"People should worship you more."
"Yeah, right?" She smiled at her adorable half Asian and American manager. They were seated in her SUV as he offered to pick her up and drive her back to her penthouse in Beverly Hills. They were scrolling through some of her latest photoshoots—images storming the net like wildfire. The only thing unnatural about her were her glowing green eyes; everything else, down to her flawless skin, was god-given—all thanks to the mother of her great-grandmother, a beautiful Irish queen with impeccable looks.
IU giggled beside her as she leaned on his shoulder. He came across one photo where she was trying to look both cute and sexy. He scrolled through more and was greatly pleased.
"We should do this more often."
"But I don't want to do it at that studio again, IU."
His blue eyes met hers with concern. They were basically best friends, and she loved how they conversed freely—far more openly than the interactions she saw among her other rivals in the industry.
"Why is that, princess?"
Ever since he learned of her royal background, he had never stopped calling her princess.
"I heard one of my rivals two days ago on set say the studio is for really broke actresses, and I don't want Natasha Williams thinking I went broke after playing her supporting female lead in our last film together. It's embarrassing."
"You mean… a photoshoot at R and D Studios?" IU asked, growing concerned at how quickly her obsession with perfection was intensifying. It was as if he encountered a new monster in her daily life. Rubies and Diamonds Studios is one of the top five most expensive photoshoot studios in America, and she had made it abundantly clear to her counterparts how extremely sensitive she was when not regarded as the perfect human being—someone whose life was always great and even better.
She tried so hard, even when it was already her reality.
She was a literal goddess from a super wealthy and even royal background—a successful doctor and Hollywood actress who had starred as the main lead in more than nine blockbuster movies worldwide.
When would she ever be convinced that everything in her life was going exactly as she wanted, that the whole world envied her?
"If they are not a highly rated studio, it means they're broke and won't be able to afford the best equipment and cameras to make me look perfect on the internet. I want somewhere better, IU."
IU gave her a handsome smile that highlighted his dimples—the very smile that always melted her heart because it made him look even better.
"OOOh, you look so cute when you smile, IU."
"That's one way I still keep my job. I smile and look cute for you so that when you think of firing me, my beautiful, cute smile will haunt you in that moment."
Ari smiled at him as they drove past the skyrise where she owned four floors along with the penthouse.
"Hmm, keep in mind that it might not always save you, y'know?"
The car door opened, and they both stepped out. The air around them was frosty, and the scent of the approaching winter was unmistakable.
"Yeah, will keep that in mind," he said, standing at ease with his hands tucked in his pockets.
Ari looked at him, wondering what he was still waiting for—he had already taken her home safely.
"What are you still waiting for?"
"Ensuring you enter through that door before my very eyes."
Ari blushed before moving closer to pull him into a tight hug.
"Goodnight and dream of securing hit roles for me."
IU chuckled. "I will."
"Oh, before you go, I thought you said you'd be spending the whole night in the hospital today? Why did you suddenly call to come pick you up?"
Ari blushed hard as she shrugged her shoulders in the most adorable way.
"I don't know," she said, rocking on her heels amusingly. "Probably because Jared texted earlier that he's back from his tour with his team, and I don't want to keep him lonely after his two-week tour, y'know?" She batted her eyes at IU, who struggled to hold back his laughter.
"Okay. I'll leave you alone to have a good cuddling time with your man."
"You better, or that might get you fired."
They both chuckled before she waved him goodbye and began walking toward the building.
He waited until she passed the security guards stationed at the entrance before leaving in the car.
Ari skipped all the way to the golden elevator, humming excitedly as she could not wait to fall into the arms of her equally perfect boyfriend, Jared.
They had started dating two months ago, and he was her first boyfriend ever. Not that it was hard to get one—she had turned them all away while studying tirelessly to fulfill the dreams her family had for her. After graduating, she spent the early years of her life exploring a career in acting, the dream she had for herself. Now that she was in her late twenties, she thought, what could complete a perfectly dreamed life more than having a guy the whole world wanted?
She giggled again in excitement as the doors to the elevator slid open, revealing the impressive antique hallway that led to her expensive penthouse. The doors that led inside performed a brief retina and fingerprint scan before opening to reveal a lush and exquisite living room. She stepped in and frowned—it was a bit too dark, and the faint sounds of two moaning nearby were disturbing.
"Viva, turn on the lights in the main area."
The AI received the command, and soon the entire room was flooded with light. Yet Ari wished she hadn't turned them on that evening. It was something she would regret for the rest of her life. It shook her world, as the tiny bricks of the perfect life she had been building—so tall as the Eiffel Tower—crumbled before her eyes in a mind-rippling scene.
It left her frozen in shock for a full two minutes.
"Jared…" she called softly, her hands balled into tight, impenetrable fists.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"