The Perfect Man

4

"Are you new here?" The host of the show asks me as I hand her the bottled water.
"Yes." I smiled at her. "It's an honor to work with you Ms. Mila."
"You don't have to be formal. It makes me feel old." She giggled. "Well, I am old, but the best you can do is relax around me and call me Mila."
"Oh. Of course, Mila. But I  honestly am a fan of yours. From being an official royal reporter to being a late night show host. I'm really thrilled!"
She didn't answer back and I suddenly realized what I said was wrong. She left the palace with huge controversy.
"I'm sorry." I felt awkward.
"No. It's okay." She smiled at me. She's both beautiful and nice. The clear blue eyes, the  tan and soft skin blends well with her red hair. Her lips were thin. She could've been a princess if only the crown prince courted her. She suddenly noticed me looking at her. "Let's go have some coffee after this show." She whispered.
"1 minute before the end of the  commercial." Someone shouted from my back.
I nodded.

I invited her for a coffee at the shop where Ashton and I work. We sat by the bar. She ordered french vanilla with cream on top while I have hot choco.
"Are you Mila from the late night show?" Rufus asks as he clean the counter. There was a tone of excitement in his voice.
"Yes." Mila responded confidently. "And I work with Pauline."
"Sorry to take you here, Mila." I said. I'm still not used to calling her by her name. "It's not as big as the other coffee shop, but it feels homey here."
"Yeah." She said. "Two tables and a bar, but very relaxing. Unlike the overcrowded coffee shops I used to go to. Thanks for taking me here."
"It's very rare to see a celebrity here." Someone from the door said. "Mila?"
"Ashton?" Mila said. She was both surprise and happy. There was a touch of familiarity between the two of them. "I never expect to see you here. But I do recognize your voice as soon as I heard it."
"You know each other?" Rufus asked.
"She's a classmate from highschool." Ashton said. He took over the cleaning of the counter from Rufus, while he sat beside me.
"What classmate are you talking about?" Mila laughed and said, "He's my first ex-boyfriend."
As soon as I hear the word 'ex-boyfriend', I suddenly feel like someone suddenly stabbed my chest. While they continue to chat and  reminisce their past, I  felt both uneasy and out of place. I kept quiet pretending I'm listening.
Rufus touched my shoulder and asked through hand gestures if I'm okay. I smiled and nodded.
"Do you know that this lady here is very hardworking one? And right now she needs to go home." Rufus said. "Take her home, Ashton. She needs to come early tomorrow to work with me here."
"But I work in the afternoon." I defended.
"Nope." Rufus said. "I will be visiting my mom's grave tomorrow afternoon. That means I'll be going outside the city for two days."
"That's okay, Pauline. We don't have a show tomorrow." Mila replied.
"That means..." I said but was interrupted by Rufus.
"You'll learn the basics tomorrow morning, then you'll be own your own the next day."