Chapter 3 - Brownie

*Danielle Rory's POV*

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My lips formed a half-hearted smile after the lovely brown-haired flight attendant turned her back on me without saying anything after locking gaze with me, and I wondered... What the heck was her problem with me? Why is she so rude? Probably, she's one of my haters. No, definitely, she dislikes me. Shouldn't she be not bringing her hateful ass into her job? Hmm.

"Welcome aboard, Miss Rory!" The pretty blondie FA greeted me with a dazzling smile, and I read her name tag.

"Hi, thanks! Uh... Celestine. Can I call you Cele instead? You have a very nice name, by the way." I smiled and softly chuckled when she stammered in reply while blushing. "Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah, sure! Whatever that you want, Ma'am."

"Hello, good day, Miss Elle Rory! I am Captain Dustin Hayes, and this is..." One of the men who stood beside Celestine greeted me and pointed to his buddy, who also welcomed me, "I am First Officer Jack Baldwin, and we are in charge of the engine and flying you to your destination." 

"Hi! Nice meeting you all!" I replied, truly glad for them being polite but one.

"Alright. So... What was your other colleague's name?" I asked them, and Jack made an oh face and turned to the woman. "Well, ladies' issues. We better get going to the cockpit."

And the men in uniform left us.

"Oh, that? She's Karol Blue Wolfe, but we call her KB or Blue because we have another Karol in our department, but a C for Carol. I'm so sorry about her, Ma'am. I'll surely talk to her." Celestine answered and apologized for her crewmate's rude behavior, and I nodded my head lightly, saying, "It's okay. I understand. Maybe she's not feeling well."

After talking with the cabin crew, I finally went to my seat, where my ass-of-a-hole boyfriend was sitting facing it with a table in between. I wish I would be sitting with James or anyone other than this jerk. Erwin Deborah. An all-time famous musician who thinks he looks cool with his messy jet black hair and several tattoos on his body. 

I really don't understand why the fick would those people in my enterprise think that we are a good pair? Well, I wouldn't wonder why we have been together for two months now since they even let me date a fridging drug addict, a psychotic idiot, and many more horrible people. As long as they are men, famous and rich celebrities, it's all a go. They say it's for the sake of one's name. And I just can't say no. I know I should have had some freedom or chose to live an ordinary life, but this line of job my parents pushed me to have since I was fourteen is horrendously nerve-wracking. I badly wish I could get out of this hell. I did enjoy it at some point but mostly hate it. Who the fick would want to be followed everywhere you go; obstructed by paparazzi, shop at malls and eat at fast-food restaurants and then swarmed by people; date guys you don't even like, and then harassed by these maniacs when they get horny and go way beyond the limit; not have enough sleep when your presence is needed at a shoot or a concert; be exhausted almost always; and a lot more horrific things to mention? Who, huh? Well, definitely not me! I bet others enjoy it and would want it—the fame, money, influence, good life, and other beneficial stuff being a celebrity, but not me. I am so damn far from being freely happy for more than ten years now. I wish I could live a life where I could be me. I want to be me and be with people who like me, not because I am Elle Rory but an ordinary person just like everyone else. Can it be impossible?

"Is there any problem?" Erwin asked as he might have noticed me zoning out, and I turned my gaze to him.

"Hundreds." I shortly answered and took out my phone from my purse to convey that I was not interested in talking to him anytime soon until we landed and beyond, if possible.

The jet finally took off and was steady at its current altitude, and thankfully, my PR guy went to the quarter James told us that we could utilize for the whole flight. And here I am now chatting with the other celebrity passengers about this tour we will have and the places we would surely visit after our tiring rehearsals and performances. These young women are so friendly and are enthusiastic about everything. They are also James' friends and agreed to fly with us since my favorite gay guy singer in the world owned this luxury jet.

---

As the night went on, Erwin went out of our quarter when he must have felt his stomach complaining, and he sat down on his seat.

"Have you eaten anything other than wine?" He curiously asked me, eyeing my empty glass on the table, and I diverted my gaze to him from the window. 

"I don't eat wine," I muttered with an unimpressed face, and he snickered. "Yeah. What about food? Do they have anything decent here?" 

"I'm not hungry," I answered and turned my gaze to the person who walked on the aisle after serving some food to the other people at the table on our left. It's KB. I just wonder why she never went out as I had requested assistance about three times already, yet Celestine is the only one coming. I don't think their job has specializations. Was it something like a particular crew only serving the people on the left side? I don't think so since Celestine also assisted people who occupied the left side of this aircraft. Hmm. Someone's been trying to avoid me.

"Are you sure you won't order anything, Elle?" Erwin asked me as he read the menu on the table, and I shook my head in response.

When he finally pushed the button to request assistance from any of the FAs, I waited for the one who would come to our table.

And as expected, it's Celestine. Hmm. When are you going to come to us, Miss Wolfe?

