, my name is Terrence. Terrence MacClife. At your service.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. MacClife,” Raquelle nods. “And I am Raquelle. Raquelle Cameron.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The man named Terrence shakes Raquelle by the hand to welcome her, while she just smiles shyly. Meanwhile, the girl starts to think:
“Gosh, how handsome he is! He's the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. He’s special… And damn… I feel bad! My heart is about to get out of my chest. And it’s getting hard to breathe… What’s happening to me? Why did I react like this? Oh, my God… Help me! Or I’m gonna die of excitement right here!”
“And I’m John Fallon,” the older man introduces himself with a slight smile. “The manager of Terrence MacClife.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Fallon,” Raquelle replies amicably.
The man named John and Raquelle shake each other by the hand to welcome each other, sharing a gentle smile.
“I hope you will get on well with my ward and find a common language with him,” John expresses hope.
“I hope so,” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“I hope Mrs. Oliverson has already told you that you will be working with Terrence MacClife?”
“Erm… Yeah… She said my partner would be an actor… But she did not say who he was until the end.”
“By the way. I remember you well thanks to the collaboration with the brand ‘Nature & Beauty,’” Terrence confesses confidently, looking at Raquelle with interest and admiring her beauty silently.
“Yeah…” Raquelle smiles shyly, moving her eyes down. “I was… The face of that brand… For a few years…”
“I saw all the photos and commercials for that brand and was delighted.”
“Thanks, Mr. MacClife.”
“So, what, Raquelle?” Serena smiles mysteriously. “Did I make you surprised?”
“Erm… I don’t know, honestly… You said I would be working with a very famous person.”
“Well… Don’t you recognize this man?”
“Erm, no, sadly,” Raquelle slightly her head.
Meanwhile, Terrence stops smiling sharply.
“Well, you look at him better,” Serena advises. “Don’t you really recognize him?”
“Should I…” Raquelle pronounces hesitantly. “Know him?”
“Actually, everyone knows me,” Terrence says confidently with his head proudly raised. “I am quite a famous man in the show business. I am known to literally every single dog.”
“Erm, I am sorry, young man, but I do not know you,” Raquelle shakes her head.
“No?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am.”
“So… Alright…”
Terrence falls into silence and raises his head up with a slow sigh, being a little hurt because Raquelle did not recognize him. It’s possible to say it got him mad. He was smiling at Raquelle and trying to be sweet and gentle, but now the man gets kind of gloomy and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Alright, if you don’t know him, it’s okay!” Serena smiles shyly. “Maybe, you talk a little later, and you would call the memories of him.”
“Excuse me, Serena, but I don’t really know Mr. MacClife,” Raquelle replies shyly.
“It’s alright!” John says amicably. “Of course, Terrence is a very famous actor, but not every single person knows him. Especially the old generation.”
“Yeah, he is more popular among very young girls,” Serena adds. “The older audition does not know him.”
“Right.”
“Erm…” Raquelle stutters. “And I’m known not to everyone… Only young guys…”
“Exactly! So, it’s alright that you cannot remember this actor.”
“Yeah…” Terrence pronounces coldly and swallows up nervously, getting quite tense and feeling kind of insulted by this claim. “It’s alright…”
Silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Raquelle closely looks at Terrence, unsuccessfully trying to call some memories of him but having no even little assumption of how this man could get famous. But she notices her potential partner for the photoshoot is good-looking and looks literally more attractive than all the men she knows. And because he is sitting right in front of her, the girl is nervous enough and feeling a little hot not from fear but from excitement and a sense of shyness.
“By the way, maybe, I should give you something to drink?” Serena suggests amicably. “Tea? Coffee? Water?”
“Oh, no, no, thanks, Mrs. Oliverson,” John refuses gently. “Do not need anything.”
“Yeah, thanks, do not do…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully. “Do not need.”
“By the way, one girl that is working here can make just incredible coffee,” Serena smiles mysteriously.
“Thanks, Mrs. Oliverson, but we already ate and drank coffee.”
“Oh, alright! But if you change your mind, let me know, please. That girl would quickly make coffee for you and bring it here.”
“Alright,” John nods.
Meanwhile, Raquelle silently keeps smiling shyly, trying to hide her excitement so hard, breathing heavily enough and realizing her heart is beating much faster. Because such an attractive man as Terrence is sitting right in front of her and literally killing her by just doing nothing.
“God, I’m gonna die now…” Raquelle thinks. “How handsome this man is! The most attractive man I have ever met. I’m even afraid to imagine what would happen to me if he came close to me. And if he also kissed me… Oh… Just thinking about it makes me feel dizzy…”
Being too obsessed with emotions, Raquelle does not notice Terrence does not show such great interest in her, which he had for the first few seconds after they met. He started to look at the girl a little gloomily after he heard she could not remember him and did not know who he was. It seriously hurt him and makes him barely hold his emotions down not to be rude to her with the pretense of so many people.
“So…” Raquelle pronounces as quietly as possible. “Are you… Going to be my partner for the photoshoot?”
“Yeah,” Terrence pronounces a little coldly. “I personally, already gave my agreement for the shooting.”
“I know… Serena told me…”
“Who were you imagining as your partner?”
“I don’t know… Erm… A beginning actor… A famous model… Or someone like this.”
“I hope you are not disappointed?”
“What?”
“That I am going to be your partner.”
“No, come on, Mr. MacClife!” Raquelle exclaims with widely open eyes. “Come on! Of course, not! Vice versa! I am very glad.”
“That’s how…”
“I would be happy to work with someone I haven’t worked with before. And… Even met…”
“Did you already agree to join the shooting?”
“Yes, I already told Serena I agreed to be a part of the shooting for the magazine.”
“Without thinking?”
“I try to accept all the offers I get. I don’t choose much.”
“Alright…”
Terrence moves his little gloomy look aside, while Raquelle just starts to notice this man speaks to her kind of coldly and definitely does not have a wish to work with her.
“It’s weird, why is he talking to me so coldly?” Raquelle frowns slightly. “What doesn’t he like? I am gentle and not even trying to be rude! I thought Terrence would be happy to work with me, as well. But it seems like John, his manager, makes him do what he does not like. I can’t see this man is happy that he will have to work me.”
“Alright, let’s talk about the offer we got again as you two finally came here,” Serena says confidently after she takes a sip of coffee and puts the cup on the table. “We will quickly do the business, and you will go to do your own ones.”
“Yeah, sure,” John nods confidently.
“As far as I understand, your ward and my ward agree to participate in the photoshoot for the magazine.”
“Right,” Raquelle nods.
“Yeah,” Terrence pronounces gloomily.
“Great,” Serena smiles shyly. “Mr. Fallon and I already agreed about everything with the team working on the magazine. Solved all the problems and agreed on how much we would get. We were pleased with almost all the terms, and we gave our agreements. We should have only discussed this offer personally with you and solved some things.”
“I already told you I would agree to join the shooting,” Raquelle recalls confidently.
“Yeah, I know, sweetie. Anyway, your managers’ team has already agreed about everything and signed all the documents.”
“The managers’ team of Terrence also signed all the papers,” John says confidently.
“So, you two should only get ready for the shooting and do your best for everybody to be happy with the result.”
“I am sure it would happen.”
“I am personally sure you can do this well and would make a wonderful team. Just do everything you are told, and the result will be worth it.”
“Besides, it would be a great surprise for all the fans of our wards,” John notices with his head proudly raised. “The two are very famous personas with a great army of fans.”
“Right,” Serena nods confidently. “I’m going to say more, many of them do want to see Terrence and Raquelle in a joint project.”
“So, you and I made an excellent bet for the together photoshoot.”
“The fans are going to be very happy when an issue of the magazine with photos of them on the cover and a few pages is out in a few months.”
“I’m imagining how young girls and young men would whoop after seeing two idols of youth in the same photo,” John says with a slight smile.
“That’s right,” Serena agrees.
“Excuse me, Serena, when will the shooting take place?” Raquelle asks. “Because I… Need to change my schedule. To… Find time for the shooting.”
“So…” Serena pronounces thoughtfully. “I will say now…”
Serena thinks for two seconds, putting a finger on her lip.
“So, today is November 14th…” Serena adds thoughtfully. “The shooting will take place… On the 21st.”
“November, 21st?” Raquelle asks.
“Yes, the team of the magazine chose this day for the photoshoot.”
“It’s right,” John confirms. “You will go to the shootings on the 21st.”
“Great!” Raquelle exclaims.
“The shootings will start somewhere after twelve o’clock,” Serena says thoughtfully. “But you and Terrence need to go there earlier to get ready for the shootings.”
“By the way, Mrs. Oliverson and I will also go to the shooting for one or two hours and watch the process a little,” John adds.
“I got it,” Raquelle says with a slight smile. “Where do I go?”
“You don’t have to go anywhere,” Serena replies confidently. “A driver will come to take you. And drive you to the right place.”
“Can’t I go there on my own?”
“You can. But a driver that members of their team would find for you will drive you there this time.”
“Oh, alright…” Raquelle sighs tiredly. “Alright… It’s okay a driver will drive me there.”
“Don’t worry, he will also drive you home after the end of the shooting. So, you will not get lost and have to go home on your own.”
“Alright, thanks a lot, Serena.”
“As I understand, is the shot going to last for a whole day?” Terrence asks kind of coldly.
“Well… Maybe.”
“Alright…”
“And yeah, Raquelle…” Serena moves her eyes to Raquelle. “Don’t worry about the shootings scheduled for that day. I will solve this problem and reschedule those that are set for the 21st.”
“Really?” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“Yes, sweetie, don’t worry, it’s going to be my business. You will have only to get ready to work well and show everything you can do.”
“Alright, Serena, I got it.”
“So, did we agree about everything?” John asks.
“As I see, we did,” Serena throws her hands up. “We got the agreement, signed the documents, and discussed all the formalities.”
“In this case, I truly hope we will hit the bullseye, and our wards will not disappoint us.”
“My Raquelle would not betray. She is a talented girl. She shines just as bright as a star.”
“I personally admire all the works of this wonderful girl. I must confess that she is one of my favorite celebrities.”
“I did my best to make her a star.”
“Thanks,” Raquelle thanks shyly.
“Of course, Terrence is not a mod, but do not doubt that he would show everything he can do,” John says confidently.
“I do not doubt,” Serena nods with a slight smile. “Terrence is a very attractive and talented man. Sadly, I barely know the movies he has acted in, but his photos for photoshoots are just incredible.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Oliverson,” Terrence cracks a slight smile.
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Terrence and Raquelle manage to share a short gaze. Although the girl smiles, she stops doing this when she sees the man looking at her very gloomily and does not hurry to answer her back.
“Alright, in this case, let’s wait for the beginning of the shooting,” Serena says confidently.
“Sure,” John pronounces amicably.
“Does someone else have questions?”
“Nope…” Raquelle shakes her head.
“No,” Terrence pronounces quietly.
“Wonderful then!” Serena exclaims. “So, you can be free now.”
“Good,” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully. “I shall go home then. To have a rest.”
“Sure, sweetie. Go. I am not holding you anymore.”
“Thanks.”
“If you have questions, you can always call me. I am on the line at any time of the day.”
“Thanks a lot, Serena.”
Raquelle gets up quickly from the table, puts on her little purse, and says goodbye to Serena, hugging her and sharing an amicable kiss on the cheek.
“In this case, we will go, too,” John says confidently, getting up as well as Terrence does. “Since we talked about everything.”
“Yeah, we will go,” Terrence agrees. “I… Will go to do my business…”
“And I need to do something.”
“Thank you to both of you for coming here and agreeing to work with us,” Serena thanks with a slight smile.
“Refusing to work with such wonderful women like you and Ms. Cameron would be a sin,” John says with a slight smile.
“Oh, Mr. Fallon, you make me blush…” Serena waves her hand.
“If you need something, I am always on the line.”
John and Serena shake each other by the hand, and then the man shakes Raquelle by the hand.
“Thanks for the meeting,” Terrence thanks and also shakes Serena by the hand.
“I am sorry if this meeting distracted you from some important business,” Serena apologizes.
“It’s alright, you did not bother us.”
Terrence glances at Raquelle and sharply moves it aside, not going to say goodbye to her. Neither shake her by the hand nor say something. However, the girl is also not going to make the man do this, who is behaving very coldly towards her. But who, however, secretly looks at her body and notices she looks very good in her suit jacket and jeans.
“Goodbye, Serena,” Raquelle gently says goodbye. “Goodbye, Mr. MacClife. Goodbye, Mr. Fallon. See you in one week.”
Raquelle turns around, comes to the door, and closes it after she leaves Serena’s office.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Oliverson,” John says goodbye with a slight smile. “It was a pleasure to talk to you.”
“Goodbye,” Terrence pronounces quietly.
“Goodbye,” Serena pronounces amicably.
A few moments later, Terrence and John also leave Serena's office and close the door. After staying all alone, the woman frowns slightly and thinks about something. She quickly noticed the young man was acting kind of coldly all this time and talking to Raquelle kind of coldly. And she wonders why it happened. Because the girl tried to be very gentle and gave no reason to be rude to her.
***
John and Terrence pass some distance down the hall, stop and go aside. To be clear, the blond man stops first, who did not like the fact that his ward was quite cold towards Raquelle and wanted to be rude to her.
“What was that?” John wonders, grabbing Terrence sharply under his arm.
“What do you mean?” Terrence frowns slightly.
“Why were you sitting with your head up and talking to that girl so coldly?”
“What’s wrong? Why does it make you surprised?”
“Actually, Raquelle did nothing for you to behave like this?”
“Did nothing?” Terrence rounds his eyes. “Are you serious?”
“She was very gentle to you and gave you no reason to get mad.”
“No, John, you are wrong. That girl did give me the reason to get mad.”
“If you got so hurt by the fact that she did not know you, it’s too much.”
“Seriously?” Terrence wonders loudly. “She did not recognize me? Me, Terrence MacClife himself?”
“Are you sure literally every dog knows you?”
“The whole world knows me! Every single dog! Every single girl! Every single girl! Everyone!”
“No, MacClife, you are wrong.”
“No, I just cannot believe it! I cannot believe a girl dared to treat me like that!”
As it turned out, Raquelle did not go too far and could hear Terrence resenting loudly. She decides to listen to what he wants to say, hoping to know what made him treat her so coldly. She comes closer very carefully and starts to listen to his talk with Johns, who is not very happy with the behavior of his ward.
“I cannot believe she dared to tell me THAT!” Terrence resents. “She could not remember me! She did not know who I was!”
“Maybe, she doesn’t really know,” John throws his hands up.
“It just cannot be the truth! Cannot be!”
“Terrence!”
“Does that girl not know the one, who played Mason Houston in the all-known movie, ‘American Love Affair?’”
“Do not forget that you acted a very long ago! You were only seventeen or eighteen!”
“Yeah, but everyone still remembers that movie. Everyone does know I acted in the one!”
“And what?” John wonders. “Do you think everyone must bow to you? Everyone must kiss your legs!”
“I am one of the most respectful people in the show business! Everyone listens to my opinion. Nobody dares to go against my word.”
“Listen, Terrence, don’t you think you have been too insolent lately?” John puts his hands on his hips. “Where’s your education? When did you become such an egoistic that wants everyone to admire him?”
“Because I am perfect!” Terrence says with his head proudly raised. “Because I am the most wanted and sexual man in the world.”
