FOUR

Chris Chariton. 

Chris Chariton was the last person Starr was willing to see at that point in time, but it was the public, 'the will to see' law didn't apply there. 

He had a wide grin on, a grin wide enough to contain the lounge. "The club is the last place I'd have ever imagined seeing you," he said with a smile, causing Starr to scoff.

"And why is that?" she asked with a smirk, crossing her legs. 

He shrugged. "You're… What's the word again?" He paused, tapping at his chin to think of the word, then lifting his hands as his face spread like he had gotten a new idea. "Austere. That's it." 

Starr shrugged. 

"Ascetic," he said. 

Starr shrugged again. 

He chuckled. "You must be used to being described as that, uh?" 

She shrugged once more, not wanting to exchange words with him, hoping that was going to send him away. But Chris was far from going. "May I?" he asked, pointing to the space beside her, asking if he could take the space. 

"No." She kept her reply short. 

He chuckled. "Wow, that was pretty straightforward."

Starr prayed. Prayed that he left her alone. She knew Chris wasn't good for her, not in any way. He made her want to giggle, laugh, and talk; those were bad signs, signs of someone who was going to leave one in a doleful state. 

"Hey man," Magnus greeted Chris, arriving with a dry martini for himself and a cosmopolitan for Starr. "Looking good as ever." He smiled widely, causing Chris to reflect his expression. 

"Not as good-looking as you." 

Magnus chuckled. "Is Valentine around?" he asked Chris, looking around as he handed Starr her drink. 

She let herself smile a bit, consciously collecting her drunk from him, knowing how absentminded he was at that point in time. "He's around the corner, probably…" Chris didn't finish as he began to look around the lounge, then stopped at the far end of it before he said, "There, right there." He pointed, making Magnus stretch a bit, nodding as he spotted Valentine talking flirty with some guy. 

"Err… I'll be off now," he said to me with a smile, then turning to Chris. "Have a seat, pal. Feel comfortable; she's all yours." 

Starr frowned at him, mouthing, "Seriously?" 

He ignored her. "Be nice," he warned her, waving his index finger at her. With that, he took off without even turning back for a second. 

Starr groaned while Chris sat and made himself comfortable. "Why the rigidity, though?" Chris asked, crossing his legs and spreading his arms on the back of the couch they were seated on. 

Starr ignored him, sipping from her cosmo. 

"Heard you've never had a lover," Chris said. "No, not after fame." 

Starr was trying her hardest not to reply, but before she knew it, she replied, "Heard from who?" 

"You're pretty high in the industry, you know, and mysterious. So, most want to know." He shrugged, making Starr scoff.

"Yeah, right?" 

He nodded. "Yeah." 

"And how-" Starr had begun, but was quickly shut off by a squeal, as a young blond lady ran towards them. 

"Chris Chariton! Oh my gawd, it is you," she said as she made to hug him, drawing attention to them also and making Starr squirm. She wasn't a fan of that kind of attention; it made her highly uncomfortable. "I'm such a huge fan," she said with a cherry-like voice, while Chris stood to take her hug. 

"Really?" he asked with a smile, causing her to nod and begin to chat animatedly about his work and how she loved him and them. 

For some reason, that made Starr's stomach churn. The stare had shifted, but Starr found herself still squirming. How friendly he was with her, conversing and being the fun and friendly person he was, made her uncomfortable in various ways. She took that as her cue as she drank from her cosmo and dropped it, grabbing her purse as she rose and began to leave, forgetting Magnus was her ride. 

She didn't get to go far before she heard a low, 'Sorry, got to go' from Chris, then a low whimper from the girl. She heard footsteps approaching her, and soon Chris was by her side. She fought every urge she felt to turn and look at him, keeping her gaze ahead. "Running?" he asked with a chuckle. 

But, Starr wasn't up for it anymore. She didn't like how he made her feel, and the better she was apart from him, the better for her. She kept her mouth shut as she walked down the stairs and out of the club. She thought he was going to leave her, let her be, since she was ignoring him and wasn't paying him attention. But, no, he followed her. Followed her quietly, not saying a single word to her, but simply providing his presence. 

