Model to Holywood

"Wow, Luca! You actually landed that contract! What a surprise! So many models, even Orlando, were after that endorsement, but no one expected you to be the winner."

It was nighttime in Manhattan. A car cruised smoothly down the wide Fourth Avenue. In the passenger seat next to Luca was a girl with sweet dimples. Her sparkling eyes brimmed with curiosity.

"Luca, how did you get the contract?"

"A bit of luck," Luca shrugged. "Ms. Aniston, she's an alum from my acting school. We met once before, and I bumped into her at the party. She recommended me to the brand."

"That's it?" 

Miranda tilted her head, her bright eyes staring directly at him.

"What else?" Luca glanced over at her.

Miranda blinked, a playful grin forming. "People are saying you used your 'sacrificial technique' to land the endorsement."

"Sacrificial technique?" Luca asked, puzzled.

"You know, sleeping with someone for it, hahaha!" Miranda laughed, clapping her hands.

Luca shook his head. He'd heard that rumor at the party but didn't pay much attention. He had already secured the endorsement, so what did it matter if a few sore losers gossiped? 

There's always that difference between once and countless times—once people think you've done it once, no matter what you achieve afterward, they'll assume it was because you slept your way to the top. It's something you get used to, no point in letting it bother you.

Luca smirked slightly and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Just as he was about to light one, the pack was snatched away.

"Kate said no smoking for you," Miranda said sternly, holding the cigarettes.

Luca was momentarily taken aback. "When did Kate say that?"

"Just now!" Miranda smiled sweetly. "I told her I ran into you at the parking lot, and she asked me to make sure you don't smoke."

"What? That's so unfair!" Luca patted the steering wheel in frustration, then put on a serious face. "Give me back the cigarettes, or I'll get really mad. The consequences will be severe."

"Oh, really?" Miranda smiled, placing her hand on the car window.

"No!" Luca shouted as Miranda tossed the half-empty pack out the window.

"Miranda!" Luca was fuming.

"Yes, I'm right here. What's the matter?" Miranda responded sweetly, her Barbie-like face beaming with a mischievous smile, completely unafraid of him now.

Luca wiped his face and sighed helplessly. "Miranda, you've changed. You used to be so pure, sweet, and obedient. Now, you're crafty, a bit rebellious, and even boss people around."

"Hahaha!" Miranda collapsed into the seat, laughing hysterically. The seatbelt pressed tightly against her chest, pulling her strapless dress down slightly, revealing a flash of pale skin that reflected in the car's interior light, almost dazzling.

Luca shook his head, silently repeating his mantra about patience and discipline, and focused on driving.

"Luca, do you know why I'm not afraid of you anymore?" Miranda asked, rubbing her chubby cheeks, still smiling.

"Why?"

"When we first met, you were always so serious, looking super cool and hard to approach. I was always so careful around you."

"Now that we're close, you can be bold, huh?" Luca's face darkened. He should've stayed cool and distant. Fooling innocent girls could've been easier.

Miranda smiled, "Exactly. Now that I know you better, I realize you're not scary at all. In fact, maybe I can even tease you a little."

"What?! Tease me? Who gave you that impression?" Luca was completely unsatisfied now.

"You did!" Miranda said with a sweet smile, counting on her fingers. "Look, Nina can tease you, Lima can tease you, Kate can tease you—everyone can tease you. Why can't I? We're friends, right?"

That logic was so solid that Luca couldn't find a way to argue.

"Miranda, teasing… teasing people is wrong," he said weakly.

"Hahahaha!"

Around 8 p.m., a beam of light pierced the darkness in front of an apartment building at 116th Street, Third Avenue. A black sedan slowly pulled into a convenient parking spot.

"Miranda, we're here!" Luca called out gently.

"Huh? We've arrived?" Miranda rubbed her eyes, waking up. After walking around the party all day, she had worn herself out and dozed off while laughing earlier.

"It's late. Do you think anyone's been following you?" Luca glanced around the busy street. 116th Street, in the northern part of the Upper East Side, was more isolated than 76th Street, but still lively.

The street was full of night owls, hip-hop crowds, late-night wanderers, and the homeless. Looking for a stalker among them wouldn't be easy.

Suddenly, Miranda honked the car horn twice, the sound echoing down the street.

"Is that supposed to bring out the stalker?" Luca asked, confused.

"I don't know. Every time I drive home, I feel like someone's watching me. They could live nearby," Miranda pointed to the rows of apartment buildings on either side.

"That's too broad of an area to pinpoint anyone."

"No worries. I've got pepper spray and a stun gun with me. If that creep shows up, well..." Miranda pulled out a stun gun from her bag. She pressed the button, and blue sparks flickered, crackling in the night.

Luca felt a bit uneasy. "Miranda, with all that, do you even need me?"

"Of course! You're a man. Having you around makes me feel safer." Miranda smiled, pulling him by the arm. "Come on, Luca, let's head up. Maybe that person will follow us."

"Alright."

He

Miranda's apartment is on the sixth floor, about 80 square meters. It's not very large, but it's stylishly and intricately decorated.