“Come on!”
“Any girl is ready to sell her soul just to stand next to me. And that second-rate model dared to tell me she could not remember me.”
“Raquelle is not a second-rate model. She is one of the most famous people, whom everyone admires.”
“I would like to know why.”
“Terrence, stop acting like this now.”
“She’s a bitch…”
Terrence smirks loudly and evilly.
“Excuse me, young man, but I do not know you,” Terrence adds in a squeaky voice, literally teasing Raquelle, who gets much more shocked by the behavior of her partner in the shooting.
“Terrence!” John exclaims.
“Wow… How could she actually dare?”
“She must not know and remember you!”
“She must! Because I am a celebrity! The celebrity that is known in the whole world!”
“Listen, what’s happening to you? Why did you the fuck become such a selfish peacock that believes he is irresistible and literally wants his hands to be kissed?”
“Nobody dared to treat me like this! Nobody dared to tell me they did not know me. Any girl fell in love with me and was ready for anything to become mine.”
“You got used to this behavior of girls and began to believe it was fine. It should have happened. A girl must literally look into your eyes and do everything His Fucking Highness wants.”
“So, that model must have also done the same.”
“She must not have done anything!”
“I am Terrence MacClife!”
“And I am John Fallon!”
“Shit! Holy shit!”
“Listen, man, you’re starting to make me more irritated by your behavior,” John says confidently. “You have always been unbearable, but talking to you has lately been impossible.”
“If I had known that bitch would show that kind of disrespect for me, I would have refused to work with her and told them to look for another partner. The one that would have admired me.”
“Raquelle did nothing bad to you to make you say these things about her.”
“And now I have no wish even to stand next to that girl,” Terrence says rudely.
“But you will have to. The agreement is signed, and you already gave your agreement for the photoshoot.”
“Ar-r-r…” Terrence growls irritably.
The more Raquelle listens, the more she resents. And stops wishing to see Terrence and work with him on the same shooting.
“Gosh, what a rude man he is!” Raquelle frowns strongly. “Who does that peacock think he is? Who is he to behave like this? I do not know who Terrence MacClife is! Oh, gosh… Who did Serena make me work with? It’s gonna be a real hell! I do not want to be next to that insolent idiot, who dares to insult me like this.”
“Listen, I understand you got a little confused because you were told that,” John says quietly. “I understand you are used to hearing just praises and don’t know what to do when someone does everything otherwise. But it’s not a reason to be so mean. It would’ve been okay if that girl had been rude to you or insulted you somehow. But she was very gentle to you.”
“She claimed she did not know me!” Terrence recalls rudely.
“Stop thinking you’re so worldwide famous and loved by everyone. Your peak of fame has been gone.”
“It has not been gone! I am still at the peak!”
“Come on! Is it okay that you have not been acting in anything in the past few years? You do not get offers for playing starring roles. In the best case, you get only minor roles.”
“You are the one to blame for that.”
“Me?” John rounds his eyes.
“Because of you, I have to act only in episode roles, which nobody memorizes. Because of you, I don’t get roles that would stand out the all-famous Mason Houston.”
“What do I have to do with it? I am just your representative at meetings, and I solve all the questions.”
“You don’t offer me starring roles on purpose. You do look for those, which would never let me get known to everyone.”
“Do you think I’m hiding that someone wants to offer you a leading role?”
“I would not be surprised!”
“No, MacClife, I do never hide that you’re getting one or another offer. I am not the one to blame for getting only episode roles.”
“Then do something!” Terrence demands loudly. “Why do I pay money to you for? For continuing to be a shadow?”
“I already told you that your time had been gone.”
“It’s not gone. NOT GONE, HEAR ME!”
“Do not scream here like crazy.”
“You actually want to do nothing to help me promote my career. NOTHING! I have to sink my teeth into the rest of my past fame. I have to be happy with photoshoots and interviews, in which they ask me all the same questions.”
“You are not getting young, my dear!” John exclaims. “Much younger, more attractive boys came to replace you and already overshadow you. Everything has an expiration date. Including the popularity of actors. Someday, everyone forgets about them, and directors put their hopes on much younger guys.”
“So, do you want to say I am old? Should I give a fuck about me at the age of twenty-five?”
“No, you should not. People just change. Your fans grew up and lost interest in you, and the new generation has a crush on other guys.”
“Do not dare to say it, DO NOT DARE!” Terrence gets angry. “I am still famous and loved.”
“You just want to make yourself sure about it. You’re unsuccessfully trying to save your acting career, but you cannot do this.”
“Because you want to do nothing for that.”
“I can do nothing.”
“You will ask for trouble, John, I will surely fire you and find another manager that would make me a star.”
“Whoever you hire, you cannot bring your past fame back.”
“Fine! If you do not want to look for a starring role in a movie for me, I will just stop paying money to you.”
“What?”
“Yes, I will stop! I will give you no cent until you find a leading role for me. Until I act in a movie that would make me much more famous than in the ‘American Love Affair’ era.”
“You will not act, Terrence, be sure. Your acting career is almost over. You got everything that was possible to get out of it.”
“It’s a lie! LIE! I AM STILL FAMOUS AND LOVED!”
“In your dreams. In reality, nobody remembers you.”
“I refuse to believe it!”
“You believe! Even Raquelle Cameron herself let you know you are nothing now.”
“Huh…” Terrence resents, slightly opening his mouth. “How do you dare? Did you the fuck forget who you were talking to?”
“The selfish peacock that believes he is absolutely awesome and irresistible.”
“Do not make me wild, bastard,” Terrence clenches his hand tightly into a fist. “Do not ask for trouble.”
“So, do you not like hearing the truth?” John smirks evilly. “Nobody likes it! But you will have to confess it. To confess that your attempts to bring your career to life will not lead to anything good. You will only have to take it and start to look for another job. That doesn’t have to do with show business.”
Terrence gets much more enraged after everything he hears from John, tightly clenching his hands into fists and breathing heavily from the anger he is now obsessed with. Raquelle keeps hiding around the corner and listening to the talk, which makes her doubt she should take a part in the photoshoot with such a selfish man that could easily start a serious scandal and even disrupt the shooting.
“No, I don’t wanna work with that man,” Raquelle thinks. “He does scare me… MacClife could easily start a scandal and disrupt it. Or at least, make my mood much worse. No, no, I don’t wanna work with him. I need to talk to Serena and ask her if it’s possible to replace that man. I would agree to work with anyone except that insolent, rude man. Who is actually nothing but pretending to be the king of the world. A certain lord that everyone must bow at.”
“Alright, scumbag, this is the last drop…” Terrence hisses through his teeth. “You annoyed me…”
“So, are you going to hit me?” John wonders. “Come on! Hit me! There are so many people here, who could easily tell journalists what a selfish peacock you are.”
“That’s why I will not do it. But I would like to.”
“Oh, you still have brains if you understand you would ask for trouble if someone saw you like this.”
“Instead of this, I will better do what you deserve.”
“That’s how!”
“I am firing you.”
“What?” John rounds his eyes.
“Yes, you heard everything right, John,” Terrence pronounces confidently with his head proudly raised. “You are fired. From now on, you are no longer my manager.”
“So, wonderful! It’s good for me. Besides, I am sick of taking such a capricious, hysterical guy like you. The peacock that believes everyone obeys him.”
“From now on, I will be looking for another manager. Who would quickly bring my past fame back and get starring roles in decent movies that would make me a great star.”
“Look for, my dear, look for,” John nods confidently. “But you can’t do anything.”
“I can do everything! Or if other people can’t manage it, I will be looking for offers.”
“Come on! I would see how soon you would get an offer to play at least a minor role.”
“You will see, I shall find.”
“In this case, I am wishing you luck. But I am sure you can do nothing.”
“I advise you to quit your acting career and look for something different. Because you would just waste your time. And you would have no other choice when someday you waste the money you have earned in the past years.”
“We will see it.”
“Go as far as possible, scumbag! I am fucking sick of you. You got me so sick for the past years that I literally started to howl.”
“Get out of here then!”
“I will do! I will get out far from the one that must teach good manners.”
John sharply turns and goes somewhere down the hall and hides in one of the corners some time later, not noticing Raquelle, who is still hiding, and shakes her head, being shocked by what she heard.
Terrence stays all alone and exhales sharply, running his hands over his face. He is still tense enough, mad and disappointed by everything that just happened. Because his acting career is really not as good as he would like.
“Oh, holy shit…” Terrence sighs tiredly. “How I am sick of all of this… Will I really never get my past fame back and have to be happy with minor roles and photoshoots? Something like the one that will take place in one week. On which I will have to work with that fucking model…”
Terrence raises his head up with a tired moan.
“Wow…” Terrence smirks evilly. “How did she dare? Any girl does fall in front of me, but she is kind of special! Does not incline her head for me.”
Terrence tightly clenches his hands into fists.
“It’s alright, girl, it’s alright…” Terrence pronounces quietly. “I will kick your ass on the shootings that will take place in a week. I will do my best for you to ask for permission for any action. You will look into my eyes like your lord. I shall make you obey me. And make you remember who Terrence MacClife is. You will remember this well for your whole life.”
Terrence stands in the same place for a few seconds with a frequent enough breath and thinks about something, being tense and looking at what surrounds him with a gloomy look. And then he exhales sharply and decides to leave the agency, where he has nothing more to do. The man turns and goes somewhere down the hall, raising his head proudly and staying very confident.
After understanding that Terrence is about to go by her, Raquelle closes her mouth tightly with her hand and presses herself to the corner as closely as possible with the hope that she will not get caught, trying literally not to breathe not to make him suspect anything and not to have to tolerate the rude attitude of this man, who she would not like to talk to.
But it does not save her because Terrence stops sharply at some moment and thinks about something for two seconds with a feeling someone is watching him. And then the man sharply turns to the side where Raquelle is hiding and notices the girl hiding in the corner. Who rounds her eyes and gets every single muscle of her body tense with a feeling something terrible is going to happen right now.
“What did you forget there?” Terrence resents. “Did you overhear?”
“Erm…” Raquelle stutters. “Me?”
“Did you overhear me? Were you standing here all this time and listening to my talk with John?”
“Erm…”
“I wondered why I was obsessed with the feeling that someone was watching me. As it turned out, it was you…”
“Yes, I overheard,” Raquelle says much braver, raising her head proudly. “I wanted to know the reason why you were cold to me. Know why you were sitting in the office with your nose up.”
“As if you do not know it!”
“I do now.”
“How did you dare to treat me like this?” Terrence comes closer to Raquelle, setting his cold look on her. “How did you dare to tell me you did not know me?”
“So, must all the people in the world know you?” Raquelle wonders.
“Do you actually know who I am? You know?”
“I do not even have any guesses.”
“I am Terrence MacClife!” Terrence says a little louder. “The worldwide famous actor that got famous thanks to the role of Mason Houston in the movie ‘American Love Affair.’ The sexiest man in the world.”
“Yeah? But who called you the one?”
“People!”
“Come on! Why did nobody tell me about the vote? I would surely vote against you.”
“You dare to be mean to me!”
“I see you are too arrogant.” Raquelle looks at Terrence from head to feet. “Who told you that you were really so sexual, attractive, and famous?”
“All the girls say it!” Terrence says with his head proudly raised. “Any one of them would be ready to sell her soul to see me in real life.”
“Yeah? Is it really worth it? Would someone really sacrifice something to look at this? Look at the selfish peacock that pronounced himself a king of handsomeness!”
“So, do you think there are more handsome men than me?”
“Yes, there are!” Raquelle says confidently. “I have many familiars that are more attractive than you are.”
“Yeah? Show me at least one person that would outstand Terrence MacClife himself.”
“Your name means nothing to me.”
“And the name of Mason Houston?”
“Nothing, as well. I do not actually know you. And I would prefer not to know such a rude man as you.”
“I see you love asking for trouble.”
“I do not know how you got famous, but unlike you, I am a worldwide famous star, who is loved and respected in the whole world.”
“Come on!”
“Yes, yes, and you know it well. You know well that Raquelle Cameron is a favorite girl of young girls and a wanted girl for all the men.”
“Yeah, all the men!” Terrence smirks evilly and quickly looks at Raquelle from head to feet. “I would not personally fall in love with such a second-rate girl like you.”
“Yeah, I am too far from the third-rate actor, who got famous thanks to nothing. It’s not my level.”
“Better close your mouth, you, nasty bitch.”
“You know, I liked you more when you were silent. When you just came to the office of Serena. But when you opened your mouth, I got a wish to strangle you.”
“The one I want to strangle now is you.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I am one of the most respectful men in the show business.”
“What are you are talking about?”
“One word of mine is like gold. Nobody dares to go against it. Nobody!”
“Oh, yeah, what was done by your order? Call at least one thing! What kind of grandiose thing did you do? You built a new school? Fed children at the orphan house? Paid for someone’s surgery? Or did you donate money to the countries that needed it?”
“Do you, sweetie, know I could help anyone get famous and ruin the career of someone to the fuck?”
“Thanks, but I don’t need your help in getting my career promoted. I built it by myself, without anyone’s help.”
“Yeah, without help…”
“Yes, without help,” Raquelle puts her hands on her hips. “Unlike someone.”
“Are you making me wild on purpose?” Terrence asks in a rude, low voice. “On purpose, yeah?”
“I did not bother you at all! You came to me and started to insult me.”
“Yeah, were you, girl, not taught that overhearing someone’s talks is bad?”
“Were you, man, taught that behaving like a selfish cretin is not allowed?”
“Is there still no at least one person, who would not cut your long tongue?”
“I wish someone cut yours!” Raquelle simpers evilly. “You are acting like a non-educated brute. You believed you could do anything, and people often bow at you as if you are a lord.”
“You will regret much if you keep talking to the most sexual and respectful man in the show business.”
“Who are the fuck you to threaten me? What did I do to you that you’re acting like this?”
“Holy shit, do I really have to work with you? The pathetic model that has reached nothing special!”
“You know, after listening to everything you said about me, I do not also wish to work with you.”
“Do you hope I will refuse?”
“It would be great! Because I do not want to work with someone, who has no good manners.”
“Huh!” Terrence simpers evilly. “Keep dreaming about it, beauty!”
Terrence shortens the distance sharply between him and Raquelle, who rounds her eyes in a sudden with a quiet gasp.
“I will not reject such a good opportunity,” Terrence says confidently.
“Keep the distance!” Raquelle demands coldly.
“What’s wrong? Scared?”
“I said get off me!”
“Do you not enjoy my pretense at all?”
Terrence comes much closer to Raquelle with a sly smile and sets his eyes into her eyes, while she shakes sharply, steps back, and leans on the wall with her back, feeling kind of vulnerable for some reason.
“You and I will have to touch each other on the photoshoot and also embrace,” Terrence adds and comes very close to Raquelle again. “So, get used now, cutie…”
Terrence puts his hand confidently on Raquelle’s waist and presses her close to himself. That’s why she slightly shakes and opens her mouth.
“Hey, are you crazy?” Raquelle resents and sharply moves Terrence’s hand off her. “Get your hands off me now!”
“What, scared?” Terrence simpers evilly.
“We met just a few minutes ago, but you are already putting your fucking hands on me!”
“What’s wrong?”
“As far as I understand, you weren’t taught any good manners in childhood. Or you didn’t listen to any of the lectures from your parents, and you did what you wanted.”
