"Now we'll go for a check up. To be continued," he told the camera and waved. "Cut!"
Was he a director now too? He turned to Leona: "Again, thank you very much for your assistance," he said, walking away.
That was unlike him. Minutes ago he was close to flirting with her. He was always very kind to his fans. Now he was pushing her away. Noelle also thanked Leona and went for their bags.
"Hold the kitten," Luca instructed, softly.
"Let me put on my bag first," Noelle said.
"No, I'll carry it. Take it, please," and he handed over the little cat. He was in such a hurry to hand it over. He grabbed both bags and started walking away. Noelle followed him.
Several metres away, he stopped by his car. Exactly as Lexi had described it - indifferent. He put the bags in the trunk and started looking for something. She approached him.
"Bite... Can you believe that? It could bite. Incredible..." he was muttering.
So that was it. He was angry because that woman was afraid of the kitten. She wanted to explain that there were many people out there afraid of animals, but she opted not to say anything. Nevertheless, she hadn't liked her much either.
He pulled out a towel. "Here, wrap him in this," he told Noelle, handing the towel. "Have you found a vet?" he asked.
"Yes," Noelle replied. As she looked at him, she saw that his eyes were a bit reddish. He wasn't crying, was he?
"Good," he said. He moved to the passenger's seat and opened the door. "Come on, get in," he told Noelle.
Luca West opening the door for her. Who would have imagined?
It's for the kitten you silly, not you…
"Let me hold him so you can put on the seat belt," he proposed.
He moved closer—dangerously close. When he reached for the bundle in her arms, his hand brushed against hers, igniting a spark that raced all the way down her spine.
She watched him cradling it tenderly and kept smiling at it. Oh he was in love! Was he so dazzling when he was in love? Like that night…
She shook her head to get back to reality.
One thing was certain; the kitten had found a daddy...
He handed her the kitten carefully once the seatbelt was fastened, and she noticed that his eyes were still red and he was sniffling.
Was he being sentimental?
He sat in the driver's seat and turned on the engine. "Give me the address."
"What address?" Noelle asked as she was distracted. She gazed at the car, never thinking that it could be so humble.
"The vet's address? Or you prefer to give me the address of the mall so you can go shopping? " he asked in the most hostile manner possible.
"Jesus, you're something..." she said, looking up the clinic information. What a reminder! Just when she thought she had seen something different.
"Sorry... It's the power of habit. I'm a bit stressed," Luca said, surprising her.
No, she wasn't the one to be deceived.
"Whatever," she only said and read the address.
The car drove away. It would be a twelve minute ride. A silent ride. Only the kitten was meowing now and then and Noelle was petting him. Luca was giving him short glances.
Suddenly he started sneezing and he opened the windows. A minute later he scratched his neck. Noelle started calculating the facts.
Red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching....
"Do you have a cat allergy?"
He sniffled first, then coughed. "So what?"
"So why did you touch it? Why did you put it in your car?" Noelle asked flustered.
"What else could I have done? He needs my help. It's not that serious. Noah should have been here. He would have already been transferred to a hospital. He is allergic to practically everything," he said right before sneezing.
"I think what you did was irresponsible. You are risking your health," she disapproved.
"I'm known for my irresponsibility. I have a title to uphold," he said. He then stopped the car and exited the car.
She saw him entering a pharmacy. When he got out he was holding a small bag. He got in the car and took out a small nasal spray that he used, before swallowing two pills.
"I hope these pills won't make you drowsy," she mentioned.
"Maybe they will," Luca said, turning to face her. "Should I be worried that you will take advantage of me in that event?" he asked.
His stare locked on hers. She felt her face heating up.
"Just don't crash the car while the kitten and I are in it," she said after a beat.
He laughed and started driving. Noelle turned to look out of the window.
Once they reached the clinic, Luca was not sneezing any longer, and his eyes were less red. But now, entering the place, she was not sure if he would get any worse.
Luca was not trying to hide. He was again ready to charm more fans there. He smiled widely at the two ladies at the reception.
"Hello both! I have brought this little fellow for a check up!" he announced casually.
"Hello! We'll see the kitten right away. But can I ask? You are reminding me of..." the one woman said.
