HELLO BEAUTIFUL

Chapter 8

Vin had been using all of his charm and class, making Luna feel as if she was the most special and unique woman in the world, telling her that she was an amazing writer and that he was lucky and grateful that she was covering Renee’s job last night. Otherwise he really didn’t know how his weekend would have ended.

He had apologized to her because he had called her ‘bitch’ and he admitted that sometimes he used to sniff a line or two just to keep up with the crazy rhythm of his really busy daily agenda. Vin even made jokes with Luna telling her that she could be his PA anytime she wanted because she had been more than just great covering Renee’s job even though she didn’t have experience in that task.

Luna had been listening to him with wide eyes, but at the same time she had been wondering silently where the hell Vin was heading. Luna knew full well that she didn’t suit his taste. She wasn’t stupid at all, maybe slightly naïve to believe in an illusion, but she suspected that Vin was up to something; she only had to figure out what.

However, Luna was sure that if Vin were pretending, it was just a question of time till she would be able to put two and two together. Vin Diesel could be a great actor, but nobody was that good at pretending for such a long time. Nevertheless, Luna was enjoying his attention too much. So she kept her thoughts and suspicions to herself and relaxed in his company.

Luna had been laughing with him while he had been sharing stories with her about shooting. Vin had told her about his life when he was growing up in New York, his past as a bouncer and his first movie.

He had always known that these stories were one of the keys to make women let him get into their pants. He had even revealed to her things that nobody else knew apart from Valentino, Renee or his family in a lame attempt to make Luna melt for him. It shouldn’t have been so difficult. Just a few hours before she had spread her legs for him and he hadn’t done anything at all. But for some unthinkable reason, he didn’t have the nerve to ask her directly.

Maybe because Luna had more than half a brain, maybe because she was more intelligent than he had thought at the beginning, or maybe because she had been acting as if they had never been together. So Vin had snorted a couple of lines behind her back while displaying his charismatic personality in front of her.

However, a few hours later, Vin was starting to be a little tired of this game, because it seemed to him that Luna was acting and playing her own game, letting him out of it. And that was something that he didn’t like a bit.

Vin Diesel was the one who was always setting the game, the rules and the players and not the other way. Vin had no other option but to admit to himself that any other chick would have spread her legs an hour ago if not before, and that fact only made him feel annoyed with himself and even with her. So Vin had made up his mind and decided that he wasn’t going to spend any more seconds of his precious time with her.

He was going to get rid of Luna and, afterwards, he was going to make a couple of phone calls to have company for the rest of the day. LA was full of chicks ready and able to play by his rules 24/7. And all of them were definitively hotter, sexier and younger than Luna. Why bother with someone like her?
—————-

Luna was in front of Vin’s computer adding a few changes in one of the scenes of the script when Vin entered the room, carrying two Coronas in his hands. He took a seat in front of Luna at the other side of his desk and put the beers on the table.

Luna looked at him for a few seconds over the screen of his computer, smiling while she continued typing on the keyboard without stopping. Vin frowned slightly as he licked his lips, clearing his throat.

“Luna, we need to talk about last night.” He said directly as he grabbed his Corona and sipped from the bottle. Luna sighed hard and locked eyes with him.

“Last night was just that, Vin. Last night.” Luna said, biting her bottom lip, she couldn’t help that her voice sounded colder that she expected.

Vin arched a brow in amusement as he left the bottle on the table as soon as he noticed her tone of voice. Luna frowned, searching for the right words to say.

“I mean, we both needed something and we both got it. Period. I’m still your scriptwriter and we have to work together for a few more weeks, so let’s not make a big deal of…”

Vin cut her off. “Let’s not make a big deal?” He retorted, chuckling. Luna frowned deeply. “I don’t know if you remember, babe. But we were fucking each other on this very table without protection. You know what I mean?” Vin said, pulling out a cigarette. Luna’s eyes opened wide at his words.

“Yes, I know what you mean. I’m not stupid, Vin. I know that what we did was…” again Vin didn’t let her finish.

“I don’t want to receive a citation in nine months asking for a DNA test because you’re claiming that I’m the father of your kid,” he paused and lit his cigarette up, taking a long drag. “And, I know for sure that I’m clean, so you better be clean because I’m not fucking around with my health, you know?”

His tone of voice was cold yet even, as if he were talking about the weather for next week, it held no emotion at all.

Luna’s mouth hung open and then she shut it. For a second, her mind went blank at his words, but she snapped back to reality, grinning.

