Convincing her

"Are you allowed to eat that?" Rachel asked Laura who had stuffed a spoonful of ice-cream in her mouth.

She watched her as she relished the flavours before slowly swallowing it.

"I'm not, I just had a photo shoot today. I hardly drank any water since yesterday so that I don't look bloated. Besides, it's really low carb and the portion I'm eating won't have that many calories" Laura said as she shoved another spoonful of ice-cream in her mouth.

Rachel looked at the tub of ice-cream she was holding in her lap and shook her head. She understood that she probably had cravings from her recent diet but she knew that if she left her alone, she would eat the entire tub by herself and she had another photoshoot the next day.

After Laura ate another two spoonfuls Laura took the tub of ice-cream from her forcefully and went with it to the kitchen.

"What do you think you're doing?" Laura complained as she unfolded her long legs and followed Rachel to the kitchen.

"Saving your ass. Are you forgetting who your manager is?" Rachel said making Laura feel depressed all over again.

She hadn't thought that James would be a slave driver since he seemed so relaxed and outgoing when she had met him at the party. She didn't think that the disparity between his sober self and drunk self would be so big yet so small at the same time.

He would give threats and warnings with a cunning smile and his face really did not help matters. Most people in the industry had learned through him not to judge a book by its cover. He had the most deceptive face she had ever had the honour of seeing, albeit, it was still very beautiful.

Rachel put the ice cream back in the freezer and took out a bottle of water and handed it to Laura. Laura took the water from her with a pout and stomped her way back to the living room.

"How's the progress with the company?" Laura asked trying to divert her attention away from James.

"It's great, I've actually asked a few people to come from country M to come over to assist. We also have to leave the hotel and find an actual place to stay. I think we've already overstayed our welcome." Rachel said and Laura nodded her head in agreement.

Although it was very convenient to stay at a hotel especially of the standards of L.L Hotels. They had truly taken advantage of Lucas' hospitality.

"Do you have anywhere you could think of staying?" Laura asked Rachel.

"I've actually asked Brian to help out with that. He said it wouldn't take long and he would get back to me" Rachel said not giving her answer much thought.

"Don't think about making me the third wheel okay? It'll feel even more depressing since my love interest is currently the person who I hate the most. How could he line up so many jobs in succession?" Laura complained making Rachel laugh.

"I'll be too busy with company business anyway, besides, you're hardly home these days since you're so busy, it shouldn't make much of a difference whether he comes or not," Rachel said a smile still hovering over her lips.

"Look who is so happy talking about her baby," Laura said in mock disgust. In reality, she was truly happy for her friend. She hadn't seen her smile so carefreely like this in a while. Especially when talking about a man.

"Don't tease me" Rachel said as she sat down with a cup of tea. 

"Is he good to you?" Laura asked. She had asked her this question a couple of times before and even though she received the same answer, she was not tired of hearing it.

She actually did not want the answer to change but she kept on asking because she was worried about her friend.

"He is. I feel like I'm being compensated for all the things that I had to go through in the past" Rachel answered.

"Have you two talked about what happened before? With the other guys" Laura asked nervously.

"Not really. I think he knows that I've gone through some pretty bad things but he doesn't know what. I'm also worried about how he would react. He looks like a deep calm lake most of the times, every time I look into his eyes I realise how much I don't know about him" Rachel said thinking out loud.

"I'd prefer the calm lake to the turbulent river that is James. If you aren't careful you'll hit your head against the rocks, become unconscious and fall off a waterfall" Laura complained making Rachel laugh.

What Rachel did not know was the extent of influence that Brian had. He had met many people from all walks of life in his military career, in his IT career, in being a tattoo artist and if she told him that there were men who beat her around in the past, the only one that could really help them was god. 

It was the one reason Lucas did not hesitate to call him about the stalker situation that Jen had experienced a few months back. Brian's biggest asset was definitely his connections and influence.

Granted that he also came from a good background, it meant that his scope of influence was even bigger. Lucas' biggest asset was that he had made one big connection by being Brian's friend.

"Do you plan on telling him?" Laura asked curiously.

"At least not for now. I think our relationship is still too young to disclose such sensitive information to each other. I'm surprised that he did not conduct a background check on me since he is from the military and all" Rachel commented with a small frown.

"Maybe he did notice that you had probably been through some things with other guys before so he wanted you to disclose it at your own time. Wouldn't it be unsettling if he just went to investigate you? That would definitely raise some red flags, at least for me" Laura said.

"I think hanging out with James raised your IQ" Rachel commented trying to dissolve the solemn atmosphere and received a smack on her arm as a result.