LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 28: Curiosity Doesn't Bring Anything Good - Part 3

*NO ONE POV*

"Are you all saying the truth?" Barbie eyed them one by one before giving Celine an intriguing stare. "Is your butt fine? Don't you go to the hospital and have it checked ?" 

"No. No. No need." Celine refused with an awkward grin.

Eric also couldn't help but giggle at the look of the blind date woman. She was like a withered eggplant. Anica did not laugh but she pretended to be surprised and worried.

Miss Cruz turned to Barbie's direction. "So you did it? You got the nerves to humiliate me, huh. You all are in cahoots of this."

Miss Cruz was about to go to Barbie when Anica stopped her. "Miss Cruz, I'm sorry for the scandal that my friends made. But they didn't mean it and we don't work to embarrass you."

"Sorry? Just sorry?" The woman smiled foolishly and was about to slap anica when Eric grabbed her hand midway. 

"Don't you dare to lay a hand on my woman, otherwise, don't blame me for being cruel. I think you know me well." Eric said in a domineering tone. 

Anica stared at Eric while the four in the back seemed to be dreaming, at the same time saying, "So cool. So handsome."

"Mr. Oliver, you really disappoint me. I actually dreamed of marrying you but you are rejecting me. Aren't you too arrogant?" Her eyes glazed over at Anica.

"Miss Cruz, first of all I didn't promise you anything. Second, this is not all I want. It wasn't me who proposed this meeting. If I was right, it is you who asked your mother to talk my mom about this stupid blind date thing. Third and the last, you are just a total stranger for me. We haven't even got along, you already thought of marrying me. Don't you find that absurd?"

"You bastard!" Miss Cruz looked around as everyone in the restaurant stared back at her while holding their laugh, she yelled at them. "What are you staring at? Where is the manager?" 

"No need to call for the manager Miss Cruz. If you have complaints, you can directly talk to me." A tall skin-toned man with a complete manly look in his black slack and white polo shirt said. He walked elegantly towards them with hands in his pockets. 

"Who are you?"

"I am the owner of this restaurant, Peter Carlos. Nice to meet you Miss Cruz." Peter offered a shake of hands but Miss Cruz didn't accept it. He retracted his hand and laid his palm at Eric's shoulder. "What is wrong Miss Cruz, you can tell me about it now so I can judge for you fairly."

"Look at what these bunch of trash people have done to me?" Miss Cruz shook herself because of the thickness of the juice that stuck on her body. 

Peter's eyes signalled Eric. Eric took a single step and said, "Don't worry Miss Cruz, we will compensate you."

"How are you going to compensate me? Are you willing to marry me now? Fine, but my clothes cost a lot. I want them to pay me." Miss Cruz said. 

"Right! Your clothes are ruined. That indeed needs to be paid. Just name your price." Anica interjected. 

"I thought you don't have money, how are you going to pay her?" Eric asked Anica. 

"Who said I am going to pay. It's you who will pay." Anica replied. 

Eric held Anica and whispered, "Why me?" 

"Because you are my boyfriend. Besides you promise to be responsible for us here. Now, we accidentally created trouble, are you backing your words now?"

"Nonsense! I am a man of my word. Wait, you are clearly robbing me?"

Anica smug. "Yes. I'm indeed robbing you. Who told you to mess around with me. Since you took a full package of my service, I should increase my price. I am expensive if you don't know."

Eric shook his head and said, "Why am I so unlucky today? Great. I will settle the account with you later. But I want to warn you, those who caught my attention can't get away from me. Be careful!" Eric curled his index finger and traced Anica's nose and smirked. "Naughty girl!" 

"So who is really going to pay me?" Miss Cruz snorted. 

Eric stood back straight and grinned awkwardly to Peter. "It's me, of course."

"Girls, what are you waiting for? Let's go. We still have work." Anica hurriedly hauled her workmates. 

"Hey, are you going to run away?" Miss Cruz shouted, spurning her foot to the floor.

Anica shouted back from outside. "My boyfriend is there. How can I run away. It's just that, you are not worthy of my time. Bye, Babe. See you later." Anica devilishly gave Eric a flying kiss.

Eric laughed. 

"What a cute girl." Peter simpered. "You are lucky Dude."

"Of course!" Eric agreed and watched Anica's leaving figure with a mysterious smile. 

***************

On the other hand, Melanie was also in a famous coffee shop in the city for signing a contract with a client. 

-"Happy cooperation Miss Smith." Said by the client as she offered a hands shake. 

-"Happy cooperation." Melanie politely accepted. 

The client tidied her things, "Miss Smith, I still have other things to do. I have to go first."

"Oh, yes thank you. Thank you. Be careful on your way." Melanie stretched her hands up and sipped a coffee after while looking around. Inadvertently, in the opposite table, she saw Adorro in his police uniform only covered with a black jacket having a date. 

Melanie's chest tightened at what she saw. Even if she had no right to be angry with the man because they had no relationship, she could not help it.

She grinned with a mixture of annoyance and bitterness. "So he is seeing someone now." She slapped the table gently but still hurt his hand. "s**t, why am I angry?"

Melanie sipped all her coffee at once and strode gracefully towards Addorro's table. "I'm really curious what kind of girl can get his interest." As Melanie was approaching, she noticed that the young man was not speaking and was just patiently listening to the talkative blind date girl. 

"My mom said you were kind and handsome. Meeting you today, it was indeed true. Addorro, when we get together, how many children do you want?" Said by the beautiful woman, pretending to be modest and polite. She moved her hands and was about to reach for the young man's hand that was resting on the table, suddenly the man hid it in his pocket.

"I hate strangers touching me." The man said coldly. His first sentence against the girl. "Also, did I promise to marry you?" 

"That's right! He didn't promise you anything. Anyways, It's impossible for him to marry you." Melanie interrupted and seductively laid her elbow at Addorro's shoulder as she sat uninvitedly at his lap. 

The other girl stood up angrily, pointing at Melanie. "Who are you? What are you doing?" She glanced at Addorro, "Addoro, didn't you just say you don't like strangers touching you. How come you didn't push her?"

"Yeah, he hates strangers touching him but I am not a stranger to him." Melanie simpered, tracing her fingertip at Addorro's face. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Are you slow? Because he is mine. I am his girlfriend."

"Impossible. You are lying! Addorro, tell her to go away."

Melanie held Addorro's chin temptingly with her fingertip. "Honey, will you be able to push and drive me away?" 

Addorro closed his eyes then smiled plainly, and said, "No."

"Did you hear that?" Melanie smirked at the woman.

"Impossible! This is impossible! You two are lying."

"What's impossible about there? You just don't want to believe it? Fine, I'll show you." The young man was surprised when Melanie suddenly wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

"This is outrageous!" The woman approached them angrily and took a glass of coffee and poured it on Melanie. "You bastards!" 

Melanie cursed silently in shock but she also laughed when the woman stormed out mad from the coffee shop. 

When the girl was gone, Addorro suddenly stood up and dabbed the little coffee that had sputtered on him. He ignored Melanie's grunt who almost fell off from the chair as he suddenly let go of her and stood up.

"Hey, how could you just ignore me. You are so ungrateful." Melanie yelled which caused everyone around looked at them. 

"You help me get rid of her, you stole me a kiss. We are even." Addorro turned around. As he began to walk, he turned back at Melanie again and took off his jacket then covered it to Melanie. "Go home and get change. My free time is over. I can't send you home."

Melanie punched her fist slightly on the table. "Bastard."