******

“Oh my God Amanda! What spell did your boss cast on you? I mean, you've only just started working or this guy and you are already talking all dreamy like a girl who is in love.” Kate deadpanned then, took her glass of Juice from the kitchen counter to the dining table.

Kate had been present all through  Amanda’s relationships and breakups. And none had she witnessed that made Amanda glow like she did now. Amanda had never really fell in love before, kate wasn't even sure if her friend knew how to love. Although, Kate considered Amanda  be loyal and faithful to her partner but that wasn't enough to rule out the fact that Amanda still saw dating as a sport. Now she pitied the man Amanda kept talking about for she knew he might suffer the same fate in the hands of Amanda.

Kate thought Amanda's behavior was caused by the nature of her Job. Like she had always said, 'show business is all about keeping up appearances and being perfect for the cameras.' Kate had a bad feeling about this one like she had with the last one and the one before. Things could escalate badly if Amanda choose to indulge her present boss in her little game. But, she needed to find a better way to convey her suspicions to Amanda.

“Do you think I’m in love?” Amanda asked even more confused.

“I know you are.” Kate said, settling on an empty chair across from Amanda and sipping her glass Juice.

“Is this how it feels when you are in love?” Amanda looked miserable in Kate's eyes, but received warm smile from her friend and manager.

"You don’t know?” Kate gulped down her Juice again, moving her gaze away from Amanda, with an attempt to avoid eye contact.

“Tell me, you are married to a breathtaking man and blessed with a beautiful daughter. Was this how you felt when first met Greg?” Her curious eyes sat on her chin, supported with both palms while her elbows rested on the dining table.

“Yes. Then, whenever I saw him, I imagined my feet off the floor, flying into his strong arms and praying he never lets me go. But I braced myself when I discovered he loved me too. Not that I wanted to play hard to get or anything, but because I had to make sure he earned my love so my heart won’t pay the price. I’ve been heartbroken once and it was never pretty.” Kate told, shoving the creeping sad thought off her shoulders.

“I should do that, I shall make him earn my love.” Amanda smiled as she voiced her incredible idea to Kate.

Kate shook her head in disapproval “You could do that, if he loves you too or at least feel the way you feel for him.” She responded conditionally.

“I’ll make him fall in love with me.” Amanda asserted,  snapping her fingers and then running one finger on the table in circular motion.

"What? This is new." Kate said to herself but her eyes couldn't hide her surprise. “How, Amanda? By showering him with gifts or taking him on a free trip to Hollywood?" Kate yelled.

“Maybe.”

Kate eyes threatened to pop out from the wide glare. She slapped her palm hard on the table surface causing Amanda to flinch. “He will take advantage of you and dump you for the next available girl, or boy or a better option, a celebrity, who he has true feeling for or who will do more for him than you'd ever do. Amanda!” she called calmly, standing up from the chair she sat on and walked closer to Amanda.  Placing one hand on her shoulder,  she squat beside her “I love you as a sister and I’m telling you this as a friend, love doesn’t work that way. You can’t make a man fall for you just because you want him to, that kind of relationship will suffocate you. And by so doing, you can successfully make the said man fantasize about sleeping with you only, which you and I know that’s not what you truly want.”

“No.” Amanda said shaking her head like a teenager who was being lectured by her mom about dating for the first time. Sadly, losing her mom very early in her life, Amanda never had the experience of being lectured. She was grateful to have her dad and Bridget's mom but, when it came to advising her about boys, they did the best they could. The rest was left for Amanda to figure out.

“Give him time and space. Keep your emotions in check and if he feels the same way you would know. But for now I need to speak to that guy, Nelson.” Kate said, hopping on her feet.

“Why?” Amanda wondered.

“Haven’t you seen what's trending online? That Nelson guy posted a picture you and him in a confined room.” Kate said scrolling on her IPad.

“It’s called an elevator,  Kate.” Amanda replied, standing close to Kate and looking at the post.

“What? You let him take a picture of you two. Do you know what people are saying?” she said handing her IPad to Amanda.

“—Amanda dumps Troy for a child, Amanda gives up Hollywood for a regular job, bla, bla, bla—” Amanda read on loudly. “People will always talk” She continued.

“Yes but your name, reputation, legacy are all on the line. It doesn't have to be you giving them trending topics to talk about. Listen, I will let you keep your fantasy job for a while but he posting pictures has to stop. And one of us has to make sure of that.” Kate emphasized.

“And I’m certain that person is you.” Amanda pointed, laughing.

“That’s right and it’s not funny.”

“I know, you are just doing your job.”

“Yes and don’t make it difficult for me.” Kate warned

“I am supposed to be on vacation.” Amanda added.

“True. But someone has to keep you in check.”

“Yes Ma'am.” Amanda hurriedly said, mockingly then she sprint into her room.

“Really?” Kate chased after Amanda and briefly returned to the kitchen to keep her empty glass.

Amanda fixed her eyes on the pink box behind her room door “Uh, Kate!” Amanda called out.

“Yes.” She replied from the Kitchen.

“How long are you staying?” She asked, analysing the size of the box with her eyes.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.” Kate replied walking towards the room.

“Really?”

“I’ll leave right after I speak with that Nelson guy.” Kate stressed when she got close

“Then why the big box?” Amanda asked curiously, pointing to it.

“It’s for you.”

“Me?” Amanda asked mystified

“Yes, to work the part, you need to look it. Inside this box are every cloths, shoes and bags a working class lady needs to have. Including makeup.” Kate laid the box flat on the ground, kneeling close to it, she zip open the box and revealed every compartment within it.

“Uhh, thanks. You are darling, what will I have done without you? Amanda asked rhetorically , kneeling beside Kate and hugging her.

“Hmm, your life would have been boring.” Kate replied regardless.

“Yes it would.” Amanda concurred, laughing hard with her friend.

************

Amanda laid on her bed with her eyes wide open, she couldn’t sleep. She kept on replaying the words of Kate in her head, she knew deep down that kate was right so, she had made up her mind to listen to Kate's advice and keep her emotions in check. Yet again, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, his smile and his eyes. Those were enough to keep Amanda confused and longing for his heart.

"Was love at first sight real after all?" She wondered.

Of a truth, Amanda had never felt this way before but, she still could remembered the last time she couldn’t sleep because a guy invaded her night and thought. It was in high school, the period she started receiving love letters from
a boy she never had the chance to meet. It was one of the saddest moment of her life because, she never got to confirm her feelings.

“But he damn look so familiar” She whispered and drifted into sleep mode.

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