"Luca West?" he asked. "Of course I remind you of him. I am Luca West!" he said, all excited again.
Wasn't he ever tired of talking about himself? Noelle would be exhausted if she had to smile all the time and talk to so many people.
"Wow!" both ladies said. "What are you doing here?" the first asked. "Can I get an autograph?" the other asked.
And that is how they spent the next minutes: taking pictures, Luca narrating the story, agreeing to film part two of his TikTok story. 'At Fluffy Paws' would be the title. He took the kitten and started saying his side of the story. When they were done, she ended up with the kitten in her arms again.
"Can we see the doctor now?" Noelle asked the two women in a very strict manner. She had enough.
"Of course," the previously excited woman said. "Doctor Hart is in room two. She'll see you in a second," she continued, pointing in the direction of the examination room.
"Thank you Lisa. See you later!" Luca said, trying to entertain the wounded fan.
"I won't tell Andrea who it is. She'll get a hugr surprise!" Noelle heard her say as she passed by. How tricksy...
They waited outside the room. The door opened and the doctor appeared.
This is no doctor...
The woman that was standing at the door could easily be a model, an actress, a billion-follower influencer. She was beautiful and impressive at the same time.
Luca should have been thinking of the same thing, as he was gaping.
Noelle hadn't seen him before reacting like this in front of any woman. She had seen him with his girlfriend, with other women on set, and even that night, with the girl exiting his apartment.
Now, he was staring. Did he know her?
She looked at the doctor. Indeed the mischievous prank of Lisa, had worked out. She had recognised him. But instead of excitement, there was shock. Absolute, freezing shock. She stared at him with wide eyes, her hand tightening on the doorknob. She didn't speak. Shouldn't she ask them what they wanted? Hadn't she noticed the kitten?
"Doctor... Hart?" Luca finally asked, a sort of disbelief in his voice.
"Yeah, that's me," Doctor Hart said, her voice trembling slightly. She cleared her throat, regaining some self-control. "I was told you brought a kitten?"
"Yeah, he is the one," Luca said, showing the kitten. He avoided the doctor's eyes.
"Great. Bring him in to take a look." She forced a polite smile, but her eyes were darting nervously between Luca and Noelle.
Noelle got up to follow her.
Luca stopped her. "I'll take that! You stay here. No need to enter. Too many people. Just stay here..." he said, alarmed, or even panicked, as he grabbed the kitten and entered the room.
Doctor Hart, smiled politely at Noelle and turned around, closing the door.
And that was the moment.
The moment when Noelle realised that she knew that woman.
Put her in high heels and a tight cropped jacket, style her hair down her back, and add a touch of crimson lipstick... She would be identical.
Noelle shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
Oh God! It's her…
Who was she? Why didn't he know that she was working there? If they had an affair, he should know some things about that woman, right?
But no, he was shocked.
Was she a one-night stand? But that night he said 'what did you forget this time'. She'd been there before.
A twin perhaps? That sounded like a bad scenario. Doctor Hart was shocked too - not in a 'there is a celebrity in front of me' way.
He shut Noelle out of the room. Not because of the kitten. Because of her.
Noelle was not supposed to recognise her. And she should keep it that way.
She wanted to run away, leave him alone with the vet, to enjoy their love - or whatever. But she couldn't... Her stuff was still in his car. She had to wait for him to finish his... business.
She took a look at her hands. They were still dirty. She went to the bathroom and washed up.
Noelle looked at herself in the mirror. She appeared so tired. Her hair was messy, she felt stinky since she was outside all day, there was dirt on her blouse... What a mess!
Again she unwillingly compared herself with that goddess. The kind of woman that attracted him.
Noelle was another kind of girl. Definitely not his kind.
What am I thinking?
She raised her hand and slapped her face.
"Merde, ça fait mal!" She had used too much force.
She returned to her seat, and waited outside the examination room. Noelle forgot why they were there for a bit.
Her thoughts kept returning to that vet, and what Luca was doing with her in the examination room. Her imagination ran wild. Were they kissing?
Jealousy. Both forbidden and despicable.
And still there. Like a nail in her chest.
The door stayed shut.
Noelle was about to look away when she heard Luca laugh.
Not his public laugh.
The one he only used when he felt safe.
Her stomach dropped.