A number of vehicles are seen arriving at a black-tie event. Distinguished guests alight from their vehicles hand the keys to valets who pack them. Inside what looks like a ballroom is filled with excited individuals networking and exchanging pleasantries.
HEAD arrives first at the party with his wife both dressed for the occasion. BELLE arrives next dressed in a black and gold gown looking stunning.
AEGIS arrives shortly after and scopes the room looking around for her. Eventually he spots her at the snack table trying out everything and making faces based on the taste of the items she tastes.
She tastes the first item smiles and nods content; tastes the second item ,an unsure expression on her face; then the third item she flinches like someone who has eaten a lemon ...she goes back to the first item and fills a saucer with it.
AEGIS chuckles to himself...just as ALLURE whispers in his ears startling him a bit.
ALLURE
"Out of the office she looks so harmless…"
AEGIS chuckles again
...ALLURE smiles and pats his back as he proceeds to meet AUGER and HEAD who are having a conversation by the bar.
AEGIS walks toward BELLE.
On reaching the snack table...he asks her ...
"which one should I try?"
BELLE points toward the third item he smiles and picks the first item instead. They then walk toward the boys...
AEGIS whispers into her ears.
"you look breathtakingly beautiful..."
BELLE whispers back
"your fly is open"
He looks down fast only to realize it was a lie...he sighs as she smiles. They join the rest of the guys and exchange pleasantries
The party goes on smoothly with guests dancing and enjoying the food...
BELLE is having a chatty conversation with JOHN and the client who invited the team to the party.
Just then ALLURE comes and whispers something in JOHN'S ears and JOHN grabs BELLE'S hand and excuses himself from the client as they rush out urgently.
BELLE
"Do we have a situation...already?"
JOHN
"More of an internal situation"
ALLURE
"AEGIS is about to kill someone…"
BELLE Lifts her dress and rushes outside faster she climbs down the stairs hurriedly
Meanwhile AUGER and HEAD are trying to separate AEGIS and BOSS. They manage to restrain AEGIS but he is adamant still going at it he overpowers them breaks free and continues to fight with his victim....
BELLE runs straight towards him...just as AUGER and HEAD have managed to separate him from BOSS again but he still resists and tries to continue the fight.
She grabs his arm and pulls him away for the other boys...he instinctively throws a punch at her...she ducks...he then realizes it is her….pauses...She drags him further away
His victim is helped up by one of his guards and they leave the scene .
BELLE
"Am calling in one of my lives...!"
He looks at her furious
BELLE
"Lets leave the party...Now…Please"
AEGIS angry
"No..."
BELLE
"It doesn't work like that...I have called it now.."
AEGIS
"But he will get away..."
BELLE
"AEGIS...if only you were a patient man...today I had a gift for you.."
AEGIS still angry not understanding the relevance of the conversation
BELLE
"Lets go...she tries to drag him...you know there's no way am letting you go by yourself just incase you chase BOSS...am going with you...lets go"
AUGER looking over at AEGIS and BELLE
"Why does it look like he is being threatened over there"
HEAD
"I can't tell but something is up"
Suddenly a rider comes and hands them each envelopes distracting them from the situation
ALLURE
"What's this? as he tries to open his"
HEAD
"Wait...we should take them for analysis maybe..."
JOHN
"Those are gifts...from the CROW...open them after we are done with the party"
AUGER a bit concerned
"Where did she go with him? Shouldn't we be following them? is he safe..."
JOHN
"am sure she will be fine..."
ALLURE
"she?!!we are worried about him…"
JOHN Chuckles
"She is not as scary as she looks"
HEAD
"Exactly…! that is why we are afraid…she is way scarier than she looks…
JOHN
"He will be fine, lets get back in before the client thinks we are neglecting our duties"
The boys return to their posts reluctantly. AEGIS and BELLE disappear to the parking lot. He starts his car and they drive away.
