"Oh, I see you're still eating! Great! I'll join you," a voice said.
Noelle turned around to face her. She must have looked pale because the girl's face instantly shifted, her expression turning worrisome.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
Noelle was bewildered. Was she supposed to share what happened? She was desperate to discuss it with somebody. "Um... Luca West came in here and asked me to leave."
"Luca was here?" Lexi was flustered. Noelle told her everything.
"Oh no... Has he begun already?" Lexi pondered, her face tightening. "Sorry I didn't join you earlier. If I was here..."
"It's not your fault. I'm not sure how to handle this. On one hand, I want to disappear since I'm unwelcome. On the other hand... I... want to yell at him. It's crazy..."
Lexi smiled kindly. "I completely understand. Let me tell you my story. I went through the exact same thing when I started working here. The core team, as you know, is Chloe and Noah. Luca has known them forever and trusts them completely.
"When Chloe realized she needed help with social media, I came along. It was a very strange interview. I was told that if I was selected, I could only visit the company offices on specific days and hours. I didn't know it then, but I was only supposed to come when Luca wouldn't be here. I got the job, and that's when the crazy schedule began. I thought he was a total snob! How was I supposed to manage the posts and accounts for someone so difficult?
"After a while, Chloe filled me in. She had mentioned to Luca that she was going to hire someone new, and he was clearly against it. She said I would meet him when he was ready. Spoiler: he didn't welcome me with open arms. But soon, we got along. And ever since, I can honestly say I'm very happy I got this job. It's great working with him!" Lexi concluded with a big smile.
Lexi's story was amazing—and totally unbelievable.
"You were also 'hidden'?" Noelle asked in disbelief.
Lexi nodded.
"How long?"
"Around... seven months."
"Seven months? I barely have seven weeks…" Noelle burst out.
"Hey, it's not the same. You're an intern. Chloe will talk him around."
"And you like working with him?" Noelle wondered, needing to be clear.
"Yeah! He's very professional and also fun! Okay, he gets crazy from time to time and does things without thinking, but that's what makes it exciting! Figuring out how to protect him from himself, it's half the job. We quarrel all the time!" Lexi explained.
Noelle was now concerned about what Lexi perceived as 'professionalism'.
Still, she felt a little lighter. She finally ate her meal with Lexi. On their way back, she gave herself a firm pep talk.
You are not easy to break! You are strong and committed. Don't you dare let him intimidate you! You'll be cold and indifferent—strictly professional.
Back in the office, they saw someone inside Chloe's office.
"Oh no! What is he doing here? Did he have an appointment with Chloe?" Lexi said. Noelle realized who it was.
Shit... Seeing him again? So soon? I haven't practiced enough yet.
They sat at their desks, and Lexi continued the training. Noelle, from the corner of her eye, spied on the office. No aggressiveness; everything seemed cool. Lexi's phone rang. It was Chloe.
"Wait a minute, I'll go see what they want," Lexi said, standing up.
When Lexi returned, she was practically vibrating, struggling to stay silent. Noelle was suspecting that Lexi wasn't good at keeping secrets. "Let's get back to our training..." she said, rubbing her legs. It was obvious she was about to burst.
"But before that... let me just say this! He came here for vocal practice. Out of nowhere! There are no concerts scheduled, no recordings. Guess why? He just decided it's time for a flash performance with Isabella! Why now, of all times, does he want to add this to his schedule? Do you see what I mean? We never get bored with Luca!" Lexi said, all in one breath, nodding like a bobblehead figure. "Now, click here" she added, seamlessly returning to work.
Noelle was processing what she was being taught, but half her attention remained dedicated to the office. Everything was still civilized.
After a while, Luca left Chloe's office and walked past them. Out of the corner of her eye, Noelle saw Lexi exchange a glance with him, but she avoided looking his way. He stopped by their desks and said to Lexi: "Chloe said to go for it, so come when I call you."
"Alright, sir," Lexi responded. "I wish I knew what's in his mind..." she muttered under her breath.
---------------------------------------------------
Time passed. Around noon, a guest appeared. A beautiful, striking girl opened the door, looking around over her big sunglasses. An older, slightly stressed-looking man followed behind her.
"Oh... no!" Lexi whispered. "Don't say a word, no matter what," she advised Noelle.
His girlfriend had just shown up and it wasn't a good thing.
Isabella Bosi was a diva. You couldn't help but stare; she looked like she'd walked straight out of a gala. And yet, the moment her gaze swept the room, any warmth vanished. Her eyes weren't just cold. They were the eyes of a predator.
