"No!"
"No truce or don't you want help?" he asked, retracting his hand.
"Why can't I do it on my own?"
"Don't be naive! What are you going to do when you take it out? Leave it in the park? Take it to your place by bus?" Luca asked.
"I won't leave it! And how do you know I'm taking the bus?" she asked.
Luca pressed his lips together.
"Do you have a car?" he asked. She just looked away. "I thought so."
Damn you. You're smart when you want to.
She hadn't thought through what she would do once the kitten was rescued. He was one step ahead on that.
"The car owner will help me!" she assumed.
"Yeah, like he or she is a nice friendly guy that has time to save kittens, willing to take on board a complete stranger and a dirty animal," he said mockingly.
Why didn't I think of that?
Her blood was boiling.
"But I'm here and I'm willing to do that," Luca said. "And I need you to hold the cat while I drive."
Was she supposed to get into his car?
No no no! Out of the question!
"No, if you're the one saving the poor animal, you can do whatever you want. I'm leaving," she declared and stood up.
"And what do you propose?" he asked.
"Put it in a cardboard box," she said, while she was already regretting saying that thought out loud.
The kitten was once more heard.
"Hey little guy. Can you believe her? After you being trapped in there for who knows how long, she wants to keep you trapped in another box. Isn't she lovely?" he said with a smirk on his face.
She was defeated. She just sat down again without a word.
"Look for vets," Luca said and put on his headset, leaning on the tree behind him. He closed his eyes and ignored her. Better that way.
She found a few veterinary clinics and chose the one with the best name: 'Fluffy paws.'
They were waiting for about half an hour, her phone was running low on battery and Luca hadn't spoken a word.
That silence was unbearable. Like he enjoyed torturing her by ignoring her.
She was peeking at him from time to time, but their eyes never crossed. When he was getting up to walk and stretch, he never looked in her direction.
Did he consider her only as… the help?
She found it. If it wasn't for her the kitten would have no chances. She wanted to throw off his stupid headset, and scream at him that she was the one that should give orders.
Shit… Why am I acting so childish?
Yet, she needed that ride. She would say nothing.
Finally, the owner appeared. A good looking woman, in her late thirties, approached the place they were sitting - cautiously.
Luca noticed her and took off his headset. "Let me talk to her, and follow my lead," he said to Noelle, already casting roles.
The lady was probably lunching at a nearby restaurant. She was quite well dressed for working inthe park or being a member or the production crew.
She held her purse really tight, looking ready to run at any moment. She took a look at Luca and slightly relaxed her features. He was already next to her.
"Good afternoon!" he said with a sly smile.
"Luca West? Is it really you?" the woman asked excitedly.
"Yes it's me! I can prove it if you like. Would you like me to sing 'Feverish Love'?" he said and immediately began singing the chorus of his well known hit.
The lady became ecstatic and covered her gasping mouth with her hand. She even lightly bounced up and down. "I can't believe it! It really is you! Oh my god!" she said frantically. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm shooting a new TV drama and we're filming in the park. See? The signs over there?" Luca replied by showing the signs prohibiting entrance.
"Can I please get a photo together? No one will believe me!"
"But of course. No need to ask. My assistant here will take the picture," Luca replied.
Assistant. The word landed harder than it should have.
She smiled as she was taking the lady's phone to take the picture. Luca posed perfectly next to that woman, who was so excited that all her teeth could be seen. Noelle didn't bother to adjust the camera settings. She just clicked. Twice.
She handed back the phone and gave an angry look at Luca when the lady was checking the photos.
He leaned closer. "See how a few million followers come in handy?"
Noelle rolled her eyes.
"You haven't told me your name," Luca said to the car owner, sounding a bit seductive.
Oh! How disgusting…
Like she wasn't already charmed…
"Leona Fowls. So nice to meet you!"
"Likewise. Leona… what a beautiful name," he said pausing for a moment to create momentum.
What a pro…
"So Leona, there is an issue with your car. As I was passing by, I heard a strange cry," Luca started narrating.