“If I’m pregnant, which I seriously doubt, I’d tell you as soon as I find out myself. I never would make you wait nine months. No point on that though.” She said, smirking. Vin fixed her with a serious gaze tightening his jaw. Luna took a small breath and continued talking, lowering her voice. “Don’t worry, Mr. Diesel. I’m on the pill and I’m clean. You should know that your Government always asks for medical reports before they give you a visa to enter the country.”

Luna had used exactly his same tone of voice, cold and even yet tinted with sarcasm. Vin looked at her as if she had sprouted a second head and Luna couldn’t help but laugh hard.

He wasn’t used to having women talking to him as Luna was doing with the exception of Renee, his mother and a few more. Of course, Luna was oblivious to the fact that she was pissing him off faster than he would have liked to admit.

“You should be worried about other things aside from that, you know?” Luna added, tilting her head to one side as her smile died on her lips. Vin’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He asked, arching a brow. Luna went serious and taking a deep breath she elaborated.

“I’m not judging you, don’t get me wrong. Sure as hell I’m the last person who should tell you this, because in the end it was me who was here with you fucking without protection. But you were lucky this time, Vin. You should be more careful because sooner or later, one of those really young chicks you fuck is going to give you a surprise that you’re not going to enjoy at all.” Her voice sounded full of concern.

It was true that Luna was worried about what had happened last night with that girl. Certainly, she had no idea how things were in the United States, but she suspected that surely it would be kind of like in Spain.

If anyone dared to have sex with someone who was less than eighteen years old, they would end up directly in prison; no matter if the minor would have said ‘yes’ or not. In response, Vin closed his hands into fists as a deep growl escaped his lips.

Luna was starting to walk a path with no option for a return even though she had no clue about it. So she said something that was her worst mistake.

“Like my mother is always saying, if you’re sleeping with babies, someday you’re going to wake up wet.” She stated sarcastically as she stood, chuckling at her own words.

“You’re no better than any of those little sluts, you know?” Vin retorted as he stood, facing her.

Luna blinked as she frowned deeply, completely puzzled for a second at the real meaning of his words until realization dawned. She suspected that Vin had become tired of playing the seduction game with her and pretending to be the nicest guy around. Right now, she didn’t know what to expect from him anymore. This was new territory for her.

“Yeah, woman. Don’t play dumb with me. Do you think I’m that stupid?” His voice was just a cold whisper that cut Luna’s breath. She gasped as she took a step back. Staring into his eyes, Luna realized that he was high again. “You were the one who came to me last night, remember?” Vin flashed her a cocky grin. “Hell! I didn’t even know your name or that you existed a couple of days before!” He added, raising his voice. Luna went motionless, unable to make her muscles move at all.

Vin laughed dryly as he noticed how he had struck her numb, just reminding her of an undeniable fact. Right now he was enjoying his little victory over her too much. In the end he had always known how to make a chick shut her mouth. So noticing her insecurity, Vin continued.

“I fucked you, but that doesn’t mean that you can talk to me like that or lecture me about my fucking sex life.” He added, feeling powerful in front of her. “You were a good fuck, that’s true, but not that good, bitch.” Luna’s eyes almost jumped out of her face when her brain registered his words.

“Oh, I see. And you think that you’re that good, Vincent?” Luna replied as she finally forced her body to move forward, facing him, feeling how adrenaline was starting to race through her veins.

“I know I’m that good.” Vin retorted, grinning.

Luna’s heart skipped a beat, just to race inside of her chest, she felt how her anger overpowered her common sense, and she spoke without thinking.

“Really? And how are you so sure? Because chicks who have almost no experience told you or because you have been reading fan fics?” Luna mocked, giving him the once over, looking at him like he was an insignificant ant and she was about to step on it. “You should know that those stories are called ‘fan fiction’ because they are just that, Vin. Fiction.” Luna hissed in his face.

Vin felt his anger rising fast at the sound of her words and tightened his jaw even more, narrowing his eyes.

Luna felt so humiliated and pissed off that she didn’t realize that she was wearing ‘the black star’ on her right ring finger. So, she continued talking while moving her hands in front of him.

Her mind was so busy thinking, overloaded with the events and the revelations about Vin, that Luna completely forgot that he had been reading her story amongst others.

Luna was so angry that she wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. She was just spitting her pain and anger through her lips not caring about the consequences at that very moment, acting by pure defensive instinct.

Vin frowned slightly as soon as he noticed the ring on her hand, and all of sudden the story he had been reading the night before popped inside of his mind.

“They are not the real world, asshole. It’s just the result of your fan’s imagination.” Luna chuckled, her voice full of sarcasm. “And if any of them would be able to meet you in person, spending a day with you; they would be really disappointed Mr. Diesel.”

