51

"Darling, they say chivalry is dead only because they never met me. I am the walking, breathing embodiment of chivalry. I stand for women basking in their feminine energy." Lewis says dramatically. Emily gives him a funny face.

"Too much?" He asks, with his eyebrow arched in a questioning look.

"Yep, definitely too much." She cracks in laughter and so does he. In this moment, she feels free and she feels like she is herself. She knows nothing about him and she feels like she needs to know if he is a threat before throwing her heart to this cute stranger.

He walks ahead of her and holds the door open. Emily looks away with a shy look and mutters 'thanks' under her breath.

Once they are inside, they gape at the surroundings. There are crystal chandeliers all around with twinkling lights illuminating the place. There is a long silver carpet with influencers and a few young adult Hollywood stars on it. Interviewers take turns in interviewing each star that walls on to the silver carpet. Music filters through the hall. Lady Gaga's telephone is playing but it is not so loud as to disrupt the peace and turn it into a disco club. At a corner there is an arrangement of mouth watering donuts and a delicate pyramid of filled champagne flutes.

"Oh my God, she outdid herself. This looks amazing." Emily comments after her eyes has roamed entirely through her immediate surroundings. Emily is not easily pleased. So, this decor tops the chart. Lewis offers her his arm and she slips her hand through it.

"Where to, Miss?" He asks in a false British accent. She smiles at him and points at a photo booth.

"Alright then, let us get pictures." They walk to the photo booth and take pictures while making funny faces in the camera. On the last shot, Emily presses her lips on his cheek and the camera catches his instant look of utter surprise.

She giggles as they step out and he looks at her with a funny look.

"What is it?" Emily asks him, noticing his facial reaction.

"No, I should be asking you that. Did you pop some pills while we were walking in here?" Lewis asks, genuine concern etched in the folds of his forehead. He stares at her inquisitively. She removes her hand from the curve of his arm and acts angry.

"Of course not, I did not pop pills on my way here. You know that too. Why would you ask that?" Emily asks.

"It is just that you have been much happier lately than before. The Emily I met at R&E parking lot wore a frown as her natural face card. I am not familiar with this smiley, excited, less bratty version of you. Considering what I saw at your hotel room in the Blue Turnip, it is only right for to ask, don't you think?" Lewis explains. She hands over the printed photos to Lewis and he takes a look at them.

"It is not right… it is none of your buisness, of course. Let's go." Emily wipes the smoke off her face and proceeds ahead of him. He tries to hide his smile and walks after her.

"Now this one, this one I know pretty well." Lewis points his index finger at her. It is her turn to try and hide a smile. If he wants her to remain bratty then he should buy some popcorn and enjoy the plot.

************

"Reginald, I have to give the Master these files tonight. You can not delay me one minute or I will be in big trouble. You know this." Doctor Richard's steward begs the computer geek who is deliberately lazying around on his computer system. He enjoys hearing the old man beg.

"Would you calm your horses? I have so much to do today. You should be grateful I told you to come back tomorrow. My schedule is always packed." The tech guy munches on an apple while his eyes are glued to the computer screen. He pretends to pay zero attention to the old man who is almost on his knees. His hands are quaking in fear.

"I can not. You know this. He specifically requested for it to be gotten today. You know how the master gets when he makes a request and we do not deluvef on time. Everyone gets affected and I bear most of the brunt. You would not want an old man to have to deal with that, would you?" He asks with pity and fear running through his eyes. The tech guy continues his munching and begins a video game.

"I just begged you!" He yells this time and the tech guy drops his apple in surprise. He brings out a file from a cabinet below his desk and hands it over to him.

"No yelling next time. I did the background check last week. I was just messing with you." He jokes but the old man does share his humour. He grabs the file and walks cautiously out of their workspace.

"What a dick." The old man mutters under his breath. He takes an elevator. He steps out of it and he is at Docto Richard's living room. He is sitting on the couch, sipping a glass of cognac and he senses the steward's presence. He curves his index finger towards him to order him to come closer. He is watching a demonstration on YouTube.

"I have been thinking of going into politics. I feel like I have all it takes. Some of the political minions owe one too many favours anyway…" Richard does not bother to see that the old man's gaze is solely fixed on the floor. Neither does he notice that his hands are shaking.

"What do you think?" Richard asks, lifting his head up from the iPad on his palm. He chuckles when he looks at him.

"How could I forget? I do not care what you think. What do you have for me?" He asks with a stern voice.