PART 2: ANGEL

I smile quickly, but wipe the expression off my face when I see Remi, who looks angry. He's obviously jealous. Oddly, that makes me feel like I'm in control of my train wreck of a life again. I can finally feel emotions- emotions other than sadness. So far, I've been a complete mess, but now I'm going to try and win his affections.

Even if I want to quit this business, I'm determined to leave with a bang. Call me heartless for wanting to squeeze Remi dry of his money, but it's who I am, so leave me alone.

Jay regards Remi coolly, and then pulls me down so my ear is at his mouth. "He's cute. I think you should totally marry him."

"Jay, aren't I dating you?" I ask.

"Ah yes. I forgot that bit," he teases.

Rolling my eyes, I say to Remi, who's fuming with jealousy right now, "Yes, one of my best friends. Say hi, Remi. Say hi, Jay."

"Hi," they say in unison, then look away simultaneously. I don't know if they both want to laugh or they both want to rip each other's guts out. I think I shouldn't ask, so I don't. Instead, I tell Jay "I'll see you later, okay?"

Jay nods. He understands that Remi is in fact my client, or customer, or victim- whatever name you call him, it won't change the fact that I am going to con Remi.

Time to lay on the charm; I've waited for long enough and Boss is angry at me. I need to redeem myself, quickly, before Boss does something. Of course, I still have more doubt than trust in Boss, but he is higher up than me and therefore has power over me.

I touch Remi's arm lightly, smiling sweetly at him. "Thanks so much for paying. I can never repay you." Those words are tinged with malice, because I really do not wish to repay Remi, not one bit.

He smiles charmingly back. "But you could try."

"No, I rather think I won't," I tell him agreeably, smiling even wider. My jaw is starting to hurt. I don't usually smile that much.

Remi pats my head. "So why the sudden politeness?" He asks, amused. The sorrow over his head is at least lessening, much to my satisfaction. Why am I satisfied? Because I am one step closer to filling the stereotypical rich boy's "emotional void"? Or because I genuinely want him to be happy? It's a tough decision that I am not going to think about.

"Why can't I be polite and sweet? Don't you like it?" I ask him, frowning slightly. Jeez, Remi is a tough customer. He is exceedingly hard to please and very unpredictable.

"Oh, I adore it," he gushes.

I can't stop a scowl from making its way to my face, despite my meaning to be a sweet, good-natured girl that he will like. With much difficulty, I hold back a retort and instead I say "Well, Remi, I really am grateful. Do you want to go for dinner together?"

"I'm paying, aren't I?"

I bite my lip. Yes, you are! And you're darn well supposed to!

Reluctantly, I offer "No, it's okay...I can pay if you want me to..." hoping that he will understand the hidden meaning under the polite words. 

Instead, he smiles brightly. "Great! I've always wanted a girl to treat me to dinner. It gets so tiring to pay for the girl, don't you think? Especially-" his eyes harden, but he keeps smiling. "Especially if the girl is a gold digger."

Oops. I think I fit that description to a T. Regardless, I am paying for the meal! What's his problem? Remi is really getting on my nerves, just like the first time we met and many times after that. I think he has a special talent in making people angry. Remi proves my theory by suggesting "Let's go to the French restaurant two streets down."

The French fine dining place? I want to faint. The price of the food will be astronomical. 

Twenty minutes later, I am still staring at the menu, where one plate costs a double digit number, some triple. The waitress is tapping her foot impatiently, giving me a death glare. Remi, on the other hand, has given up on me and is chatting to a friend on the phone. 

"What's the cheapest here?" I ask.

"Miss, did you come here to eat the best food in town or spend the least money you can?" The waitress enquires, albeit a little frostily.

She got the latter part right- I came here to spend the least I possibly can. Sighing, I order a chicken confit, because I can understand what's in the dish: chicken. The other French words are just un-understandable. Remi leans forward and hangs up, then looks at me. "That was a very quick decision," he comments airily.

I smile tightly. "Indeed. I am known for my swift actions." Inside, I am imagining screaming at him for being so annoying, and the thought calms me down. 

We turn to more cordial conversation, and Remi notes that it's nice to walk down the streets in the cool winter air. We talk about how the New Year has passed and how February will soon be coming. Neutral subjects, and very boring. 

"You don't like small talk, right?" Remi says carefully. "If you like, we can not talk."

