Feeling a little nervous since the Caux event was coming to an end, Sebastian prepared himself mentally to leave the premises. He wasn't expecting Violet's car to be directly in front of the lobby since tonight he was going as a different identity.
As he searched for her car plate number, reporters were beginning to flock around him. Though he was drowned with the same questions about his divorce saga or his recent absurd behaviour on the filming set, which he wasn't interested in addressing, he was on high alert, wanting to get out as soon as possible.
By the time he spotted Violet's low, flashy four-wheel drive parked a little further from the lobby's entrance, he wondered how he was going to get in the car without attracting attention at this rate. It was also not within Violet's expectation that he was being flocked by reporters so soon that she ran out of ideas to save him, except to wait till the crowd died out.
The moment he saw Violet in her yellow dress and shades sitting by the driver's seat, he smirked at her. He was wondering if she knew he had prepared that dress for her as a peace gift, and she had worn it to pick him up.
In the midst of his thoughts, he felt his right arm being pulled forward by a strong force. The moment he noticed who it was, it was too late to let go cause she was pulling him into the limo, which had just arrived at the entrance.
It was Janice.
He refused to get in at first, but Janice was persistent amidst the reporter's uproar and continuous questions about their relationship status and divorce status. "I'm saving you. Just tell your assistant to pick you up outside." Janice whispered hastily to his ear before he reluctantly hopped on.
It made Violet panic for a moment, but a notification from her phone made her quickly read it. With Sebastian telling her to follow the limo in a formal text, she knew she was getting deeper into trouble as she sped off.
Along the way, Janice noticed how close Violet was while stealing several glances at the man she had been thinking about constantly.
"Your assistant seems very vigilant as compared to the previous one." Janice complimented.
That's when Sebastian noticed the car plate number from the rear mirror.
What are you doing any longer in this car, Sebby? He scolded himself in his mind.
"You can let me off here… Thanks," Sebastian instructed the driver, not wanting to have any conversation with Janice for fear he snapped. The driver pulled over after sharing an approved eye contact with Janice.
Before Sebastian alighted hastily, Janice held his arm. "Let go…" Sebastian warned her. It was harsh that Janice's eyes welled, but he didn't notice as she reluctantly let his arm go.
"Put on a good disguise tonight…" Janice reminded him before looking away to another direction, not wanting to watch him leave.
He drew a deep breath, which he only let go after he alighted, and briskly walked to Violet's car.
Violet quickly unlocked the door to let him into the passenger seat. "You're alright? It's Janice, isn't it?" She asked while locking the car's door system. He didn't say anything cause he was busy checking the surroundings.
"What happened? No one followed, don't worry." She tried to calm him as she handed him a bottle of water. He gladly accepted and drank, then turned to check his surroundings again.
Violet couldn't help but notice how paranoid he had been since they left Phut Bi. She realised he was a totally different person from the day she was brought to the filming set as his assistant. She used to envy the fame and wealth of artists, but she had never truly realised how much was sacrificed in exchange till now.
"Hop behind. You need to change." She suggested noticing he was sighing in relief at the sight of her and was more relaxed.
She thought he would continue to be quiet with her, so she put on her shades, wanting to drive off, but instead, he held her left arm and pulled her close to his face. He could feel her shaky breath on his arm.
"Bold of you to turn up like this. What do you expect the reporters to write?" He teased her, thinking she would be less hostile, but he was wrong.
"Your assistant picked you up in a four-wheel drive. What's wrong with that? They didn't have to pay much attention to me. Besides, the windows are tinted." She retaliated, half regretting thinking for him earlier.
She pushed him away forcefully, trying to drive, leaving him a little confused at her anger this time.
"You could change here if you want to. As I said, the windows are tinted." The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it cause with a sinister smile, Sebastian instantly stripped and changed by her side on purpose.
Violet was trying hard to keep herself composed while driving and not look, though she couldn't help but blush at his toned body. At the back of her mind, she was reminded again of their brief time together in Phut Bi. A part of her misses that version of him. The sudden memories of their one-night stand forced her to stay composed despite her cheeks reddening.
I will get back at you later, Sebby. Just you wait… She vented in her mind, trying to pay attention to her driving.
She could only thank her shades for hiding her eye reaction. Sebastian couldn't help but smile multiple times at his success in teasing her.
During the function, Violet was nonchalant, replacing Sam to build a rapport with their potential director, collaborating on Sebastian's new genre drama as she held out her hand for a handshake.
"Good evening, Director Chandra. We have heard a lot about you. I'm Violet Chu. My business partner and brother, Sam Chu, couldn't make it tonight. I'm sure he has told you about our new drama plans, which would involve Sebastian Lu."