On the way home AEGIS keeps looking at her BELLE doesn't say a word she just looks ahead with a flat expression on her face.
The keypad rings and they enter the house. AEGIS turns on the light.
AEGIS
"Now...tell..m…"
out of nowhere BELLE punches him on the chest angrily
AEGIS In pain
"…What is wrong with you!…"
BELLE in a flat tone
"Every moment it's like you have a death wish…Always fighting…If you end up in jail
how will you get justice for those kids…and yourself"
He tries to respond...
BELLE interrupts with a threat
"I will aim for that mouth next...now that he actually knows who you are, he can directly come for you...but not only you, it will not take long before he figures out your connection to SCARED BOY and my sister and my dad and uncles and me!"
AEGIS realizes his mistake
"What do we do..."
BELLE scoffs...
"Its a good thing I already planned for this...what time is it?
She looks at her phone
"Turn on the TV"
AEGIS is beyond confused but he complies
There on the news the BOSS'S ring had been unmasked and he was arrested together with his accomplices
AEGIS relieved and surprised
"Thank..."
BELLE
"No...add it to the list..."
Just then SCARED BOY calls AEGIS in celebration. They chat excitedly and he hangs up the phone and looks at her with a grateful look.
She moves closer to him and starts to inspect his face tilting his head left and right ...looking for injuries
BELLE
"Take off your shirt "
He looks at her with questioning eyes
BELLE
"Would you prefer I, do it?..."
AEGIS
"What gift you have…even such a statement ..that should sound romantic comes from your mouth sounding like a threat…"
He takes a few steps back and starts to unbutton and remove his shirt she moves closer…he moves back…she sighs and gives him a "really " look…she moves closer and starts to inspect the spot blackened by a punch on his ribs.
BELLE
"Does this hurt?" she asks gently,
"Yes…"he responds softly…
She punches him on the same spot...AEGIS bows in pain
AEGIS Exhaling in pain
"What was that for?..."
ignoring his pain, she asks...
"where is your medicine cabinet?...cry baby ...just an hour ago...you were belligerent ...I was just checking if you had broken ribs...your ribs are fine"
He points painfully toward the bathroom where she retrieves the first aid kit and starts to tend to his injuries.
BELLE
"anywhere else?..."
She turns him around then turns him back front...before AEGIS can respond she unbuckles his belt
He moves further in protest.
AEGIS
"What's with you today?"
He buckles his pants
BELLE scoffs
"Am not curious …You know I have undressed you more than once…and...sigh"
AEGIS Covering his chest with his hands like someone who is violated
BELLE
"I just want to check for injuries…either way if I take you to the infirmary doctor Bruce will have to drop those pants…would you prefer he does it?"
AEGIS
"Am sure I have no injuries below my waist"
BELLE
Okay then…I will turn around and you can check for me…if there is a part I need to tend to you can tell me to check."
Muttering to herself as she turns around
'You didn't seem to mind the other times I did it"
AEGIS
"What…!?"
BELLE
"Nothing…"
AEGIS removes his pants and stands in his boxers. He inspects a spot on his thighs and winces in pain…BELLE turns as if by reflex…
BELLE
"What is it…"
moving closer
AEGIS Scrambling to cover himself
"I did not tell you to turn back"
BELLE turning back to face the door
"You sounded like you were in pain…I had to turn and check…Can I turn to look at you now?"
AEGIS
"No!"
BELLE
"But I have already seen…"
AEGIS Scoffs
"Yes, and you didn't even flinch…"
BELLE scoffs then proceeds to turn
"…Just assume you were at the doctor's office"
AEGIS too stunned to speak but tries to maintain his composure…she again checks all around…
Back at the party JOHN walks back into the party after having made a call
AUGER rushing towards him like an eager child
"Did you call him? Is he fine?"
JOHN Patting his back
"…He is…what is the worst she can do to him"
AUGER looks at him not convinced
"Can we at least open the gifts she sent us?"
