''Yes, but they couldn't have gotten here so quick?' Natalie answered and they looked at each other and exclaimed together.
''Alice!!!''
Natalie rushed to the door and opened it. Alice pushed her way into the apartment in full disguise. She was wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants with a mask covering her face.
''Hi, big sis, hi Kim!'' Alice snatched the glass of water from Xia and sipped.
''Hi to you too!'' Xia looked at her outfit and asked, ''and what are you wearing?''
''Disguise. I needed to avoid being seen by anyone. I even took a taxi here.'' Alice took off the black hoodie, revealing a red skinny blouse as she sat down.
''Isn't this your disguise too appalling? Didn't the taxi driver find your scary?'' Xia asked and laughed.
''Not at all. I gave him double the price for bringing me here.'' Alice exhaled exhausted.
''But, who told you I was returning today?''
''I have my source. A very reliable source.''
''Whoa, I almost forgot one of the scariest people in this world are celebrities.''
''What did you bring me?''
''I bet you came to take whatever she brought away.'' Natalie commented and handed a glass of water to Alice.
''That's what big sisters are for. Besides, I am a celebrity, I need to look that part. Xia always brings the latest souvenirs.'' Alice finished drinking the water and smiled.
''Nat told me you're in the middle of shooting a drama? How did you get time to come here?'' Xia asked.
''I ran away from set!'' Alice replied nonchalantly.
Natalie and Xia: "What?"
''You ran away while you were still shooting? Isn't that being unprofessional?'' Xia asked.
''I couldn't care less about it.'' Alice smirked mischievously.
''Alice, you didn't only ran away, but you pulled a fast one on someone, right?'' Natalie asked and Alice laughed.
Knowing her little sister, Natalie knew Alice must have done something.
''You still know me best. Guess who I pulled a fast one on?''
''Who?'' Xia asked curiously.
''Mimi Song'' Alice answered and clapped hands excitedly adding. ''She must be going crazy right about now!''
Natalie sighed and looked at them as they chatted.
''What exactly did you do to her?'' Xia continued to ask.
''Well, not much. I just changed some words in her script saying the director told me to do it and she believed me."
''Alice, stop pulling pranks. You're not a kid anymore.'' Natalie said seriously before getting up to go to the fridge again. She removed three cans of beer and brought it back to the hall.
''I get off of pranks. Besides, this is Mimi we are talking about. Don't even look at me like that because I don't plan on stopping. Since the day she tried to harm me by tampering with my van, is her word against mine!'' Alice said and picked one of the can beer to open.
''She tried to harm you?'' Xia asked.
Natalie hadn't told her anything about the incident.
''Yes, that idiot actually paid someone to loosen my van breaks and it landed me in the ER. Why should I let her off?''
''Wow, that bitch. You did well'' Xia praised Alice. "You have my permission to mess with her. Big sis here is now the editor for Today's Storyline. I got your back."
''Feels so good to finally have you back.'' Alice added. She frowned when her phone started buzzing.
''Whose calling?'' Xia asked.
''Niania, my assistant!'' Alice took the phone and answered the call. ''Hello, Niania, what's wrong?''
''Alice, what did you do to Mimi Song? She is going crazy after being criticised by the director.'' Niania asked the moment the call connected.
''Oh, I did nothing. Listen, tell anyone looking for me that I went back to the hotel to rest and will be back tomorrow."
"Alright, but where are you?"
"I went back to the district for something.''
''Alright. Take care then.''
''Bye!'' Alice hung up and looked at the two ladies. ''Can I sleep here?''
''Yes!'' Xia replied and the doorbell rang.
''That must be the delivery.'' Natalie murmured and stood up to go to the door.
''You ordered takeaway?'' Alice asked when Natalie returned from taking the delivery.
''Yes!''
''Is it enough for us or do I have to order for another set? I'm hungry!''
''It's enough for three mouths. Go and wash up, you two. I will get the food ready by the time you come out.'' Natalie told them.
''Okay. Let's go, Alice.'' Xia stood up and yawned.
