The Only Exception | Armin x Annie

Chapter 22

Annie's Point of View

As we went home from New York, several offers were given to me to shoot for another movie or series. Of course my new manager would be the one to pick which role I suit the best. Although this time, I can have the choice to decline her decision if I felt uncomfortable with it.

"Is it my last schedule for today?" I asked my manager, Hitch.

"You'll be having a dinner meeting with the director and your new male lead. That's your last schedule for today." She said as she scrolled through her tablet, checking my schedule as we were inside the car.

I nodded as I grabbed my phone to text Armin to not wait for me. Knowing him, he won't sleep yet if he knows I'm not yet home.

From: My Love❤️

Understood. Take care of yourself and go home immediately after work. I love you

My phone suddenly turned off. I sighed as I placed it back inside my bag. Atleast I got to inform him. It has been a long day doing photo shoots, attending shows, having a fansigning event. No wonder my phone's on dead battery. I even forgot to bring my powerbank due to hurrying up on leaving our condo since I was running late.

I was starring in another romance film by the well known director, Zeke Yeager. He has been in the industry for quite a long time and I've already worked with him in most of my projects. And every project I made with him was a huge success.

The new male lead on the other hand is Floch Forster. I haven't met him personally yet but he's quite famous even back then as a child actor. He has showed up on my feed several times.

"I'll drop you off here, Annie. I'll just call your driver for you to come pick you up. Good luck!" Hitch said as I waved her goodbye before the car started moving again.

I went inside the fancy restaurant and told my name to the hostess. She smiled before telling me to follow her. We walked a couple of stairs down even though we were at the ground floor a while ago. We were going underground and this isn't the place I expected it to be. The hallway was dim lighted and it looks more like a bar than a fancy restaurant to me.

She made me go inside a private room and there I saw Floch Forster, smiling widely at me. I looked around to look for Mr. Yeager but he wasn't in the room right now.

"Miss Leonhart, it's a pleasure to meet you and be your new male lead. I'm Floch Forster, you can just call me Floch." He said with a friendly vibe. I smiled at him and shook his hands before we sat down at the long sofa.

"Where's Mr. Yeager?" I asked him.

"He told me he couldn't come right now. But he also said that we should continue the meeting to loosen up a bit. Since it's the first time we'll be working together." He said as he poured alcohol on two glasses. He gave me the other glass as he smiled at me, telling me to grab it.

"Thank you but I don't drink alcohol I'm sorry." I said. It's not that I don't drink alcohol at all. I drink during events but absolutely avoid drinking with people I just met.

"Mr. Yeager rented this whole room just for the both of us to loosen up. Stop making the situation awkward, Annie. It's just alcohol and your driver will drive you home don't worry." He said as he clinked the crystal glasses. I smiled awkwardly before grabbing the glass and nodding at him.

"This is to celebrate our new project together, Annie." He said as he drank the whole glass and motioned me to drink mine as well. I took a slow sip and finished the whole glass with a bitter look on my face. He laughed at me and I chuckled as well from my own alcohol tolerance level and how ridiculous I look right now.

"I've always been a fan, Annie. You've been on my social media feeds and I just couldn't help but want to collaborate with you. Your acting skills are really great! So I'm glad you chose...Me." He said as he poured us another drink before chugging it down again. He nodded at me again to drink more and I did since he was being pushy.

It's weird how I got dizzy just by my second shot. My alcohol tolerance is low but it's not this low. I used to be able to take more than five shots but today seems a little different.

"Hmm yeah. I'm glad to be working with you too." I mumbled as my vision started to get blurry all of a sudden. I tried my best to stay awake and be conscious but my body gave up and the next thing I knew, my mind blacked out.

I woke up, covered by the warm comforters of the bed. I rubbed my eyes as I slowly sat up. I looked at my side and didn't see Armin there. But I realized why. I was at a hotel room by myself. I looked around and confirmed that I wasn't at our condo indeed.

"Fuck!" I swore as I stood up. I couldn't seem to remember what happened last night and I don't know why I even woke up at a hotel room. I saw a note on the bedside table and went to read it.

You had too much to drink last night so I brought you here. Nothing happened don't worry.

- Floch

I slapped my cheeks to completely wake me up. I looked at my body and a sigh of relief left as I saw my body still covered in my clothes.

I quickly left the hotel and rode a taxi since my phone was off and I couldn't call my driver to pick me up. I grabbed my head as I felt it aching. Armin...Armin must be waiting for me.

As I arrived at our condo, I quickly ran up to our room and opened the door with a swipe of my card. As I opened the door, I was surprised to see Armin ready to leave.

"A-Armi--"

He pulled me inside and slammed the door shut before pulling me towards our living room.

"Annie where were you?!" He shouted and I flinched. It was the first time he raised his voice at me and I'm not used to seeing him like this.

"Armin I--"

"Do you know how worried I was? I called Historia but she didn't know where you were!" He said as he looked at me with a face full of worry but with a hint of being upset.

"I-I'm sorry." I said as I looked down. I felt his arms wrap around my body. As I laid my head on his chest, I heard his rapid heart beating.

"I-I didn't know what to do...I couldn't sleep last night at all. I tried to wait until midnight but you still weren't home. I called you over a hundred times but your phone was off. I tried to go to all the places you would go to but still couldn't find you. I went home after each place to make sure you were home but you still weren't I-I was about to leave again b-bu--" I shushed him with a peck on the kiss. He was trembling in fear as he explained and his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at me with his soft eyes. He was mad but he prioritized my safety first.

"You smell like alcohol. Did you drink?" He asked as he sniffed my neck.

"Y-Yeah k-kinda." I answered. I didn't know what happened last night. Floch left me a note but I still couldn't remember what happened. All I know is that I met him because of the note he left but other than that, my mind was blank.

"Where were you?"