Dorris was never in such a hurry in the forty years of his life he served Laiv Birmingham. As a personal driver who is so obedient to the rules and also on time, Dorris always manages his life so that it is always effective and does not disappoint his master.
But tonight he was a little negligent in carrying out his duties because a few moments ago he had been tempted by one of the maids in the mansion next door who for more than a month had been trying to aggressively approach him. Even Dorris was surprised at that woman, what did she really want from him? He is a man of more than half a century who is not handsome. Even so, Dorris does have a sexy well-built body and a friendly face that has always been his charm since he was born. So maybe that's what made Anna, the forty-year-old maid, chase his love ever since she saw him in front of the house when he was washing his master's car.
Then as a result of the temptation, Dorris is now frantic as he should have arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes ago to pick up his master.
"Damn you!" Dorris keeps cursing whenever he remembers Anna who suddenly approached him in a sexy dress this afternoon while tugging at her shirt to enter her mini house behind her master's mansion. Obviously he was not a pious man who would endure a sexy demon like Anna. He is a normal man. Seeing the woman waving her hand coquettishly while lying on the bed that smelled of expensive perfume belonging to her employer, really made Dorris peel off and could not ignore the sweet temptation just like that.
"Jeez!"
Dorris patted himself on the forehead and immediately stopped the car when he felt he had just hit something. More precisely, the car he was driving seemed to have hit something and made the car sway a little in the middle of a lonely alternative road.
Dorris quickly got out of his car when he saw something, like a large black mound just lying in the middle of the road. Dorris then gulps her own saliva nervously, can't stop thinking about the bad luck that he got today because of the seductive sassy Anna.
"Miss..."
Dorris slowly shakes the shoulder of a woman who is currently lying in the middle of the road. On the right side of the woman, lies a suitcase and a clutch bag which has fallen off the owner's shoulder.
Timidly, Dorris immediately took the woman into his master's car and picked up all the belongings of the woman before other people saw his actions that had just hit a woman because he was not careful in driving. Luckily, right now the destiny was to go to the hospital to pick up his master, so Dorris thought he would as well take the woman there for examination. In his heart, Dorris continues to say that he hope that woman does not die or suffer serious injuries, because if that happens, his life will definitely end up in prison right now.
-00-
"You're late, Dorris."
The man hissed slowly when Dorris just got out of his car to pick up his master, who today has been released from the hospital.
The man in the long coat was named Laiv Birmingham, he really hated tardiness. Since the first time his life has always been orderly and precise. For him every second is very valuable because in that every second he can generate a lot of dollars from his retail business.
"I'm sorry sir," replied Dorris haltingly. There was no way he would use an excuse if he had been seduced this afternoon by the seduction of a sexy-faced maid from the mansion next door. His job will definitely be in danger of being destroyed because of that.
"What's this, Dorris?"
Dorris almost cursed himself to stone for neglecting the woman he had run into. Too nervous to think of various reasons for his master, making Dorris forget that in his master's car there is a woman who is passed out.
"I... I hit a lady sir." Dorris replied nervously. His feet were now nailed to the asphalt without being able to move. Nervousness about the anger of his master, who has been known to be fierce, makes Dorris only able to pray silently, asking God for salvation so that tonight will not be the end of his work.
"How is the condition?" The man named Laiv brushed the woman's hair softly.
When he came into contact with the woman's porcelain skin, Laiv's heart suddenly trembled and felt the warmth that had long since disappeared from his life. In the dim light of the car, he could see the peaceful silhouette of her face. The woman didn't seem to faint. She is just like a sleeping princess waiting for the prince to kiss her. With a deep frown, Laiv finally closed the car door slowly and immediately turned towards the driver who was still showing a nervous face.
"We go back to the mansion now."
"How about that woman sir?"
"We treat her at home. I guess she just fainted and didn't need any special treatment. I'll call Ricky to check her later."
Nervously, Dorris then opened the passenger door at the front and immediately invited his master to enter. It seems that God has listened to his prayers that he chanted so hard in his heart that his master wouldn't fire him today. And inwardly Dorris swore that after this he would never approach Anna Nollan again because that woman was a jinx for him.
-00-
Avery lowered her sunglasses a little and smiled wryly as she just got off the American Airlines plane that had flown from Chicago to LA. It felt like a dream to Avery. It never occurred to her that she would move from place to place to live after her mother's death. She used to think Andrew was her last stop. But ... she was wrong. That man was never even a home for her.
