Aphrodite (RDJ / Scar Jo)

Apathetic

Third Person’s POV

“You did what?!”

Robert studied Belle’s reaction. How the hell was he supposed to get to her?

To make her believe him?

“Will you calm down?” he softly asked “I simply…”

“you simply bought me!”

He looked at her “I… I’m not going to ask for…”

“What exactly are you up to?!” she asked again, trying not to be so loud.

She was panicked Fritz would notice them arguing. He would want to know every detail.

Robert approached her “This is a huge business on ladies traffic and forced prostitution…”

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into”

“I’m trying to help, damn it”

“I told you to leave”

“Me leaving would be exactly the same as pretend this never happen. Pretend I never met you and pretend I never slept with anyone who’s been forced to have sexual activities.” He looked at her, seriously

Cate walked around the room, still suspicious. Even if he was, indeed, trying to help. There was no way she would accept it and put his family in risk.

“Worry not, I won’t hold a grudge against you”

“Ugh! Don’t ever dare to call me stubborn” He crossed his arms and sat down irritated.

“The time I used to believe in good people is gone for a good while.” Cate whispered, after a long moment of silence

“The time you ceased to believe in them was the time you gave up.” Robert replied, sitting on a big chair.

Belle walked to offer him a cup of champagne.

He glanced at the bottle.

It was in times like those, when he was stressed or irritated, that he had the huge temptation to grab a bottle and drink it all in a sip.

You’ve made a decision. What would Ash say?

You won’t let her down.

You’ll do exactly as she would want you to.

But… would she want you to grow an attraction for a forced prostitute?

The man took his hand to his face and hardly rubbed it. He then realized he heard no word Belle had spoken.

Neither did he accept the cup.

“Sorry…” he finally took the cup and glanced up at her “you were saying?”

She frowned, suspiciously staring back at him “I said Fritz might come anytime”

“So… he doesn’t allow you to share conversation with your… clients”

She sat in front of him, saying no word.

“Alright… I’ll keep guessing.” Robert spoke “Hmm…how in hell hasn’t your family noticed your absence yet?”

Belle frowned, trying her best not to let herself be affected by his words. Which was useless.

That man had that talent to get into her nerves.

Particularly because his assumptions were always too insightful.

But if he really wanted to play that way, she could use the same card to strike back