After the meal, Cierra felt awkward seeing that Basil had eaten very little. It seemed she had only focused on filling her own stomach, not paying attention to whether the man had eaten.
"Mr. Logan, are you full? Should I order a takeout for you?"
"No need. I usually eat very little for lunch."
Cierra felt that Basil's words carried a targeted meaning. Did he think she couldn't tell he was implying that she ate a lot? But she didn't mind. Anyway, their relationship would dissolve after the task was done. However, turning around and seeing the still messy kitchen, and glancing at her bloated stomach, she guiltily fiddled with her ear, resignedly picking up a cloth to clean up.
"I'm planning to find a teacher from the performing arts academy to instruct you." Basil got up, walked to the sofa in the living room, propped up his long legs, and said with ease.
Cierra froze, dropped the cloth she was holding, and rushed out, "Guide me in what?"
She had been slightly dazed due to her full stomach and hadn't heard clearly. Was Basil talking about a culinary academy? Could it be that her disastrous cooking had scared him?
The man nodded, "Darnell and I are planning to establish an agency, and you're the first artist we're signing."
"And then?" She already knew this and agreed that it was part of the mission, but what came next? She urged him with her eyes to continue.
"My next project is a grand era drama set in the colonial period, and I'm planning to cast two male leads and two female leads —"
Cierra snorted. Was Basil about to tell her that one of those two female leads was her? But this was just her own conjecture.
Who was Basil? Ever since his first film won a golden statue at a film festival and he returned home, A-list stars vying to star in his films were as numerous as carp crossing the river. Even if they weren't lead roles, there were many who would fight fiercely for second or third billing supporting roles. There had been rumors about certain minor artists resorting to any means necessary to advance their positions, but these were all just gossip.
However, as if understanding her gaze, Basil nodded at her, "If there are no surprises, you and Lettie should be the leads. For one of the male leads, I plan to cast a newcomer."
Cierra was now staring wide-eyed.
Was he kidding? Betting this big, with one male lead and her, half of the main cast would be unknowns to many people. Was Basil actually a gambler?
"So, are you planning to shoot a movie about a gourmet or a culinary master?" Otherwise, why would he look for a cooking school instructor to guide her?
"…" Basil found this out-of-the-blue remark utterly baffling! "Why would I hire someone who nearly burned down the kitchen to star in a movie focus on food?"
Cierra pouted, "Didn't you just say you wanted to find a cooking school teacher to teach me?" It seemed the man's memory wasn't great either.
"I said the performing arts academy." Basil corrected her sternly. It appeared that aside from lacking professionalism, this woman's hearing wasn't that great either. Fortunately, her face was top-notch; otherwise, she would truly be good for nothing.
"Oh! Why didn't you clarify that earlier!" Cierra dramatically patted her chest. It made her think he was intentionally trying to trip her up.
"I have scripts to read. You can look through the books in the living room and the DVDs on the shelf." Basil felt that continuing to engage with this woman would shorten his lifespan. Out of instinct to preserve his life and keep away from Cierra, he decided to take his leave.
"Wait," Cierra grabbed onto him, "Don't go."
Basil suppressed the agitation in his heart before forcing himself not to shake off her hand. Hadn't she just finished eating and wasn't she using this very hand that was now grabbing him to hold a rag to clean the countertop? He was always fastidious, hence the current look of resentment on his face: "What now?"
Cierra yawned very unladylike, "Mr. Logan, I'm tired. Can I borrow a bed to lie down for a bit?" Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, and she added another yawn, unable to finish her sentence properly.
Basil, who never showed his emotions, suddenly became breathless. He felt that in the thirty years of his life, the most severe emotional turbulence, was during this period. He gritted his teeth and spat out through clenched teeth, "you want to sleep immediately finished eating and . Are you human or a pig?"
"You can call me human or a pig, but will you allow me to sleep or not?"
She had an extra glass of red wine during lunch. Only now, her first time drinking alcohol, did she realize how strong its effects were! She felt her eyelids drooping weakly, and her thoughts were becoming tangled.
At that moment, the woman's drunken appearance was as adorable as a spoiled kitten. The tone in which she asked, Will you allow me to sleep or not?" was soft and tender, extinguishing Basil's anger instantly. He sighed, scooped up the woman hanging from his arm, and carried her princess-style towards the master bedroom on the second floor.
His villa rarely allowed outsiders inside, and on the second floor, apart from his studio, there was only the master bedroom; he hadn't specially prepared a guest room for anyone else. He carefully carried the woman, who wore a smile but was clearly already asleep, and as he moved, his nostrils were filled with the sweet fragrance of her body lotion and her hair.
He laid her gently on his large bed and covered her with a thin blanket. For some inexplicable reason, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
His room had a large floor-to-ceiling window facing west. At that moment, the golden afternoon sun filtered through the window, infusing the room's slightly cold tones with a yellow hue. The woman lay quietly and peacefully asleep, the golden radiance reflecting off her slightly brown hair and radiant white skin.
For some reason, Basil noticed his heartbeat skipped a beat.
