don't touch me, i'm expensive

Freddie watched her carefully as she slowly processed his words and took a tentative seat across from him. All at once, he felt powerful, but also dangerously close to losing control of his carefully curated image. He didn't know this woman–not more than her live streams allowed–so he didn't know how much he could trust her with, or how capable she was of figuring him out, but still he couldn't seem to help himself. "Freddie Redlynn." He grinned his most charming grin and held out a hand, "You want to tell me what's going on?"

"Lola Mercado," she said after a pause, reaching out to take his hand. For once she didn't add a 'duh' or make some comment about how she so didn't need to introduce herself. What's more, when he asked her if she wanted to tell him what was going on... she did. That was probably the biggest shocker! In hindsight, Lola would realise how lucky she'd been that on her first night out post cut off, she'd run into him and not literally anyone else. "My mother...," she started, voice low, and still calming from the previous moment's spiral. She could say it. Come on, say it. "She cut me off."

"may your algorithm be filled with joy and online shopping fun" she smiled over at lola. ceren and lola may not be the closest of friends, but ceren always had time for her and enjoyed her company. "yeah...totally. throw out the map." she repeated, suddenly feeling under the microscope "the whole howard archibald crashing the party was overwhelming and i had to get out of new york for a while...anyway, how was your holidays?"

"oh my gosh, thank you. you're such a sweetie. may yours be just as fabulous and inspiring, and also full of my latest updates - a moment for my shameless self-plug. wasn't it just, though? and i mean... fool me once, fine, but fool me twice? how many times can howard archibald fall from grace and drag anne and nate down with him. it's totally heinous behaviour," lola gasped but she also knew it was totally juicy gossip. her outrage may have been a little exaggerated that way. as for ceren's festive frolic, lola wasn't going to judge. "mine were so much fun. a total jet-set, here, there and everywhere."

"i am. i figured what better place to open a restaurant than in the city that never sleeps. ah, i don't think they'll be missing me that much." the accent was terrible but he had heard worse impressions. "you're always welcome to a table. i'd never say no to new customers"

"so true, there truly is nowhere like new york city. i don't know if i believe that... but their loss is our gain. aw, thank you! i'll take it as a compliment despite the lack of exclusivity. okay!" she grinned, clapping her hands together excitedly. "how about we soft book in for this weekend? just the girlies - moi, asha and emilia."

he wouldn't indulge anyone in their compliment seeking process, except her. he'd indulge lola's demands any day. "you? having more requests? never" he teased, eyes focus squarely on the one person that could hold his interest for more than a brief conversation. watching her biting her lip almost sent him over the edge but he managed to remember where he was and more importantly who was watching. atticus leaned down enough to dip his lips to the side of her ear and whisper "what i'm going to do about it can't be done in public spaces or we'll end up arrested"

lola was about to roll her eyes at him when he leaned down and whispered in her ear. it was hardly the first time she'd ever been so close to atticus bass but it still send shivers up her spine. they could have been the only two people in the room right now... but they weren't. her breath caught in her throat and she felt like her brain had like, totally short circuited. "you-...," she breathed at last, pulling back the teeniest bit from him, her hand settling on his chest- "are so bad."

"you did what? okay...well...that complicates things, lo. did you way for the damages? give insurance details? it's a miracle you haven't been sued by them"

"it was just a teeny tiny fender bender, jessica. no big deal. oh - allegedly! well, this is supposed to be my month so... fortune favours the brave."

Dawson grinned at Lola. "It is a very old tale for artists. Plus, look at him, anyone would be lucky. Ramesh is. We have been on a few dates." He hadn't seen Ramesh in a few weeks. They had made a night out of their last date, and Dawson had needed a few days to recover after that. "Thank you, I am always trying to meet new people, friends or otherwise."