Without wanting to think about anything from the past, Avery immediately took her suitcase which had been lowered from the trunk of the plane while hanging a gray clutch bag in her right hand. You could say this is the simplest journey, because it doesn't carry too many items. Some of the shoes and bags from her collection were deliberately left in Rebecca's apartment for a while, and she would ask her best friend to send them to LA as soon as she got a new apartment.
LA's warm air blew Avery's wavy hair right away when the woman was on the front pavement, near the airport entrance. The atmosphere of the airport during the day looks quite busy, even almost chaotic when a group of prospective passengers grumbles because their flight schedule is delayed. For a moment Avery noticed the commotion, then immediately shrugged her shoulders and walked across the street to fill her stomach at McDonalds. Oh... Avery can't wait to eat a big cheeseburger and drink a diet soda full of ice cubes. Her throat was so dry since she was on the plane because she fell asleep on the way.
Yesterday before she left, she spent the night partying hard with Rebecca. They drank cans of beer from Rebecca's refrigerator, then ate the greasy fries they hadn't enjoyed with a sense of freedom for a long time. Then they spent the long night talking about various things. Tells how they started modeling at Michiel's agency, then how they passed their days as models.
There were so many things Avery had talked to Rebecca about yesterday until they fell asleep at three in the morning. And two hours later Avery had to get up to get ready for the airport. Even when she left earlier, Rebecca was still asleep in her room. The woman only briefly opened her heavy eyes, mumbled something like good-bye and asked Avery to be careful, and then she curled up comfortably back in her blanket. Maybe by now Rebecca had woken up from her sleep, and would soon be calling Avery, who was busy lining up in front of the McDonalds order.
"One jumbo cheese burger, one diet soda, and ice cream."
Avery was suddenly tempted by the ice cream ad that was displayed in front of the entrance door when she stepped into the restaurant. Vanilla ice cream topped with fresh summer fruits is an ice cream that McDonalds has just launched since two weeks ago.
"Thank you." Avery said softly when the order was given to her in the form of a very heavy tray package.
"Rebecca definitely won't believe it if I eat these fatty monsters," muttered Avery happily as she picked up the huge bundle of mouth-watering burgers.
As the burger bite slid down her throat, Avery couldn't help but moan the little moan that managed to escape her mouth. She's so hungry this afternoon. She had not had time to eat breakfast when she left Rebecca's apartment because it was so tight to get to the airport. Even though when she locked the door to Rebecca's apartment, she had planned to stop by the cafe around the airport to buy sandwiches and juice, but unfortunately this morning she was stuck in traffic on her way to the airport, so when she got to the airport, she didn't have time to stop by. café. She even had to run around the lobby until she entered the departure gate because of the sound of the airport staff who kept screaming, reminding American Airlines passengers to LA to immediately get on the plane. Yups, she's too late!
"Mommy mommy... can I order chocolate ice cream?"
"Of course. Because you have become a good girl, then you can eat chocolate ice cream according to Mommy promised."
Avery smiled faintly as she watched the mother and daughter pair who had just passed her table. The little girl with bangs looks cute when she is clasping her tiny white hands. It was exactly what she did when she was sulking to her mother. Long before her mother got sick, the two of them always looked together like that. The good girl, Avery, always obeys her mother's words. And those who live alone in the tenement left by their father always feel happy because they belong to each other. However, their happiness did not last long.
When Avery was seventeen years old, her mother began to suffer from acute respiratory disease because she was getting tired physically to spend her days as a laborer in a meat processing factory. According to doctors, her mother had had the disease for a long time due to a hereditary disease from her late grandfather. However, at that time, her mother's illness was worsened by her body, which was often exhausted because she forced her body to work too hard. Not without reason Avery's mother was like that. She wants to see her only daughter happy with all the facilities she provides. Avery's mother really felt bad about Avery for not being able to give her daughter a proper life.
Luckily Avery is a smart girl, so she was able to get a scholarship from an elite school with a very good reputation in her city. However, even though Avery had managed to get the best school in her city, the girl often received unpleasant treatment from her wealthy friends. Her mother, who didn't want Avery to be looked down on by her friends, always forced herself to work hard so that she could give Avery a lot of pocket money like her friends.