"Oh yes, yes. Ms Chu, nice meeting you. Are you serious? Would Sebastian really switch genres to take up this rom-com drama? It's not his usual genre…" Chandra asked while letting go of their handshake, feeling sceptical as Sebastian cleared his throat.
"That, you wouldn't have to worry." Sebastian's turn to shake his hand.
"Another one of our directors, Mr Phor Tat." Violet introduced.
"Oh, nice to meet you, too, Mr Phor Tat. Well then, I shall hear from Sam on the paperwork soon, but it would be nice to have a meeting with Sebastian himself before we sign off on anything." Chandra insisted on hearing from Sebastian himself. Violet felt it might be a little difficult for Sebastian and wanted to negotiate, but Sebastian interrupted.
"Rest assured. As you might have known, Sebastian is currently in a project filming, but given that next week would be a promotional week, perhaps we could fix something briefly for you to meet with him?" Sebastian boldly suggested as Violet threw him a warning look.
"That would definitely be great! Let me know the details again by then, Mr Phor Tat and Ms Lu." Chandra was very delighted as Violet played along.
"Sure. Will get Sam to get in touch too, and we hope we can work together well." Violet said professionally in dismissal as they all cheered to their glass of champagne.
Violet and Sebastian then went on to greet more acquaintances on behalf of Sam. Though all the talk made them both dislike the formality, with each other on their side, time flies. When Sebastian finally noticed Janice's arrival, a few acquaintances were approaching her. Violet knew it wasn't a contact they needed to make, so Sebastian nudged her to head to a corner of the balcony to take a break.
Violet was shaking her leg from the soreness of her heels as he held her right wrist to help her keep her balance. It took her by surprise as their gaze met, with her trying to quickly release herself from his grip, but he held on tightly.
"I'm sorry…" He began with an apology, but she frowned while asking. "For what?"
Sebastian wanted to explain, but Violet stepped forward to shut him up. "What did Phor Tat do wrong? The person who should be apologising is Sebastian. Not you…" She raised an eyebrow while folding her arms, which amused Sebastian.
"What? Another Pei Li and Penny's moment?" Sebastian chuckled as Violet felt her laughingbone being tickled, but she still kept up with her act.
She turned around and faced the sky before stealing a smile he saw. Noticing how thin she had dressed in her yellow dress, he took off his coat to cover her from the back.
He half regretted choosing a sleeveless dress for her. "Aren't you afraid that people talk about us?" Violet raised an eyebrow at him, half keeping up the act but half concerned if someone spotted his physique as Sebastian.
"Who would be able to spot me with these glasses? Besides, am I not Phor Tat?" Sebastian moved his glasses up a little from the bridge of his nose.
With the thoughts of missing his old self, she first met in Phut Bi, Violet caught herself drawn into his gaze for a moment before smiling and averting her gaze.
"So, am I forgiven?" He asked again, thinking she had finally given up on acting.
"What did Phor Tat do wrong? Other than accompanying me as a business partner? You're doing very well, especially in ensuring Sebastian gets that movie. What's there to forgive? Besides, thank you…" Violet praised while lifting a little of her yellow dress hem to thank him for picking it.
"Of course, you look radiant… dress more in brighter colours." He complimented, but she still wasn't looking at him as she stole more smiles.
"It's my first movie change in genre… Aren't you concerned about the intimate scenes in the movie?" Sebastian teased in return, which made Violet frown again.
"Why would I be concerned when he already clearly pushed me away? Besides, I wouldn't be there anymore, considering my tourist guide exams are a week away, and by then I'm free to do whatever I want." Violet once again looked far away to the sky, trying to disguise her lie that she didn't care.
"Then should I apologise on his behalf?" Sebastian tried again, genuinely, only for them to laugh at him trying hard to play a double personality role.
"Don't try… You ain't Penny nor Pei Li." She warned jokingly.
"Alright, for a start, tell me what you like about me?" Sebastian teased further as he admired her beauty by putting some loose fringe behind her ears.
It took Ivy back to the moment she first fell for him. It was this pair of eyes which charmed her over and over again, even now.
"You're just… you. The guy I fell in love with in Phut Bi. And still do…" What she said may have fluttered Sebastian, who was taken by surprise, but there was an undeniable sadness in her eyes.
"Vi…" He called out gently, wanting to reciprocate, but Violet pulled herself from falling for him again as she blinked away her stinging tears.
"But… Of course, it was a fling, right? You're not Phor Tat all the time either." She shrugged with a sad smile, forcing the wishful thinking away.
Sebastian wanted to make up for it, but a commotion halted him as their attention shifted back into the hall instantly.