You filthy liar! It was me!
"I came here, and after looking carefully around I realised that there is a kitten trapped in your engine," Luca said, making Noelle twice as furious.
"Oh no! Really? There's a cat in my car?" the woman asked, her face twitching a bit.
"Unfortunately. They tend to get themselves in trouble, those animals. So will you help me to save it?" he asked with such a tempting manner.
The lady was puzzled. "What should I do?"
"Open the hood!" he said with a big smile. "Hey, why don't we film it? I can send it to my team and you will be on my channel."
So this is what he expected. Promotion... The chance to show off...
"Really? I can be on a video with you?" That Leona was so excited.
Luca winked. "Start filming," he said to Noelle while handing her his phone.
She remained calm and reminded herself to be professional. Lexi would love the video. But she couldn't sympathise at this moment.
"Hello!" Luca started saying to the video. "I'm right out of the park with a new friend, Leona. There is a kitten inside her car engine. And we are about to save it," he explained.
He lifted the hood which Leona had already unlocked and supported it on the hood strut. He looked closely to the right side, from where the cry was coming.
He nodded silently to Noelle to get closer. He looked at her with a serious gaze, not that foolish stare he was talking to Leona.
Was there something wrong? She bent over to take a close shot for the video. There it was. She couldn't see it clearly. When the hood opened it started meowing loudly, like sensing help was near.
"Here it is. Leona, can you see it?" he said, adding content to the video.
"Yes I can..." she replied with a frowning face.
"It seems scared to move. I will try to reach it," he explained to the camera and dug his hand in the engine. He struggled for a few moments but no results. "I can't reach it. Leona, your hand is so small, would you try?" Luca asked his new friend.
Was he nuts? Couldn't he see the long nails and the rings on her fingers, the delicate fabric of her blouse? You don't ask a woman like that to dig her hand in an oily engine. But then again, she was so excited she might do it for him.
"Um... I don't know how... What if it bites me?" Leona balked at the question.
"Bite? From its voice I doubt it has teeth," Luca told her.
"I'll do it," Noelle interrupted their dialogue.
He had accused her of planning to mistreat the kitten earlier, and now he was stalling the rescue to talk with his friend. Jesus... What friend?
Noelle gave him his phone and put her hand in the same opening. She was now focused on getting hold of the kitten and didn't pay attention to the other two. Luca luckily was silent, filming.
It wasn't easy. She felt its fur for a second but was not able to catch it. She removed her hand, searched for another route - none to be found. Then she thought of trying with her other arm. She moved around and reached her left hand. Now things were a bit better. She grabbed its tail and quickly sensed its back feet. She was then touching its tiny belly. Yeah, that was it.
"I got it…" she said to him.
Luca came next to her. And placed his hand on her right shoulder. Gently.
For a second, she forgot about the kitten.
He whispered: "You can do it…"
She was afraid that the kitten would slip her grip. But she was holding it tight. Very carefully she began pulling it out. In a few moments she found herself holding an orange kitten, just a few weeks old. It seemed unharmed and was struggling to climb to her arms.
Luca released her shoulder and petted its head.
"Here you are..." he told the kitten. "Can I take it?" he asked Noelle in a low voice.
She reluctantly handed it, and he swiped his phone. Noelle saw her greasy hands. She just hoped that he wouldn't say anything about soiling the phone later on.
Luca was now holding it tenderly and stroking its ears. "Hey Leona! See what was in your car? It was very fortunate that I came along and you didn't start the engine, right? Want to pet it?" he said.
His new friend has an alarming look on her face. "No, thank you..." she just said.
Luca smiled widely at her, but his smile was a performance. He then grabbed the kitten and lifted it up, inspecting his tiny body.
He turned to her, and with a smile that shifted from professional to something far more dangerous, he announced: "It's a boy!"
He didn't look at the camera. He was looking only at her. Smiling. Not performing.
And for a terrifying second, Noelle felt like the prey, not the rescuer.
Don't look at me like that… It's… dangerous.