Once upon a time, Avery found her mother working a full eighteen hours for a month so that she could raise money to buy expensive clothes that Avery would wear to attend her annual school party. That practically made Avery feel guilty for her mother, because from that day on, her mother's illness had been eating away at her mother's frail body viciously.
At its peak in December, her mother collapsed at work and had to be rushed to the hospital. But when she arrived at the hospital, Avery's mother had died on the way because of the shortness of breath she had suffered. After that Avery lived alone with the allowance she got from her mother's workplace. At that time Avery had to fend for herself, at least until she graduated from senior high school so that she could find her own job and pay for her difficult life.
Avery took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as the tightness started to invade her fragile heart. If she think about it, she was always alone. She fights her sadness after her mother dies in a big city that is very foreign to her. Chicago was a strange city to her, at first, because she started everything herself there. She only got a little mercy from Mrs. Merry, Michiel's late mother who was so kind. The woman knew that her son of a bitch had ruined a pathetic innocent girl like her. So that in order to make up for all the lecherous deeds that her son had done, Mrs. Merry gave her more than enough money to live and continue her modeling education in Chicago.
-00-
During the one hour at McDonalds, Avery finally felt full and she was ready to go on the next trip. With her suitcase dragging in her right hand, Avery walked along the long sidewalk on Century Boulevard which was so busy this afternoon. With her hair slightly disheveled, Avery looked like a beautiful homeless woman who stood out in her fashionable clothes. Several naughty car drivers opened their windows several times to tease Avery, who continued to put on an indifferent face. This was the risk if she chose to walk, Avery thought. She will definitely become a target for casual road users. But the first day she was in LA she wanted to spend it on foot. Even for this, she has prepared her best sneakers so that her feet won't hurt during this strange aimless journey.
"Hi sweetie, you want a ride?"
"No, thank you." Avery said sarcastically at a sexy black man who looked like a young executive. But she swear by whatever, Avery didn't fall for him at all. She is a young widow who has been accustomed to being surrounded by handsome, sexy men at work. So such temptations will not shake her faith in the slightest.
Suddenly Avery felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket. Avery pulled over to a nearby cafe to pick up a call from Rebecca.
"Ave!"
Rebecca's loud and horrendous scream became an annoying greeting for Avery who had just pressed the green button from his smartphone screen.
"Geez, Bec, you startled the flies around me with your screaming sound. Lemonade, please." Avery said to a waiter who almost gave her a menu. After the waitress nodded, Avery quickly joined forces with Rebecca, who had just left to go to LA six hours ago.
"How was your trip, Ave? Is it fun?"
"I have no idea. So far so much fun. I haven't toured too much LA city yet, since I just got here. Yeah, actually an hour ago. After that I ate a burger at McDonalds, and decided to burn fat by taking a walk around Century Boulevard," told Avery cheerfully over the phone.
Even though it was hot summer in LA, Avery didn't seem to be feeling hot at all. Her flowery heart had excited Avery ever since she walked out of the airport doors a few hours ago.
"Don't forget the sunblock, you'll be scorched in the fierce LA sun," warned Rebecca attentively.
"You take it easy, Becca. I've finished a bottle of sunblock that I took from your bedroom drawer before I left for the airport." Avery laughs out loud at the thought of Rebecca's frantic face who must be rummaging through her desk drawer for the expensive limited edition sunblock that she painstakingly obtained.
"Damn you, Ave! I even had to seduce Austin to get the limited edition sunblock." Rebecca grumbled irritably. But the woman could do nothing for something that was missing from her bedroom drawer.
"Oops, I'm sorry dear. I'm out of sunblock, and a few days ago I saw that limited edition sunblock in your desk drawer," said Avery casually.
She didn't feel guilty at all because she had taken the sunblock that Rebecca had just used. The woman is too fond of the sunblock she got her hard-earned date from her date Austin one month ago, before summer gets under way.
"I'll collect it when I go on vacation to LA."
"Of course. I would love to welcome you here. By the way, I haven't got an apartment here yet, can you recommend it for me."
"I don't know any good apartments in LA. I've never rented an apartment there. You better search through online apartment provider services. There you will definitely get a clearer and more valid information." Rebecca's advice was wise. The woman on the other side is rolling on the crumpled bed. Only ten minutes ago she woke up. Then she immediately hopped downstairs to get her cell phone and called Avery as fast as she could.
