"Uhm... excuse ?" Jas rushed outside, following the mysterious beauty. He wore a nervous smile as the woman stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. "My na is Jas. I’m Slater’s manager. I’m sorry for what Slater said just now."
The woman smiled and nodded. "Don’t worry. It’s fine since it’s true."
"No, it’s not!" Jas exclaid, shaking his head profusely. "You’re beautiful, Miss. Slater is just... he’s just a little blunt, but I’m sure he didn’t an it!"
"He didn’t an it?" the woman chuckled. "Whatever you say, Manager Jas. Thank you for apologizing, but it’s fine. I didn’t take it to heart. Still, I appreciate it."
Jas smiled at her and took out his business card. "If you ever want to enter the industry, you can always call . Our company would love to welco soone as beautiful as you."
The woman arched her brows as her eyes fell on the card in his hand. Her red lips curled up into an amused smile as she took it from him.
"I never thought of it, but I’ll consider it. Perhaps when I have more ti," she remarked. "Thank you."
"You’re welco!" Jas grinned, watching the woman turn her back on him. "Uhm, wait!"
"Yes?"
"I’m sorry, but I haven’t gotten your na."
The woman smiled again. "Mint," she said. "Like peppermint. See you around."
"Oh..." Jas’s mouth ford an ’O’ shape. This ti, he didn’t stop the woman from leaving. "Peppermint...? What a strange na... Mint... but it’s actually very catchy."
His mouth stretched from ear to ear, his eyes squinting. "I hope she signs with us. I’ll make her a star!" But above all, Jas could finally have another money tree, who hopefully wouldn’t slave him around like Slater was doing.
He wouldn’t mind managing that woman as well. After managing Slater’s career for years, Jas had already gotten used to it, along with his work as the CEO of the company. Besides, it would be good for his portfolio.
******
Minutes later...
"Uh... Slater...?" Jas moved toward where Slater was. "There’s one more, and then you’re done for the day."
Slater was stretching his neck when Jas whispered to him. He snapped his eyes open and nodded.
"I just want to finish this," he said. Jas quickly signaled for soone to let the last woman join Slater. Once the woman was seated, Jas walked away to give Slater and the woman "so" privacy.
"Na?" Slater asked, lazily dragging the album in front of him, not bothering to look at the woman’s face since they all looked the sa to him. Moreover, he was a little tired of smiling and entertaining all these girls, even though today’s numbers were nothing compared to his official autograph signings.
’I guess I’m getting older,’ he thought. ’I’m tired after just a few girls? Well, I haven’t worked for almost a month now.’
After a minute, Slater still hadn’t heard the woman speak. He raised his head and repeated,
"Excuse , your na...?" Slater trailed off as his eyes slowly dilated, holding his breath.
There, seated in front of him, wasn’t a young woman like all the others. Instead, a more mature woman stood before him, appearing younger than her real age. She looked like she was in her late thirties, but Slater knew she was older than that.
He gazed at the familiar pair of dark eyes, his Adam’s apple moving up and down. The woman, on the other hand, flashed him a shallow smile.
"Parker," she answered, tilting her head to the side since Slater hadn’t jotted down her na. "Did you hear ?"
"Uh... of course." Slater cleared his throat, forcing a smile before shaking his head to focus. "You said... it’s Parker...?"
"Yes." The woman nodded, watching his hand try to write her na on the album. "You seem tired."
"Huh?"
"Your hand’s trembling," she pointed out, smiling brightly as her eyes locked with his. "Or are you scared?"
"..." The slight smile on Slater’s face faded, replaced by a thin layer of frost. "No."
"Of course, you shouldn’t," she said. "Why would you be scared? I’m just a woman who, sohow, got the chance to be arranged for this date."
A mont of silence fell between them, with the woman still smiling at him. Slater let out a shallow breath before an airy chuckle escaped him.
"Hmm?" The woman humd, her brows rising. "Did I say sothing funny?"
"No, no." He shook his head, finishing his signature before closing the album and sliding it toward her. "It’s just that... I guess the matchmaker thinks I’m into older won twice my age."
His attempt at humor didn’t make her laugh. "Even so, I appreciate that my craft is being appreciated by people of all genders and ages. It’s ant for that, anyway."
"However, I’m not into older won," he added with a friendly smile. "Though I know quite a few n in the industry who don’t mind having a sponsor."
"Aren’t you charming and humorous?" She remarked, taking the album and standing up. "It’s nice to et you in person, Slater Bennet."
Slater didn’t answer, maintaining his smile. He deliberately waited for the woman to turn her back before he spoke again.
"It’s also nice to et you... Parker." He slowly rose to his feet, watching the woman glance over her shoulder. "Though, I hope, if you want to see next ti, an invitation would be nice. I might or might not go. However, you’re too old to be crashing into soone’s date."
The woman smiled and nodded. She didn’t say another word as she resud her steps, leaving Slater without looking back. Once she was out of the cafe, she slowed down and gazed down at the album he had signed. She slipped her thumb between the pages, parting the cover, only to see Slater’s short note and signature.
[Dearest lanie,
Thank you for your constant support.
Sincerely,
Slater.]
She smirked and looked back at the cafe. "Is lanie the na I gave him? I forgot." She laughed, shaking her head as she resud her steps, tossing the album in the trash bin on her way out.
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