JOHN
"Are you sure its something you want to do now?...lets finish our assignment then you can open them..."
AUGER
"Why do I feel like you know what's inside?"
JOHN
"Of course I know what's inside and I would advise you to wait"
AUGER pouts and walks back to his spot.
Back at AEGIS'S house
BELLE
" does this hurt?"
again, she asks softly touching a spot on his thigh.
AEGIS responds urgently
"No!"
she slaps the spot AEGIS winces in pain
AEGIS
"What was that for? to check if my Femur is broken?"
BELLE
"No…that is for the fist you swung at me at the party"
AEGIS
"But I did not hit you"
BELLE
"Yes... because of my fast reflexes…but just imagining my face would have been swollen now…
makes me want to get back a you"
she then dresses the small wound on his thigh and stands back up
BELLE
"I think we are almost done...let me do one last che..."
AEGIS interrupting her
" am cold!..."
BELLE looking down
"I don't think so"
AEGIS
"What…what is wrong with you...woman...! "
he retorts covering his groin area with his hands...
BELLE then returns the medicine to the cabinet finds AEGIS still standing in his boxers in the living room…
BELLE
"Are you giving me a show? I thought you were shy, why are you not dressed yet. Am famished…"
she heads to his kitchen as he quickly heads to his room. Suddenly she hears a thud and a loud cry from AEGIS
BELLE With a slice of scone in her mouth rushes to his room… into the shower where he has fallen
BELLE
"What is it…"
AEGIS
"No..nooo!..don't come in!"
BELLE Stepping back out
"I swear I didn't see anything…"
AEGIS tries to get up in pain
BELLE
"Today is just not your day…can I come and check? shower falls are fatal…"
She grabs a towel and throws it at AEGIS while looking away…
AEGIS covers his waist downwards…BELLE Walks in and tries to turn off the tap but it does not budge
BELLE
"You broke the tap! "she tries to avoid the water but to no avail she gets drenched in water as well.
AEGIS tries to stand up…BELLE warns him not to move in case he broke something.
AEGIS stays put as BELLE inspects him in the splashing water, he looks at her fondly
BELLE
"Did you hit your head"
He doesn't respond as he is taken by her in the splashing water
BELLE
"Did you lose your speech?.."
she looks at his eyes she looks away nervously…he holds her waist and gently leans in for a kiss…
He kisses her deeply his hands hands tightening around her body…
BELLE pulls away from him
BELLE
"Your priorities are way off…you have not even confirmed if you can walk … try standing up…"
She gets off him and leaves the bathroom swiftly she catches herself fanning herself
'why am I doing this I'm drenched right now' she looks at herself
AEGIS walks out of the bathroom and starts to dry her hair…BELLE stands meek and quiet
He leans forward and kisses her deeply, unzips her dress and it falls to the ground. As the water runs on in the bathroom like rain in the background.
The next morning in AEGIS'S apartment, clothes scattered on the floor ,BELLE sleeping peacefully as AEGIS stares at her face longingly…
BELLE wakes up to catch him staring at her...she quickly pulls the sheets on top of her head, he pulls them back down
BELLE tries to get off bed from the other side pulling the sheets but he lies on them and refuses to budge, she falls back into bed
BELLE
"What are you doing?"
AEGIS
"Where are you going, I need you to stay in here with me just a little longer"
BELLE
"You need to find a plumber to fix that tap…you water bill this month is going to be insane…"
AEGIS smiles and gets out of bed
He finds her the pajamas she dressed him with while he was at her house he hands them over to her and smiles
AEGIS
"You see, its good I kept these? "She scoffs and puts them on…then heads to the kitchen.
He hugs her from behind BELLE trying to push him off…
"What are you doing"
AEGIS
"Nothing am just standing behind you…" BELLE turns to face him…
He exhales…
BELLE
"Just so you know nothing is going on here…we are not dating…or anything like that"
AEGIS
"So, what was that last night?"
