Chapter 11

It wasn't like I was scared of him or anything… But why would they interview him? He isn't truly a star; he is simply super-rich from a family with a well-known name and… He is well-known as a successful entrepreneur.

His face the whole interview was annoying in my mind. I didn't want to meet with him but seeing my uneasiness, Julie insisted on being present. I had to write the whole conversation they had and Louise took her time flirting with him. I felt a stung in my heart seeing him going along with her words and expressions.

I knew how he was better than her and I was his wife. Technically Anais but I was her now and it was rude doing that in front of a wife. We exchanged looks and smiles but nothing more. In front of everyone, we were strangers.

Normalement, I had to get off at 6:30 but Louise, the mighty Louise, wanted me to stay and do her work. I didn't have a degree in English to do that but I had to proofread the whole thing.

It was annoying but I didn't want to start on the wrong foot again so I accepted with a smile. I hate this part of myself, I can't say no to anyone asking for help.

"You are really in big trouble, Cleopatra," the familiar voice that kept ringing next to my head since she saw me at the forest spoke with a smirk.

"No matter how much I warn you about your kindness, you can't seem to throw it away. This is why you don't rank up," Elodie jumped over my head.

"I can't seem to resist those pleading eyes. I believe that one day when I will be in trouble, there will be someone to help me. Life works that way. Didn't you appear right at the perfect moment?"

"You're hopeless."

I wished I didn't have professional conscience. She wanted me to proofread her works with different topics, not certainly the interview. She had a serious problem with punctuation and doing titles.

My work wasn't something I had to proofread for a long time. I don't like to boast but I find it perfect as it is. I worked even after 6:30 and I finally was able to finish half of the work.

My eyes hurt from the excessive reading and my fingers would like to take a rest. She said to finish it tonight but better come early and do the rest. Maybe a stroll outside will do me something good.

I grabbed my bag and went outside and a harsh hour of considering whether to come out or finish things since I had to do them better finish them early but I felt like my body wouldn't keep up. It was boring going outside alone, walking alone, watching people having fun alone… I called Darcie.

"Hello," she said from the other side of the line. "You are late. Where are you?"

"I was given the serious task of saving the world and I am on my way to defeat the monsters. Seriously, I am a busy woman now. Aaaah! That Julie… I swear someday I will make her regret messing with me."

"I wanted to hang out together but I already made plans. I will meet my boyfriend because I have a boyfriend now. After an hour, I will see him. I am having trouble picking a dress. What do you think I should choose?"

"I heard red is a color that attracts the mind romantically. Go for it. I think there is a red dress in my wardrobe. Go and wear it if you don't have one."

"Oh, thank you! I will remember that. I left food in the microwave. I will hang up now. Kisses!"

I sighed. Elodie seems to have fun following everyone around searching for the one she needs to help. I was tired and my body screamed needing rest so I can't help her now. Such harsh life humans have sometimes!

My stomach fluttered with excitement when I saw the entrance of a bar; I heard people around here like to have apéro with colleagues and comrades but I didn't have anyone with me. Still, I engaged inside taking a seat near the counter.

"How was your day?" A handsome man behind the counter approached me shaking a drink.

"Rough but satisfying."

"Everyone has their bad days. I don't see you around. Is this your first time here?" he put a glass of something in front of me after shaking it for a while. I was surprised he had a ready drink for someone like me. "Something to refresh the night."

"I don't come often," a lie. I sipped the drink, which was certainly sweet and scanned the bar to avoid looking at the bartender. His familiarity with me made me feel disturbed. He moved away after observing me for a while. Thank goodness! He wasn't like a stick.

I let my hair loose, fall over my shoulders in wavy threads. Something in me whispered to look beautiful like the others. All the girls in bars were like jewels, flickering everywhere. They were dancing and some danced alone. At least, I wasn't the only one present without a partner.

"I hope you know CPR because you just took my breath away."

"Claude," I said his name playing with my tongue, slowing not a hint of surprise in it. "What a surprise seeing you here! Always going or those cheesy pick-up lines."

"At least, look the part of the surprise, you don't seem like one. Did you wish for me to be here because a soft voice pulled me to your side?" he sat down next to me and ordered a refreshing cocktail, which was served shortly after I gulped the one I had in my hands.

"Can you stop?" I hid a grin behind my glass. "Those lines don't work on me."

"At least, they made you smile. You were pretty upset when you came in I thought I might cheer you up with my company."

"In fact," I frowned taking a minute before speaking again. "Indeed, your presence is the most welcome at the moment."

"What are you talking about? Are you flirting again, Claude?" A man pocked his head over Claude's shoulder, his eyes darting towards me. "Such a cutie you have here! What's your name?"

"Cleopatra, like the ancient queen of Egypt. Seriously… Who asks for a name when he didn't even introduce himself first?"

"My bad! I am Samuel Bernard," his lips widened to a big smile showing his teeth. His canines attracted my attention; they were slightly long and bigger.

His hair stole the color of the violet dominant color and his eyes… They had something hungry in them. "So is Cleopatra your true name or do you have another one you don't want to share?"

"Both are correct."

Two guys bore down on us, two drinks in each hand and someone I didn't expect seeing again in tow. Andre was with them. They were four. Andre, Samuel, Claude and the other one who had the drinks and a welcoming stance.

"Look who we have here," the new guy said ordering two beers. He handed the other one to me. "Drink?"

"I don't drink. My glasses are all juice."

"C'mon. We will get to know each other more and you will turn more relaxed. Can't you?"

My eyes unconsciously checked on Andre, like getting permission, and he nodded with a glare that made my blood freeze in place. Why do I have the feeling I am with a bunch of predators?