Something important? Of course it was something important. Itika wouldn't have called if things weren't IMPORTANT. She wanted to say that but held back. Now wasn't the time for facts. Except for one. They needed to get there shit together and find a way to work with each other.
Itika took a hard look at the text, then typed 'It kind of is. You were right. If we have to work together, we should get to know each other first.'
The feeling of reluctance crept her heart. She didn't want to text him let alone spend time with him. It had all begun when he shared his idea of sleeping on the first date with her. Itika had been offended so much that after a point she started feeling stupid. She couldn't blame Shawn for being honest with her. After all, she had asked him his plans. It wasn't a big deal for him to sleep with a girl on the first date, she knew. But, did she look like someone to put out on the first date? He assumed she was and that had hit a nerve. No matter how open and experienced he was at dating, Shawn hadn't bothered to ask her whether she was even single before he had asked her out. He had assumed she was available.
The tiny memory of their office confrontation was bitter. Itika hated how much she was offended. Was she a borderline prude? Was there anything wrong with that?
She looked up from her hoodie to see any other tables had opened up. None. She caught sight of a potbellied middle-aged man on the table in front who had been sitting with his chair pointed in her direction. It wasn't clear if he had done that on purpose. The man with him was sitting normally but he too had now peeped a glance at her. Instant insecurity hit her as she noticed the way the fatter one was eyeing her breasts between her undone jacket fronts.
The man looked up for a second and smiled at her. He had a misshapen French beard. The other one was clean shaven and had a leaner, athletic body for his age. The crisp, white shirt and brown pants were giving him an edgy look. Itika saw him also flashing a short smile at her, more out of embarrassment it seemed. She could guess why. The blatancy that his partner had shown ought to bring shame to others' eyes. Right now, what she was more interested in was what these men were talking about and why they had been looking at her.
He sure takes his sweet time replying to messages…
Both the men were now up from their seats and headed her way. Their towering height was intimidating her as they got closer. What was going on?
'Yes?' Itika didn't feel the need to wait and let them talk. Their exuding prowess had knee jerked her response. They had scared her but, they were in public - as true in its sense as it could get in there – and she was safe.
'Hello Miss, We'd like to have a word with you if you don't mind.' The leaner one said.
Her head scanned the room from left to right, hoping for somebody to signal her who they were and what could they be upto. Silly of her, she thought. It was Allura. Nothing bad was going to happen. Then why was the fat man daggering her chest through his drunken eyes?
'Okay.' The fifty people around the room had no crap to give for her. 'Please, have a seat.' Itika faced only the one with the white shirt. The other one had decided to rest his sight on her face for the moment.
'We run an acting agency, and my friend here, Mr. Shabdal Iglesias wanted me to ask you if you'd like to audition for a film he is producing.' The man waited for a reply from her, but Itika wanted him to explain more.
'… We think your face and skin tone are perfect for this Asian Superhero that we'd long been looking a cast for… Xiah, The Lava Queen… You can read all about her on the internet. I had bought the rights three years ago, and would like the movie to hit the floors by next year.' The bigger one said this time in a rough Mexican accent.
His gaze dropped, again.
'Umm… can you please be careful of where you look?' She had to say it. She didn't know who the fuck they were. Her patience was overrun by his glares. The leaner one took notice of her tightening fists and countered immediately before Shabdal could say anything in his defense.
'Huh!' He grunted and flared up from his chair to leave. Christian-as he had introduced himself-also followed his partner with an apologetic nod.
'I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. He's a little light headed today.' He put a hand in the right pocket of his pant. 'Please, here's our cards. Would love to hear from you. The audition is next month. Feel free to call ME anytime.'
In the last minute of tension, Itika didn't realize she was shaking. Her heart was pounding alarmingly hard. It was the offense over pouring. A cough released from fullness in her chest.
Why do I have to suffer for someone else's profanity? These little things took home in her head. She was a proud woman. She had to be vocal if she wanted the world around her to accept that.
How weird was she…
Uptight, inflexible, boring, always with her guard up, in short every non-fun trait she could think of in a twenty three year old girl. Staying alone in America was her step toward 'letting go' wasn't it? It was a new habit she had developed. Doubting herself every fucking time she got protective of her image. The defensive, feminist side in her had started to annoy her. She could only imagine how much it had annoyed her ex. Ex... She sucked in a mouth full of air and forced it out. Did she even have an Ex?
God! I think too much!
As true as gospel it was, Itika was willing to change. She had forgotten to live, to breathe, and to think about herself for once. She had filtered her life from bad influences but that had come at a cost, she had become a loner. She couldn't enjoy anyone's company. She smelled harm in everybody else-not physical though. But her emotions were her own. She didn't part with them.
***
Soon after receiving Shawn's text, she left the Café and asked around for Conference room J in the tenth floor. The floor had maze like alleyways, and after walking around for five minutes, she thought to go back to the reception and ask for an escort before she bumped into Shawn, who had changed out of the cargos but had chosen to keep wearing the Shirt from the shoot, apparently.
A worn out smile appeared on his radiant face when he looked at her-a mix of annoyance and tiredness-that could hurt you if you paid heed to it.
He stretched out his left hand and gestured the door behind him. 'This way.'
He broke eye contact soon after.