She turns back and smiles to herself
" As you said before …The mood was just right it would have been a waste…"
He scoffs
Just then the doorbell rings AEGIS checks the intercom and rushes back to BELLE
"AUGER is by the door…am going to let him in"
BELLE biting her teeth and whispering while gripping his arm painfully…
"What do you mean let him in…are you out of your mind?"
AEGIS
"What are you afraid of we are not kids…"
BELLE Sighing…
Doorbell again…
"I am your boss…"
AEGIS
"Then I should be the one embarrassed not you...Wait are you embarrassed of us?!"
BELLE whispering
"Us! There is no us"
AEGIS Smiles…BELLE rushes and picks her shoes from the door step and gives him a warning
BELLE
"If you tell him am here…
Doorbell again…
"What's up with him is something eating him out there!…Don't tell him am here…!"
She rushes to the bedroom picks her clothes from the floor and hides in his closet.
to herself
'never in my life...she hits her head...where were you last night?...you should have directed me to leave right away...look at where we are now'
AEGIS opens the door and lets AUGER in
AUGER Breathing a sigh of relief
"Man I thought something happened to you…"
AEGIS amused
"Why?"
AUGER
"You didn't pick your calls at all after you left and neither did she...but she gave us gifts yesterday do you think she is leaving? what did she give you..."
He gets comfortable
AEGIS
"I was just about to go and take my gift please leave"
AUGER
"Leave? I just got here..."
AEGIS
"She gave me a deadline, I will be in big trouble if you don't leave soon..."
AUGER
"Okay okay...you re not even curious what gift she gave the rest of us"
AEGIS
"You will all tell me about it when I come to the office, I will also tell you about mine...okay now leave"
AUGER
"Okay okay..."
he rises up to leave he pauses
"why is your shower running…do you have someone over? is that why you want me to leave..."
AUGER tries to walk to AEGIS'S bedroom…
AEGIS blocks him…speaks nervously
"noo...I was just about to take a shower and if I actually had someone over wouldn't it be weird for you to walk in on her in my bedroom?"
AUGER walking back towards the door
"I have checked you are fine. I will be leaving then...and also know I want to know about the pajama guy issue"
AEGIS forcing him out
"okay okay"
AEGIS closes the door and BELLE sighs in relief as she leaves his closet.
She heads back to the kitchen and finishes making her food.
Just as she has taken her first bite, the doorbell rings again
BELLE
"AGAIN!"
She runs and jumps into the closet as AEGIS amused opens the door for the plumber.
BELLE hears voices approaching the bedroom and panics…the plumber enters the bathroom and BELLE tries to sneak out of the closet just in time for the plumber to catch her and she tries to explain herself in incomprehensible speech. She takes a hoodie from his clothes and hurriedly bids him goodbye.
AEGIS blocking his door
"Can't you stay until the plumber is done?"
BELLE
"Not a chance!…"
she moves to the side unlocks the door and leaves he follows her
BELLE
"Where are you going"
AEGIS
"I'm taking you home..."
BELLE still hurrying
"I will not object to that..."she rushes down and AEGIS follows her amused. He tries to hold her hand she fold them on her chest...
Come Monday, BELLE is sitting behind her desk working on something just then all the boys walk in
HEAD
"We have come to say thank you for the gifts"
The other boys bow
BELLE chuckles
"I only gave you those because I found way more juicier stories about each one of you"
AUGER scoffing
"You are bluffing"
BELLE amused
"Well in I have a juicy story of a young AUGER who wrote a love letter to his senior while in Military training"
AUGER SHOCKED!
ALLURE to AUGER
"That was you?! no one could figure out who it was..."
BELLE
"There ...was..."
AUGER Interrupts..
"I apologize I believe you"
she turns to HEAD even before she utters a word
HEAD
"I believe you...no need to...
