Ben wakes up in an unknown room with a strong headache "shit !"
He holds his head for a while before looking around "where am I ?"
"At my house."
"Ahhh !" Ben screams as a voice comes from his side. He crawls away. "Mr. ... Mr. Scott !"
Alan folds his arms in front of his chest "yes !"
"What are you doing h..here ?"
"This is my house !" Alan repeats.
"W..what am I doing here ?"
"You drank a lot and didn't want to go home, yesterday. To save my company's reputation I had to bring you here."
"Owh !" Ben remembers yesterday's fight with Luke then he remembers going to the bar then two kidnappers , kidnapping him. "I .. I am really sorry. I am not a drunkard. I don't drink often ... I swear."
"The bartender said that you were their regular customer." Alan asks with a serious face.
"No no .. I swear. I am not regular. I just visit there sometime and I ..have never been this much drunk before."
"Do you have any idea how serious it is ? What if we haven't bumped into you ? You could've been molested, could've been r**ed !"
Ben flinches with the cold voice of Mr. Scott. He is done. He has successfully offended the CEO. Now, no one will give him a role. "I am sorry."
Alan scoffs "Don't you earn enough ? What do you do with your money ? Why go to such cheap bars ?"
Ben bites his lips. He doesn't earn enough. After deducting the food expenses, the medical insurance, the electronic loans and clothing.. he barely saves money for his accommodation. He can't afford luxury.
Alan's rage calms down, seeing the almost teary appearance of Ben. "Come down.. have breakfast."
"No no .. I will go home. I wouldn't disturb you anymore. T..thank you for kidnapping me."
"What ?"
"I .. I mean thank you for helping me yesterday."
Alan nods without a smile "have breakfast here. You wouldn't get much time in packing and reporting at the hotel."
"Packing ? Reporting?"
"You just woke up. So you don't know. Just check your mail and come downstairs."
Ben sat on the bed in a daze after Mr. Scott left the room. Then he finally checks his mailbox. There are two new mails from Zoom entertainment's official id.
He clicks to read one. The mail basically says all the participants who qualified the audition of "The Celebrity chef" will have to shift and live in the hotel X for further shooting.
The participant's living costs will be managed by the show makers. Some daily activities of the participants except the main cooking will also be filmed by the show makers for content. After filming ends the participants are allowed to go out and meet his /her friend or family.
But they have to report back to the hotel before midnight. All the participants must shift to the venue within twelve hours after getting this mail.
Ben looks at the time of the mail delivered. 7am today. It's already been three hours. He needs to return home , take a bath , get dressed then pack the essentials. He needs to buy some new toiletries too. Shit !
***
Alan looks at his sister who is glaring at him from the moment he joined the breakfast table. "What ?"
"Do you know, how much the living cost of twenty participants can be ?"
"Your hotel will get free ad film by twenty actor / actresses. We are promoting your business."
Alina squints her eyes "If I need a promotion, I can just use your unconfirmed lover who roams around to impress me... that also for free."
David chuckles.
"Fred is not my lover. We are childhood friends." Alan repeats his old statements firmly.
Alina looks up from her food "You got a little more emphasis this time. What happened ?"
"What emphasis ..."
"Like other times you just say .. Fred my childhood friend. I just suggested the shows. I don't give him any privilege. Don't say such words .. it will be an insult to his hard work .. blah blah blah ..." Alina looks at Alan seriously . "But ....
You never said Fred is not your lover this firmly before."
"What nonsense .." Alan shakes his head "When did I confirm him as my lover ..."
"You didn't but you never denied. Even when you know that everybody calls him your lover." David joins in. "Your employee is here."
Alan turns towards the stairs. "Come here .."
Ben hesitates seeing other people at the breakfast table but he can't offend Mr. Scott anymore. So he walks in.
"Sit ! What are you waiting for ?"
Ben blinks. He looks at the female judge of his competition with a shock. Then he looks at Mr. Scott.
Alina realised Ben's shock. Seems like this kid doesn't know about her relationship with Alan. She smirks.
"Hello, I am Alina. You already know me from the cooking competition. But here I am Alan's girlfriend.
David spills out his drink on the table. Alan almost drops his mobile in the soup. And Ben, he almost fell from the sky. What ? Girlfriend ? Isn't Fred , Mr. Scott's boyfriend?
"She is my sister. She likes to joke around. She is Alina Scott. The owner of hotel X."
Ben widens his eyes. He almost bows at Alina "Good evening , Mam !"
