THE ENTERTAINER
CHAPTER 38
Les Grands Apartment, Paris.
Karl Lagerfeld's luxurious decor, creating suites dominated by sultra-gray and metallic colour palettes, makes it one of the most luxurious apartments in the Champs-Elysees elite. In fact, the bathroom decor was carved from Carrara marble slabs. All the things about comfort and luxury should make the owner of the room can sleep soundly without having to drink high levels of alcohol just to make him unconscious.
The photo he received at 3am, made him filled with emotions without being able to do anything. Noah has also petted whether to contact Alex and eliminate the man who has dared to touch his woman? But when he typed the command, he realized, the woman is no longer his. Still with his head throbbing pain, Noah growled. Throw anything over Nakas to ease his emotions.
***
Music flows softly from the sound filter. Some customers look busy with their respective activities while enjoying a cold drink and a piece of cake to their order. Busy day for cafe Arium. Like the busy Naya who is serving Alvin and Alga at once.
“How about seeing the movie tonight, Na?” invite Algae that become an emotional lure for Alvin.
“Naya has an appointment with me tonight. Yes, right Na?” Alvin nudged the arm of Naya who was still standing in confusion.
“Ya, it seems,” replied Naya doubtfully.
Algae must be tired of having to give up. This was the hundredth time that Naya was out, and it was always the man who didn't know that he was the one who failed her.
“Na, since when the hell is this blameless person continue?” Algae began to provoke emotions as well.
Laras who had been very accustomed to the situation was only a loyal spectator. It feels so good to see the love drama of two men who are equally unrequited.
Alvin handed over the Algae order with a slight stomp on it, a few drops of his drink splashed out.
“Your drink is done. Please, exit over there.”
“Vin.” Naya stops the disrespectful Alvin, no matter how they work, and Alga is their customer.
Alga and Alvin still look at each other hatefully. Naya was already feeling uneasy, especially when some customers had already peered at them curiously.
“You're the one who always pretended to set up Naya?” Algae.
Alvin could not answer, their relationship was just a neighbor and coworker. Not more.
Algae leaned against his body, his body that was as tall as Alvin could stare straight at his eyes. “If you're not someone, don't act like her lover.”
Alvin was provoked by emotion, he pulled the collar over his Algae shirt.
Naya was surprised by the sudden action. “Alvin—”
“What are you guys doing, huh?” ask for sounds from the door. Robert showed up there.
Alvin instantly released his grip on the Algae shirt and retreated.
“You okay?” ask Robert to the Algae.
“I'm fine. Just a little misunderstanding.” Alga explained, grinning towards Alvin.
“I'm really sorry for your inconvenience. If you come again, we will give you free drinks.”
“Alright then, I'm sorry.” Alga stepped out, without taking his drink.
“Alvin, Naya, my room after closing.” Mr. Robert headed to the door of his room which was to their right.
Naya squeezed her hands nervously, while Alvin approached regretfully towards Naya.
“I'm sorry, Na.”
Naya dodged Alvin's hand that was about to touch his arm, and passed towards the back. Laras sighed as he followed Naya who had lowered her head to hide her tears.
***
“Explain what happened!” robert's orders.
“It's my fault, sir. I made the wrong order, and I insisted that the drink was appropriate. I apologize for my negligence, Mr.”
Robert certainly did not believe it. “Truely so, Naya?”
Naya quietly looked down. He is not very good at lying. “Totally, Sir.” Naya squeezed out her cold fingers.
Robert fondles. “Alvin, you have been working here for almost two years, you should also have memorized SOP and how to handle customers. This is an event that can completely damage the image of our cafe. You understand?”
“I understand, Sir.”
“Because it's the first time, so I'm sorry. However, still there must be a penalty, your salary this month I cut 20 percent. I know you are in financial trouble because of your sister, but I have to be firm to give a deterrent effect.”
“Iya, Sir.”
“Please exit.”