Vin’s mind started to race while listening to her talking and suddenly realization dawned. Luna was ‘njrd’? Oh, woman you’ve got to be fucking kidding, right? Vin chuckled silently, narrowing his eyes as he thought carefully about what he was going to say when she was done with her little speech. In fact, he wasn’t paying attention to her words anymore.

“You’re not fucking around with your health? The fuck you aren’t, man! What about the fact that you have been high for almost the entire weekend?” Luna wanted to hurt him as much as he had hurt her with his actions and his behavior. “You’re something else, you know?”

“And what do you care about it?” Vin asked, narrowing his eyes, grinning. Luna frowned deeply, looking puzzled. “I mean it’s not like we are friends or something like that, now are we?” His voice was deep and sultry. “Why are you so sure that they care anyway? Why do you think that they would be disappointed with me, Luna?” He was more than ready to make her shut her mouth in seconds. “Is it because you’re one of them?” And he plunged ahead. “Njrd?” Vin snarled at her face as he grabbed her right hand, bringing it in front of her face.

Luna’s face went pale as soon as she heard him saying her nickname. At that very moment she glanced at her hand and cursed herself silently. Vin exploded in cold laughter as soon as Luna pulled her hand out of his. She felt how her heart skipped a beat and her face turned full red in a matter of seconds.

“How was the line?” Vin teased while staring at the ceiling of the room, pretending to be thinking hard. Luna gasped horrified. “Ah, yes… Black Star, the legend says: the one who carries it will be able to find the path to her heart.” He mocked, laughing even more.

Luna felt as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs as she found herself exposed in front of him unwillingly. Her eyes opened wide and, suddenly Luna wasn’t sure if she was breathing anymore. Her heart ached as if someone had stabbed her with a shiv as she felt tears of anger and pain fighting to be shed.

“Stop laughing at me, asshole!” Luna retorted, forcing her tears back. But Vin laughed harder, shaking his head, not caring if he was killing her with his scorn. Vin was high and right now he didn’t give shit about Luna or her feelings.

“Just sex. My ass, just sex.” Vin said between laughs. Luna grunted, annoyed as hell and swallowed hard against the knot in her throat, forcing her voice out.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?!” Luna asked, raising her voice, unnoticed tears already rolling down her cheeks. “Just because you’re famous you think that you can treat the rest of us as if we are shit?” She asked through clenched teeth, her voice thick and strangled.

“I’m Vin Diesel, bitch.” Vin replied as he looked directly at her eyes. “Who are you, huh? A frustrated bitch who is writing those mediocre stories full of smut scenes and bad quality porn. Someone who hides her real identity behind a nickname because even you are ashamed about that worthless shit you’re writing.” He paused, chuckling. “I don’t know how the fuck you got a contract with my company, but sure as hell if I had known who you were, I never would have allowed you to become my scriptwriter in the first place. Because…” Luna cut him off.

“I am a great scriptwriter, Vin. That’s the reason why One Race signed a legal contract with me.” She replied, trying to gather some pride from under Vin’s boots. Her words only caused him to start laughing again. Luna wanted to die then and there. “You’re just a selfish bastard without feelings or respect for other people.” Luna muttered in disgust, cleaning away her tears with the back of her hand.

“Maybe you’re right, maybe not.” Vin bent his head and stopped a few inches from hers. “But you spread your legs for this selfish bastard, Luna. And if I really wanted, we both know that I could fuck you again right here right now with a flick of these fingers.” Vin hissed, flicking his fingers in front of her face. “The same fingers that were fucking your wet pussy last night, bitch.” He stated, mockingly.

Luna didn’t think twice and she slapped his face hard, cursing herself silently. “You’re just another actor like many in this city with too many muscles and no brain. And that’s the reason why you’re not gonna shoot “Hannibal” because not even the Studio takes you seriously anymore.”

Luna’s brain didn’t register his fast move at all. One second she was in front of him, slapping his cheek, the next she was sitting on her bottom on the floor and her cheek was burning like pure fire.

Luna blinked furiously as she lifted a hand, rubbing her face. She could felt her heart beating painfully inside of her chest as her eyes opened wide.

Vin’s eyes almost jumped out of his head when he realized what he had done and his heart stopped dead. “Fuck, Luna!” He exclaimed as he crouched in front of her, cursing himself silently. “Jesus, I’m sorry, babe. I swear to you. I don’t know what got into me. I’m really sorry.” Vin pleaded as he tried to touch her face.

Luna flinched, tilting her head back out of his hand’s reach as she stared at him with a mix of disbelief, anger, fear and pain. She couldn’t believe that Vin had actually slapped back.

