Chapter 4 Chapter-4

"How did the party went?" Jamie asked driving.

"Good, until last minute".

"Why? What happened?"

I explained what Benjamin and Chris conversed. He replied in a disgusted voice, "Eww! Now officially Benjamin is off my crush list. He is rude".

I didn't comment on that.

"But, you've noticed one thing? Chris, he stuck with you. Maybe, what media calling him is true, sweet golden retriever soul in a Greek god body or.." he smiled, "He likes you".

"Oh..you too don't go there, please" I stopped him, "He took my side not means that he likes me and please don't say to this to others".

"If you say so".

He dropped me and went back to his apartment.

Next morning,

Jamie, Nyra and Aaron occupied my couch. I was in my kitchen, preparing my bread for breakfast.

"Tell me, what happened yesterday night?" Aaron asked.

"Well, it's a good news. We have few more celebrities who were ready to give interview for us".

They two gleed, "Oo! Finally! One breakout. When we gonna do that?" Nyra asked.

"Following weeks. They asked to contact their managers".

"Good, then start preparing about them" Aaron said.

"Already started" Jamie raised his hand.

When I had a bite of bread with jam, door bell rang, "I'll get it" Aaron raised and went to open the door.

After few seconds of mumbling to someone, he called me, "Umm..Ana, Someone is here to meet you".

I wiped my mouth with tissue and went near him. Infront of the door, a big muscular tall black man was standing with a box wrapped in a cover. He was so tall, that we looked like an Ant near him.

His hard, rough voice asked me, "Are you Ms. Ana?"

"Yeah..yeah..it's me. What's the matter?"

"Good morning, Mam. My name is James Parker. I'm security guard of Mr. Rovan, he asked me to hand this box personally to you".

"Wh...what?" I got confused.

"Yes Mam" he handed it to me before I can say anything.

"But..but..I..Didn't..."

"Thank you Mam, have a nice day" he wished me and got disappeared into hallway.

I came inside and kept it on the table. It was not heavy, but medium weight. They three asked me curiously, "What's in that?"

"No Idea" I shrugged.

"Then What are you waiting for? Open it!" Aaron rushed.

I teared the cover, they three came closer and waited with a curious eyes. I untaped it and opened the box. Holy mother of God! It had all exclusive classic rock albums with a signature of band members. There are almost 50 albums inside.

"Omg! Omg! Omg!" Nyra closed her mouth in shock, "Tell me is this unofficially released songs of the rock bands?"

They all looked that in disbelief, me too. Inside it had a note saying 'Please accept this for me - Chris".

"Wow! If we collected this, first that's impossible. Still if we did this it would costed fortune" Jamie said looking at me.

"Once again, I'm asking you Ana. Are you sure that he is not into you?" Aaron asked with dropped jaws.

Before I can reply, my phone rang. It's him, I attended it. Before I could speak, he answered, "Ana! Ana! Please! Before you can say anything, hear me once. I'm sorry for yesterday. I want to apologise for Ben's behaviour".

"But Chris, you had nothing to do with that. You don't have to be guilty. I'll send this back".

"No..No..I saw how much you liked this. I looked in your eyes, but after Ben's behaviour you left immediately. So please, keep it you. It's my request".

"But.."

"No but, that's my gift for you. Accept that for my sake" he requested in calm manner.

I sighed, "Ok. But, I owe you one and if you are okay with that, I'll take this".

I heard his chuckle, "Sure, you owe me one".

I smiled, "Anyway thanks for this. This will keep my house alive".

"You are welcome".

"So..umm..bye..will catch you sometime".

"Yeah, sure bye" he hung up.

I turned to look at them, they look me like questioning.

I cleared my throat, "Of course not what you think. It's a gift out of respect".

But I don't think they bought that.

A week later,

Our magazine circulation increased by 15% because of his interview. Beside, he also appreciated us in social media that also helped us. Now slowly one or two doors opened for us. We would never forget the help he did. I thanked him via text, he replied back with smiley.

After that we didn't had contact, until one day.

Two days later, I went to Fox studio to interview for an article about struggles faced by stunt people and back stagers. I waited outside the studio number 12. Peoples were roaming here and there busy with their works. I felt bored so I took my phone out of my handbag and checked the messages. A voice startled me with Hello.

I flinched in fear and turned to look. It's Chris, he stood wearing a casual green and black checked flannel long sleeve shirt with a dark jean and a white sneakers. His eyes were covered with coolers and stood inside an umbrella which his assistant is holding it. His black hair was neatly combed back with a side part.

His sleeves were rolled upto his elbow, his muscles were perfectly hid under that. His left wrist had a Denim leather strapped watch. Omg! Why the hell my eyes is not moving away from him. For a moment, I forgot to breathe.