“I would lie down with such a sexy cutie like you on the bed and undress you. To spread your legs and let my penis do its work.”
“The nearest striptease club is a few streets away from here. If you wanna fuck someone so badly, you reached the wrong address.”
“All the girls were ready to fuck me two minutes after meeting me.”
“Come on! Literally in two minutes!”
“Nobody has been able to resist my charms.”
“Yeah? So, I am going to be first!”
Raquelle gives Terrence a strong slap in the face, after which he energetically rubs his cheek for two seconds. Then the man breathing heavily and being obsessed with anger that is getting stronger takes the girl tightly by the wrists and presses them to the wall, while she resists too hard and tries to break free.
“Listen, bitch, who do you think you are?” Terrence hisses through his teeth, setting his piercing, cold gaze in Raquelle’s eyes. “How did you dare to raise her hand on me?”
“You will keep your hands with you!” Raquelle replies confidently. “And put your wish to fuck someone on your fucking ass.”
“So, you decided to pretend to be tough and sassy?”
“It’s me!”
“So sorry! If you were obedient, I would like you much more.”
“You are nobody to me to decide who I should be. You will control your lover or wife!”
“Do not make me enraged, you, nasty girl,” Terrence pronounces in a low, rude voice. “Or you will regret much.”
“If you try to feel me up or kiss me, I will scratch your insolent face!”
“What if I try?”
Terrence leaves a very short distance between him and Raquelle, bringing his face to her face and moving his eyes to her puffy in measure red lips. While the girl gets very tense and realizes she feels a little dizzy from the smell that the masculine body is spreading.
“What if I really kiss you…” Terrence pronounces with an evil smile.
“Don’t touch me!” Raquelle demands rudely and tries to get her hands out, while Terrence is still holding them tight. “Let me go! You hear me! Let me go, I said!”
“If you kiss me once, you will never forget it. Never…”
Terrence lets Raquelle’s hands go and moves his hands to the curves of her waist. While the girl shakes in the same place with a sense of dizziness and almost loses her balance. But she manages to keep it thanks to the man.
“Sh-h-h…” Terrence whispers, holding Raquelle by the waist with one arm and clapping her slightly on the cheek with his hand. “Quiet, quiet, baby. I completely understand you're literally ready to faint in front of such a handsome guy. All the girls are. But you will not faint if you breathe deeply. And taste my lips…”
When Terrence tries to succumb to a wish to give Raquelle a tender kiss on the lips, she takes a moment and pushes him off herself as strongly as possible, putting her hands on his chest with a sense of a frequent heartbeat.
“Don’t dare to feel me up with your dirty hands!” Raquelle threatens with a finger. “You hear me! Do not dare!”
“Didn’t you like it?” Terrence simpers evilly.
“No! You are disgusting to me! And I do not know how I am going to work with you on the photoshoot because I get sick just because of your face.”
“You say, disgusting…”
Terrence comes very closely to Raquelle again, grabs her tightly by the throat, and sets his look full of contempt in her widely open eyes and full of excitement.
“Let’s bet you fall in love with me,” Terrence says with a sly smile. “You lose your head very soon. And you dream of becoming mine.”
“Fall in love with such an insolent and non-educated peacock?” Raquelle wonders and grins nervously. “Oh, no, no! I do not need you for anything!”
“But am I handsome? And freaking sexy? Right?”
“There are more handsome and sexual men among my familiars.”
“Come on!”
“I do not know who pronounced you literally God, called you the most handsome man in the world, and paid for your fame. But trust me, that’s not the truth. There’s nothing special about you that could make anyone go crazy.”
“But why are you so nervous?”
“Me? Nervous?” Raquelle laughs nervously as she glances aside. “C-come on… I am n-nervous! Ha… Don't make me laugh, king penguin!”
“Why are you breathing so heavily? Huh, Cameron? Why are you so blush?”
Terrence caresses the curves of Raquelle’s neck with his fingertips and puts them to the tender skin, feeling her frequent heartbeat and quiet, uneven breath. While the girl is trying to pretend that she does not care about this man. That his pretense makes her feel what she has never felt before.
“M-m-m, your heart is beating fast,” Terrence notices. “It’s about to jump out of the chest. Are you so excited?”
Terrence puts his hands on Raquelle’s cheeks.
“Or do I make you so excited?” Terrence asks. “Can’t you resist me?”
“Excited?” Raquelle wonders and simpers loudly, setting her confident gaze in Terrence’s eyes. “I am sick of just thinking I would have to lie in the same bed with you.”
“That’s how!”
“Thank God, I am not acting in a movie with you. Or I would prefer hanging or shooting myself.”
“You know, I am not also happy with your pretense.”
“Wonderful then! So, let’s refuse to participate in the photoshoot together!”
“If you want, refuse. I will not do.”
“You are not happy with having to work with me.”
“Not happy. But I will not refuse on purpose.”
“Ah, that’s how!”
“I will not let you get pleasure from feeling like a winner!”
“I will not refuse, too!”
“Come on? Would you not get scared of the fact that you and I would have to embrace each other? Or maybe, even kiss…”
Terrence caresses Raquelle’s little open lips with his thumb. Who sharply turns her face to the side.
“I will make changes in my contract with the agency,” Raquelle says confidently.
“Changes?” Terrence wonders.
“I will tell them not to make me kiss someone named Terrence MacClife. Or maybe, even embrace.”
“But you haven't even tried!”
“I don’t want to do it!”
“What if we try…”
Terrence brings his face to Raquelle’s face and grabs her by the throat with her hand, setting his look on the feminine lips and fighting with a wish to leave an unforgettable, exciting kiss on them.
“No girl has been able to forget the way I can kiss,” Terrence adds in a low voice. “No girl has met someone to give her much more incredible kisses.”
“Yeah? Raquelle laughs evilly. “Show me at least one idiot! Who is delighted by being insolently felt up by a certain pathetic penguin!”
“There are too many ‘idiots’, as you sad. Many girls have tasted my lips. And none of them have said that their legs don’t shake.”
“I quickly understood that you were a horndog. I can see them from afar. They’re ready to fuck anyone, who stands in their way.”
“I had a better opinion of you.”
“So, did you think I would jump in your bed and ride you like a horse?”
“It’s gonna happen soon, babe.” Terrence comes closely to Raquelle with a sly smile and leans on the wall with both hands, looking into her eyes carefully. “I have a lot of time. And I don’t rush. I can bend you over yet. I still have a chance to massage your naked breasts enough.”
“You better band the girlfriends from your harem over. I am not interested in your suggestion.”
“I will tell you one thing, cutie. Remember this, please, very well. And then, don’t dare to tell me that it’s never happened.”
Terrence brings his face close to Raquelle’s face and almost touches her lips with his lips, letting her feel how his hot breath is burning her tender skin. While the girl herself looks into his eyes closely like charmed, not being able to move slightly and understanding that she lacks air due to the strong excitement.
“One beautiful day, you will go crazy over me,” Terrence says confidently in a quiet, low voice. “You will not be able to live without me. Every single breath will be hard for you if we are not together.”
“My God, the man is so sure about it!” Raquelle chuckles nervously.
“It will happen, babe.” Terrence runs his thumb over Raquelle’s lip. “Soon, you will not need this world without me. I shall do my best to make it real.”
“If I fall in love with a creature like you, I will eat the spiciest pepper in the world,” Raquelle says boldly. “Or jump off with a parachute. Or do something crazy.”
“You well do this on our wedding day. When your heart only belongs to me.”
“I will never love you. And you will never love me. Because you don’t know what it is. Your gorgeous head has only thoughts about how to get your dick into the ass of a girl and make her scream throughout the whole city.”
“When my dick is in you, you will be bending backward like a snake and growling like a tiger.”
“Go to the fuck, scoundrel!” Raquelle throws rudely.
“I do not advise you to be rude to me, bitch…”
Terrence sharply raises Raquelle’s head by grabbing her by the nape of her neck.
“Or you will regret it a lot,” Terrence adds.
“It seems like you forgot where we are,” Raquelle says confidently.
“And where are we?”
“At my modeling agency! If you don’t let me go right now, I will scream so loudly that everyone, who is here, will come to me.”
“Do you know what you’re waking up inside me? Hate. The hatred that is mixed with contempt. Mixed with a wish to kick your ass enough.”
“Same!” Raquelle throws loudly. “If only you knew how much I hate you!”
“Remember, bitch, you will fall in front of me and kiss my hands. I shall make you incline your head for me and memorize well who Terrence James MacClife is.”
“I’ve already memorized. Memorized that you are an insolent bastard that thinks only of himself and wants everyone to bow to him.”
“I swear our together shooting is going to be a hard test for you. I shall do my best for it to become the worst nightmare for you.”
“It will be worse for you, little star that is trying to save his career so hard. If you have hysteria on the set, you will lose a chance to become as famous as you want to seem.”
“You do not the fuck have to do with it,” Terrence throws rudely. “YOU DO NOT!”
“Did someone really fall in love with such a rooster and lie in bed with him at their wish?”
“I hope this is the first and last time when I’m forced to work with such a nasty bitch like you.”
“From now on, I will refuse to work if you are a partner of mine.”
“Wonderful then! I hope we will never stand in each other’s way.”
“Really hope!”
“Bitch!”
“Scumbag!”
“A second-rate model!”
“A worthless actor!”
“You will pay me for the slap!”
“I will never forget your insults!”
“How did you dare to tell me you didn’t know me?”
“Take the fact that your time has already gone!”
“Stop playing on my nerves, fucking scum!”
“You do not make me mad, fucking bastard!”
Terrence sharply brings his face to Raquelle’s face with an irritated growl and stops when there are only two centimeters between their lips. When they are about to touch one another. The girl sets her eyes full of a little scare on the man, the eyes of who literally have a spark of hate mixed with a crazy passion that she is walking up inside him by her behavior. The two are breathing heavily enough and understanding how much every single muscle of the body gets tense. The frequent heartbeat echoes in the head and each other’s smell and pretense make them feel strong heat and a little dizzy.
The girl and the man look into each other’s eyes for a few seconds, breathing heavily enough. Raquelle does not know what to do with what she is feeling for the first time in her life and literally makes herself breathe not to faint right here, and Terrence barely holds down his wish to passionately kiss the one to wake up such a wide specter of emotions since the first minutes and make me act like a tiger. A hungry, wild tiger.
“So, are you waiting for me to kiss you?” Terrence simpers evilly. “Want to know what kisses from a real man are like?”
“I want you to get off me…” Raquelle hisses through her teeth. “I want to get out of here to the fuck as soon as possible. And never see your fucking face again. Which I really wanna hit.”
“Alright, girl, I shall not kiss you today. Alright.”
Terrence puts his hand on Raquelle’s cheek and caresses her slightly open lips with his thumb.
“I will save something sweet for later,” Terrence adds in a lower voice. “But I am going to have enough fun at the shooting.”
“Don't dare to do it, scumbag!” Raquelle throws rudely.
“I will do… I will really do…”
Terrence barely touches Raquelle’s ear with his lips and tenderly runs them over the area behind it, while she shakes instantly with the feeling that her heart stops. And he slides smoothly to her cheekbones. He silently notices how soft her skin is. How incredible it smells.
“Oh, gosh, what’s he doing?” Raquelle thinks while she strongly bites her lip with closed eyes, barely holding down a wish to make a quiet moan, and realizing more and more how fast her heart starts beating. “Gosh… M-m-m… I feel bad… Damn…”
Raquelle rolls her eyes, tightly clenching her hands into fists.
“God…” Raquelle panics. “I wish he stopped this right now… Or I’m gonna get worse… I don’t wanna faint from being obsessed with too many emotions.”
Terrence barely holds down a wish to leave at least one kiss on Raquelle’s neck, which he finds very beautiful. However, the man decides not to go too far and leaves her blushed cheeks alone after he leaves a short kiss on them.
“M-m-m, I see you liked it,” Terrence smiles widely, slyly, looking into Raquelle’s eyes. “You’re breathing so hard… And your pupils dilated…”
“Curse you, scumbag,” Raquelle pronounces coldly in a low voice. “I hate you.”
“You know, I don’t like you, either. I knew much better girls.”
“So, MacClife, did you get hurt by the fact that I was not going to bow at you and kiss your legs and hands? I was not going to call you the most handsome and hottest man in the world!”
“You will call. I swear, Cameron, I shall make you get down on your knees for me. You will do it obediently. And you will be doing everything I will say.”
“Go to the fuck, bastard!”
When Raquelle wants to turn and leave as far as possible, Terrence tightly grabs her by the throat and presses her sharply against the wall.
“Do not ask for greater problems, girl,” Terrence says with an evil smile. “Do not make me much wilder.”
“Don’t talk to me if I make you irritated,” Raquelle replies loudly.
“Do not relax, little star.”
Terrence caresses Raquelle’s cheek with the back of his hand, while she looks into his eyes with a look full of evil.
“Our together photoshoot is not going to be a paradise to you,” Terrence says. “I shall do everything you to remember that well. Forever… To make you remember well who Terrence MacClife is.”
“Alright, I am sick of standing here and listening to a selfish peacock that pretends to be a superstar,” Raquelle jabs confidently. “I’m wasting my time on you.”
Raquelle pushes Terrence off herself as strongly as possible, putting her hands on his chest.
“Out of the way, donkey!” Raquelle throws rudely. “Let me go!”
“Get out of here then!” Terrence pronounces coldly.
“You get out! You have nothing to do here!”
“I will stay everywhere I want.”
“And never dare to come back here!”
“Do not care to tell me what to do!”
“Who are you?”
“I am Terrence MacClife!”
“And I am Raquelle Cameron!”
“Get out before you get me really wild!”
“Go to take care of your brains, scumbag! Take some tablets! You are kind of too nervous! Not far from going to a mental hospital!”
“You will pay much for talking to me like this.”
“We will see!”
“I can ruin your fucking career by saying just one word.”
“And I can deprive you of hope on renewing it.”
“We will see who will win!”
“Yeah, see!”
“Get out, I said!”
“Go to the fuck!”
“You go to the fuck!”
“I hate you!” Raquelle throws loudly. “Curse you!”
“Same, the fuck!” Terrence shouts irritably. “SAME!”
“You got me as irritated for a few minutes as nobody has done it in my whole life!”
“At least something is the same, fucking bitch.”
“Brute! I am regretting agreeing to work with you!”
“Me too!”
“Alright, I am leaving! All the best! I hope I will not see your insolent face before that fucking photoshoot. If only I do not change my mind about participating in it before they take place.”
Raquelle sharply turns and goes somewhere straightly, while Terrence stays in the same place and watches her with eyes full of evil.
“You will incline your head for me anyway!” Terrence shouts. “I shall make you! I swear!”
Terrence silently watches Raquelle for a few seconds until she hides somewhere.
“I swear, bitch…” Terrence tightly clenches his hands into fists with a heavy breath. “I swear you will pay much to me for daring to treat me like this. To be mean to Terrence MacClife himself. I will not leave it without attention.”
Terrence swallows up nervously and raises his head proudly.
“She’s an insolent, non-educated brute!” Terrence resents. “She dares to do this to me, one of the most respectful people in the show business.”
Terrence growls irritably.
“Hold on, Raquelle Cameron…” Terrence crosses his arms over the chest. “I will do my best for you to incline your head for me as well as all the girls did. As well as those, who were ready to lie in a bed with me from the first seconds. I shall make you wish the same…”
Terrence proudly raises his head up.
