PERFECT PAIR

((1)) He's A Devil!

ARIELLA 

I bust into the small restaurant, my hands dug in the warm coat. There are a few customers sitting at the tables, getting served by the waiters and waitresses. 

I rush to the dressing room on the right side.

I open the door and find Kimberly smudging lipstick, staring at herself in the mirror. She pulls up her long, brown hair in a bun and spins to look at me with her beautiful brown eyes.

"Hey Kim!"

I toss my bag on the floor and take out my uniform. I put on my flary, short, black skirt and the long-sleeved white shirt.

Kim turns to grin at me, her dimples deepening.

"Hey Cinderella!" she winks. "How was it kissing a f*****g prince? I hope you left your shoe!"

I chuckle, rolling my eyes.

"Ansel Rock is a f*****g asshole!"

Her eyes fly open, vividly surprised.

"Why would you say that? Ansel is a heartthrob! He's like the sweetest celebrity I know!"

"I thought so too until I met him today! He's a f*****g d**k!"

"What did he do?"

"He told the director that he didn't want to kiss me. He literally asked for another actress in my face and in front of all those people!!"

She frowns. "So you didn't kiss him at all?"

"I did. And when the director asked for a retake, he adamantly refused. Imagine how embarrassing and humiliating it was when he asked for another actress in front of everyone! They must have all thought that my mouth stinks or that I'm a horrible kisser!"

She chuckles. " Maybe he did think you're a horrible kisser! I mean, what's the last time you kissed anyone? "

I roll my eyes and shrug. " Don't pull that card on me… "

" So what did you do after he said that? "

" I left the scene right that minute! He probably thought I'd just sit there begging for him to kiss me! "

" If I were you, I would go on my f*****g knees, begging him to kiss me! Ansel is a f*****g god! "

" But he's a devil! "

" Uuuuh! Sounds like a bad boy! Is it weird that I like him more now that I know he's an asshole? "

I roll my eyes. "How the f**k are we best friends? You still like him after I told you everything that he's done?"

"Ummmm… He didn't do it to me!" she laughs.

"Not funny!"

The door flings open.

Emil steps in with a bag hanging on his back. He shuts the door and winks at the both of us.

"Hallo ladies!" he says, his voice laced with his thick British accent.

Emil shouldn't be changing in the ladies' dressing room. And he knows it. But for some reason, he always wants to change in front of us. Probably to show off his abs.

He takes off his ripped jeans and white shirt and slowly starts to dress up. As if giving Kimberly and I time to drool.

His body is curved to perfection. His puffy chest, matched with very broad shoulders and a pair of strong, muscular biceps. It's unfair that he has a six-pack and he doesn't even work out.

Emil is hot and he knows it. You can tell it by the cocky grins that draw on his luscious, red lips any time he talks to anyone. But it's the hair for me… He has this long, dark, silky hair that's cropped to shoulder-length.

He stands akimbo and winks again at Kim and I as he dresses up.

"Like what you're seeing, ladies?"

We both roll our eyes, giggling.

"Oh stop it!"

"Ari, you're sure you're not enjoying the view?" he jokes buttoning his shirt.

"Not at all!"

"Well, I am enjoying looking at the d**k print," Kim giggles. "Ulalala! Boy! You got a heavy package!"

"That's probably because I'm a full package."

We both burst out a laugh.

He takes out a bottle of apple juice from his bag and hands it to me.

"Thought you'd be a little thirsty after the shoot."

That warms my heart.

He's done this a number of times but it gets to me every time. I told him my favourite juice flavor and since then, he gets me an apple juice from time to time.

"God! Thanks Emil," I take a sip.

"And you brought me nothing?" Kim grumbles.

"You didn't go for a shoot today, did you?"

"I hate you."

Emil turns to me, almost done dressing up.

"How was the shoot today?"

Kim intrudes, chuckling. "Ansel didn't want to kiss her!"

"What! Who wouldn't want to kiss you, Ari!" he clears his throat. "I mean, why didn't he want to kiss you?"