.....
B town.
Black horse hotel [Location of filming]
Niania clenched the phone tightly as she walked back to the suite she shared with Alice. She saw Mimi walking hurriedly towards her and turned to go back when the latter stopped her.
''Stop there!!!'' Mimi shouted as she walked towards Niania. She stopped in front of her and asked. ''Where is Alice Jun? I know that you are aware of where she is.''
''I don't know where she is. She was sleeping when I left the room.''
''I saw you speaking on phone, that was her, right?''
''No, that was the company.'' Niania lied.
''Really?'' Mimi smirked as she stepped forward, driving Niania to a corner. ''Then, I guess I would have to vent my anger out on you. If you don't tell me where the hell Alice Jun is.''
Niania lowered her gaze, frightened by Mimi. ''I really don't know where Alice is.''
''Niania''
A familiar voice called and they both turned towards it. Mikael walked to them and pulled Niania to his side and looked at Mimi.
Mimi brushed her hair backwards and flashed a smile saying. ''Mr. Sun, I didn't know that you were still around.'' She looked at him lustfully.
Mikael ignored her completely and asked Niania. ''Where is your Miss?''
''Huh?'' Niania flushed and answered. ''She… she…'' She looked at Mimi before saying. ''I don't know where she is, sir!''
''Alright, go back to your hotel room and let her know I'm looking for her as soon as you see her.''
''Yes, sir!'' Niania hurriedly left the hallway, grateful for being saved.
''Mikael, I can call you that, right? You and I have a lot of scenes together. Should we get a drink at the hotel bar and chat more about the various emotions we need to pull off for our scenes?'' Mimi smiled as she asked.
''I'm busy. Let's meet on set tomorrow. The name is Mr. Sun and not Mikael, Miss Song!'' Mikael answered and walked away towards the elevator.
Mimi's face turned ashen as she watched him go. She wanted to scream but stopped herself when she saw some of the staff of the production team getting out of the elevator at her. She frowned and turned, going back to her room.
''This is all that bitch's fault. I can't believe she already seduced him?'' She muttered angrily.
…..
Next day.
Alice yawned as she walked towards the gardens with Niania. Today's shooting was taking place in the garden.
''Coffee!'' Alice said and Niania handed her the coffee and started nagging her.
''I told you not to drink, Miss, can you please listen to me? Where did you go yesterday?''
''Again with the nagging'' Alice turned placed her hands on Niania's shoulder saying. ''Don't try to know everything I do. I'm afraid your pretty simple mind can't comprehend it. Tell me, what happened last night?'' She turned to walk away as she asked, ''did anyone try to bully you while I was gone?''
''Not really'' Niania scratched her hair.
''Not really? That means someone did try to bully you. Who dared to bully you?''
Niania placed the armrest on the chair for Alice to sit..
''Look who decided to grace us with her presence after disappearing yesterday?'' Mimi walked to them with her two assistants.
Alice looked at them and smiled saying. ''Oh, is Mimi Song?'' Her eyes were clear and held a touch of innocence in them which infuriated Mimi each time.
''You messed up my script yesterday. Do you know how much I got criticised by director Zou because of you?'' Mimi asked furiously.
''Mimi Song, when did I do that? I have no idea what you're talking about. Do you go about accusing people so early like this or is it just me?'' Alice's voice softened and her eyes turned watery. Anyone watching them would think she was being bullied.
''You…'' Mimi clenched her fists tightly as she glared at Alice. She wished she could tear the former into pieces.
Alice stood up and stepped closer to Mimi Song and whispered into her ears. ''People are watching, Mimi. You wouldn't want someone secretly uploading a video of you sabotaging me, right?'' Alice smiled and returned back to her seat.
''You… I will deal with you later. Let's go'' Mimi turned to go and saw Mikael watching them from a distance. She immediately tucked her hair behind her and smiled.
Alice felt disgusted just watching her trying so hard to get into Mikael's good books. She looked at the little coffee left in her coffee cup and smirked.