It wasn't until she was out the door and ready to leave that Starr realised she had left her ride in the club. She sighed, muttering 'Stupid' to herself. Still acting like Chris wasn't with her, she pulled out her phone from her purse and began to call Magnus. She paced, listening to the call ring and come to an end, without him picking up her call. She called him again, and again, but he still didn't pick. She was getting frustrated and angry when she felt a gentle tap on her arm. She didn't bother to check who it was before she groaned and said, "What do you want, Christopher?" She turned, sparing him a glance that ended up looking like a glare.

Chris lifted his hands up, like in surrender. "I wasn't trying to hurt you. Just wondering if you needed a ride; I did come with my car. I mean, looking at your ambience, Magnus is your ride and isn't picking." He shrugged. "He's probably, in some corner, sucking at Valentine's face." 

Realising Chris was most definitely not lying, Starr sighed, letting her shoulders fall. "Maybe."

Chris pointed to the car park. "I can give you a lift," he said, lifting his shoulders. 

Starr tried to look for other options, but she kept on reaching an end. She didn't have any other choice; he was pretty much the only choice she had, and she definitely didn't want to go back to the club. So, she nodded with a sigh. "Sure, fine." 

Chris nodded, as he began to walk towards the park. She followed silently behind him, listening to the clicking of her heels. Chris stopped by a jet-black Benz, opening the passenger-side door for her, stretching his arms. "Thank you," Starr muttered as she got in, avoiding his gaze. She wasn't ready to fully accept her defeat. 

She watched Chris turn around and get into the driver's seat. He didn't say a word to her, making Starr wonder if she had affected him in some way. He started the car and drove. "Address?" he asked. 

She told him. 

He simply nodded, driving out of the park and away from the club in silence. 

Starr wanted to, oh so desperately, slouch, but no one got to see her so relaxed, apart from Magnus and herself. So, she kept her legs together and bent them to the right, resting her arm on the armrest. She shut her eyes, trying to wash away the various feelings she was feeling. 

"Why are you always so grouchy?" Chris suddenly asked, making her eyes burst open. 

She sat upright. "Huh?" she asked, instantly feeling dumb for asking such. She had heard his question, but she didn't have a reply. She had never been asked outright; people simply thought whatever they wanted to, ignoring whatever the truth was, and she didn't mind. She didn't like having to tell people. 

"Why are you always so grouchy?" he asked again, not minding. 

Starr adjusted in her seat, dusting invisible dirt from her dress. "I'm not," she tried to defend herself. 

Chris laughed. "Well, you spend most of the time I see you, frowning. I can count the times you smiled, but can't recall a laugh. The frowns, uncountable." 

Starr moved uncomfortably in her seat, sparing Chris a glance; his gaze was fixed on the road. "That's not true. I do smile." 

"I never said you don't. I only said you frown more. So, why?" 

She frowned, wondering why she let him make her feel uncomfortable as she moved in her seat again. She didn't owe anyone any explanation, so she made him know. "I owe you no explanation for my moods." 

Chris nodded. "True that, but-" 

"No buts," she cut him off. "Just focus on the road, huh?" 

Not wanting to come off as too pushy, Chris nodded, smiling to himself. "Okay, ma'am." 

It wasn't long before they got to Starr's apartment. Chris quickly got out of the car when he parked, going around to open the door for her. Starr watched him, patiently waiting for him. Yes, she was her own woman, but that wasn't going to make her miss out on the whole queen treatment thingy. 

Chris opened the door for her, stretching his arm. She took it gently, enjoying the warmth it produced. He shut the door behind her, placing his arm gently on her bare waist as he led her to her door. Starr's body heated up, goosebumps rising, hair standing, and her panties dampening. She wanted to physically groan at her body's reaction, but she couldn't; she was too engrossed in the feeling, and she forgot how to groan. It had been so long since she had felt the firm arm of a man on her bare skin; she wanted to melt, melt into it. But, she had to keep her cool. 

She was way deep into the feeling that she didn't know when they got to her door, until Chris asked, "I guess that's goodnight then?" 

Almost physically whimpering at Chris pulling his arms away, she didn't know what came over her as she quickly said, "How about some tea?" 

Chris frowned a bit, causing her to begin to feel unsure and spank herself for her rash decision. "You don't have to, if you don't want to," she quickly made him know, not wanting to seem desperate. After all, she was a strong, independent woman. 

"No, no. I would love some," he quickly replied, making her release a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "I'll love some tea."

She nodded, unlocking the door and letting both of them in. She knew she had made a decision she was most likely going to regret, but the deed had already been done. So, whatever, she guessed. 

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