---

A few minutes passed, Celestine went to heed Lucy Falcons' request, and something brilliant popped into my head. 

I pushed the button to call for assistance, and I am so sure she couldn't not go here. Her crewmate is busy, and let's see what will happen next. Oh, I am such a genius.

When I heard some commotion, a smile slowly crept on my face when I noticed the woman took a deep breath before halting from walking and facing me. Hello, brownie!

She stood near our table, not saying anything, and seemed like waiting for me to talk first. Heck, I would never.

I looked up at her, and I just couldn't control my lips to paint a bright smile. I want to be friendly and would like to know why she hates me.

She turned her icy cold gaze at me, which made my smile turn into an awkward one. Why is she still not saying anything? She's not mute, I presume.

"Good evening, Ma'am, Sir! Is there anything I could help you with?" She finally talked! And damn, she sounds sweet and cheerful. Mhmm.

"Oh, hi! Uh... I... Wait, where's the menu? Here..." I stuttered in reply since I didn't have anything in mind that I should tell her. What can I do? I just want her to go here and do something for me. Is that a crime?

I took a good look at the thing on my hold and contemplated what to order, but Erwin told the woman something. "Can I have a cup of espresso, Miss? A hot one."

"I apologize, Mr. Devorah, but we strictly don't serve hot beverages onboard. And---" she wasn't able to finish when the guy cut her off, and I looked at her. 

"It's Deborah. And why the f*ck won't you serve your client's order? You don't f**king have coffee onboard? What the hell? Isn't your job making us, passengers, have the best flight experience and service? Isn't this a luxury flight? But no coffee? I can't seem to find signs of the best service here, like how your aviation company blabs. No offense, James. Your aircraft is okay. It's just the service and behavior of some of the crew suck like sh*t." He ranted like a total piece of shrewt, and I glared daggers at him. Why the hell would he blurt it out?

The rest of the people inside looked in our direction, especially James, and I noticed how the brownie clenched her jaw and inhaled deeply. Mm, she's trying to keep her calm and stay professional. But I would like to hear her savage response. No, not savage, just her response.

"What is the matter there? What's your problem, Erwin?" James, quite curious and offended, asked as he stood up from their table and left his food to go near us.

"It doesn't concern you, James. It's under control. I am talking to this stewardess and her negligence with her job." The a**hole asserted, and I feel sorry for the girl.

James went back to his seat but kept looking our way.

KB was about to counter, but I want to make things clear for this idiot here. I bet he was mad when she called him Devorah. Well, I do mispronounce it at times, and he always looks like he lost ten dollars in the lottery and feels it's a big deal. Pathetic, I know.

"Hey! She just said they don't serve hot drinks, for the fick's sake, Erwin. It's even written here in the menu that no hot liquids will be served for one's safety if there is turbulence. She's definitely doing her job." I let out, pretty irritated at him, and he looked at me with his thick eyebrows joined together in hostility.

He was about to say something, but I showed him the phrase written on the menu, which made him shut up. He wouldn't want to get into my nerves, or else he'll get a taste of hell.

I looked at the pretty woman and showed her an I-got-your-back smile. And I noticed how a small, shy smile painted on her rosy lips, and she said, "Yes, that's correct, Miss Rory. Thank you for interpreting it."

Mmm, she looks more lovely when she smiles.

"Yeah, that's... Okay. Everything is excellent here. Well, anyway, can I have this... Caviar and another glass of California red wine? That's all... For now." I satisfactorily replied and finally told her my orders, and she wrote it down in her notebook then said, "Alright. How about you, Sir? Can I get you anything else?" 

"Champagne," Erwin uttered and took a bite of his steak, and the woman read our orders, "Okay. Caviar and a glass of California red wine for Miss Rory. And a glass of champagne for Mr. Erwin. It will be served ASAP." 

"Great! Thanks a lot, KB!" I jovially let out, and she appeared surprised that I called her by a name. Well, Karol was the name written on her tag, but KB sounds more like her to me; even James and her colleagues call her that. So, I suppose it's okay.

After the brownie left, I turned to look at the jerk with my stern face, and he just shrugged his shoulders. I rolled my eyes at him and saw James mouthing me something, "Is everything okay?" 

I showed him an okay smile, and he nodded his head, seeming convinced.

A few minutes passed, and the brownie returned to our table with the food and drinks we asked for and began placing them on the table.

When she was about to pour some wine into my glass, I noticed Erwin stood up and walked, heading to the table on our left.

Before I could tell how grateful I was to the woman's assistance, I was astounded when something cold made contact on my belly and lap. It's... ficking... liquid.

"Oh, sh*t! I'm... So... It's not my fault." KB cursed and affirmed while I got my mouth dropped in surprise.

I stood up abruptly and stayed away from the puddle of wine on the table. 

I'm wet. It's cold. And surely, it's her fault.