Naya and Alvin both come out of the room, and find Laras still waiting for them.
“How? Not fired, right?”
Naya shakes. “Ngak, only given a warning.”
Shoulder Laras weakened. “Thank God, if that's me first, yes. The kitchen area is clear, only floor.”
“OK, thanks, Ras.”
“Don't forget to lock the cafe and turn off the lights.”
“Good, Sir,” replied Naya and Alvin together.
After the clattering sound of the closed door stopped ringing, now only Naya and Alvin were both silent.
“Na, I'm really sorry for the incident earlier.” Alvin tried again.
Naya wanted to step in to dodge, but Alvin held her hand.
“Na. If you want to be angry, just be angry, do not be silent gini.”
“Alvin. Stop,” said Naya without looking.
“What do you mean?”
“You understand what I mean, Vin.”
Alvin slowly approached, then very close. Stop right behind Naya who still did not want to turn around to see him. “If I don't want to, how?”
Naya's head throbbed painfully. It's not the relationship he really wants. Alvin was a good man, only, there was no name of that man in his heart.
“You will only continue like this.”
“Why, Nay?”
”Because .. My heart belongs to someone else.”
Alvin walked around Naya, and stood before her. Naya retreated because Alvin was too close to her. Instead of stopping, the man instead further cornered Naya as her back collided with the counter table.
“Who, Na? The lecturer?”
Naya shook her head weakly. “Vin, you're too close.” Naya tries to push Alvin's body, but Alvin doesn't budge, the hand he uses to imprison Naya.
“Then, who?”
Naya couldn't answer. The name that kept muttering every beat in his heart. The name of a man who may have been scolding her somewhere in Paris. Or maybe they are having sex with women of equal status. Naya's tears wanted to fall not because Alvin was looking fixedly at her eyes, but because her heart grimaced to imagine that there was no name in the heart of the man she still loved so much.
The clattering sound of the door sounded startling to them. Their position that looks very intimate makes the guest is not invited to clench his fingers firmly pressing on his skin.
Alvin immediately let go of Naya and said with dislike. “Sorry, we've closed.”
While Naya, frozen in place, her tears fell without her noticing. His entire body stiffened, his heart racing violently, his body temperature was low. How could the man find her? How could the man he so longed for be standing in front of him right now?
“Noah?”
--
Day before. Elmer Corp Main Office. La Defense, Paris.
Noah tried his hardest to focus on his work. His eyes read the report he was holding, while his secretary, Benoit, a man in his 50s who used to be his father's trust for all the affairs at the headquarters was seen explaining all the agenda of the meeting, attend formal events, to dine with their business relationships.
“Is there anything less clear, monsieur?”
There's no answer.
“Monsieur Noah?”
“Oh, I'm sorry, Ben,” he replied as he rubbed his tired face. “I'm thinking of something else.”
“I've never seen you focus on your work in a month. Is there anything I can do?”
Noah shook his head. “There's nothing you can do, and I do.” Now he leaned back weakly and turned his chair to look far away at the view of the other tall building there. Business districts that always look crowded.
“Monsieur, is this about women?”
Noah again turned his chair, looking astonished at Benoit.
“I have lived long enough to be able to judge the look of heartbreak,” said Benoit with a proud face.
“Then, tell me, Ben. What will you do when your woman leaves you and is now happy with another man? Are you going to kill the man, or let them live happily, while you suffer from being left alone without any explanation?”
Benoit smile. Finally, his boss was open to him. It's hard to work with a broken hearted person. Benoit has also had to take care of the behavior of Noah who was troublemaking at the night club.
“I think you should clarify it. Ask the reason, so you can argue or you can accept the reason.”
Noah frowned. “You mean I should see him?”
“Maybe you also have to make sure if he is really happy, or ... same suffering as you.”
Noah flinched, then fell silent for a moment. Suddenly he stood up and took his hanging coat. “Cancel all my agenda, Ben. I have to go home today.”
...****************...
