Chapter 100 - Chasing A Star (2)

Before Ximena could ask or say anything, Devonte placed a finger on his lips to signal for her to keep her mouth shut. The latter nodded and smiled after a few seconds to indicate that she would keep the secret. However, she felt as though she was betraying Zaria. The latter liked Jupiter so much that she would feel bummed if she ever found out that her idol was only three seats away from her and she didn't even get to ask for an autograph.

Thinking about it, she took out a scarf that she had carried in her bag in case of a cold and a pen, passing it to him secretly.

This was a normal gesture to Devonte, so he accepted it and signed his stage name along with a smiley.

Ximena smiled as she thought of how happy Zaria would be when she received the autographed scarf later. As she kept it in her bag, she felt a gaze on her, emanating from Zaria's direction. When she looked over, she found that no one was looking at her. How strange.

When the movie ended, Natalie invited the trio to dinner at the restaurant opposite the cinema. Before they could agree to it, a man passed by them and turned to look at Natalie for a brief second before disappearing into a hallway.

"Hey! That's Jupiter. I've been trying to get him for an interview but he's too busy to notice me. Let alone talk about the potential interview. Pardon me, but I have to try and follow him." Theodore was about to follow Devonte when Natalie stopped him.

"You don't have to."

She reflexively wanted to offer to call Devonte back but thought of a better idea. "Some of his fans revealed that he will have dinner at Le Pont too. You can try to talk to him once we're there."

Theodore found it an excellent idea. "Thank you Miss Sparks."

Zaria and Ximena exchanged amused looks. So Theodore really was chasing a star. They thought he was joking about it.

"You can call me Natalie. I'm a friend of Zaria's, after all." Natalie offered him a smile.

Ximena saw Natalie offering Theodore a kind smile and was a little confused. She could offer a kind smile that didn't look fake? Was she good at acting, or was it real? If it was real, then that was confusing. What happened to the arrogant, pampered heiress with a tragically cold attitude? Besides, why was she being friendly to Zaria and her family despite all the rumors?

She was initially planning to miss out on the dinner and meet up with a CEO who had proposed a partnership, but she cancelled the meeting instead. It would be better for her to understand what Natalie was up to, and if it would cause harm to Zaria or Theodore.

Hence, the four of them made their way to Le Pont. Natalie secretly sent a text message to Devonte to tell him where to be.

As soon as they sat down, the man made his way to their table.

"Miss Williams?" He looked at Zaria in admiration.

Zaria didn't know what he was up to, but she nodded while playing along. "Yes, that's me. Anything I can help you with?"

"A huge favor. Forgive my manners." He paused to greet Ximena, Theodore and Natalie while pretending not to know who they were, then he looked back at Zaria. "I'm sorry for being so presumptuous, but I've always wished to be interviewed by you."

"Don't joke around. Interviewers look for their interviewees and not the other way round. Besides, I no longer work at F&P Media." She glanced at Natalie as though to ask, what is your boyfriend playing at?

Devonte looked bummed at a hot spot for a second before he shrugged. "I don't simply accept interviews from anyone. It's usually me choosing the agencies and magazines I want. I remember that F&P Media has a celebrity magazine. As for the interviewer, you can get anyone else to do it if you no longer work there."

At this point, Zaria knew what was going on. She looked at him with a complicated gaze despite knowing that her dad was feeling as though he had snagged a jackpot.

"Can we have a word?" She asked and Devonte nodded, so they stepped out of the restaurant.

"You don't have to feel obliged to help us out. Natalie is my friend but I don't want to exploit her." She stated.

"Don't worry about that. I didn't lie about wanting to appear on the cover page of F & P Media's celebrity magazine. I was about to seek you out when the scandal happened." He explained, earning a raise of the eyebrows from her. She clearly did not believe a word of what he had said.

"I'm sorry I ditched the idea at such a moment, my agency wouldn't let me do something they think would ruin my image." He attempted to explain. "However, I watched how F&P Media rose from nothing. I know a media agency is the last thing you would expect an actor to look up to, but I did. I admire your dad—how he took every step boldly and didn't give up no matter how many challenges came his way. I was still a student actor at the time."

Zaria was in disbelief after hearing it all. She would never have expected that while she admired Devonte for his hard work, he had been taking her dad as his motivation all these years.

"I wouldn't agree to an interview that's not worth my time-not even if Natalie were to use beauty traps on me." He chuckled through the last part.

Zaria laughed along. "My dad will be overjoyed to interview you."

"I'll be glad to go. Let's talk about the schedule when you guys are done having dinner. If you don't have a male cover model for the celebrity magazine, can I have that too?" He asked like a child asking for candy.

"As you wish. Let's go back before one of your crazy fans takes a scandalous photo." She suggested and led the way back into the restaurant.

"Mr. Willaims, Zaria has a gift for you." Devonte announced playfully then jovially added, "Me!"

"Don't be silly." Zaria rolled her eyes and wondered why she had never realized that her idol was so childish. "What he means is that he will be the cover model for F&P Media's magazine, and accept an interview too."

"Well, that will be my pleasure." Theodore wondered why he would agree so easily, but he saved the questions for later.

Meanwhile, Ximena wondered what connection there was between Zaria and Jupiter. It was more than a fan and her idol. Were they friends perhaps? She couldn't help but wonder whether it had something to do with Natalie, who was the other oddball at their table.

historical

When they finished their dinner, Ximena insisted on taking a cab to go back to her house while Zaria drove off with Theodore. While Natalie headed to her car, a pair of arms grabbed her from behind which she was getting used to.

"Dev, hold on. This isn't.." She froze when she saw a female figure leaning against her car. It was Ximena.

The latter had been waiting for Natalie but she didn't expect such a shocking secret to unveil in front of her. A few details suddenly started making sense. About two years ago, there was a rumor about Jupiter getting into an intimate relationship with an heiress to boost his career. What if the rumor was true and the heiress was Natalie? If their relationship was that old, then they really were more messed up than she thought.

"I,..." Natalie opened her mouth.

"Don't worry. I was not spying on you so don't take it the wrong way. Your secret is safe with me." Ximena assured her and didn't want to impose on them for too long. "I only want to know where I should send the makeup kits you ordered. I forgot to ask earlier."

"Please send them to my home address." Natalie was relieved, so she searched for a pen and small notepad in her bag where she wrote down her address and gave it to Ximena.

When she saw the latter leaving, she glared at the man who was now beside her. "Is it trouble you are looking for? How many times must I tell you to check the environment before you do such things?"

"We're not going to fight over this again, are we?" He asked dreadfully.

"Not if you stop being careless." She huffed in annoyance. It was lucky that it was Ximena who caught them. She didn't want to imagine the outcome if it was someone else instead.

"I'm sorry." He looked into her annoyed eyes as he admitted his fault. "I miss you so much that I can't help grabbing every opportunity to hug you."

Her gaze softened. "Don't give me those eyes." How annoying. She couldn't stay mad at him even if she wanted to. The loving gaze he gave her when he apologized made her want nothing more than to pin him on the bed and tease him all night.