"Ana, what you doing here?" His surprised voice bought me back to reality.

"I..I..umm" his cedarwood cologne rapidly started to fill my nostrils, so I moved away and asked him, "Wha..What?"

"What you doing here?"

"I..I..umm..came here for an article".

"Oh.." he removed his glasses. Again his green eyes stared me from top to bottom.

I tried to change the topic, "What..are you doing here?"

"I am here for an ad shoot, studio number 13. I am headed back to my carvan" his pink lips replied which is surrounded by a full black beard and moustache. Shit! Ana! Why the hell you are staring him!

"So, you finished it?" He asked.

"No..they were busy with their work. They'll meet me after an hour".

He glanced his watch, "I have a break. Why don't we have coffee in my studio? If you don't have anything to do?"

It's better to have some companion than standing alone, "Yeah..yeah..sure" I nodded.

He started to walk, I walked along with him. His assistant followed us, we walked in a silence, which kinda bored me. So I started, "Umm..What's the ad about?"

"It's for a smartphone. But, the script has nothing to do with that" he tucked his hands inside the Jean.

I smiled, "Nowadays, it became fashion".

"Very true. I don't know who the hell will take picture with a tiger while it chasing you to eat".

We both chuckled.

"So, what's your article about?"

"Umm..it's about struggles faced by the backstage actors and stunt people, how they've been underpaid and underrated".

"Hmm..everytime you never fail to surprise me. All the best".

"So you think, it's great?"

"Of course" he said with a confidence " I like it..oh...completely forgot! You loved the albums?"

"Totally! Even my dog little is dancing with me for that".

"You also have a dog?"

"Yeah, labrador. How is Roger?"

"Good, came back home and resting".

Talking, we entered his studio. There were some people sipping coffee and eating donuts. Green mat wrapped the entire studio and bright lights were hanged on the top.

"Here your coffee" Chris came back with two coffees.

I thanked him.

"Also, I've subscribed to your magazine. I'm going to get it weekly".

"Well..I can assure you'll enjoy it".

He smiled, "I believe so".

"When this gonna wrap up?"

"Probably 2-3 hours" he sipped his coffee, "After that, I have to meet Janice. She want to talk with me".

"Oh!" My voice suddenly became dull. Hope that's not about the thing she said to me. No! Ana stop this nonsense!

"Umm..Chris your phone.." Chuck came with his phone and stopped talking seeing me, "Oh! Ana! I didn't see you. I'm sorry, I couldn't come to that house party..that day I had a terrible headache".

"It's okay Chuck. How are you?"

"Good" he smiled.

"You know what Chuck?" Chris patted his shoulder, "Only best thing, you did in your life is introducing her to me" he said eyeing me.

Umm..What he is implying now? I don't know what to reply for this. I casually turned back..to avoid this awkward situation. I saw a man slowly coming behind Chris wiping his sweat on the face. He kept his gaze down and throwed a doubtful look. His hand was hiding something, what was that? I squinted my eyes to identify it.

When he came closer to Chris, he took that out of his hand, it shined. Omg! It's a knife! A bloody sharp knife! He tried to stab his back. My adrenaline rushed, I reflexly did what my mind asked to do.

"Chris! Watch out!" I pushed him away. Unexpecting this, he fell on the ground. Chuck tried to wake him up.

I grabbed the knife with my bare hands. I clenched it tightly so that blood started to ooze out of my hands.

But my grip got weakened and I couldn't hold it anymore. Using that moment, he pulled the knife out of my hands. Now it made a big scratch on both of my hands. Blood started to flow out of my hands like a water.

That's all I remembered before I fainted in Chris arms and he yelling to catch that man and to call medics.

Meanwhile outside,

Security and others started to chase that men. Chuck ran ahead of them and pulled him aside to a deserted place. Others ran straight without knowing this. After ensuring they left, Chuck asked him in a angry voice.

"Why the fuck you did that? I asked you to stab her, not him".

"I'm sorry..I'm so sorry..I got panicked" he cried.

"You idiot! I didn't pay you 5000 dollars for that".

"I'm sorry..I'm so sorry.." he begged again.

"I'll take care of you afterwards, now get out before someone finds you".

"Ok! Ok!" He wiped his tear and tried to move.

"Hey stop!" Chuck called him, "You know what to do, right?"

"Yes...yes.. don't come out for a week and to dipose the knife".

"Yes, now go before I can shoot you in my anger".

He quickly disappeared.

Shit! Chuck cursed himself , "What am I gonna say to boss? Hope that he understands this is not my fault!