David who was coughing horribly from the shock drinks water. "Morning .. morning .."
Alina grins. What a show she got there. Looks like , this kid is really native and doesn't have any information about their family. Interesting !
Ben eats his breakfast silently. He didn't protest when Mr. david passed him the plate of fruits. He hates fruits.
Alina was first to leave the breakfast table after saying an informal "see you soon."
Ben finishes his breakfast after she leaves. He looks at Mr. Scott "I .. should get going, Mr. Scott. Thank you again for helping me yesterday."
Alan stands up wiping his hands with a tissue. "Where do you live ?"
"Huh ? At galaxy street. Why ?"
"David has some business there. He will drop you off."
"Ah .. no need. I will take the metro."
"Oh come on. Little one. I am just going there. I will drop you." David hurriedly stands beside Ben.
***
"So you were in that show and the director decided to eliminate your part completely ? Wow " David replies while driving.
"Yes ! That's when Mr. Scott helped me with the cooking show."
David nods. Now he gets the full story. This boy is kind of like a damsel in distress. And his dear friend wants to be the hero for him.
"Right there."
David hits the break as Ben points at one of the apartment complexs.
Ben unlocks his seatbelt "Thank you for helping me, Mr..David."
"Only thank you ? Not even asking for a cup of coffee ?" David teases.
Ben's face turns red in embarrassment "no no .. please come. I would love to offer you a coffee. Just I never thought you would like my invitation... This appartment is small and ... "
"Don't be polite. I am a freeloader. I love everything when it's free." David comes out of his car. He really wants to see this kid's boyfriend.
Ben smiles "then please come."
David nods and walks beside Ben "Do you live alone ?"
"No .. I live with my boyfriend here."
"Owh .. then would he be at home now ?"
Ben nods "he leaves at 11:30."
"Then what if he doubts about me ?"
Ben's step stops "huh ?"
David chuckles "Just tell him. I am a helper and here to help you in packing stuffs."
"No no... How can I ?"
"Just to avoid confusion. It's no big deal."
Ben stops in front of his door in second floor "ok then , if Mr. David doesn't mind." He unlocks the door with his key card.
"Please come in."
David walks in the apartment with a curious look. This apartment is not that much costly. How much could be the rent ?
He was wondering this when his eyes falls on a man having breakfast on the sofa. The man stands up "who are you ?"
Ben comes from David's behind "he is David. He is here to help me in packing."
"Packing ?"
"My cooking show has the rule to stay in their hotel and record daily activities. So, I will be away during the filming period.."
Luke rolls his eyes "You still want to do this stupid cooking show ? If you want to cook, then why can't you just help my mother in her restaurant. At least, we will get some money !"
David frowns. "Don't you get money from filming?"
"Well, not enough , if I have to pay for his side of rent." Luke spats. "And now , he will cook for strangers when I have to eat this instant shit ! What a wonderful boyfriend I got !"
Ben's eyes turn red. He blinks fast. "Luke, you ... need to calm down. I will pay my side of rent when I come back !"
"Oh Thank you ! You will do me a great favour." Luke mocks before taking his coat to leave the room.
Ben looks at David after Luke leaves "I am sorry . You have to witness this. Luke is not like this... It's just I doubted his work a little .. yesterday. That's why .."
"He insulted you in front of a stranger?" David looks at Ben's embarrassed face "Ben, being blind in love is ok sometimes, but being deaf in love ? Never!"
Ben looks down helplessly. He doesn't know what to reply.
"Then let's pack your bag. I will drop you off."
"Coffee ?" Ben sniff a little.
"Not here ..."
***
"I am telling you... I was this close to punch him in the face." David huffs in annoyance.
"Motherf*cker ! How could he say such words in front of an outsider." Alina hits her pink punching bag.
"Guess how much is the rent of that shitty place ?"
"How much ?"
"$900/- can you believe it ?"
Alina laughs "you aren't serious, are you ?"
"I am. But there is another thing , I am more serious about."
"What ?"
"That asshole is cheating on Ben."
"Mother .... Who .. how ? How do you know that ?"
"First, When he was talking , I smelled an expensive fragrance from room. Maybe a Ysl scent. It was not from him.
Second there were two used wine glasses at the kitchen. Ben didn't notice it but I did. Ben was here with us last us. He was with someone else.
And last " David opens a picture on his phone and passes it to Alina.
Alina shouts "Motherfu**ing Hell."
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