Luna

Chapter 24 - Wagyu

After a long second passed, Luna realised, the position she was. Her eyes startled. Her mouth not sprung open by a tread and her muscles tensed.
Laughing a bit and averting her eyes from the man, she positioned the napkin on her lap, as she grabbed a piece of the bread that stood untouched in the basket at the center of the table.
"What are you on about?" She joked.  "Are you high?"
Laughing it off, he shook his head in denial. His golden maze swishing from side to side. It had been quite a while since anyone had spoken in such manner towards him.
"Just a thought."  He said. "Not that my theories matter anyway. I have probably assumed wrong. I am very sorry."
Taking a sip of her water, Luna kept the nonchalant expression on her face. Inside however, the panic filled her mind. Questions popping up everywhere.  The only thing she was certain was, she needed to leave. But how? He was not just anybody who she could insult. In reality, next to him in matter of business, she was a nobody.
"Sorry to ask. It's just that in this industry you never know." She laughed, trying to break the ice and conceal the fact that her panic made her most likely disrespect a big name.
"It's fine. You never know, right." He laughed it off, a pretty smile on his face. "But just so you know. I don't use those kind of things."
Smiling, she munched on another piece of bread. Dipping it now on the bright pink pate.  She did not care whatever he did, she just wanted to get up from that chair and leave the weird man behind.
"So that makes two of us." She said, a light smile on her face as she delicately chew the food . Her hand placed in front of her mouth, hiding the aggressive chewing she was making.
"See, we have so much in common already." He said jokingly.
Inside Luna wanted to punch him in the face but restrained herself. The level of discomfort that she was feeling went above and beyond the tolerable. Still, she kept her composure.
Placing his own napkin on his lap this time, the man accompanied her as they ate.
"You must've been hungry. Did you eat on set?" He asked. A true concerned look on his face. Made her wonder, if he wasn't so creepy, perhaps she would find him attractive. Still, hearing his words, she couldn't help but put another wall between them. Invasion of privacy was not something Luna appreciated. As she didn't answer he kept going. "You should eat, you know. Even if you are stressed."
Looking at him, Luna found the man to be odd. Yes, she was a good eater, and yes, she was hungry, but did he have to put it that way? As much as she saw a stupid straightforward way of the man, he held a weird nostalgia in him, which was one of the only reasons she couldn't leave the table. That and the fact that she wanted to gain something from this meeting. It was business after all.
"Have we met before?" She asked.
Looking at her, a sly smile on his face he shook his head in denial.
"We surely have." He replied with a smile. "Grand music awards. You sat in front of me last year. I even congratulated you when you won."
Laughing awkwardly. Luna nodded her head and decided not to touch in the subject again. So he was just a creepy stalker. However, something in her gut told her it wasn't quite right.
——————————————————
Meanwhile, in a silent office, suddenly a loud noise was heard. Getting up, Leonard adjusted his suit. Got his keys and prepared to leave.
"Boss?" His secretary asked barging in the room.
Looking at the man. Leonard got his brief case. Speaking with his raspy and tired voice.
"I'm going home for now. Text me my schedule for tomorrow."
"Boss?" The secretary asked once again. "Do you want me to find another computer brand?"
Lifting his brow, Leonard was confused. Phillip was a strange man as always.
"No, why? My laptop is working perfectly."
Looking at the computer behind the man, Phillip tried his best not to sigh in hopelessness.
"Boss, you didn't bring your laptop today." He cleaned his throat, pointing at the computer monitor that was slammed in the table, the fragile screen long gone. "I will get another one right away. Good night boss."
Looking at the mess he made, Leonard could only sigh. What was wrong with him these days?
———————————————————
Back at dinner, Luna stared intensely at her plate. Wagyu beef. Tender, juicy and aromatic Wagyu beef.
"Were you the one who ordered?" She asked, the fake smile no longer plastered in her face. She could bare it all, but now it was becoming scary. A cold shiver ran down her spine a couple times.
"Yes, I enjoy this restaurant a lot, and since the beef needs to be ordered in advance I ordered beforehand. If you want, you can order something else."
Putting her pleasantry face on, she gave a simple smile, digging into her food.
"No, it's nothing like that. Is just that it is a rare food for one to like." She said, careful with her words.
Putting a big piece in her mouth, she chewed as the meat melted into her mouth, releasing its juiciness. It was cooked till rare, however sealed enough not to taste the rawness.
"The only people who don't like Wagyu are the ones who have never tried it." He said.
Looking at the man she gave a quick smile shoving more food onto her mouth. Wishing for the time to pass quicker, and for it all to be over.
Her palms were sweating. Each second in that table gave her a weird level of discomfort.
"Be careful not to choke." He said, his face clearly concerned.
Looking at her food, she counted the amounts of bites she would have to eat before it was over and than there was dessert.
Why did she feel as if she were in a blind date? It was business. Strictly business. So why was it that sitting there in the silence, with him made the food in her mouth start tasting bitter?
Looking at the food, placing the fork in her mouth once again. She gave a weird smile, god, she wasn't even trying anymore. In a quick second all the acting knowledge she had, vanished.
"Are you cold? I could ask for them to turn off the AC."
Looking at her hands she realised, she was shaking.
"Oh, no, it's fine."
Feeling her purse vibrate, she thanked the gods and spirits for it.
Looking at the name, she gave a slight frown.
"Excuse me."
Taking the napkin and wiping her mouth she took the phone and went outside the room.
"Hello?" She answered. Quickly.
  Listening to the sweet voice, Leonard was dazed for a second. Why had he called her anyway? It was the middle of the night.
"Hey." He said, what was he supposed to do now? It was one in the morning, what in the hell was he doing?
"Leonard, good thing you called, can you get me out of here?"
Not questioning anything, Leonard only agreed.
"Where are you? The studio?" He asked.
Speaking quietly, Luna gave him the address quickly.
"And can you pretend we have something urgent to do. Pretend that my mother is sick or something."
"Okay, I will be there in three." Leonard said, speeding up the car.
Going back to the table. She gave her best performance.
"Is everything okay?"
Shaking her head from side to side, Luna denied it.
"I am so sorry, but my mom is at the hospital and I have to leave." She said, picking up her purse.
"Is she alright?" He asked, concern stamped in his face.
Although guilt was ticking her, the relief of getting out of there was doing the most.
"I don't know. But I am heading there right now."
"Do you want me to drive you there?"
"No need, please finish your dinner. " she said, shaking his hand. "We can discuss about the featuring later. I am deeply sorry."
Looking at Luna's back leaving. Lucas knew she was lying. However, sitting back and finishing his dinner. He could only say to himself.
"Interesting."