Chloe was already up, ready to greet her. "Isabella, darling. Good morning! Mr. Fuentes, lovely to see you," she addressed the man, who simply nodded.
"Hello, Chloe," Isabella greeted her indifferently. "Where is Luchino?" she asked.
It took Noelle a moment to realize who she meant. Luchino? She calls him Luchino? She definitely hadn't wanted to know what the lovebirds called each other.
"Luca is in the studio, practicing. Should I let him know you're here?" Chloe asked.
"He knows. Take me to him," Isabella commanded, not even looking at Chloe.
"Of course. Lexi, please escort Ms. Bosi to the studio."
Noelle could feel Lexi shiver, but she got up, a forced smile on her lips. Isabella glanced at their way. She hadn't taken any interest in them before, as they weren't her boyfriend. She probably knew who Lexi was. But when her eyes met Noelle's, they narrowed just a fraction. Isabella said nothing, staring steadily into Noelle's eyes for a long, uncomfortable moment. The message was clear: 'Who are you?'
"This way, please," Lexi said politely and walked out. The two guests followed without a word.
Noelle was brimming with questions. She looked at Chloe, expectantly.
"That is Isabella Bosi. Luca's girlfriend," Chloe explained.
"Yes, I read about that," Noelle said. She'd seen an article two months after arriving in Nova Bay. Just a month before, she'd heard on TV that he'd broken up with his previous girlfriend. And within weeks, he'd apparently fallen for this new, snobbish vixen.
He has a very strange taste in women. And he falls in love so easily...
"Well, how could you not? It's all over the news," Chloe said with a smirk.
"She seems... difficult."
"She is promising, but she is not down-to-earth. So, she's quite demanding."
"Who was the man with her?"
"Her manager. I know he looks like her assistant. He can't handle her. I've told him to drop her, but he doesn't listen."
"Why drop her? If she's promising, he could gain a lot from her success," Noelle pointed out.
"Right. That's what he thinks, too. But a manager has a job, and an artist has another. When the artist interferes with the manager's work without knowing the first thing about it, mistakes happen. And guess who gets blamed?"
"Oh, I see," Noelle said, wondering what other people she would meet there. Were all celebrities like this? So far, the two she'd met were major disappointments.
"Well, don't bother with Isabella. You probably won't see her again. And frankly, we also hope not to see her ever again. What a mistake..." Chloe was apparently thinking out loud.
"A mistake?"
"People make mistakes," Chloe said, walking away.
Soon Lexi was back. "She is the worst! Every time I'm around her, I feel like a worm! She likes to walk on the wrecked souls of her subordinates!" Lexi whined as she returned, slumping into her chair. "Stay away from her!"
"I plan to!"
"And that video he mentioned earlier? Do you know how much time it will take? She has to approve my edits!" Lexi cried, thinking of the hardships ahead.
"Tell me if there's anything I can do to help."
"How sweet, but no. I will protect you!"
After an hour or so, Lexi's phone rang. The caller ID 'Lucafer' appeared on the screen, and she picked it up with a sigh.
"Hello?" Lexi said, her face immediately gloomy. "I'll be right there," she replied and hung up. "Bye, Noelle. It was lovely meeting you. Remember me fondly," she said, like setting off for the darkest dungeons imagined.
"Who was it?" Noelle asked innocently, even though she already knew the answer.
"Luca. Guess who he is with right now..." Lexi hurried out.
Alone at last, Noelle put in her earbuds and started writing. When she was focused on her work, she easily lost track of time. As she began drafting Chapter 3 'Research Methodology,' she stopped noticing her surroundings entirely. She was so absorbed that she was startled when Chloe suddenly appeared in front of her desk.
"Noelle!" Chloe was saying as Noelle hurried to remove her earbuds. "I'm heading to a meeting. I'll be back around three o'clock if anyone asks."
"Okay!" Noelle replied with a smile.
Once Chloe was gone, Noelle continued writing, without earbuds, enjoying the complete silence.
It wasn't long before she heard the door open. Noelle turned around and the air left her lungs. The last two people she wanted to see had just walked in – the lovely couple: Luca West and Isabella Bosi.
They looked like royalty, carrying an aura straight from a magazine cover, their gleam brighter than any spotlight.
Noelle felt she had accidentally intruded into the wrong universe. Their shine, their confidence, their synchronized arrogance. Two authentic superstar specimens.