After moving in three months ago, she added some branded furniture and trendy electronics to make the space feel cozy, with every detail reflecting her feminine touch.

Since she lives alone, the couch sometimes gets cluttered with tossed lingerie or smelly socks.

"Nina was rushing me this afternoon, so I didn't have time to clean up. I'm not usually like this," Miranda said, a little embarrassed, while tidying up.

"It's okay. Kate and Lima are the same way, so I'm used to it."

"So, do you handle all the housework?" Miranda asked, smiling slightly.

"Of course not! I'm a guy. Why would I do housework?"

"But Kate and Lima said you do all the chores, and they give you allowance money," she teased.

*Cough* Luca scratched his head. "I don't think there's anything else to do here today. Maybe I should head out and come back tomorrow."

"Luca, stay a little longer, please? It's boring being here by myself."

Miranda, holding a pile of clothes, stood in the empty living room. Her tall, voluptuous figure seemed somewhat fragile.

"Alright, but you can't bring up any more embarrassing stuff, or I'm leaving."

"Haha, okay, okay!" Miranda chuckled, dimples showing, and carried the clothes into her bedroom.

Luca took off his jacket and leaned back on the fabric sofa.

He suddenly noticed a large stuffed bear on the couch. It looked like the one that had been stolen by a gang of bikers after being tossed in a dumpster, but this one was bigger and better made. A limited edition from Mattel, the price tag still attached—$1,500 from the specialty store.

"Thomas gave it to me last week. I didn't want it, but he just left it at my apartment door and took off," Miranda explained from the bedroom doorway. She was wearing nothing but a long white silk T-shirt, barefoot on the carpet, as a sweet, slightly tempting fragrance filled the air.

Luca glanced at her. "Did he make some money or something?"

"I don't know. He seems to be doing well now, I guess." She shrugged, walking over to the magazine rack and turning on the record player. A soft piano melody filled the room.

Ting, ting, tong...

The two sat back on the sofa, heads resting on the cushions, gazing at the ceiling and quietly listening to the music without saying a word.

"Luca, let's do something," Miranda said softly after a while.

"Like what?"

"Want to smoke?"

Miranda rummaged in the corner of the sofa and pulled out a pack of slim cigarettes.

"I don't smoke. You're Kate's little spy; I'm not falling for that."

"Don't worry, I won't tell Kate," she said, placing a cigarette between her lips and expertly lighting it.

"Here," she said, after taking a few puffs and handing it to him.

"Do you smoke?"

"Of course. Not only me, but sometimes Kate and Lima smoke too. In the modeling world, there are people who do drugs, drink excessively, and have casual relationships. Smoking is nothing."

"Yeah, but they don't even let me smoke. I've got it rough," Luca said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Haha, well, that's because you're too easy to push around!"

Miranda laughed softly, took the cigarette back from his mouth, and inhaled a few more puffs, exhaling slowly.

"Can't you just get another one?"

"This one tastes better, don't you think?" Miranda leaned against his shoulder, her long legs propped up on the table, pink toenails gleaming as they bobbed in rhythm with the music. The hem of her T-shirt slowly slid downward.

"Luca, you know... I'm not wearing anything underneath."

"I noticed," he said, smirking as he flicked the ash off his cigarette.

"You've never thought about taking advantage of me?" Miranda teased, brushing her hair against his cheek.

"Nope."

"Why not? Am I not beautiful? Isn't my body sexy? So many guys would love to take advantage of me. Why wouldn't you?"

Miranda knelt up on the couch, pouting in frustration.

Luca chuckled. "Don't try to fool me. I know you've got a taser hidden in the couch corner. Do you think I'm blind?"

"A taser? Haha!" Miranda burst into laughter, tossing the taser aside. "Alright, now you can take advantage of me. I promise I won't resist!"

"No thanks. A wise woman once told her son before she died: women are all liars, and the prettier they are, the better they lie."

"Which philosopher said that?"

"An Eastern philosopher named Soso Yin."

"Never heard of her, but Kate was right. You're such a coward."

Miranda snatched the cigarette from his mouth, took a deep drag, and then suddenly leaned down to kiss him.

"Stop messing around. If you try anything with Lima's man, she'll come after you," Luca said, laughing as he held her by the shoulders.

"Luca, can you be serious for once?"

Miranda looked at him with soft, glistening eyes.

"Alright, I'll play along this time," Luca said, reclining on the sofa, puckering his lips playfully. "Go ahead!"

"Haha, Luca, you're such a bad guy, a real bad guy!" Miranda giggled, playfully slapping his chest.

They huddled together on the sofa, not saying a word. The music around them faded to a whisper as their breathing grew quicker.

The heat in the air thickened with unspoken tension, the room growing warmer, the atmosphere becoming heavy.

"Luca, kiss me," Miranda whispered, tilting her head back, her flushed cheeks radiant.

Luca wrapped his arms around her waist, his fingers sinking into her soft curves like cotton.

Suddenly, a piercing alarm sounded from outside.

"Oh, damn, my car!" 

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