Chapter 34: Trouble Maker

  Le Ciel, Studio A

Suppressing a heavy yawn, Rich picked up his friend Jesse's phone which had been ringing incessantly for the past few minutes. Seeing a list of unfamiliar numbers on the screen, Rich assumed it must be some reporter or recruiter from an entertainment company. So he'd been prepared to give his standard rejection spiel when to his surprise a high pitched female voice sounded on the other line.

"Jesse Evans! Guess who just arrived in C Country?!"

'Oooh bugger! Goddam Jesse didn't save Liz's contact!' Rich lamented internally.

"Heyyy there Liz. It's Rich. Jesse can't come to the phone right now. He's in the middle of a shoot," Rich tried to explain patiently as he proceeded to save her contact details into his friend's phone as 'Trouble Maker.'

"Whaat!? But I already landed at A City International Airport. Who's picking me up?" Liz asked petulantly.

'Bloody Hell. That's something you should've figured out before coming here!' Rich thought whilst massaging his temples.

"Jesse and I will be at the studio for a full day shoot. So, you'll first have to take a taxi to your hotel," Rich said calmly.

"What hotel?! I didn't book any lodging. I was planning to stay at Jesse's place,"Liz carelessly replied.

"Christ Liz! You can't decide things like this on your own. It's not appropriate for a young single lady to be staying at a bachelor pad with two men," exasperation clearly evident in Rich's voice.

"Well I'm not at all interested in you, Rich Taylor, so technically it's one lady and one man," Liz laughed.

"Anyways hurry up and pick me up already. I'm tired of waiting. And I don't know how to take the taxi here. If anything happens to me, I'll tell daddy you left me out here by myself." Liz continued speaking with unveiled threats. 

"For Christ sakes! I just told you we're in the middle of a photoshoot," Rich nearly yelled. He really can't stand this girl. In his eyes, Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery was the definition of  spoiled brat; this girl was rude, selfish, and insensitive. Her only saving grace is possibly her appearance and even that cannot compensate for her insufferably bratty attitude.

"Ugh hurry! Why is it so hot here? Isn't it supposed to be early autumn already?" Liz interjected complaining about the weather. 

"Dammit! Don't move and send me your location. I'll ask a friend to pick you up," Rich replied, clearly agitated.

If Liz was not a childhood friend of the Evans family, Rich would have no qualms leaving her at the airport to fend for herself. 'What kind of 21 year old doesn't know how to grab a taxi?' he thought. With an audible sigh of resignation, he began to look through his phone for a friend who could help pick up that trouble maker, his eyes eventually landing on Irene's name. He knew Jesse wouldn't want Liz to meet Irene but there's no telling what trouble that kid could get herself into if she was left alone at the airport for much longer. So, Rich resolutely pressed the call button beside Irene's name. 

After a few rings, a soft feminine voice answered the phone, "Hey Rich, what a rare surprise for you to call."

"Hey baby girl. We both know Stella will have my head if I called you too often," Rich responded with a laugh.

"Truth is I got a favor to ask you…"

......…..

20 minutes later, Miyeon found herself in a taxi on the way to the airport. She recalled her conversation with Rich.

"A childhood friend of ours suddenly arrived at A City International Airport without prior notice. But Jesse and I will have to stay at the studio for a brand photoshoot. And Liz kind of has a track record of getting into trouble when she's left to herself. So, I was wondering if you could…" Rich tried to calmly explain his predicament.

"Pick her up and drop her off at Le Ciel? Or her hotel?" she guessed with a smile.

"Yeah It would be awesome if you could drop her off at the studio. Ugh. Liz didn't make any hotel reservations," Rich said in a vexed voice.

"Ahh.. Sounds like you got yourself a handful," Miyeon said with a short laugh.

"Thanks baby girl. Jesse and I owe you big time," Rich said before hanging up the phone.

Miyeon looked at the photo of Liz sent by Rich and noted that she was quite an attractive young girl. 'I wonder what made her suddenly fly to C Country on a whim?' 

.........…

A City Airport, Arrivals Terminal

Liz had been waiting at the passenger pickup area for nearly 45 minutes before she was approached by an extremely beautiful asian woman. She had always prided herself for her attractive appearance but was still taken aback by the image of the smiling beauty in front of her. The woman was wearing a white off the shoulder button down top with blue jeans and black heels; she looked effortlessly chic. 

Liz herself was garbed from top to bottom in Chanel. She was wearing a polo dress with espadrilles and carried her go-to boy bag clutch. Her Burberry trench coat was carelessly draped over her LV luggage. Liz knew her outfit was worth several times more than what the woman was currently wearing yet she still can't help but feel somewhat anxious. It's like the feeling evoked by a powerful competitor during a match.

"Hi. You must be Elizabeth Montgomery. I'm Irene, a friend of Rich." Miyeon smiled at the young lady as she spoke.

"Hi Irene. You can call me Liz." she responded.

"Rich asked me to drop you off at the studio. I got a taxi waiting for us nearby," Irene mentioned as she helped Liz with her luggage.

Liz took a few steps following her companion before she suddenly realized where she'd heard the name Irene. Cambridge's school beauty! Irene was a close friend of both Jesse and Rich according to her investigation. What was the most perplexing was Jesse didn't date anyone the entire time they had attended university together. In fact, she was unable to find any sign of his usual casual 3 month relationships even in New York.  Slowly, a heavy feeling of dread began to creep upon her.

And Liz fervently hoped that this was all a coincidence.