A Devil Boss

Chapter 5.2

Sera was sometimes a hopeless romantic when it came to walking on the beach. She always wanted to experience it, and she took it upon herself to spend the whole day at the beach on a day off.

A car pulled up in front of her, and her boss got out. He was wearing a black, tailored suit that made him look very elegant.

His black, long hair was also carefully straightened. This left Sera speechless, and it took her a few seconds before she was able to repeat anything. "I didn't know you could look even more elegant than usual," she remarked dryly, though it was meant more as a compliment.

He seemed to take it that way, too. "I have to adapt to you after all," he said, and Sera wondered if that was a compliment as well.

To cover her insecurity, she waved it off and got into the car as her boss held the door open for her. As soon as he got into the car as well, she turned to him. "Unlike you, this is my first event of this kind. Therefore, I assume you know what is being emphasized. Inform me if you don't want to embarrass yourself."

Astarot smirked. "You mean if you don't want to embarrass me." She heard something in his voice and almost believed he didn't care if she embarrassed him or not.

Sera raised an eyebrow. "Told you. If you don't want to embarrass yourself," she asserted, taking her small, silver bag onto her lap so it wouldn't get dirty. Whereas his car was always sparkling clean.

"Just be yourself. You should make enough of an impression with that," he laughed, seemingly in good humor.

As Astarot started the car, Sera gave him a sidelong glance. "You don't know at all what I'm actually like," she replied dryly but turned her gaze to the traffic and surroundings. From the looks of it, Astarot was heading into the Hollywood area.

"I'd like to know," he said, looking focused as he weaved through traffic.

Someday, maybe, he would find out. At least when they were working together. Sera remained silent on the subject, rechecking her wiring unobtrusively. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw more and more expensive cars passing or parking her. An indication that they were almost there.

The neighborhood had changed a lot, and the high-rises gave way to more expensive mansions with front yards.

Finally, Astarot stopped in front of one of the mansions and got out.

As lights mounted outside illuminated the mansion, the mansion looked stunning, making the enormous white building look even more significant and nobler. 

Sera gasped as she recognized some famous actors from a distance and her grip on her handbag tightened. She had always wanted to get to know some actors better, but she hadn't thought she would ever get a chance.

"Try not to ask for autographs," Astarot said matter-of-factly as he held the door open for her.

The fact that he simply ducked her was something Sera let slide at that moment. "I don't plan to ask for autographs," she muttered. That kind of thing wasn't in her nature. She just wanted to get to know the actors better, to understand their character traits. One always heard good things about some, rather nasty things about others.

"Very good," Astarot agreed. "You're here as my escort, by the way. Not as my assistant."

Horrified, Sera looked at him. "And you're just telling me this now? Pretty sneaky," she remarked contemptuously. As his assistant, she would have preferred to be introduced. Much more was expected of an escort.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been allowed to take you along," he said with a shrug. At that, he looked far too amused.

Sera cleared her throat and said they would talk about it later. Her contract stated that she had to accompany him. However, there had never been any talk of going as an escort. That was already going a bit too far for Sera. She would have much rather gone as an assistant. 

She got out and heard laughter coming from the garden. Some guests were standing there, holding their champagne glasses in their hands, and seemed to be having a splendid time. Among them was the wife of the actor Mister Dabalast.

She was their target. But the question was also to whom they were actually invited here. Where was the host?

Sera let her gaze wander through the crowd and spotted the young woman wearing an azure dress.

Several times she had to blink, and her mind strained to identify the person. She had seen the woman for sure, but the name had slipped her mind. A bad omen, Sera thought. 

"This is Mrs. Rosalia Ansarta," Astarot whispered to her softly.

All at once, Sera remembered the movies she had seen with Rosalia. Mostly she played a romantic character, but there were also some thrillers with her. "Thank you," Sera whispered to her boss. Without him, she would look foolish. "Will you maybe also tell me how to behave with her?" she continued to ask in a whisper.

Astarot shrugged his shoulders. "She doesn't set many stores by origin. But you should still be polite."

In response, Sera straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. "Then let's go," she said, cheering herself on in thought. Hopefully, Astarot would find essential clues to the case here, and she wouldn't have to stay so long. Parties like this often lasted into the wee hours of the morning.

There were a lot of big-name people here, and Sera took pains to name all of them. But with the number of guests, it was difficult.

"Astarot," Misses Ansarta's voice rang out, and she stepped toward him with her arms open exuberantly. "I'm so glad you could come," she said, and they both embraced lightly.