“You will become mine…” Terrence smiles slyly. “You will do everything I tell you… I swear, girl… I swear… I will even bend over backward, but I will do everything for you to belong to me. To really make you unable to live without me and imagine someone else next to you.”
Terrence stays in the same place for some time and thinks of the memories of meeting Raquelle again and again. The girl, who definitely got him attracted by something. And behaved not like other girls, who gave up on him without a fight. But that young beauty is walking up passion inside him. Anger, hate, passion, and a wish to do everything to tame the wild tiger that is not surely going to give up so easily and do everything he wants.
***
Some time later, Raquelle leaves the building of the modeling agency and goes to her car that is placed in the parking lot near the one. On the way, the girl thinks of everything that happened in the meeting with Serena. On which she met Terrence MacClife, who made a mixed impression on her.
The man is really good-looking and conquered her at first sight. But after watching his behavior, hearing everything he said about her, and running into him face-to-face, she understands she would hardly work with him on the photoshoot, which will take place in one week. Raquelle is even starting to regret agreeing to work with Terrence. She is sure that waiting for something good from the selfish man is a very bad idea.
“Oh, damn, if I had known I would have to work with such a rude and non-educated man, I would’ve preferred declining that offer,” Raquelle thinks, crossing her arms over her chest. “Or I would’ve asked her to find me another partner. Who would be much more gentle and know how to behave with girls.”
Raquelle hums quietly.
“Who does that idiot think he is?” Raquelle wonders. “Who is Terrence MacClife to behave like this? I don’t actually know him! But he’s acting as if he’s a great actor, who has acted in hundreds of famous movies. Even his manager, John, said his time was already gone. He would never become popular because other people came to take his place. MacClife should take it. And really look for another job.”
Raquelle glances aside.
“Besides, how does he dare to accost me so insolently?” Raquelle resents. “Place his hands on my body and try to kiss me! Does he really think I would like it? As if I’m dreaming about it! Did his parents not work on educating that scumbag?”
Raquelle simpers quietly.
“Fine, first, he was rude to me, but then he tried to kiss me and wanted to feel me up,” Raquelle thinks. “He really went crazy! Who does MacClife think I am? Just because he met girls, who were easy to reach and ready literally to fuck him a few minutes after meeting him, it doesn’t mean everyone would please him. I would never lie in a bed with such a nasty, non-educated bastard. Never! Not for money!”
Raquelle proudly raises her head.
“Oh, I can’t wait to finish that fucking photoshoot,” Raquelle thinks. “Sadly, I could hardly refuse to do it. It means I’d have to work with that man. That donkey, who I wanna hit between his legs so hard.”
Raquelle grins quietly.
“At least I managed to slap him in the face,” Raquelle smiles slyly. “So, he remembers well that I would take his harassment. If he dares to try to kiss me again, I swear I shall scratch his nasty face with my nails. Strongly!”
Raquelle closes her eyes for two seconds.
“And I swear if they make me show passion for him or make me kiss him, I will turn and leave,” Raquelle thinks. “And then I will ask Serena to make changes in my contract and claim I will never work with a rude, selfish donkey named Terrence MacClife. No photoshoots, no movies, no commercials. Even if they want to give me millions of dollars! Not for anything! Or I will kill that idiot! Who will really start accosting me.”
Raquelle glances aside and keeps coming to her car with her head proudly raised. Although Terrence managed to make her mad for a few minutes, she must confess that he is really good-looking. That thin, tall brunet made her shake and feel what she never felt before when standing next to other men.
“But I must confess that hellcat is really good-looking,” Raquelle thinks with a slight smile. “His pretense made my legs shake… When that man almost kissed me, my heart was beating like crazy. I felt dizzy. I couldn’t breathe…”
Raquelle smiles much wider.
“Moreover, he smells so good,” Raquelle thinks. “Sounds weird, but his smell is freaking sexual. I didn't know what to do when he was so close to me. When he looked into my eyes… When his lips touched my skin… As if I got an electric shock…”
Raquelle tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, thinking of the moment when Terrence caressed shamelessly her ears and face with his lips.
“Oh, fuck, I’m shaking again…” Raquelle thinks with closed eyes. “Is that really possible? Could someone really lose their mind because of someone they don’t know? Could someone wake up to emotions like these in the first few minutes? Oh, gosh, what’s happening to me?”
Raquelle swallows up nervously.
“If I felt so bad now, what would happen to me if he kissed me, after all?” Raquelle asks herself. “Would I die? From a stop of my heart! Well, or I would at least pass out from being obsessed with too many emotions!”
Raquelle gasps sharply.
“Hey, stop, what?” Raquelle frowns strongly. “I wanna kiss him? Do I think I want to kiss him? SERIOUSLY? Do I really think about it now? Do I think of his incredible caress and the fact that I almost died from too many emotions?”
Raquelle thinks for two seconds.
“No, no, Raquelle, get these things out of your mind,” Raquelle thinks excitedly. “Don’t even dare to think of wishing to kiss that man? It’s wrong! It’s wrong to think of someone, who was just rude to you and treated you like that! May that idiot look for someone else! Don’t think of him… Don’t think…”
Raquelle swallows up nervously.
“I hope I will never meet him until the beginning of the photoshoot,” Raquelle shakes her head. “I don’t wanna see his face… Don’t wanna even think about him! I can’t wait for the photoshoot to be over to forget that man once and forever, who got me mad for a few minutes!”
Raquelle thinks for two seconds.
“I’m really sorry for all the girls he has ever dated,” Raquelle thinks. “He’s so rude and non-educated! He doesn’t know what personal space is! He believes he could come to any girl, feel her up and kiss!”
Raquelle proudly raises her head up.
“No, MacClife, it’s not gonna work with me,” Raquelle thinks. “I am a decent girl! Who would not melt for every man to call her with a finger. Although you’re freaking sexual and handsome, I will not give you this pleasure. Never say it aloud. Never say I would kiss you with pleasure.”
Raquelle stops sharply somewhere in the middle of the street and shakes her head.
“Alright, Raquelle, stop thinking of him!” Raquelle tells herself. “Stop! Get these stupid things out of your head! You should not think of that selfish idiot! Should not! He does not deserve it! He does not deserve your attention!”
Raquelle stands in the same place for a few seconds, making herself forget Terrence, who got obsessed with her mind, after all. And then the girl exhales sharply and decides to keep going to the parking lot where her car is placed and leave this place before she runs into the man again, who might still be somewhere close.
But at some moment, she falls into her thoughts so deeply that she does not watch where she is going. That’s why the girl accidentally runs into someone, who stands in her way and lets something he was holding in his hands fall.
“Oh!” Raquelle pronounces quietly.
After moving her eyes to the one she almost struck down, Raquelle sees an adult man in front of her. At first sight, he is about forty or forty-five, judging the little shrunken skin on his hands. He has short brown hair, little brown eyes, and a big nose. Does not cause trust and does seem to be quite rude, mad, and always unhappy with something. He is now wearing gray pants and a light blue shirt, a couple of the top buttons of which are open.
“I am really sorry,” Raquelle apologizes with a sense of awkwardness. “I did not notice you…”
“It’s alright,” the man pronounces in a little low, rude voice. “You forgive me…”
“I got busy with my thoughts and didn’t watch where I was going. I am very sorry…”
“Do not worry, miss, it’s alright.”
“Are you alright? Didn’t you hurt anything?”
“No, no, I’m alright.”
“Let me help you.”
Raquelle squats down to take a mobile phone from the asphalt and gives it to the stranger, who starts to look at the young girl with interest.
“Here, take it…” Raquelle pronounces hesitantly.
“Oh, thank you, girl…” the man thanks softly, taking the phone from Raquelle’s hands. “It’s hard for me to bend. I start to feel dizzy…”
“Did I really not hurt you?”
“No, no, it’s alright.”
“Maybe, I can do something for you?”
“No, do not need anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s alright.”
“Alright then…” Raquelle exhales sharply. “I am very sorry…”
“Do not apologize, miss. I did not notice you and watch where I was going.”
“Sorry…”
“It’s alright…”
Raquelle says nothing and just smiles shyly.
“Are you hurrying up?” the man asks.
“I am not, now,” Raquelle replies gently.
“You were not far from here?”
“Yes, I had a meeting with someone at the modeling agency.”
“Modeling agency?”
“Yes, I’ve been working with it for many years.”
“Oh, are you working as a model?”
“Yes, I am a model. Quite a famous one.”
“That’s how… What’s your name?”
“Erm… Raquelle… Raquelle Cameron.”
“Raquelle Cameron? Ah, yeah…”
The man cracks a slight smile, still looking at Raquelle with great interest.
“I heard something about you,” the man confesses confidently. “And I even know your works.”
“Really?” Raquelle wonders.
“Yes, I think you’re professional at what you do. Your photos for magazines look just incredible.”
“Oh, thanks a lot… I’m glad not only do young boys and girls like me.”
“Oh, trust me, Ms. Cameron, people of all ages like you. Yes, I’m already forty-five, and I’m no longer a boy. But I like everything you are doing. And many friends of mine highly appreciate your hard work.”
“Thanks, sir. You are very nice to me.”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds.
“As I understand, did you get another offer for work if you were at the modeling agency?” the man assumes.
“Yes, I got one…” Raquelle confirms confidently. “To have a photoshoot for a magazine.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! When is it going to happen?”
“In one week. On the 21st.”
“That’s how… I will be waiting for a chance to view your photos.”
“I think you will see those photos in a few months.”
“Long. But I will wait.”
“Yeah, but I’ve got very much work. Almost every day, magazines and commercials featuring me are out. You can always look at me and rate my work.”
“I am very glad you keep working so hard and making your fans happy.”
“Just doing what I love.”
“Excellent…” the man smiles widely. “It’s good when you do what you love and earn good money.”
“It’s sometimes hard, but I don’t complain. I found my element and do what I like.”
“Any person wants the same.”
“Are you working where you wanted to work?”
“Sadly, my life is not as lucky as yours…”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
The man turns and goes slowly to the bench placed not far from him. Raquelle follows him and sits next to the stranger, who seems to be quite a good talker, despite his non-attractive look. For him, spending some time on a talk would not be a sin.
“I’ve dreamed of becoming a director, but alas, I did not become,” the man confesses with sadness in his eyes.
“You wanted to film movies?” Raquelle specifies.
“Yes. I could film so many good movies. I still have very many ideas that I could make come true. But sadly, I will never work somewhere in Hollywood and get prestige awards for my works.”
“Sorry.”
“I could not even go to study at a school of directors or get a profession at a university. Not my fate, as they say.”
“Where are you working now?”
“I’m working as a personal driver.”
“Personal driver?”
“Yeah, one actor.”
“Actor?”
“Yes, I drove him here, so he and his manager met someone.”
“Isn’t the name of that actor, Terrence MacClife?” Raquelle frowns slightly.
“Yes, Terrence MacClife. How did you guess?”
“I just met him.”
“Huh, should he have met you?”
“Yes, we are going to be on the same photoshoot together.”
“Wow, that’s really awesome!” the man smiles widely. “You got a great honor to work with such a famous actor.”
“Famous?”
“Yeah, that man was very famous in the early 2000. Literally, every single dog knew him.”
“That’s how…”
“Of course, now his fame is gone, but Terrence does not give up and is trying to save his career.”
“I doubt that something will help him…” Raquelle moves her gloomy look aside. “Nobody will love to work with such a selfish peacock that pretends to be nobody the hell knows who.”
“Do you know him?” the man asks.
“I wish I didn’t know! I have never met a more disgusting and non-educated man than Terrence.”
“Yeah, I don’t deny. Terrence has a hard character. He believes that he is very attractive, and sure people think the same.”
“So, I let him know he is nobody, and not everyone thinks he is a certain Apollo.”
“M-m-m, I feel you already fought…”
“He was rude to me!” Raquelle sharply moves her eyes to the man. “Imagine! Rude! His Highness was insulted by the fact that I did not admire him from the first seconds! And I honestly said I did not know him as an actor.”
“Don’t you really know him?” the man frowns slightly.
“How? I met him for the first time!”
“Well, maybe, you saw him in a very old movie?”
“No, sir! I’ve never seen him playing roles in movies.”
“If you wonder, my name is Simon.”
“Simon?”
“Yes, Simon Ringer, at your service.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ringer.”
“Same, young lady.”
Simon shakes Raquelle by the hand, sharing a gentle smile. While the body of the girl suddenly gets goosebumps and feels a little frozen, and she gets a wish to sharply get her hand out of his grip.
“Alright, have you watched the movie ‘American Love Affair?’” Simon asks.
“Erm, it seems like no…” Raquelle shrugs. “The title is familiar, but I don’t know what it is about.”
“The story is quite banal. It’s more for teenagers. But a bigger part of Terrence’s fans knows him thanks to that movie. They know him as Mason Houston.”
“It doesn’t give me anything. Mason, Terrence, or someone else…”
“Think better, miss, think. You can even read the information about that movie on the Internet. Maybe, you have watched that movie a long time ago but cannot just remember this.”
“Alright, even if MacClife acted in that movie, what now? He did not become a great actor!”
“Sadly, it happens.”
“Right. And it seems like that non-educated peacock is not going to take it and give in to other men.”
“Oh, no, he is not. Terrence has been unsuccessfully trying to save his career for many years. But he cannot do anything. Yes, he still gets offers of acting in movies, but those roles are episode.”
“It’s clear he somehow started hysteria on the set. So, directors did not want to get problems and stopped offering him to play starring roles.”
“It’s very wrong. Terrence is a very talented actor, who could do much more than it seems. He can play not only a little silly, hot guy but also much more serious roles.”
“Oh, if only he stopped getting roles at all! I do want his career to be ruined to the fuck.”
“Come on, Ms. Cameron!” Simon exclaims. “Do not say that!”
“Seriously? Do I have to take the way that idiot is rude to me and dares to place his hands on my body?”
“What do you mean, he dares to place his hands on your body?”
“First, he insulted me, but then he started to accost me! Feel me up and kiss!”
“That’s how!”
“Do you think it’s fine? Is it fine that the idiot thought he could feel me up like a fucking prostitute?”
“Yeah, I agree, it’s bad. I am against any violence toward a girl and cannot accept an intimate without the agreement of two people.”
“Exactly! That’s why I’ve regretted not declining the offer to work with that arrogant donkey many times.”
“I guess you turned him on.”
“Aha, turned on!”
“Your non-typical behavior definitely woke up a hurricane inside him. An instinct of a hunter. A wish to do his best for you to do what others did.”
“No, Mr. Ringer, I will not dance attendance upon him!” Raquelle says confidently. “I am not like others!”
“That’s what he liked about you.”
“But I do not like him!”
“But confess that he is actually handsome.”
“I’ve met more sympathetic men,” Raquelle simpers nervously.
“I think you are lying,” Simon smiles slyly.
“What?”
“That man turned you on, too.”
“What kind of nonsense! He does make me mad! He does as much as nobody has done before!”
“One step away from hate to love. Today, you hate and dream of killing someone, but tomorrow, you cannot live without that person.”
“I want MacClife not to even hope for that! I do not like Terrence MacClife, and I will never fall in love with that brute, whose parents did not teach him to treat girls well.”
“M-m-m, you know, I think there could be something between you.”
“Do not say nonsense, Mr. Ringer.”