"What about the apartment on La Pietra Place?"
"It sounds good. What scenery will you get every morning?"
"Big LA streets jam."
"Yes, good. That is an apartment suitable for a young widow like you, Ave," joked Rebecca, chuckling hard on the other side. "You will find it easier to find sexy executives who you can observe every day from your apartment window. I support you to live there!" said Rebecca excitedly.
"Hmm... I think I also like the interior. Maybe tomorrow I'll just contact the marketing because tonight I plan to stay at the hotel."
"Geez, you're screwing up your own life, Ave." Rebecca crumpled, fiddling with the hem of the blanket that had spread beneath her body.
"It's not cool if I rent an apartment right away and look for a new job here. You know, I was in the mood for a vacation. Maybe tonight I'll go to a nearby club to wash my eyes."
Avery was excited about the plans she had put together. Although all of that had just occurred to her, she felt that everything would go according to what she expected.
"It's up to you, Ave. As long as you are happy, I will be happy for you too."
"Oh... thanks my bestie. I hope that someday we can spend time together here for fun."
"Maybe in two months. My schedule this month until next month is still busy," complained Rebecca who yesterday just checked the schedule sent by Leander via her email. The absence of a leader, in fact, does not leave models like Rebecca free. She still has a busy schedule from the invisible boss who is still a mystery.
"Okay. I will always be patient to wait for you. Then I'll hang up the phone first because I need to use the toilet now."
"You this! All right, see you later, Ave. Contact me right away when you have an amazing date."
"Hoam... see you later." Avery replied with a yawn.
She then put her cellphone into her bag and started to take a sip of lemonade whose ice had completely melted. Avery thought, she'd totally lost track of time talking to Rebecca.
-00-
At eight o'clock local time, Avery spent her time visiting a club that looked quite busy according to her. When she passed The Moon Club, the club was striking with the colorful lights that were festively installed in front of the club. With great curiosity, Avery finally decided to enter the club which was located near that quiet alternative road. You could say Avery is desperate to be a backpacker who is not a backpacker because she is now dragging a suitcase, not carrying a backpack. But since earlier she had just traveled around LA instinctively, without thinking about the routes she would take. And to get to this interesting place for Avery, she had to use a taxi whose driver was not a friendly one who was nice to chat with.
"Give me the best drink you have." Avery said to the bartender as she sat on a high stool at the bar.
"We have sparkling vodka for a sweet lady like you."
"Okay. Make anything for me— hoam..." She yawn once again.
Now Avery felt completely sleepy and threw herself off for not booking a hotel. Her heavy head immediately fell without a fight on the bar table as she waited for the bartender to bring her drink. In the sleep that was eating away, Avery felt as if he was being lulled by the loud music of this club. For her, the stomping music is no different from a lullaby when sleep has completely taken over her body.
"Your drink, miss."
"Thank you."
Avery straightened up quickly and reached for the tall glass to take a sip of his bright pink drink. She don't know what the bartender put in there, Avery didn't care what was in her drink. What was clear was that she just wanted to get out of the club and find a nearby, comfortable hotel. This sleepiness has almost sixty percent over her consciousness. If she was careless and didn't leave the club right away, she was worried that a man would transport her without permission to be the warmer on his bed. So before that bad thing happened, Avery took a quick sip of her drink and left the fifty dollars on the table.
"Are you sure you will go now, miss?"
"Very sure." Avery replied with a slight sway.
The drowsiness and effects of alcohol started to affect Avery. That immediately made Avery panic behind her flat face because now she felt her world starting to spin. She kept walking through the crowd of club visitors while clutching her clutch bag containing all her valuables. And every now and then the suitcase she was dragging nudged the people who passed her causing a sound of pain that was so loud around Avery. But she didn't care about that at all. What she wanted now was to hurry away from the crowded place to find the nearest hotel and rest.
"Oh my, there's a car," murmured Avery who was completely dizzy from the influence of alcohol.
From a distance she could hear the roar of a car engine loudly and saw the bright light from the headlights of the car slowly starting to dazzle her eyes. But because she was too dizzy, Avery felt that her footsteps were getting heavier. Not to mention that her black suitcase weighed heavily on her right hand, making Avery's movements even more unrestrained until finally Avery chose to close her eyes and... fell. She fell asleep in the middle of the road without knowing what would happen to her after this.