Vin noticed how she was looking at him and he could read her feelings at that very moment. “Please, Luna. Don’t look at me like that, woman. I…I…fuck! I’m not gonna hurt you, honey. Please, you’ve got to believe me. I swear to God!” Vin begged her, feeling that he was the most disgusting thing in the world right now.

Slowly, Luna got to her feet without letting go of his gaze and moved backwards. She took a deep breath and swallowed hard.

“You need help, Vin. You’re falling apart.” She said almost in a whisper. And with that, she turned on her heels and headed towards the door of his office.

Vin shut his eyes tightly, rubbing his forehead. He couldn’t believe that he had slapped a woman. If his mother had been there, she would beat the shit out of him just for thinking about it, let alone for actually carrying it out.

Vin cursed himself silently and rushed to her side, moving ahead of her, blocking her path. Luna tensed every muscle in her body as she shut her eyes, trying to catch her ragged breath.

“Wait, Luna. I swear to you that I never ever have laid a hand on a woman before, babe. I’m ashamed of my behavior. Please, Luna. Please forgive me. You’re right. I’m a motherfucker without feelings. I’m sorry.” Vin felt his throat close and swallowed hard. “Listen, I…I’m high and I’m not thinking clearly. I know that it’s not an excuse, but. But… what I want you to know is…” She cut him off.

“Don’t bother, Vin.” Luna locked eyes with him, noticing that he was really regretting what he had done, but it was too late. “Do you want to know something funny? I thought I was in love with you, Vin. But Renee was right. I was in love with an illusion, not with a real man. How could I be in love with someone like you? With someone who is able to slap a woman just because she’s saying something that he doesn’t want to hear?”

Vin closed his eyes as he heaved a hard sigh. Slowly, Luna lifted a hand and stroked his cheek, the one she had slapped.

“You need help, Vin. Stop acting like a selfish bastard and find someone who can help you.” She said softly, removing her hand as she took a deep breath. Fresh tears rolling down her cheeks unrestrained. “I’m going to ask Mike to drive me back to my place.” Luna added as a small whimper escaped her lips, looking down.

Vin didn’t move at all. Her words only served to make him feel even worse than he was already feeling. Vin then took a deep breath and slowly, he lifted his hand, raising her chin gently with one knuckle, making her eyes lock with his. Luna tensed and shut her eyes.

“Please, Luna, look at me.” Vin murmured, sighing hard.

Slowly, Luna opened her eyes and looked at him. Hesitantly, he stroked her cheek softly. Luna winced slightly as her eyes flickered to his. Vin fixed his gaze on her face and noticed the finger marks.

He definitively was going down if he had slapped her without a second thought. Vin didn’t know when he had started to act like a selfish bastard, but right now he was sure he was going down faster than anyone would have been able to think. This cowardly act was the confirmation.

“Help me, Luna.” Vin said as his eyes filled with tears. His deep voice sounded hoarse and strangled. Luna swallowed the knot in her throat and took a deep ragged breath.

“Like you said, we’re not friends, now are we, Vin?” She said, her voice just a weak murmur and she passed him, heading to her room. Vin sighed hard as he closed his eyes.

A moment later, Luna headed directly to the entrance, her grip around her bag so tight that her knuckles turned white. When she reached the main door, she found Vin waiting for her. Luna stopped dead in her tracks and locked eyes with him.

Vin stared at her in complete silence, his eyes slightly red, tears frozen in place. He swallowed hard and spoke. “I’m really sorry, Luna.” He said, looking directly to her eyes.

“Me too.” Luna replied and continued walking to the door.

When she opened it, Luna found Mike already waiting for her to drive her back to her apartment. As soon as Mike laid eyes on Luna, he noticed that something was wrong.

“Are you ok, sweetheart?” Mike asked, concern written all over his face. Luna didn’t look at him, but nodded ‘yes’.

Without another word, she got in the car and closed the door. Mike turned his attention to Vin who leaned against the doorframe of the main door.

“Is everything ok, Vin?” He asked, staring in Vin’s eyes.

He didn’t answer him, just stared at Luna, noticing how his vision blurred with his tears. After that, he turned on his heels and entered the house, slamming the door closed.

Luna jumped slightly when she heard the door slamming and shut her eyes, forcing fresh tears back. The words of Renee echoed faintly inside of her brain again without warning. “….this is not a fan fic, honey. This is real life….. he’s a good guy, Luna. It’s just that he hasn’t found a real woman to show him a path to follow…” Luna bit her lower lip and cursed herself silently.

After a moment, Mike climbed inside of the car and looked at her, concern all over his face. “Where do you want me to drive you, Luna?” He asked gently, stroking her arm up and down in a friendly way. Luna shut her eyes tightly as she swallowed hard.

“I don’t care, but take me out of here, please.”