“Why is it nonsense? I’ve got a couple of familiars, who hated each other in the beginning, But then they got such strong passion that they have been married for five years and are educating a wonderful baby.”
“When I want to get married, I will play a wedding only with a decent and educated man.”
“Who knows, my sweetie… Who knows…”
“He will be very lucky if I do not strangle him with my own hands on the photoshoot. If I do not scratch his gorgeous face. If I do not hit it strongly.”
“Yeah, hard case…” Simon laughs shyly.
“It’s funny to you, but it is not to me! I pray that the photoshoot is over as soon as possible. To forget that man once and forever and do my business.”
“Anyway, remember what I told you. Your hate for each other someday might lead to a passionate, dizzying affair.”
“It will not happen!” Raquelle sharply cuts off. “I will never love that nasty bastard. Never! He is disgusting to me! I am sick of him! I hate him! I want his career is ruined to the fuck!”
“Come on, my sweetie, why are you saying these things about him? Yes, Terrence has his weaknesses, but he is actually a good guy.”
“Oh, yeah, good!”
“It’s alright, I think you would get on well if you talked a little. At least for doing your work well.”
“No, I do not want to talk to him. And I will not do.”
“Alright, I will insist upon nothing,” Simon says quietly.
“I don’t understand how you can work with that peacock. He would probably destroy anyone. Just like MacClife fired his manager before my eyes.”
“Fired John?”
“Yeah. That’s his name.”
“Oh, he has fired him hundreds of times. But later, he called him, apologized, and asked to be back.”
“There is just probably nobody that would take that capricious princess,” Raquelle assumes gloomily. “So, John has to take it.”
“Terrence has some problems controlling his emotions. He is quite impulsive and first does, but then he thinks. And even after getting very mad, MacClife calms down quickly.”
“I don’t know…” Raquelle moves her eyes to her hands for a second. “I would not be surprised if he did something during the photoshoot.”
“Trust me, Ms. Cameron,” Simon pronounces softly. “I have known that man for a long time. I had known him before he hired me as his personal driver.”
“I hope he pays you enough money?”
“Yes, Terrence pays good money to me. But he does not always use my services. Just sometimes.”
“Alright…”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Simon keeps looking at Raquelle, and she just watches what’s happening around her.
“By the way, don’t you know if he is still at the agency or has already left it?” Simon asks.
“I don’t know and don’t want to know,” Raquelle throws gloomily.
“I just want to know how long I will have to wait for him.”
“Wait. Maybe, the fucking king would make you happy with his pretense soon.”
“Of course, I will…”
“And you know, I will better go before MacClife comes here. I don’t actually want to meet him.”
“Alright, I am not holding you.”
“Thank you for the nice talk, Mr. Ringer,” Raquelle thanks with a slight smile.
“You can call me just Simon.”
“Good luck to you and patience to work with that man.”
“Maybe, this is not the last meeting between us.”
“If we meet, I will be happy to talk to you again.”
“I will be happy, too.”
Raquelle silently cracks a slight smile at Simon, then gets up from the bench and puts her purse on her shoulder.
“Goodbye, Simon,” Raquelle says goodbye amicably.
“Goodbye, Raquelle,” Simon pronounces with a slight smile. “I was very happy to meet you…”
“Thanks…”
Raquelle turns and goes to the right side, while Simon watches her with a slier smile, thinking about something and starting to stroke his chin.
“We will meet again…” Simon pronounces thoughtfully. “Surely meet…”
Raquelle does not know that Terrence was watching her all the time she was talking to Simon. The man was not far away and was looking at the girl with a sly smile, who seemed to him more and more attractive. And when she got up from the bench and left, he proudly raises his head and crosses his arms over his chest, thinking about something. Something that has to do with the young beauty that made such a strong impression on him.
***
After talking to his personal driver, Simon a little, Terrence decides to let him go home because he wants to use his free time to walk in the city and think of everything that happened some time ago. To think of the meeting with Raquelle, thoughts about who still cannot leave his mind.
The girl conquered him by her beauty and is not similar to the others he knows. That gray-eyed attractive beauty behaved not as other girls did… Not like those, who literally hang on his neck after seeing him one meter away from them. But on the contrary, Terrence hates her as much as he has never hated before. So much that he literally goes crazy…
“Oh, that girl managed to make me mad just for a few minutes,” Terrence thinks gloomily, slowly walking on one of the popular streets of the city and sometimes glancing aside or at someone from people, who are busy with something. “Holy crap, what did I sign for by agreeing to work with that gal? She is just unbearable! I don’t know how I’m gonna tolerate her! She will be madly lucky if I don’t strangle her with my own hands.”
Terrence crosses his arms over his chest.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that headstrong girl had no boyfriend,” Terrence thinks. “No man would stay with her longer than a week. And the one, who wishes to marry her is gonna be really crazy. Absolutely sick idiot that is gonna sign a sentence.”
Terrence shakes his head.
“Can I get through the photoshoot?” Terrence asks himself. “I have a feeling that something is gonna go wrong. I will not have peace with that gal. She is not gonna be one of those, who are always sweet, obedient, and shy. Cameron is gonna suck much blood out of me while we are working together. And bring me to doing something to her.”
Terrence exhales sharply and glances aside.
“However, I will not give her pleasure and not refuse to be a part of the photoshoot,” Terrence decides with a sly smile. “Not refuse. I will surely come there and make that gal nervous on purpose. Make her mad… It’s gonna be her cost for daring to tell me she did not know me. She did not say I was handsome, sexual, and attractive. She did not hang on my neck from the first seconds.”
Terrence laughs quietly.
“Anyway, I must confess that Cameron is a cutie,” Terrence thinks with a wide smile. “Freaking gorgeous girl! Tall, slim, with long legs… Her body is incredible… That bitch is fucking sexy! I did really wanna kiss her right there. Caress her body that is going to be much more gorgeous.”
Terrence slightly raises his head, thinking of the moment when he was caressing Raquelle’s face with his lips with great pleasure.
“And how sexually she smells…” Terrence notices. “Fuck… I had never met a girl with such a dizzying smell. M-m-m… I’d have the pleasure of doing all of that again! I do wanna know what her puffy lips feel like. Wanna find out what she was hiding under that shirt and that suit jacket…”
Terrence cracks a slight smile.
“Damn, people are right when they say that hellcat could make anyone lose their head by doing nothing,” Terrence thinks. “That stunning cutie already made me lose my mind. Now I won’t be able to sleep quietly. I'm gonna lie in a bed and dream about fucking her with great pleasure.”
Terrence proudly raises his head up.
“M-m-m, I’m already imagining what she would be like in a bed…” Terrence smiles slyly. “What kind of pleasure Cameron could give me…”
Terrence frowns slightly.
“I wanna seduce her more and more,” Terrence thinks. “Do my best for that sexy bitch to become mine. To give me the best sex in my life. I do really wanna tame that gal and show her that nobody dares to reject Terrence MacClife. No girl has been able to resist such a gorgeous man, who all of them are dreaming about.”
Terrence smiles much wider.
“It would be cool to get the one, who is one of the most sexual girls in the world,” Terrence thinks. “Do my best for her to fall in front of me. For Cameron to be ready for anything. As well as all my fans. Who would easily get in my bed if I suggested them.”
Terrence glances at a young boy running by and listening to music on his white headphones.
“But I’m actually not interested in running after those, who are ready to give me everything at once,” Terrence thinks. “It would be much funnier to run after the cold beauty that makes me so wild. I must confess that I even like it. I like that sassy and untamed tiger. It would be much more interesting. If she keeps resisting so hard, and the game lasts for a long time, I will get much more pleasure. Much more…”
Terrence laughs quietly and keeps walking in the city for nothing, enjoying the good weather and not being able to forget the meeting with Raquelle, who woke up many bright emotions inside him. Which he would like to feel again with great pleasure. On the one side, the man hates her, but on the other side, he is obsessed with a strong passion. And together, these feelings form a crazy mix.
Even being a famous man, who is chased by the paparazzi and a huge army of fans, Terrence quietly walks in the city without personal security or a personal driver. As well as Raquelle, he does not want someone to always go after him and does aim to live as all the people do. And the man treats his fans with the same love, with which the girl treats him. He wants to be as close as possible to them and never refuses to give someone an autograph or take a photo and lets any girl hug him with pleasure and ask him any question.
At some moment, Terrence enters a small café where he is supposed to meet the man named Benjamin Parker, who has been his childhood friend. A young man with dark brown short hair and piercing brown-green eyes looks quite attractive. He has almost the same height as MacClife’s height, but Parker is a little lower than him. His height does not reach almost six feet. Benjamin uses his attraction to the fullest, but he does not have permanent relationships with girls. He has never had a serious relationship that would last at least for one or two months. That’s why the man often hears mockery of Terrence, who has already lost hope that his friend will change his mind one beautiful day.
Sitting at the table in the quietest place and slowly drinking strong coffee, the friends talk about everything in the world for some time and laugh at something too hard. But at some moment, Terrence’s buddy looks at him closely and notices that he looks too excited, even if he tries to hide it somehow.
“Hey, dude, what’s wrong with your voice?” Benjamin asks, sitting in front of Terrence. “Why are you so excited?”
“So, is that clear?” Terrence frowns slightly.
“You’re fretting here! Breathing heavily, shaking, looking around… What’s wrong, buddy?”
“Oh, bro…”
“Did a crazy fan scare you there?”
“No, Ben, the case is not about it.”
“But what?”
“Something that doesn’t let me calm down happened some time ago,” Terrence smiles mysteriously.
“C’mon, tell me! I can’t read someone’s mind and don’t know what you’ve got in your head!”
“The case is that today I met someone, who made me love and hate them at the same time.”
“M-m-m, that’s how… So, who did you meet?”
“Oh, you’re gonna fall now!” Terrence takes a cup from his cup. “An incredible thing happened to me!”
“C’mon, speak up, tell me why you’re so excited. Who or what made you so excited.”
“Do you remember I told you John found another job for me?”
“Yeah, a certain photoshoot.”
“Right.”
“You were supposed to shoot with someone.”
“Yup.” Terrence quickly clears his throat. “The case is that today, I found out who would be my partner.”
“Found out?” Benjamin wonders.
“Yup. Today, John and I went to the model agency to meet with one woman. She introduced me to the girl that I would be working with.”
“So, who are you gonna work with?”
“Erm…”
Terrence falls into silence for two seconds, feeling a little excited.
“I…” Terrence pronounces in a little shaking from excitement voice. “Will… Work…”
“Hey, Terrence, stop blunting something there,” Benjamin says confidently. “I don’t understand you!”
“Sorry, Ben, sorry… I’m just excited…”
“Hey, you calm down there a little. Breathe deeper. Pump a lot of air into your lungs and exhale slowly. Drink some coffee.”
“You’re gonna be nervous, as well, after you find out who I’m gonna work with.”
“Just call her name. Call me the name of this lucky girl.”
“She is the most sexual cutie I have ever known.”
“Come on!” Benjamin chuckles loudly. “You said it about all of your former girlfriends! With all the young girls you have fucked.”
“No, buddy, you have never met such a stunning girl before,” Terrence smiles slyly.
“Is she really so beautiful that you’re dumbfounded there?”
“She’s incredibly sexy…”
“Okay…” Benjamin exhales sharply. “So, who’s that girl? If you say so, it’s at least supposed to be a girl from the cover of a glossy magazine.”
“M-m-m…” Terrence slightly bites his lip with a sly smile. “You’re absolutely right about the beauty on the cover of a magazine. She is very… Beautiful… And… Stunning! Unreal cutie, who conquered me after I just looked at her.”
“Come on?”
“Seriously, Parker! When I just looked at her, I felt like an insecure boy for some time.”
“Why?”
“Because I lost all my confidence at once!”
“C’mon, dude, what are you talking about?”
“It’s the truth! I could pick up any girl and be very confident, but this time, I did really become dumbfounded!”
“Something hit you hard,” Benjamin laughs shyly and takes a cup from his cup.
“Be sure, you’ve never met such sexual cuties before! Ready to bet my arm!”
“Oh, you’re intriguing me, buddy…”
“All your exes can’t be compared with that cutie.”
“So, what’s the name of the girl that got you so excited that you either can't connect two words or jab so fast that I don’t understand you?”
“Her name is Raquelle Cameron,” Terrence replies confidently with a sly smile.
“What?” Benjamin pronounces loudly with admiration, almost choking with his coffee. “Raquelle Cameron?”
“Yes, Parker!”
“Come on? Is that the famous model? The former face of the cosmetics brand ‘Nature & Beauty?’”
“Yes, friend, that’s her!” Terrence confirms confidently.
“A-a-a-a-a-a-a, fuck, Terrence!” Benjamin exclaims excitedly, being much more excited than Terrence himself. “You’re kidding me!”
“Not at all.”
“C’mon, confess that you’re making a fool of me.”
“I ain’t playing the fool of you, Ben!” Terrence protests with a wide smile. “I do swear, Raquelle Cameron was standing right in front of me. I mean, she was sitting right in front of me!”
“A-a-a-a, if it’s the truth, I’m gonna start to get jealous of you.”
“It’s the truth! My eyes saw that cutie, my hands touched that girl, and my lips touched her tender skin.”
“Ah…” Benjamin sighs quietly. “If she touched my hand, I would stop washing it… Not to wash off the smell of the skin of that girl.”
“She is an eternal beauty!” Terrence confesses with delight and takes a cup from his cup. “Raquelle is a freaking stunning and attractive girl. Who can get someone excited for a few seconds.”
“Fuck, MacClife, you’re so lucky! You met Raquelle Cameron herself! The sexiest girl in the world!”
“Her face… Her smile. Her eyes. Her body… Everything’s just fabulous.”
“If she looks so sexy in photos, she is supposed to be much better in real life.”
“She is!” Terrence smiles slyly. “You know how cool she looked in her suit jacket, shirt, jeans, and shoes with heels…”
“M-m-m, I see you managed to look at her from head to feet.”
“Of course, I did! And I realized why all the men lose their heads when they see her.”
“Wow…”
“Seriously, Ben, I have never met a more attractive girl. Raquelle is not similar to those I know.”
“M-m-m, so, buddy, everything's clear about you,” Benjamin smiles slyly.
“What’s clear about me?”
“You got a crush on her!”
“What? Me? Got a crush on Cameron?”
“C’mon, man, confess! Confess that you’re already in love with that cutie.”
“I am not in love with her!” Terrence throws sharply and takes a cup from his cup. “Do not think up!”
“You think I will believe it?”
“Ben!”
“People can’t dislike such an attractive cutie. Raquelle Cameron gets everyone delighted.”
“I am not in love with her.”
“If you say you don’t care about her, I will think you are crazy.”
“Dude, what are you talking about?” Terrence wonders.
“You’ve had a crush on that girl since you were twenty, after you saw her at the premiere of a movie.”
“She was such a baby then. Just eighteen.”
“Both of us know that you've been literally dreaming of getting married to her.”
“Parker!”
“Am I not right? How many times have you told me you wanted to meet her in real life?”
“Well, maybe, I really wanted. But after getting to know her much closer, I no longer want it.”
“What?” Benjamin wonders loudly and takes a cup from his cup. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, we met only two hours ago, but that gal already got me madly mad.”
“Mad?”
“Exactly!”
“So, buddy, did you look at her so openly that she thought you were a certain pervert?”