BELLE amused
"You are welcome and always remember if I give you a gift, I'm holding onto an even juicier gift"
The boys leave her office. ALLURE confronts AUGER along the hall way while he tries to avoid the story.
Suddenly AEGIS walks back into BELLE'S office and speaks fast
"Please go on a date with me tonight"
BELLE in an excited tone
"Okay... but there better be food...lots of it"
AEGIS uncertain
"I came in expecting some resistance...'
BELLE
"Why..."
AEGIS leaves her office concerned
BELLE exhales and hits her chest this time
'What is wrong with you...you have one job...pump blood...don't start racing are you a car in formula one?...she tries to focus on work but is heavily distracted by AEGIS
She fans herself
'and why is it so hot again...or maybe am sick 'she touches her forehead
'that would explain my irrational behavior. I should get checked'
She continues to work on her machine.
Latter that night, HEAD reads the apology letter from his father again, AUGER calls his mom and they have a chat while ALLURE opens a chest where he had hidden his pilot uniform for years. AEGIS opens a restaurant door for BELLE and she looks genuinely thrilled its a buffet.
On the buffet line as they are serving, she frowns and whispers to AEGIS
BELLE
"why are you serving little food?"
AEGIS
"am just filling my plate with what I will finish"
BELLE
"Fill it with more I will finish it for you..."
He sighs...abruptly turns to her…
AEGIS
"where does all this food go to by the way...your frame is insanely small for someone who eats for ten."
She sneers at him....
BELLE
"It's science…"
As they sit down at one of the tables…she lectures
"small animals burn more calories per unit volume than big animals do. That's because as things get smaller, they acquire more surface area per unit volume...and that is why I eat a lot...I mean who am I to argue with science..."
she shrugs as she shoves food down her mouth. Mid way through their meal she nods her head sideways
AEGIS
"what!" he looks at her confused.
She whispers
"put some food on my plate..."
He whispers back...
"No! I want to eat it all..."
She frowns and continues to eat food on her plate....he then places some food on her plate
She hits him
BELLE Still whispering and looking around
"You have to do it discreetly…"
he tries to take the food back from her plate she moves her plate further from him and continues to eat. He smiles and shakes his head. During the meal AEGIS tries to have serious talk she interrupts him...
"I can't think properly when am eating...lets just eat first...we can talk when we go for the milk shake."
He sighs...as he waits for her to finish eating.
after their meal BELLE gleefully leads the way to the Milk shake stand. At the stand she orders first, when the attendant looks at AEGIS to take his order...
AEGIS
"same as hers..."
she raises her eyebrows and interrupts
BELLE
"no... lets take different flavors that way we can swap half way..."
He shrugs she then proceeded to order for him a different flavor.
They take a walk sipping their milkshakes....she sighs in content...
BELLE
"aaaah what a great night... thank you for the meal"
He murmurs under his breath...
"meal! that was more of a feast…"
She scoffs…then turns to him abruptly
"Wait..."can I taste yours?"
AEGIS looks at his cup...
"Mine? sure.."
suddenly he kisses her...
"does it taste better than yours? "he smiles pleased with himself.
she scoffs...
BELLE
I meant the milk...
he leans forward again
BELLE
"What if someone spots you on the streets in this condition..."
AEGIS
"I hope they already spotted us while I kissed you a while back"
BELLE scoffs
Suddenly he holds her arm and speaks soberly
AEGIS
"...I caught it... sigh...I caught it...and I....can't treat it...am trying...I can't...
what.... sigh...what do I do..".
She continues to sip her milkshake avoids eye contact doesn't utter a word.
he leans closer to her till their eyes meet
BELLE
"I warned you.."
Suddenly he hugs her...She tries to pull away in resistance...he holds on tighter she tries harder
AEGIS
"Am like quick sand…the more you try to wiggle away the more I cling onto you…"
BELLE sighs...
He finally lets go of her...smiles as they walk down the streets in the night stealing glimpses at her and smiling.