A Devil Boss

Chapter 6.2

The following days were hectic. Sera had a lot to do, and in the evening, she came home later than the first days. Information had to be collected and evaluated, so she was shocked when Astarot gave her a day off.

This was very convenient for her because she really wanted to explore Los Angeles a bit. Not only did she want to visit the beach, but she also wanted to check out stores and bars. Just have a day of fun.

That's why she was on her way very early. She wanted to be at the beach before people started coming here and then slowly look at some parts of town that she could easily reach on foot. She took a cab to the shore since it was further away, and she didn't want to waste time unnecessarily.

After sitting dreamily on the beach, she took a cab back to downtown Los Angeles and first had a hearty breakfast at a small café that was even open at that hour.

Astarot had made good on his promise to pay her part of her salary. That meant she could afford a little. There wasn't going to be any money for the apartment, either. At least not at the moment.

But she wasn't really in the mood to buy anything. Instead, she treated herself to some good food and then walked around the city. Sera visited Chinatown and the park, where she spent some time sunbathing at noon. She even went to the university where she would study in the summer. She was really looking forward to that.

Late in the afternoon, Sera settled into a café and ordered a cappuccino. Resting a bit and enjoying a piece of cake, as long as she kept herself busy with her smartphone and people-watching.

"Excuse me, may I join you?" a male voice sounded, and Sera raised her head. In front of her stood a businessman with an open jacket, short brown hair, and eyes just as brown.

Sera eyed him intently, then nodded. She picked up her bag from the vacant chair and pointed to it. Strange that the man should ask her, for there were plenty of other free tables. Perhaps he wanted to enjoy the view Sera had as well.

"Usually, this is my regular table," the man explained with a smirk. That would explain the look on the waitress's face when Sera settled here. "Belial Satanis." he introduced himself in the same breath. "Pleased to meet you."

The name, like Astarots, was unusual and probably not well known. "Oh, excuse me," Sera said hastily, standing up. "I didn't know the tables here were reserved," she said sheepishly, giving her own name.

"Don't get up," he said with a motion. "You don't have to carry your food all over the room."

Slowly, Sera settled back down, keeping her eyes on the stranger. Handsome he looked, she had to admit. Muscles stood out under his white shirt, and they weren't exaggerated. "At least I'll know next time and pick another table right away so you won't be disturbed," she remarked jokingly.

Again, Belial made a waving-off hand gesture. "I like having company."

"In that case...," Sera commented but left her sentence open-ended and smiled instead. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister Satanis."

He smiled. "This is your first time in this café," he remarked as if he knew all the people here.

Nodding in agreement, Sera picked up her cup to take a sip. "You're absolutely right about that. I'm not from here, but I've been working in Los Angeles for a short time, and this is my first day off," she explained. She picked up a piece of the cheesecake with her fork and popped it into her mouth.

A young waitress brought Belial a coffee without Sera noticing that he had ordered. "Allow me to ask, what do you do for a living?"

Probably they knew him well enough, and he always wanted the same thing. Sera answered his question that she was a secretary at the moment and would be studying in the summer. Since it was only summer classes, she could work the rest of the time. As she spoke, she looked at Belial the whole time. Somehow the man had a similar aura to Astarot.

"Have you gotten to know Los Angeles yet?" he wanted to know, apparently eyeing her curiously.

"Actually, only downtown and the beach," Sera admitted sheepishly. And even if that part of town, she hadn't explored everything.

"Really?" asked Belial in surprise. "Don't you feel like exploring the city with me?" he asked. A question Sera would have actually refused, but there was something about Belial that made her lose all caution.

He had a spell that she was simply drawn into. And since she didn't have any friends yet, except for the few colleagues in the office, she saw the opportunity and agreed. "I'd love to. I'm sure you can show me some nice places. What do you do for a living?" she wanted to know curiously.

"I'm a lawyer," he explained with a smile. "And Los Angeles really does have a lot of nice places."

Surprised, Sera raised her eyebrows. "You're a lawyer, too?" she asked, shocked. She knew there was always competition between lawyers as to which of them got the best cases. I wonder if it was the same with him. Did he perhaps even know Astarot? It would be a miracle if he didn't know him.

Belial made a throwing-away hand gesture. "I deal more with smaller cases," he explained as if he didn't care.

"Even those need a decent lawyer who won't take their money out of their pockets," Sera remarked soberly and dryly. Some lawyers were just out to take money out of the pockets of people who really needed help. Sera didn't really like that, and Mister Satanis didn't seem like an unscrupulous lawyer.

He laughed softly before taking a sip of coffee. "Excellent attitude," he praised. "However, I deal more with petty criminals and drug addicts," he sighed.

Thoughtful, as if thinking of something, Sera tilted her head. "I understand. But they need someone, too," she thought, drinking the rest of her cappuccino. "Are you ready so you can show me Los Angeles?" she asked with a smile.

Belial also drained his coffee. "I'd love to," he said and put the money on the table.

Sera did the same and then took her bag. "Do you have that much time? We can put it off if you like."

"I have a day off today," he said, smiling before leaving the café with her.

"Works out well," Sera gloated, stretching extensively. "Where do you want to go first?" she asked excitedly.

"Have you been to the Santa Monica Pier yet?" he asked, leading her to his car.

Shaking her head, Sera looked at the sleek Mercedes. Somehow the car suited him. "Not yet. I was planning to do that on my next day off. But I did go to the beach this morning," she laughed.

"Then the wax museum would be good for today," he suggested.

Without hesitation, Sera settled into the passenger seat. "That sounds interesting. Yet I thought that only existed in London," she said with a smile. In any case, it would be a good change, and she was looking forward to getting the chance. Even if it wasn't right to join a stranger she had known for maybe half an hour.

Belial laughed. "It's the Hollywood Wax Museum," he explained as he started the car and steered it into traffic.

Sera didn't know how to respond. She didn't know her way around here that well. Besides, she looked closely at the street names to memorize them. Somehow she wanted to take precautions in case something happened to her.

Maybe she should inform someone with whom she was traveling? But the only one she knew here was Astarot and a few colleagues.

She pushed aside a slightly guilty conscience. It was her life. She would no longer be patronized but would go her own way and do what she thought was right.

It took them a bit to get to the Hollywood Wax Museum, as it was surprisingly busy. Wanting to somehow show her appreciation for Belial's kindness, Sera offered to take him out to dinner afterward.

"I know a good pub. Should be fine with you," he explained, finally parking.

For the first time in her life, Sera was on Hollywood Boulevard. She could hardly believe it and looked around in awe. "I'm not picky. I can eat on the street too," she joked, getting out to take a better look around.

"Unfortunately, we don't have street eateries as good as the ones in Thailand," he waved off.

Together they made their way to the entrance. "You've been to Thailand? It must be really nice there," Sera enthused, yet she had never been abroad.

"It was scorching. But the people were all very nice," he told her, then tried to describe to Sera how it was different from Los Angeles.

Some of his descriptions were extravagant and flowery but so interesting that Sera found herself forgetting everything else.

They paid the entrance fee. Even once inside the museum, Sera couldn't give the wax figures the attention they probably deserved. Belial's stories were too interesting for that. "It would be great to experience that someday," she sighed.

"They're still young. I'm sure once they start their careers, you'll be able to afford vacations like this," Belial laughed and then began to tell her some things about the characters.

Again, she listened attentively because Belial had a unique way of telling. She learned through his stories and also asked questions. She knew many actors and famous people, but their stories somewhat less.

He managed to get her complete attention, and so the time flew by. Finally, they sat together in a cozy bar.