“Not quite… But I will not deny I was staring at her after I came to the office of her manager, who we met.”
“So, how did that stunning girl manage to make you mad?”
“She didn’t recognize me!”
“Didn’t recognize you?”
“You imagine, Cameron dared to claim she did not know who I was!” Terrence resents. “Everyone knows me, but that girl did not recognize me as Terrence MacClife himself.”
“Did it hurt you so much?”
“It did! Nobody had dared to tell me these things! This is the first case!”
“I’m gonna make you surprised, my friend: not the whole world knows who you are. And Raquelle is one of them.”
“How did she dare? Not to recognize me, Mason Houston himself!”
“Get used, Terrence. Not everyone knows and admires you.”
“No girl dared to behave like this. No girl! Any girl was ready to fall in front of me, look into my eyes, and do everything I would say.”
“Did you think it would always happen?”
“It just can’t be the truth! Can’t be! All the girls want Terrence MacClife. Everyone dreams of lying in bed with him.”
“Oh, if only someday you met a girl that would not hang on your neck and tell you tons of compliments.”
“Think I’ve already met the one.”
“M-m-m, I feel it hurt you much…” Benjamin smiles slyly. “You definitely didn’t like the fact that that beauty didn’t hang on your neck with loud whoops.”
“She said she didn’t know me, and she was also rude to me.”
“Listen, MacClife, I understand it’s weird for you to hear something like this,” Benjamin says confidently. “But trust me, it happens. Not all the girls would think you’re Apollo and get a crush on you.”
“Ar-r-r, that girl did really get me enraged,” Terrence growls irritably. “She was rude, insulted, and also slapped me in the face.”
“Come on?”
“Exactly! Just because I hugged her by the waist and said any girl wanted to lie in my bed from the first minutes after meeting me.”
“Oh, man…”
Benjamin starts thrilling with loud laughter.
“You rock on…” Benjamin adds funnily.
“That bitch hit me!” Terrence resents. “She hit me!”
“My gosh…”
“Stop the fuck laughing, idiot! It’s not funny to me!”
“Listen, how happy I am…” Benjamin smiles widely and takes a cup from his cup. “So happy you met at least one girl that’s able to kick your ass and bring you from heaven to earth.”
“It’s alright, she’s gonna pay. I will do something on the photoshoot that girl is gonna memorize for a long time.”
“She did hurt you much! So much that you got so excited!”
“I do hate her! Hate!”
“Said by the man, who has had a crush on the girl and wanted to meet her for many years.”
“But I didn’t think she would be such an insolent bitch. I thought that girl was educated and had a crush on me, as well as everyone did. But no! Cameron is not in love with me!”
“At least someone went against the system and showed you that you were not the most irresistible and handsome man in the world.”
“Yeah? Is that okay I am Terrence MacClife? The sexiest man in the world! The most wanted guy! The sexual fantasy of any young girl!”
“It’s clear you are not Raquelle’s taste if she literally rejects you.”
“It just can’t be the truth! Because I am awesome! Against other men, I will always be the most irresistible and attractive one. And my methods of seducing girls always worked well.”
“Oh, yeah! Do you think it would be easy to seduce a girl by feeling her up from head to feet and kissing her without permission?”
“It always worked before!”
“Oh, MacClife, you’re starting to show off again…” Benjamin sighs tiredly.
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Raquelle Cameron already let you know who you are, and who you are for her.”
“It’s okay, Parker, that girl will not get off me so easily,” Terrence says confidently and takes a cup from his cup. “I will do everything for her to remember well who Terrence James MacClife is.”
“She’s gonna remember you as a selfish pervert, who dares to place his hands on a girl’s body and believes all the girls would like it.”
“I shall do my best to tame that cutie and make her mine,” Terrence smiles slyly with his head proudly raised. “To make her fall in love with me.”
“She does make you irritated!”
“Yes, she does. To death. But I will not calm down until I get her down on her knees and hear compliments for me. Until I fuck that girl to the hell.”
“It’s worthless, Terrence. You can’t do this.”
“Why can’t I do it?”
“Because you shouldn't have started from trying to feel her body up and kiss her.”
“Anyway, she is gonna remember my incredible caress for a long time. She’s gonna dream about getting them again.”
“Well, you will not seduce that girl. First, she doesn’t like you. And second, you’re gonna have many rivals. Literally, the whole world goes crazy over that girl.”
“You know that I’ve never been scared of rivalry.”
“Slow down, brother. You’re just gonna waste your time.”
“I am not rushing,” Terrence says with his head proudly raised. “No matter how much time trying to seduce Raquelle Cameron and tame that insolent bitch will take. Early or late, I shall get what I want. Because I am Terrence MacClife. Terrence MacClife always gets what he wants.”
“I’d bet one hundred bucks that she doesn’t get interested in you.”
“Be sure, buddy, Raquelle Cameron is gonna be mine. She’s gonna fall in love with me in the nearest time. I shall do my best for that cutie to wish to give me incredible pleasure. So, she asks me to take her to my bed and wish to get fucked by me.”
“If she rejected you once, that girl would hardly agree to be with you in the future.”
“That bitch is gonna incline her head for me and confess that I am the most sexual and irresistible man in the world. I shall make her do it.”
“Yeah, Terry, you got a strong hit…” Benjamin laughs shyly.
“Agree that it’s more interesting to run after what doesn’t want to end up in your hands.”
“And a hunter woke up inside you!”
“Yes, they did! And I am gonna do my best to make her mine.”
“Well, if she gives up on you and gives you what want, you will lose interest in her and look for another girl.”
“Who knows…” Terrence smiles mysteriously and takes a cup from his cup. “Who knows… Maybe, someday, I will marry her.”
“Marry her?” Benjamin wonders loudly. “You?”
“Anything might happen…”
“I’m begging you, man! What kind of wedding! If you already fought at the first meeting like a cat and a dog, you won’t have a peaceful family life. And you can forget about a wedding with her!”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be hard to live with that girl. But something tells me that it would be a funny and unforgettable adventure.”
“M-m-m, as it turned out, you’re a lover of spicy feelings!”
“Believe me, after what I’m gonna do to that girl, Cameron won’t be able to think of anyone else. She is gonna think just of me. She will not find anyone else better than me. She’s gonna get a wonderful teacher, who's going to teach her everything she doesn’t know yet.”
“Well, you say you didn’t get a crush on Raquelle,” Benjamin says confidently and takes a cup from his cup. “You did, my friend! You really did!”
“Not true! I didn’t get a crush on her! I just wanna spread her legs. I dream of her sucking me.”
“Exactly! You wanna seduce her!”
“If I want to take her to my bed and fuck her as hard as possible, it means nothing.”
“So, why would you get the fuck married to her?”
“Oh, I said about getting married for nothing! It goes without saying, I ain’t gonna do that! But I wanna finish it along with her in the same bed so badly.”
“MacClife…”
“I will not get the love for that insolent, non-educated girl that dared to talk to the man like that,” Terrence says confidently. “Who got me as mad as nobody else did before for a few minutes.”
“You know, you didn’t also make a good impression on her. You probably openly claimed that you wanted to fuck her.”
“Yeah, it happened!”
“Excellent! You messed up everything!”
“I just let her know that she wouldn’t get off me until I got what I want.”
“Don’t waste time, Terrence. You’ve missed your chance. Your methods of seducing aren’t gonna work with her. That cutie will never fall in front of you and look into your eyes.”
“We will see.” Terrence strokes down his hair with his head proudly raised. “That sexual chick is gonna be mine early or late. No matter if she’s single or taken now. If she’s taken, I will steal her from her boyfriend. And if she’s single, it’s gonna much easier for me to seduce that bitch.”
“And what’s next? Will you leave her?”
“I will see. Time will show. But I will not calm down until she sucks me.”
“Well, I can surely tell you she is an absolutely single girl,” Benjamin replies thoughtfully. “Yes, she flirts with some men and accepts flowers and gifts from them, but no more.”
“Wonderful then!” Terrence smiles slyly. “So, I’m gonna have no barriers on my way to my goal. I shall do my best for that girl to go crazy over me. For that girl to think about me all day long and not to be able to focus on her business.”
“Alright, do it. I’m gonna watch you tame the wild tiger.”
“I can do this, Ben, you just believe in me.” Terrence runs his hand over his hair. “And then you will give me one hundred dollars, which you wanted to bet that Raquelle does not pay attention to me.”
“Okay, when are you gonna start the grandiose operation of seducing the girl, who became the first one to behave not in the way everyone did?” Benjamin asks. “Who didn’t wanna tell your compliments and strongly slapped you in the face for starting to accost her by feeling up her boobs and ass.”
“The next week. When we start working on the photoshoot.”
“Sorry about you not having a number of her.”
“Even if I had asked it, she would’ve hardly given it to me.”
“Sorry. You could start working on it now.”
“But she has accounts on social networks. So, I could use it and send her a couple of messages.”
“Yeah, use this chance before she blocks you.”
“Anyway, I can’t meet her this week. Because I have too many things to do: interviews, shootings, and a couple of photoshoots, etc.”
“It’s all clear about you.”
“Don’t worry, buddy. Early or late, Raquelle will be mine anyway. Someday, that girl will incline her head for me as well as everyone did.”
“Oh, if she only she did not,” Benjamin smiles slyly. “I do wanna see what you’d do if your charms didn’t work on her.”
“They’re gonna work. Raquelle won’t be able to resist me and will fall in love with me. And as she is a single girl, seducing her is gonna be a much easier thing.”
“Do what you want, Terrence,” Benjamin replies amicably and takes a cup from his cup. “Anyway, I am more than sure you will get nothing in the end.”
“By the way, best friends always believe in their friends.”
“Best friends aren’t shy about telling the truth. That’s what differs best friends from just friends.”
“We will see what you’d say if that cutie became my girlfriend.”
“She will not, Terrence, be sure.”
“Laugh, laugh.”
“Anyway, I must confess that you’ve got good taste. You got a crush on an incredibly gorgeous cutie.”
“Terrence MacClife must have only the best,” Terrence smiles slyly. “Including girls.”
“I understand you. Because I wouldn’t also miss such a wonderful chance. I wouldn’t let that stunning cutie get out of my way.”
“Hey, close your mouth! Raquelle Cameron is mine! I was the first one to get a crush on her!”
“Don’t worry, if she doesn’t succumb to your charms, I will surely make her fall in love with me. And I will show you how to seduce girls in the right way.”
“I said everything, Benjamin. Don’t even dare to look at what belongs to me.”
“Raquelle is not yours, pal. She has a right to fall in love with anyone.”
“Raquelle is gonna be mine.”
“Between you and me, she’s one hundred percent gonna choose me. As a decent, educated man, who has always been freaking talented at seducing girls.”
“Yeah, it’s all clear about you!” Terrence laughs shyly and takes a cup from his cup. “You’ve got a very long list of your exes.”
“I’m just choosing.”
“And you wonder why you aren’t so lucky with girls… When you see a photo of a sexy cutie, you’re ready to dance attendance for her. And start to think of the way to take her to your bed.”
“Oh, oh, you aren’t ready to take Raquelle to your bed!” Benjamin rolls his eyes. “You’re dreaming of fucking her as soon as possible and making her confess that you’re Apollo.”
“Not gonna deny,” Terrence smiles slyly. “That hellcat was pronounced one of the most sexual women on the planet for a reason. She does deserve it.”
“Believe me, dude, you’re not the only one to wish to sleep with her. Almost every single man wants that cutie to drive him crazy and give him the best sex in his life.”
“And something tells me she would be a professional in it.”
“How proud a man would be if he told the whole world he started to date Raquelle Cameron herself.”
“I would see how long a man would stay with such a headstrong, insolent gal.”
“C’mon, confess you would like to date her, as well.”
“I want to fuck her. Not to date her. If she was my girlfriend, Cameron would break my brain. And make me strangle her with my own hands.”
“And I would date her with pleasure…” Benjamin sighs dreamily. “I would be proud to call myself a boyfriend of her…”
“I know you’re such a womanizer! You’re a lover of any more or less sympathetic girl.”
“That’s men's nature, my friend. You don’t also miss any girl and get pleasure when young beauties surround you.”
“Yeah, but I’m too far from you!” Terrence chuckles and takes a cup from his cup. “I guess you probably need a little bit before you sleep with the whole New York. And you will have to go somewhere to California or Los Angeles to fuck all the girls living there.”
“I said, I’m just choosing!” Benjamin replies with his head proudly raised. “There is not a girl that would fit all my says.”
“Oh, yeah, we do know your high claims,” Terrence laughs shyly.
“Not high!”
“I advise that you slow down, buddy. Or you will never find a girlfriend.”
“Better get cool yourself.”
“I’m doing nothing! Girls get attracted to me! They can’t leave such a gorgeous man without attention, ‘cause he smells sex.”
“Do you still think you’re better than everyone?”
“Huh, nobody can be compared with me!” Terrence says with his head proudly raised.
“Oh, yeah! Raquelle already showed you there are more handsome men than you.”
“She’s gonna say different things soon. Cameron is gonna confess how handsome and irresistible I am, and nobody could be compared to me. Including you, buddy.”
“Okay, okay, shit up now! Everyone knows that you are a selfish peacock with a puffy tail that can’t live a day without mentioning his awesomeness.”
“I am not the one to blame for being made so handsome by nature and making all the girls in the world drool over me.” Terrence fixes his black luxury hair with a proud look. “It’s so nice to know they rated it highly.”
“Yea-a-ah…” Benjamin exhales sharply and takes a cup from his cup. “I guess girls should praise you much less. Because you became too arrogant.”
“No, what’s wrong with me? I am perfect! Just like a picture! Gorgeous luxury hair, a stunning smile, piercing eyes… And how sexual my body is… M-m-m… Any girl wanna leave her tender kisses on it and caress it with her soft hands…”
“Oh, you said so much about you!” Benjamin laughs quietly.
“Only the truth.”
“Listen, MacClife, aren’t you afraid that girls will stop paying attention to you one beautiful day?”
“Why should they?” Terrence chuckles loudly.
“Well, when you become an old man, girls and women will stop thinking you’re attractive and sexual.”
“Believe me, Benjamin, even if I’m an old man, it won’t make me less attractive,” Terrence says confidently. “I will be getting better and better, as well as good wine.”
“Ready to bet that you’re gonna have depression if everyone stops telling you that you’re an irresistible and handsome guy and admiring everything about you.”
“It will never happen. I will be freaking sexy even when it’s my time to educate children.”
“Are you so sure?”
“There are women, who look like young girls at the age of fifty. So, I’m gonna look like I’m twenty-five when I’m fifty.”
“Don’t be so confident, Terry,” Benjamin says confidently. “Beauty is not forever, as well as youth.”
“Right, not forever. But everything depends on you. An old age is not always a synonym for the word ‘unattractiveness.’ And it’s obviously not a reason to get rid of the beautiful clothes in your closet and cosmetics, give a damn about your appearance, and become a homely folk that nobody will pay attention to even if they’re somewhere close.”
“Comfort yourself, buddy, comfort. You’re gonna be young and handsome only after a certain age. And then nobody will need you, Well… Maybe, only funny old women that won’t get old and will feel like girls.”
“Ha, do you think you will be a handsome guy and not stop hanging out with girls until your death?” Terrence chuckles.
“Maybe, I will!” Benjamin exclaims with his head proudly raised.