"It's practically meant to be! I mean, it would be rude not to at this point. Oh, so true... Peter is like, classy hot which is a lot harder to find than you'd think. Go you, we love this. Life is for the living, Dawson. You have to grab every opportunity you can before it's too late." And by 'too late' she meant 'your mom cuts you off'. Not that anyone needed to know that little detail. "I've got your back, babe. I'll be manifesting an iconic match for you tonight."

atticus held onto her tightly, whispering words of reassurance that he had her. he had her. she was safe here and he would personally see to it that if anyone tried anything, it would be their last. he could see it on her face the moment he saw her. that real, genuine fear. he hated that it stole a part of her innocence.

he was never going to get through reading any of these scripts at this rate. it was a risky move of hers to take the seat across from a man who hated his personal space being encroached upon. it wasn't of any interest to him at all that her supposed people were emailing his people. his people knew better than to bother him. "this is a coffee shop, i'd hardly count it as fate"

"maybe not with that attitude," she smiled brightly. normally, she would flirt her ass off when she was faced with a stoic stranger. unfortunately, something told her that particularly method would not get her in here. why were so many of her go-to moves so sexy? damn it. "i just think that you and i could totally blow up if we shot a few reels together... i mean, nothing says 'renaissance' like going viral. you're on your socials, right?"

not a man that enjoyed much social interaction outside of work, roman sat in a coffee shop reading the morning news and working on the daily crossword from the new york times before he would start reading his pile of scripts his agent had passed to him. hearing server bringing over his coffee he sat back in nodded in thanks.

lola had been impatiently waiting for her non-fat vanilla latte when she overheard roman ravenwood in the corner. oh my god! lola had been trying to get an in with him for her socials for like, ever. until the resurgence of the 'brat pack' in fnb, he'd been impossible to tie down. plus, thanks to lola's current financial situation (ugh), she didn't exactly have 'people' to handle these things for her at present. this was her chance!

Legs draped over her lap, as she leaned back in the seat. "I would've picked up a better meal if I knew I'd get a show." All she had was a snack and a temptation to find out if she still hated hotdogs as much. Michelle leaned over to them, her eyes still on the models on the catwalk. "Is it too rude to say I think a couple of these designers should get back to sketching. Some of these designs are ugly and not in a haute couture way."

"Tell me about it. I'm all for being spur of the moment but must we really be out here in the 'great outdoors' for it?" Lola rolled her eyes behind her oversized sunglasses, turning to face Michelle again. It was good for Lola to be seen supporting the show, even if she couldn't really care less about it. Like, hello? Practically anyone could just wander over here. "Well... I heard that the designer for this line just found out their fiancé was spending every other night with someone else. And by 'someone else' I mean the designer's sister."

What is stressing Atticus Bass out so much?

Who is Lili?

"We are manifesting; we both are going to get whatever we want. Well, if it can't be you. I wouldn't mind Peter Vanderbilt or Ramesh Khan." Dawson had been on a few dates with Ramesh, and he had been trying his luck with Peter anytime they met. "And who is she? I don't believe I have. She is here tonight?"

"Yes, I love this for us. Oh true, let's not forget that I am first pick," she grinned. "Oh my gosh, yes. I love the concept of a Vanderbilt for you, especially Peter. I mean, hello? The whole art gallery meets artist thing? You couldn't write this better. Ramesh is a sweetie, too. Yes, Felicity would never miss a good party. If we miss each other, I'll be sure to give her your number. I just think you'd totally vibe."

"i'd go insane sitting around doing nothing, you know that." he was like a shark, he had to keep on the move. "you're always aglow" he meant that. there wasn't a time she didn't look beautiful. "i've smiled around you more than i've smiled around anyone in my life, it's not a tough task for you." atticus ordered at the bar, knowing lolas order thanks to all the years of friendship. after he ordered, he turned, leaning on the bar and looked down at her. "this particular view? always"

"mhm," she smiled to herself at his words. lola loved attention and compliments especially, but there was always something a little more when it came from him. "i'll be sure to up the stakes on my next request then," she grinned, ignoring how happy it made her feel hearing that. instead, she focused on just how close he was now, looking down at her. lola bit her bottom lip, weighing up how much she really needed to be at this party - staying relevant was a full-time job, you know - when he looked like that. "oh, yeah?" she said, turning so she was even closer to him, standing up on her tip-toes in her heels. "what are you gonna do about it?"

he'd never been more serious than he was when he said he would kill him. he'd wipe out anyone who brought as much of a frown on her face. slater would be the first of many to feel that wrath for what he did to her.

lola nodded before she pressed her face into the crook of his neck, finally feeling herself still. this was probably the worst night of her life. and it wasn't like, something annoying or inconvenient. it was serious. lola had never been scared like that before, not once. she closed her eyes, feeling the weight of tonight fall off her shoulders. atticus was so steady and solid, she felt like she was being anchored in a storm of her own making.