Ugh. That is my wish, no doubt. Yet I have to keep him engaged and interested so that he gives me his damn money. Remi, by the way, has a very tight hold on his wallet all the time. I pick the first thing that comes to my mind- but it is unfortunately a rather morbid topic, I think, because the waitress almost drops my plate of food on the table when she hears me.

"I can bring you to her grave later."

Remi exhales, and I catch a glimpse of his real self for a split second. The young boy that still misses his sister. "Thank you, Angel," he whispers. 

---

Remi tells me that we should visit Evangeline/ Louise in the morning, and I readily agree. After paying for our very expensive meal, we step out of the restaurant, only to find that it is raining. Remi curses and pushes me under the shelter, stepping in after me. "Now what? We were smart enough to walk here," he grumbles. Annoyed, Remi starts texting on his phone. 

 "Can I hijack the Bentley?" Even in the rain, the shiny car is still bright and conspicuous. I figure the owner chose that for a reason- for low life criminal girls like me to steal the shiny beauty. I didn't notice it before, but now it's sitting quietly in the open air car park outside the restaurant and beckoning to me. 

He looks appalled and I relish it for a slight moment. "No! Gosh, have you no morals?"

"What's that?" I ask, enjoying his shocked look.

Remi shakes his head. "I don't think you should try to hijack my own car."

"What?"

He cracks a smile. "Come on, silly."

I am beyond mortified. My psychopathic tendencies just revealed themselves in front of Remi. This is definitely going to earn me points in his favour...

Remi pulls off his jacket and throws it over my head, effectively blocking my vision, and before I can react, he sweeps me forward.

The rain would have soaked me through if not for his jacket. It's really heavy. Remi makes sure I go into the car first before sliding in himself. Once we're in, I take the jacket off and look at Remi. He's wet and his business clothes are clinging to his skin.

My eyes widen as I realise what happened: he must have given me his jacket and not had a protection. Why on earth would he do that? Who would be so unselfish on Earth? I push the jacket to him. "Put it on. You're shivering."

"So are you," he returns.

"You're wet and shivering."

"You're-"

"Remi, just put it on!"

He smiles at me. "No. Angel, just wear it."

Grumbling, I lean over and grab his arm, forcing it into one sleeve of the jacket.

Remi frowns and looks down and I say quickly "Come on, wear it. Or I'll have to make you."

To my surprise, Remi laughs. "You put my right arm in the left sleeve."

My jaw drops but I cover my embarrassment by defending myself. "Yes, that's what I was going for."

"Sure, sure," he hums as he puts it on. Hopefully he feels less cold. Looking up , Remi addresses the driver "Hey. Thanks for picking us up. To my home."

The driver is a dark silhouette in the night so I can't see who his new chauffeur is. Is it my replacement? My heart twists slightly. This driver is very rude, though. Instead of replying, the person drives faster through the rainy streets.

"Slow down, please," Remi orders.

I lean closer to him because I'm cold and he has some body heat. Like penguins who flock together in the North Pole for warmth. "Can you just drop me off at my house?"

"No. You can stay over at mine. Now shush, I'm tired." With that command, he shuts his eyes and refuses to answer me no matter how I shake him or pester him.

I hate staying over at people's houses. Ugh. Firstly, I hate using other people's soap. Secondly, I detest not having my own clothes as pyjamas. Of course, if I stay over at Remi's place, I probably won't have to worry about it...I scowl at him darkly. He most likely won't provide anything for me.

"Remi, please can I just go home?"

Remi opens his eyes and frowns at me. Then he sighs and says "Driver, change route. You know what? Just get out. I'll drive her home. You get an early night, hurray."

The car comes to an abrupt stop and the driver turns around.

"Remi, you are so annoying," the driver says.

We gasp. "Maya?"

I reach up and turn on the light, then see Maya in the front seat shaking her head at us. "You two really like to flirt."

"No!" We both deny at once. I'm secretly hopeful that Remi maybe is flirting with me. That would mean he is kind of attracted to me and maybe I can then work some love scam magic. But Remi just looks horrified. "Maya, what are you doing here anyway?"

Maya sighs. "I flew over from our hometown to get here. When I heard you needed a ride I decided to come and be a nice sister. Then you treated me like your driver! Jeez."

Remi sputters "So you were listening to Angel and me?"

She nods. "Uh huh. You're very cute together though."

"What's your real reason for coming, Maya?"

Maya bites her lip. "You're too clever, brother dear."

Readers: haha, now you know why I said the chapter before this was so easy to write. By the way, this is part 2 of the story.