Sera took a half step back so as not to disturb the embrace. She should have been surprised at this kind of greeting, but she wasn't. She was aware that Astarot's notoriety contributed to being invited to very many events. This, of course, was how he got to know people. So it was no wonder that he was on a first-name basis with Mrs. Ansartas. He probably was with everyone here.

"Let me introduce you to my companion. Sera Taylor. She wants to be a lawyer, too," Astarot explained politely, but also with a tone that showed Sera he was probably flirting with her.

"It's a great pleasure to meet you, Misses Ansartas," Sera greeted the actress with a friendly smile. It did not escape her notice that she was closely scrutinized.

"Oh, I'm so glad," she replied effusively, extending her hand to Sera.

She took the actress's warm, very soft hand and smiled. An expensive fragrance emanated from Misses Ansartas, which Sera actually didn't like because, in her opinion, it smelled solid. But that was not an issue at the moment. "A very nice event," Sera said with a gesture.

This made Mrs. Ansartas smile. "I certainly hope it suits you both," she said, blushing slightly as she looked to Astarot.

A clear sign to Sera that the actress was flattered by Astarot's flirtations. I wonder if she had fallen in love with him. It was possible. Astarot handled women. It was instead wondering if this one didn't jump at it. "She really is wonderful and tasteful," Sera continued to affirm with a smile but let go of Misses Ansarta's hand.

It seemed she was about to say something else when a man about her age beckoned and even called to her. "My husband is calling me," she said, blushing. "Have fun."

Sera looked thoughtfully at the woman, then shook her head accusingly in Astarot's direction. "You're a womanizer," she remarked matter-of-factly, then shrugged. "As long as you're getting information ..." she muttered because she was aware that he was doing the flirting just for the sake of it.

"That's the spirit," he agreed. "Let's mingle."

So they climbed the stairs into the villa. Wonderful piano music sounded as soon as they entered and grew louder as they approached the living room. Everywhere was just teeming with people, and Sera realized that most of them were actually standing around or even sitting while they talked. Butlers with trays in their hands offered drinks as well as food and appetizers.

Outside there was a pool where even some were swimming, and others were lying on the loungers talking. It was a strange contrast but somehow suited the woman, who only by her first impression believed such a thing to be true.

Almost Sera shook her head. Such a large house for actually only two people? Who felt comfortable walking through the house for minutes to get from one corner to the other? Indeed this was a matter of taste. Nevertheless, the furnishings were tasteful and noble. 

Sera stopped close to Astarot. "When do you start work?" she asked quietly, taking an offered crab morsel.

"I'm already on it," he explained with a grin, taking a glass of champagne and handing one to Sera as well.

With raised eyebrows, she accepted it, wanting to know if he planned to walk home. If he drank alcohol, she would instead call a cab. 

"Driver," he waved off and raised his glass to toast her.

Slowly, Sera visibly relaxed and decided to just let the event unfold. Astarot would already know what to do. Thanks to the mini-microphone, they would be able to listen to everything again later. 

Such an event was unique, and there was no reason why Sera shouldn't enjoy the feeling.

With Astarot, she mingled with the people and got to know many actors from an entirely different perspective.

Most of them were in a chatty mood. Whether this was due to the good mood or the expensive champagne, Sera could not say. It was amazing how different people were. Often, most had a completely wrong image of their role models.

Sera paid attention to Astarot, who was really eloquent. He managed to wrap the women around his finger and the men, and they actually got some information about the Dabalast family.

How important and meaningful they were, they would find out later. 

At first, Sera had felt uncomfortable, but after a while, she was like any other guest and chatted a bit when asked something. Otherwise, she left the talking to Astarot.

However, he didn't talk much either, but it always seemed significant somehow when he did. It made people do what he wanted them to do. At least, that was the feeling Sera had.

How he managed that, she didn't know, but she didn't ask either. It would seem strange. So she kept silent in such moments and was glad when he finally gave the signal to leave. It was already well past midnight, and Sera was tired after three glasses of champagne. Probably because she didn't drink regularly, and she hadn't eaten much either.

Outside was Astarot's car, but a man was sitting inside. Probably the driver he had been talking about.

As they got in, Sera sighed and rolled up her dress a little to remove the microphone and hand it to Astarot. 

As she did so, she yawned and rubbed her eyes. The only thing she wanted now was to go to bed.

"Looks like someone's tired," Astarot teased, glancing at the clock. It was certainly well past midnight, Sera realized.

"And how," Sera replied wearily, pressing the microphone into his hand. As she did so, she felt the warmth radiating from him.

"Then we'd best drop you off right away," laughed Astarot, who didn't seem tired at all.

"Thank you." With that, Sera was satisfied, and soon after, she was able to fall into bed. At least the event had been successful.