I explain everything to him and the first thing he says is,

"I'm surprised you didn't punch him in the face! Bravo!"

"The asshole is tall as f**k!"

"Then you should have kicked his balls then!"

"Does he have any balls?" I retort.

We look at each other and guffaw.

"Ouch! That's mean."

I shrug. "Punching and kicking him would have been a hustle! Plus, he's not worth that much energy."

"Those celebrities are f*****g pricks in real life. I actually thought Ansel Rock was different. I should punch him for you," he says.

I huff. "I was so excited about the role. It was a minor role but it was kinda big for me, you know... Especially when Sam told me I would work alongside Ansel Rock. I was so excited about this but the asshole ruined it for me. He embarrassed me!"

Emil shrugs. "Just let it be… You'll get much better roles in the future and work with the biggest productions because you're both talented and hardworking…"

I wish I could believe that.

Kim walks to the door, pulling my hand.

"But for now, let's get to work!"

===

"Grilled chicken, veggies and a beer."

The smoking hot guy requests. I nod and smile at him as I watch him pull up his sleeves.

"Anything else you'd like me to bring?" I ask.

"Yeah…"

"What's that?"

"You."

Silence. Awkward silence.

"Sorry. What?"

"You." A cocky from draws on his lips. "Can you be my meal, please?"

It dawns on me what he's really trying to say and I take in a deep breathe and tamper down my anger.

I force a smile. "Sorry. That's impossible, sir."

I turn to leave when he touches my ass and squeezes.

"Come on, baby," he says huskily.

Rage burns in my fingers and I slap him so hard across the face that my hands hurt.

"What the f**k, slut!!!" he snorts in disbelief.

I slap him again.

He grabs the glass full of water and splashes it on my uniform. In turn, I open up the chilly can and splash it on his white long-sleeved shirt.

"What the f**k w***e!!!"

This time, I don't slap him. I punch him so hard across the face.

"You're the w***e you mannerless piece of s**t! You have a ring on the same hand you go around touching butts. Who sounds like the w***e! Huh? I'm sorry for your wife for marrying a disgusting creature like you! You should be disgusted and ashamed of yourself! "

Rage burns in his eyes and he rises furiously from his table, ready to punch me in the face.

In a flash of light, the man is pinned down to the floor receiving blow after blow from Emil. This creates a scene in the restaurant and now the few customers are enjoying watching the free action drama.

"Emil, Stop!"

"You wanted to punch her! Huh! Lemme teach you a lesson so that you never ever try to even lay a hand on a woman ever again!"

The guy is nose bleeding now.

"Hey Emil! Stop!"

Kimberly stands beside me. "Jeez! I bet Emil can be a karate coach! Damn! Look at him biceps poking out as he beats the guy!"

"Kim, we have to stop him!"

"Let Emil teach that guy a lesson. He has also spanked me when I served him and a number of other waitresses…"

"Wait, and you never did anything about it?"

"What could I have done? I don't have Emil to fight for me," she chuckles.

"That's not funny, Kim!"

"Plus, I was afraid I would lose this job! I was really broke and I didn't want to ask my parents for pocket money!"

The supervisor, Nathan, stops Emil.

"Hey! Let him go!"

Emil reluctantly stops and stands on his feet, letting go of the guy.

Humiliated, he stands from the ground and quickly grabs his briefcase and suit. His nose is bleeding profusely as he walks away.

"Emil, you're fired!" Nathan hisses.

"What!"

Before I can even process all that's happening, I hear a familiar voice calling my name.

"ARIELLA!"

Only one person calls me that.

Sam.

She is standing a few steps away. She walks out the door and I follow her.

She grabs my wrists angrily.

"What the f**k did you do, Ari!"

"Is this about the shoot? Ansel Rock is an asshole! I never want to see his face again! And I'm never working with him again!"

"Now listen here, Ari," she says sharply. "I'm your agent. And you're going to do as I tell you!"

I don't know why she's so angry.

"You're going to pick up your phone and call him and APOLOGIZE!!!"

===