Chapter 6 - Graham Is Proposing

Everybody could hear the exasperated tone of Marty, so they focused. They did 5 retakes before Marty finally got satisfied. He called for another break. 

"We'll take a 15-minute break, and then we'll start over for the next one." He rose from his chair and made his way towards the corner where refreshments were served. 

While Marty was on his way to get something to eat, he heard Cassandra and Graham talking. He just stopped to find out what they were talking about. 

"I'm sorry, I have to leave because I have an urgent business to attend to" Graham was holding Cassandra's hand as he was talking. 

"I thought you were going to take me out for ramen." Cassandra pouted.

"That was the plan, but..." Cassandra interrupted him.

"You don't have to explain, I absolutely understand." Cassandra smiles as she taps Graham's arm. 

Watching Cassandra fondle Graham's arm with love, Marty's face got darker. 

“That’s one of the qualities I love for a wife. Will you be my wife? ” Graham touched Cassandra’s nose. 

Marty’s body instantaneously stiffened upon hearing Graham. ‘Is he proposing now?’

“Are you proposing now, aren’t you?” Cassandra said, chuckling. 

"So, what would your response be to my proposition?" Graham's lips curled up.

“You already knew it.” Cassandra chuckled, but was shocked when Graham suddenly embraced her tightly. 

Marty’s eyes narrowed, seeing another man embracing Cassandra. 

“Graham, you're smothering me.” Graham released Cassandra at once. 

“I’ll have to go, sweetheart. I’ll call you later.” Graham cupped Cassandra’s face and brushed it with his thumbs. 

“Alright” Cassandra said then Graham left. 

Another scene was shot after a brief break and they finished when the clock struck 7. Cassandra changed her clothes and donned skinny jeans and a loose shirt which she then paired with sneakers. She packed up her things and said goodbye to Len. 

Cassandra left with her small luggage and walked on the sidewalk. While she was making a call to the cab driver who always picks her up after filming, she heard a car honking at her. She turned to the car to find out who it was.  She was surprised that it was Marty. 

“Get in the car!” Marty ordered. 

Cassandra didn't budge, she didn't want him to know she is nervous right now. She looked at Marty with a calm stance. Marty got out of the car since Cassandra wouldn't budge. He took a long stride and neared Cassandra. He then took the luggage from Cassandra. 

"Sir Marty, thank you, but I have someone to come and fetch me" Cassandra took her luggage. 

“Is it your boyfriend?” Marty spoke with a bitter tone and narrowed his eyes. 

"No, he's a cab driver." Cassandra shook her head. 

"Is he coming now?" Marty wanted to know. 

“I was going to call him when you arrive.” Cassandra still maintains a facade of calm demeanor, but deep inside she is trembling with him close to her. 

"I'll give you a lift." Marty took the luggage and put it in the car and then opened the passenger door. 

He held Cassandra’s hand and steered her towards the car, he closed the door once she was seated. Marty sat in the driver’s seat, he turned to buckle up Cassandra’s seat belt. Cassandra’s breath hitched at the sudden act. On the other hand, Marty enjoyed their proximity as he smelled her sweet scent. 

While driving Marty glances at Cassandra once in a while. Cassandra’s heart beating fast, she is nervous to be in the car with the infamous playboy. His nearness makes her heart flutter, her heart is in turmoil as she thought that she was not supposed to be attracted to him because he is known for his philandering

Unwilling to show how he affected her, Cassandra continued to show a cool and indifferent attitude toward Marty. 

“I am hungry and I want to eat Ramen, let’s eat before I drive you home.” He heard a while ago that she likes to eat Ramen. 

'Huh?...’ Cassandra was bewildered how he knew she craved Ramen. 

“I know a Japanese restaurant that serves the best Ramen.” He glanced at her through the rear view mirror. 

Cassandra wondered how she could say no to the man who saved her from her dilemma. She was thinking how to avoid Marty as she doesn’t want him to break her heart as he did to many women. 

The car pulled up outside a Japanese restaurant. Cassandra and Marty stepped out of the car, and a valet took the car to the parking lot. Marty held Cassandra's elbow to steer her toward the restaurant. 

In spite of the nervousness of Cassandra, she succeeds in maintaining a façade of calm. All thanks to the acting workshop she had attended over the years. 

Marty was anxious why Cassandra behaves indifferently to him while she is engaging towards Graham. Marty can't figure out for himself why in the world he wants to please this woman and get her attention, when most single women drool at him. Perhaps she's part of a minority that did not have a fancy to him. 

He pulled a seat for Cassandra and gestured for her to sit. She sat gracefully as if she wasn't nervous.

After Cassandra sat, Marty sat right across from her.

A waiter came near and gave them the menu. Cassandra began to flip over the menu oblivious of Marty’s gaze. Then she looked at the waiter and told him her order.  Marty gave his order after the waiter wrote down Cassandra's order.

Marty was at a loss how to talk to Cassandra. As a Casanova he is good at sweet talking to women he has set his eyes just to get what he wants, but with Cassandra he seems to have lost his ability. Marty and Cassandra would look at each other every once in a while until their food was served. 

Cassandra’s conscience was pricked for not talking to the man who saved her from her quandary. She felt she’s being ungrateful to him so she made up her mind to talk to him. 

“Sir Marty,” Cassandra said, breaking the silence. 

Marty, who has been pretending to be busy with his phone, looked at Cassandra once he heard her call him. 

"Thanks for helping me out a while ago." Cassandra smiled, Marty just smiled as he didn't know what to say to her. 

"I have to admit, this is the first time I've felt like someone cared about how I felt." Cassandra continued, eyes bright. 

"I really hated the roles I had been assigned and I really don't like my job." Cassandra shrugged her shoulders. 

Hearing Cassandra open to him gave him the confidence to speak. 

“If you hate it, why did you get involved in the industry?” His handsome face had a quizzical look on it. 

"I have no choice." Cassandra lowered her head and stared at her finger. 

“What do you mean by that?” Marty frowned. 

"I am the breadwinner of our family. My parents were too weak to work, my siblings were too young to work, so I was the one who had to work for my family. ” She said, looking into Marty's silver eyes. 

"How long have you worked in the industry?". 

“It’s 4 years and five months now.” Cassandra smiled faintly. 

"Do you intend on quitting your acting career?" Marty asked. 

“In the near future” Cassandra’s eyes were sparkling, elated that her dream is just round the corner. 

Marty wanted to know more of her plan, but their food was served. He didn't get to ask her. He decided to ask her when given the chance to. 

"Sir, milady, have I served all your orders?" Did I miss a thing? ” The waiter asked politely. 

“Mine is okay, how about you Cassandra?” Marty asked. 

"It's all here, you haven't missed anything." Cassandra spoke to the waiter with a smile.

The waiter is handsome, Marty was upset when Cassandra smiled at the waiter.