“It’s okay, buddy, your time will come. Early or late, you will become an old, slouched man with glasses and a cane.”
“Keep dreaming, MacClife, keep dreaming. I will be an irresistible, handsome man when I get old. And I will continue to pick up sympathetic old ladies.”
“Okay. Maybe, at least at the age of seventy, you’re gonna be lucky and meet the one to fit all your says.”
“I hope someday you will finally understand you can't be forever young and handsome, and young girls can't always drool over you.”
“Parker, shit up, please.”
“I will do! But I will have my own opinion anyway!”
“Ar-r-r…” Terrence growls irritably, rolling his eyes.
“Don’t get excited, Terry. It’s not a secret to anyone that you’re an arrogant, selfish peacock. The entire show business knows how much you love you. And Raquelle just proved it.”
“Hey, rooster, shit up, please.”
“Said by the penguin.”
“Look at yourself.”
“I don’t doubt that even if you start dating someone, you’re gonna love you much more than a girl.”
“Holy shit, how much you irritate me, Benjamin Parker. Since childhood.”
“I’m not the one to blame that girls give me their attention at their wish and can’t go by me without glancing at me,” Benjamin smiles innocently and takes a cup from his cup. “Well, I’m happy about it. And always ready to give attention to any beauty that I would like.”
“Don’t think that I will stay without girls’ attention,” Terrence replies confidently. “I won't give you pleasure to watch girls not send me their looks full of admiration.”
“Okay, okay, Terrence, don’t worry. It’s gonna be okay. Someday you will become a freaking attractive old man, and old ladies won’t let you go and will beg you to marry them.”
“If we were at the home of you or me, I would hit you on the head with something heavy. Or at least kick your ass enough.”
“I am so lucky!”
“Until our next meeting. I am gonna have much fun and show you who is the most attractive and most irresistible of us.”
“Oh, MacClife, you’re incorrigible…”
Benjamin and Terrence talk on the phone about everything for a long time and argue about something for fun. It’s actually their favorite thing – to find out who is better, whether they will be awesome and attractive somewhere in ten or twenty years, or something like that.
After talking to his childhood friend, Terrence is not going to come back home, comes to the park at some moment and decides to walk in it. He planned to quietly walk, breathe in some air, and relax a little. But some time later, the man meets some people from the paparazzi staff that photograph him from all the sides and ask him questions, and then he is called by a group of a few young girls that run to MacClife with happy whoops after they see him somewhere from far away.
“That’s Terrence MacClife!” one of the girls pronounces with a wide smile.
“That’s him!” one girl pronounces first, and then another does the same.
“Gosh, gosh, Terrence, can I get your autograph?” the young girl asks happily.
“Sure, with pleasure,” Terrence nods with a slight smile. “I will give you an autograph and take a photo.”
Terrence takes a notebook and a pen from one of the girls and leaves his signature on it after he asks what her name is.
“Hey, Terrence, when do we expect a new movie featuring you?” another girl asks. “Is something going to be released in the nearest time?”
“Not yet,” Terrence says amicably.
“But why?”
“I get many offers for shootings, but I am pleased with nothing yet.”
“We would be happy to see you in any movie, in any role.”
“I promise, when I get a role in a movie or a show, I will announce it on my Instagram account.”
“We will wait!”
“Say, are you still a single man?” another girl asks.
“Yes, I am still single,” Terrence replies with a slight smile, signing some things for his fans or taking photos with them.
“You haven’t had any love affairs with girls for such a long time.”
“I think I will not have the second half at the nearest time.”
“But why?”
“I am too busy to think about relationships. My schedule doesn’t let me find time for romantic dates with girls.”
“Do you like someone? Maybe, you have sympathy for someone?”
“Erm…”
Terrence says nothing for a few seconds, not finding the courage to confess that he met Raquelle and got a crush on her at first sight.
“Yeah…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully. “I like someone… One… Girl…”
“Really?” one of the girls wonders with a wide smile.
“It’s not love, it’s just sympathy.”
“Who is she? Who is the girl, who managed to steal your heart?”
“Let it be a secret,” Terrence smiles mysteriously.
“Please, Terrence! Tell us who you are in love with!”
“Maybe, you will know it someday. But I want to say nothing right now.”
“By the way, do you know the model, Raquelle Cameron?” one of the girls asks.
“Erm…”
Terrence bites his lip slightly, understanding that his heart starts beating faster when hearing the mention of Raquelle’s name.
“Nope…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully. “Sadly, I don’t know her personally.”
“I think you would be a wonderful couple.”
“Yes, yes!” another girl jabs happily. “Start to date Raquelle! She is such a beautiful and confident girl!”
“I must agree,” Terrence smiles shyly, leaving another autograph. “That girl is really very attractive. I follow her works and am delighted by what she is doing.”
“But why haven’t you still met her?” the girl wonders. “You were supposed to be at the same events!”
“Yeah, but we haven’t run into each other yet. But I hope someday I will meet the girl, a fan of who I have been since I was twenty.”
“Get married already!” one of the young girls pronounces funnily.
All the girls surrounding Terrence to get an autograph of him or take a photo with him laugh shyly.
“I guess all the men dream about it,” Terrence cracks a slight smile.
“Many fans of you would like to see you together,” one of the girls says confidently.
“Yes, yes, you would be a gorgeous couple,” the second girl jabs.
“If fate wants, we will be together,” Terrence replies quietly. “If fate wants to bring me to that gorgeous beauty…”
“It would be great! It would be great!”
“Oh, sign this disc with the movie for my sister,” one of the girls says, giving Terrence a DVD with the movie, in which he played a starring role.
“M-m-m, ‘American Love Affair!’” Terrence smiles shyly and leaves his signature on the cover of the disc. “It’s nice to know everyone loves this movie even so many years later.”
“We love you, Terrence!” one of the girls exclaims with a wide smile.
“Mason Houston is the best!” another girl whoops happily.
“I wanna date the same guy as him!” the young girl says confidently. “Mason is my perfection!”
“Yea-a-a-a-a-ah!” the others agree funnily.
The fans treating him so warmly make Terrence smile shyly and feel much prouder than before. Giving autographs and taking photos with his fans always gives him great pleasure and makes him think he is still young, hot, and wanted by all the girls.
This black-haired handsome guy never refuses to take a photo with his fans, leave his autograph somewhere, answer a question, or just talk about something. Even if he is in a bad mood or just tired, the man finds the strength to smile and give attention to every single person, who would love to come to him. This is his duty. A part of his job that he must do, despite nothing.
And at this moment, Terrence does not even guess that someone is now watching him with true interest. That’s the tall young guy, whose hair is hidden underneath a warm, knitted beanie. To be clear, he is not chasing him on purpose. The stranger was just passing by the crown of the girls, checking something out on his push-button, cheap phone, wondering why they were whooping so loudly and happily. He decided to come closer, and saw the popular actor. Who is having a lot of pleasure from getting the ladies’ attention. He does not ignore the open flirt of some of them and says a nice compliment to all of them. Terrence does not notice the guy because he is too busy talking to his fans. By the way, one of them takes a selfie with him, and the stranger ends up in it, while he distracts himself from the information on his phone, not suspecting it for sure.
It’s impossible to say that he is aggressive toward him. Vice versa, he is not going to harm him at all. He is just watching him as if he wants to ask him something, but he does not find the courage to come to him. Putting his hands in the pockets of his old, little shabby winter coat, the man tries not to watch the actor surrounded by his fans too openly and sometimes glances at those, who go by him, or at something else. The stranger fixes his beanie at times and a knitted scarf that is wrapped around his neck and covers his mouth as he shifts his weight from one foot to another, as if he is cold or terribly nervous because of something. But even regardless of his great interest in Terrence, the guy does not go much further, even if he keeps watching what the man is doing very closely. However, he decides not to watch him after the man says goodbye to his fans and leaves this place to do his business.
***
It’s getting dark outside. Raquelle is spending her time at home with Natalia, who went to visit her at the invitation of her friend. Frederick is not home now because he decided to walk somewhere and breathe in some air. As he often does it not at a very late time. The man does not actually like sitting at home all day long. Walking to a shop, walking in the city, or meeting with someone from his familiars always gives him much pleasure.
“Hey, why did your manager ask you to come to the agency?” Natalia asks, sitting in front of Raquelle on the bed.
“Well, to talk about another offer of work…” Raquelle replies thoughtfully, sitting on her bed with her legs bent under her.
“Another photoshoot?”
“Yup, for one magazine. I’m going to shoot for the cover and a few pages.”
“Wow, awesome!” Natalia smiles widely.
“Yeah, but I’m not going to shoot alone. I’m gonna have a partner.”
“A partner?”
“Yup. And Serena organized the meeting to introduce me to the one.”
“M-m-m, so, who are you gonna work with?” Natalia smiles mysteriously.
“One selfish donkey that got me mad for a few seconds.”
“What do you mean?” Natalia frowns slightly.
“It’s the truth, Natalia. I’m gonna have to work with the one I already hate to death.”
“Okay, okay, friend…” Natalia tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “C’mon, tell me more about it! I wanna know everything!”
“And honestly, I don’t even know how I would take it all.”
“Speak out, Cameron! Who are you gonna work with? A girl? A man? Who?”
“A man. The most insolent and non-educated man I have ever known.”
“Name! I need his name!”
“Terrence,” Raquelle pronounces quietly. “The name of that idiot is Terrence MacClife.”
“What?” Natalia wonders loudly, opening her eyes widely. “Who?”
“Terrence MacClife.”
“Come on?”
“Oh, if only you saw how arrogant he was. He was pretending to be a fucking lord and thought everyone must’ve bowed to him.”
“Gosh… You… Did you meet Terrence MacClife himself? That incredible, handsome guy, who played Mason Houston, the most popular guy at school in the movie ‘American Love Affair?’”
“I don’t know who Terrence MacClife is.”
“What?” Natalia wonders loudly. “Seriously?”
“Huh?”
“Cameron, come on? You went crazy?”
“You know him?”
“Of course, I know.”
“But how?”
“C’mon, friend! How couldn’t you recognize such a hot, handsome guy? All the girls know him, but you’re special!”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, gosh!” Natalia smiles widely, putting her hands on her cheeks. “I can’t believe… Did you really meet Terrence MacClife himself?”
“Who is he actually? I have never heard this name before!”
“C’mon, silly! Terrence MacClife! That’s a popular actor! He was very popular in the early 2000. And the role of Mason Houston in ‘American Love Affair’ became a key to fame for him.”
“Sorry, Natalia, but this name doesn’t let me know anything.”
“Yes, of course, Terrence doesn’t act as actively as he did before, but people still remember him. He often gives interviews and attends shows and important events.”
“And what?”
“Gosh, I…” Natalia shakes her head sharply. “I can’t believe I’m hearing something like this from you.”
“Who is Mason? What is 'American Love Affair?' I don’t understand anything!”
“He is handsome! An eternally handsome guy, who all the girls in the world are dreaming about. I don’t know a man that would be more handsome than Terrence.”
“Gosh, Rochester…”
“Oh, gosh…” Natalia rolls her eyes with a deep sigh. “I adore him… I would sell my soul to see him with my own eyes.”
“How could you like that selfish donkey? Who was hurt by the fact that he wasn’t recognized and told compliments.”
“You, silly, understand nothing! That’s Terrence MacClife! Terrence MacClife himself!”
“Even if he was a certain actor, it means nothing to me.”
“Gosh, Raquelle, how lucky you are!” Natalia smiles widely, taking Raquelle around the shoulders and pressing her close to herself. “You’re gonna work with Apollo himself! My gosh… How lucky you are… A-a-a-a!”
“What?” Raquelle frowns strongly. “What kind of Apollo? He is an insolent and non-educated scumbag that doesn’t know how to behave with girls.”
“Ah, I get goosebumps on my skin when I view photos of him. Terrence is so handsome that he sometimes seems like a fictional character to me.”
“I wish he was fictional. Because in real life, he is just unbearable and made me hate for him for a few minutes.”
“How can you say these things about that hot, handsome guy?” Natalia wonders. “All the girls drool over that gorgeous man! He’s just a walking sex machine! Tall, thin, handsome…”
“Insolent, rude, egoistic…”
“How did you stay alive after he stood in front of you?” Natalia wonders and closes her mouth with both hands with a wide smile. “I would die at once if I saw him with my own eyes!”
“Do girls really fall in love with that donkey?”
“Come on! They are ready to sell their souls just to stand next to him.”
“They’ve got no taste. As well as you don’t have.”
“Raquelle…”
“Seriously, Natalia, how can you have a crush on that idiot?” Raquelle wonders. “Do you know how rude he is? How MacClife was talking to me!”
“Ah, you were talking to him…”
“He insulted me! Treated me just terribly!”
“Gosh, how lucky you are…” Natalia rolls her eyes dreamily.
“Lucky?” Raquelle rounds her eyes. “Am I lucky because I was insulted by a pathetic actor, who can’t take the fact that he will never build a brilliant career?”
“You were standing in front of him… Talking…”
“And I hit him in his insolent face!”
“What?” Natalia wonders loudly. “Hit?”
“That idiot started to accost me. Dared to place his hands on my body and started to feel me up. And tried to kiss me!”
“Oh, gosh!” Natalia whoops happily, putting her hands on her cheeks. “You kissed Terrence MacClife himself?”
“I will scratch his face if he does it…”
“You also probably touched him…”
“I did! I really did!”
“Oh, my gosh…” Natalia shakes her head with a peaceful smile. “I wouldn’t wash my hands if they touched that Apollo… I wouldn’t wash my cheek if he left a kiss on the one…”
“I don’t understand you, Natalia!” Raquelle exclaims. “Why do you like that man? Why? What’s special about him if you get so excited?”
“But he’s so handsome… So sexual… M-m-m… I would give everything just to stand next to him… And I wouldn’t refuse to lie in bed with him if he suggested that…”
“Yeah, blue-eyed cutie, you’re really crazy… Really… You are crazy.”
“No, you are crazy if you stayed indifferent to THAT gorgeous man,” Natalia says confidently.
“I’ve met much more handsome men. And more decent.”
“Gosh, friend, how jealous I am of you…”
Natalia shakes her head.
“God…” Natalia pronounces in a little shaking voice. “You’re gonna work with Terrence MacClife himself. He’s gonna touch you! Embrace you… And maybe, even kiss!”
Natalia makes a loud, happy whoop.
“A-a-a-a. Cameron, I can’t believe it!” Natalia exclaims excitedly.
“I don’t know how I would take that photoshoot!” Raquelle replies confidently. “I don’t know how I would do my work well. MacClife is surely gonna ruin everything to the hell.”
“Say, how does he smell? The smell is probably, really freaking sexy.”
“He smells like an insolent donkey!”
“M-m-m, friend…” Natalia smiles mysteriously, looking at Raquelle. “It seems like you fell in love with him!”
“What?” Raquelle rounds her eyes. “Me? In love? With that scumbag?”
“How could someone dislike such an irresistible, handsome guy like Terrence MacClife?”
“I don’t like him!”
“C’mon, didn’t you get excited from his touches?”
“I was sick of them!”
“Listen, something ain’t right about you! How could you stay so indifferent when you got attention from Terrence MacClife himself?”
“Next time, that kind of famous and sexual actor will get a hit between his legs if he dares to place his hands on my body.”
“You haven’t seen his body yet.”
“Thanks, I don’t need it.”
“Search for Terrence’s half-naked photos on the Internet for interest. I’m sure you’d forget how to breathe. And read the info about how he got famous.”
“I don’t know and don’t want to know!”
“Listen, I understand you’re nervous because you haven’t had relationships, and a naked man may bring you to a stop of the heart. But trust me, you won’t be disappointed if you see Terrence like that. You’d love to caress and kiss his whole body.”
“You want me to get sick?”
“God made a truly handsome guy. MacClife can do nothing, but he would drive everyone crazy. If he can drive anyone crazy in a photo, I can’t imagine what was happening to you when that man was standing next to you.”
“There’s nothing special about him…” Raquelle falls into silence for two seconds and moves her eyes aside. “And I don’t understand why you’re the fuck going crazy from him.”
“Ah, Raquelle, what a silly girl you are,” Natalia sighs quietly. “You must be happy that man paid attention to you.”
“If I had known I would have to work with that idiot, I would’ve told Serena I’d refuse to shoot for that magazine.”
“No, friend, don’t even dare to miss this chance! It’s your unique chance.”
“My unique chance is a chance to participate in a fashion show during Fashion Week. Not a photoshoot with the one, who believes he’s the most irresistible one and is sure everyone must bow to him and kiss his hands.”
“You’re really not indifferent to him!”
“Don’t say stupid things!”
“You never got so blushed and excited when talking about any other man,” Natalia notices confidently.
“Lie! I ain’t excited. I am just very mad. I am mad because of that man, who I hate to death.”
“Don’t you really remember him?”
“How?”
“I’ve told you so much about ‘American Love Affair!’ I’ve told you so much about Terrence’s character!”
“I can't remember.”
“Come on?” Natalia wonders loudly. “You’d memorize that man, even against your wish.”
“Yeah, memorize. As a freaking pervert that pretends to be nobody the fuck knows who.”
“If I were instead of you, I would give myself to him and give him the best sex in his life.”
“Natalia!”
“What? Without a doubt!”
“I’d better hang myself than lie in the same bed with that man.”
“If other girls heard that, nobody would understand you. Because everyone dreams about that man.”
“Show me at least one girl!”
“Anyone! Any girl has a crush on that gorgeous Apollo and dreams of how he would kiss and hug her.”
“Come on!”
“By the way, people say Terrence is very good at sex. All the girls are delighted after a night they spent with him.”
“Well, if they like when they get fucked in the first minutes after meeting him, it’s okay. But I am not gonna dance attendance upon that peacock.”
“And I would become a slave to him…” Natalia sighs dreamily. “The slave that would make all of his wishes come true…”
“Yeah, Natalia, I don’t understand you.”
“I don’t understand you.”
Raquelle rolls her eyes and sighs tiredly.
“Oh, my gosh, I would probably, really die of happiness if that gorgeous man was next to me,” Natalia confesses.
“And I would be happy to teach him and kick his ass on the photoshoot,” Raquelle says confidently.
“What?”
“Yes, yes, you heard it right. I shall show where MacClife belongs and turn the time of that man on the shooting to the real hell.”
“Or you better make him fall in love with you.”
“What?”
“By the way, many fans of yours want to see you together.”
“Oh, no, I don’t need that donkey for anything!” Raquelle says excitedly.
“Yeah, don’t need…” Natalia smiles mysteriously.
“But I’ll have a great pleasure mocking him. Do my best for him to remember that day for a long time. And remember well who Raquelle Allison Cameron is.”
“I’m sure that he's already memorized you.”
“So, he’s gonna memorize much better. And regret deciding to stand in my way hundreds of times. Daring to place his hands on my body and thinking he could shamelessly feel me up and kiss me.”
“Ah, Raquelle, Raquelle… How headstrong you are… And mean…”
“He shouldn't relax.” Raquelle moves her eyes aside for two moments. “Because I am gonna make him really mad.”
“I wonder, how are ya gonna pose for the photoshoot?” Natalia asks. “Are you gonna have to show some feelings? Love… How close are you gonna stand?”
“I wish we were photographed by one. But sadly, it will hardly happen. So, I will have to get through myself and work on that photoshoot well.”
“So, are you excited because that gorgeous man is gonna stand next to you?”
“Natalia!” Raquelle claps Natalia on the hand.
“What?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “You can’t even imagine you got a happy ticket. You got a chance that other girls could dream about.”
“Believe me, that man isn’t worth everything he said about himself,” Raquelle says confidently.
“Oh, gosh, I still can’t believe it… My friend is gonna participate in a photoshoot with the most sexual man in the world. A-a-a-a-a! How happy I am!”
“Stop, Natalia, I’m begging you…”
“It’s okay, Cameron, you will understand how lucky you are. If you also watch ‘American Love Affair,’ you will surely call the memories of the one, who played the all-favorite handsome guy, Mason.”
“Even his manager got sick of that capricious princess. And he didn’t get upset when MacClife fired him right before my eyes.”
“Fired? Why?”
“Because John, his manager, told him all the truth about him. Let him know that sort of Apollo was too arrogant.”
“Gosh, Raquelle, what you’re talking about… Terrence is so cute! Have you seen how cute he is to all of his fans? Nobody has said a bad word about him. Nobody!”
“So, I am gonna be first.”
“Listen, why are you excited? What did Terrence do if you said such terrible things about him?”
“You don’t hear me! I did tell you that he insulted me! Accosted me! Treated me just terribly!”
“Stop, friend, he just liked you.”
“Liked?” Raquelle wonders loudly. “Are you serious?”
“I think you provoked him somehow by your behavior. You woke up his interest in you.”
“It seems to you.”
“You think I understand nothing about love?”
“Alright, Natalia, stop.”
“I am sure you could be a very beautiful couple.”
“Stupid things!”
“People would say the same if they saw photos of that hot guy. They’d say you must get married.”
“Even if that man was the only one in the world, I would not come to him.”
“Ah, Raquelle, you don’t understand anything…”
“You say almost the same that his driver said, who I met after I left the agency.”
“His driver?”
“Yes. His name is Simon. I ran into him accidentally. Apologized, made sure he was fine, and talked to him a little.”
“And what did he say?” Natalia smiles mysteriously. “Maybe, interesting news about his personal life?”
“I don’t care about his personal life.”
“Well, everyone knows it. Terrence has been single for a very long time.”
“Who cares?”
“What? It’s your chance! Your excellent chance to make your family happy and finally start to date someone.”
“I’m ready to date anyone except that rude man.”
“C’mon, Raquelle…”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he started to send me letters with threats. Just like my haters do this.”
“Don’t think up, friend. What are you talking about it?”
“You know how many letters like this I get every day. Today, I read one of them. Someone wrote a long letter, in which they advised me to be careful and quit the modeling business.”
“So, did you decide it was Terrence?”
“What? Anything’s possible!”
“No, Raquelle, it’s bullshit.”
“I dunno…”
“Alright…” Natalia exhales quietly. “Say, did Terrence treat you badly from the beginning? He was rude to you since you just met him?”
“Nope…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully. “He changed after I said I didn’t know him. I didn’t know he was an actor.”
“M-m-m, so, everything’s clear! You just hurt him! So, he got mad! He was like, I was such an irresistible and gorgeous man, who all the girls had a crush on, but that girl didn't even look at me.”
“To get mad because I don’t know who Terrence MacClife is?”
“He was used to the fact that everyone knew him and didn’t expect to hear something like this.”
“Yeah, didn’t get used! Does that idiot think literally every single dog knows him?”
“It’s true! Ask any girl if she knows Terrence, and you’d hear a positive answer.”
“Do you think I should’ve lied to him?”
“You could do!”
“Oh, no! Even if I understand I’ve seen it somewhere before, MacClife will not know it.”
“What?”
“I will never tell him that. Never.”
“Huh, so, do you want to keep making him mad?”
“It’s gonna be my revenge for insolently feeling me up,” Raquelle smiles mysteriously.
“Yeah, Cameron, as it turned out, you are not as shy as I thought.”
“If MacClife really wanted to play a catch, it’s okay. I won’t let that cat make me a mouse and get me caught in his trap.”
“M-m-m…”
“And if he disrupts the shooting, I swear, I don’t know what I will do to him.”
“Ah, I feel you’re gonna have a very fun time on the shooting,” Natalia happily rubs her hands.
“Maybe…” Raquelle glances aside and then moves it to Natalia. “He believes he could easily get my attention, but I won’t give him this pleasure.”
“M-m-m, friend, you’re a fateful seducer,” Natalia smiles mysteriously and sits closer to Raquelle. “You’ve never had a relationship, but you’re acting like you’ve got great experience. You know how to make a man run after you.”
“I ain’t gonna seduce him, Natalia. I’m gonna make him mad. I wanna give him a lesson and kick his fucking ass.”
“But remember, he’s surely gonna run after you. And if you flirt with some guys right before his eyes, MacClife will one hundred percent want to be instead of them. Do his best for you to notice him.”
“M-m-m, that’s the idea… If there are some men on the shooting, I can flirt with them a little.”
“Okay, if you decided to seduce him and press to your chest and then strongly hit that gorgeous man on the head, I can advise you to pretend that he didn’t make an impression on you. Show that you’ve got enough fans. He’s not the only man in your life.”
“Gosh, why do you believe I like him?”
“It’s written on your face!”
“What’s written on my face?”
“You’re gonna think of Terrence for a whole day.”
“Never!”
“Anyway, act not in the way all his fans do. I’m sure he got used to that a long time ago. But your behavior is gonna get him confused.”
“M-m-m, wow, Natalia…” Raquelle smiles mysteriously. “You always say you do not have enough experience in relationships. But as it turned out, you’re very experienced.”
“Just psychology,” Natalia smiles innocently. “Something unattainable is more interesting than something you can take with no problems. It causes a wish to find out what you don’t know about actually is.”
“Okay.” Raquelle says nothing for two seconds. “Anyway, I do know what to do to that rooster.”
“At least confess that he’s attractive,” Natalia smiles mysteriously.
“Natalia!”
“Would you really dare to say he’s ugly?”
“No, I can’t say it.”
“Is he really handsome, huh?”
“Oh, okay!”
Raquelle exhales sharply.
“I confess that he’s actually good-looking,” Raquelle confesses and cracks a slight smile. “Handsome, sexual man. Tall, thin, very confident…”
“That’s what we needed to prove!” Natalia exclaims happily.
“I’m sorry that such an attractive guy is rude and non-educated.”
“Did your heart probably start beating much faster when you saw him?”
“Yup…” Raquelle pronounces hesitantly. “Much faster… Honestly, I got a few stops of the heart. And he smells very sexually. Very… Attractively…”
“And did you really stay indifferent?”
“As you can see, I did.”
“You’re tough, Cameron!”
“Since I started this game, I shall bring it to an end.”
“So, will you keep making Terrence mad and pretending that you don’t have a crush on him?”
“He should understand there are many handsome men in the world,” Raquelle smiles innocently. “More decent and more educated men, who don’t place their hands on girls’ bodies.”
“You’re tricky, friend!”
“Besides, I also wanna play a catch with him a little. I wanna make him a little nervous.”
“Yeah… I thought you’d be blushed and shy with his pretense.”
“I was shy only for the first few minutes. And I tried to stay sweet and gentle for a long time. But when I heard everything he told his manager about me, a tiger woke up inside me.”
“Yeah… I’m imagining how sparks were flying from your eyes while you were fighting and necking.”
“I didn’t neck him! And I didn’t kiss him! He was doing that!”
“And how was it? You liked it?”
“I can say it was not disgusting. Fine.”
“Oh, shit, fine!” Natalia chuckles loudly.
“But MacClife tried hard,” Raquelle smiles slyly. “I can already praise him for that.”
“Where did you learn all of that?”
“I’m just doing what I want when looking at that selfish peacock.”
“You’ll ask for trouble, friend! You’ll make him run after you, and he won’t calm down until you belong to him.”
“He can do anything he wants. But if he disrupts the photoshoot and the whole process, he will have to regret that very much.”
“It won’t surely be a quiet time.”
“At least, I can be quiet this week. Because I won’t meet Terrence earlier than the twenty-one.”
“But do you wanna meet him?”
“Nope, I don’t wanna see him at all.”
“Raquelle…”
“What?” Raquelle rounds her eyes. “I don’t really want! I’m praying that it doesn’t happen earlier!”
“If you gave him your phone number, you would spend time together.”
“You’re crazy? If he gets my number somehow and starts chasing me, I will instantly change it.”
“Don’t run away from your happiness.”
“I don’t need this kind of happiness.”
“Okay! If you don’t need it, give Terrence to me, I’m gonna have the pleasure of having fun with that hot, gorgeous man. I will lie in bed with him without a fight.”
“Only after I kick his ass enough,” Raquelle says with her head proudly raised. “Only after that, I will calm down and tell that idiot to go to the fuck.”
“Don’t worry, he’s gonna feel good with me. I won’t be as obedient and harmful as you are.”
“Am I harmful?”
“Yes, you!”
“I would look at you if that idiot felt you up from head to feet and wanted to kiss you.”
“I would die of happiness…” Natalia sighs quietly, dreamily rolling her eyes. “Anyway, do what you find right. I will always support you. No matter what you decide. No matter what you do.”
“Thanks a lot, Natalia.”
Raquelle takes Natalia in her amicable hug, which she accepts with pleasure, with a wide smile. And a few seconds later, the girls step away from each other.
“Okay, let’s talk about something different,” Raquelle says confidently. “I’m sick of talking about Terrence. I wanna forget that idiot for the whole week and think of something else.”
“Do you have any shootings tomorrow or after tomorrow?” Natalia asks.
“Yup, I do. Tomorrow, I will have multiple shoots.”
“Sorry. I wanted to suggest you walk to the shops.”
“But we could go there somehow on another day.”
“I’m gonna be ready on any day. I don’t have any business. Well… Not saying about everyday workouts at a gym class where I’m gonna literally move to lose the weight I gained in Italy.”
“I already said you don’t need to lose anything because you’re a slim beauty anyway.”
“By the way, I didn’t tell you something that happened to me during the trip to Italy,” Natalia calls the memories. “Something very interesting.”
“Tell me now.”
“You’re gonna love it!”
“Hey, let’s drink tea or coffee? Grandpa and I have some sweet food. Something you love.”
“You want me to get much fatter?”
“Nothing would happen if you ate a couple of cookies.”
“Oh, my gosh…”
Natalia exhales sharply.
“Okay, you won!” Natalia exclaims. “But just a couple of cookies. No more. Or I’m gonna overeat and won’t lose weight.”
“Let’s go to the kitchen then,” Raquelle suggests with a slight smile. “I will turn on the kettle now. And somehow later, Grandpa will be back home.”
“It would be great. I’d like to say hello to Mr. Cameron and find out how he’s doing.”
Natalia and Raquelle get up from the bed and go to the kitchen to drink something hot and eat some sweet food. While the water in the kettle is boiling, the friends talk about the blonde’s trip to Italy again, which gave her the best memories and caused a wish to come back there again. While drinking a cup of delicious coffee, the girls talk about everything they did not talk about yesterday when they were at the club.
This time, Raquelle and Natalia do not even think of starting a talk about something bad and sad. Now the two are in a good mood and do not want to make it worse by talking about some events that happened in their lives and made them cry and suffer. So, the friends are talking only about what makes them laugh truly and smile widely.
145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguhjKycU5M
