Chapter 132 - Unexpected Guest

"Hey, it was she who stop us ..." one of them started to answer as the other nudged him in the ribs.

"Sorry, Mr. Śliwiński," the other one, whose face seemed familiar to him, interrupted. "Please don't tell our boss about this! These are just our jokes ..."

Dominik felt relieved immediately. He already knew why the bulky one seemed familiar to him. These were the Bambus people!

"All right," he replied. He was surprised that this ... Myszy, I think he had a nickname, still hangs around here, but also strangely pleased. Now that he knew who the mysterious Bambus was, he did not mind that he was watching over Dominik's safety."

"Thank you. Sorry again" the young men withdrew.

Dominik turned to the woman to ask if she was okay, but she was already saying to him:

"Thank you so much for the rescue…" she said in Eanglish.

She broke off as she saw his face.

"You're welcome," he replied in the same language. He decided she had stopped because she realized that her interlocutor did not need to speak English.

"You're him, aren't you, that actor, Dominik Slivynsky, right?" She asked still in English. "I'm Scarlett. Scarlett Yang. Nice to meet you."

***

Dominik helped her take off her beautiful red coat and invited her inside. He didn't feel very comfortable with this sudden guest, but he couldn't quite refuse to meet someone who had come for him all the way from the United States, and a girl he had just helped.

"I've never been to Poland," she announced, looking around the living room. "And this is the first private house in your country where I am. It is very pretty."

"Thank you," he replied with a polite smile. Since he quit acting and was at his own home, he decided he could act more naturally, even if he was talking to a Hollywood star. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea?"

"Tea, please."

"Make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you."

Dominik went to the kitchen and put on the water. Since there were no doors between it and the living room, he had a perfect view of the sofa, armchair and the American actress who ostentatiously looked around the interior like a tourist at a unique architectural monument.

"It's a really nice house. It is different than the houses in the States, but very nice. Do you live here alone?"

"With a friend."

"Oh. She's around here somewhere?"

"He's at work. He is a photographer."

"Ooooh, but I don't see any photos."

"He works for an advertising agency. Previously, he took photos for the editorial office."

"These huge billboards hanging all over the city are not a coincidence ...?"

"Yes, his."

The actress smiled broadly.

"Really good. I even wanted to go into the store and buy this yoghurt, the photo was so delicious."

"I'll pass him compliments" the kettle whistled and Dominik flooded the tea bags thrown into the mugs.

"You're probably wondering what someone like me is doing here?"

"More why is someone like you without bodyguards?"

"My visit to Poland is official but not official. I came here to see you."

Śliwiński struggled to resist the temptation to sigh. Politeness dictated that he should listen to what she had to say, but he really didn't feel like it. Not now that he had heard of Werner's death and his heart was filled with all sorts of emotions, all of which were unpleasant.

"All right," he entered the living room, carrying a tray of tea, sugar and milk, "get down to business. It's about the script, right?"

"Yes. We want you to play alongside me in this movie."

Dominik felt his heart pound harder. Scarlett Yang, one of the most beautiful actresses of the new generation with onyx-black eyes and copper-shimmer curls, who was nominated for an Oscar twice in her short career, sat on his couch asking him to be her screen partner. You don't get such an offer every day and you certainly don't reject it with a light hand.

"Thanks but no."

"I heard you said no twice, that's why I'm here. I don't know what your driving behavior is, but this is a great opportunity for you..."

"No."

The actress fell silent. She blushed.

"When they told me that they wanted to give me an actor from Poland as a partner, I was angry. I am not someone who can be juxtaposed with anyone on the screen. They told me that you have tremendous talent, you just lack the publicity and finally persuaded me to give you a chance. I don't understand, why don't you want to use it?"

"I'm quitting acting."

"Can't you do it after that one movie?"

"I don't want to."

"Listen, when they asked me to come over and convince you to play in that movie, I found it below me, but I was a bit curious about you. You are very photogenic and we are going to look good as a couple. I agreed with these arguments and came here. I didn't really care if you would play with me or not, but I wanted to see you live. But now that I've met you ... Now I really want you to play with me. I've flown half the world for you, so please don't throw me away like that right now. Give me a chance. Please" she leaned towards him, gently touching his wrist.

Dominik wanted to snatch it away. He was in his own house and he didn't want to be touched by anyone other than Andrzej, but this girl from the other side of the world didn't do anything wrong, so he restrained his reflex.

"This is not a good time for such talks. Yesterday I found out that my friend died."

"I'm sorry," she squeezed his hand even tighter. "I understand. In that case, can we arrange to come back to the topic when it will be more convenient?"

"But..."

"I would like you to show me some interesting places in Warsaw. You're not going to say no to your friend from another country, are you?"

It would be rude indeed to refuse.

"Please think about it. Here's the number where you can find me. And ... thank you again for saving me."

The visit was short, but there was no denying that Dominik was relieved when Yang got up to leave. He really didn't like strangers, especially when he was approached in his own house. He offered to call her a taxi, she refused to say that a driver was waiting for her nearby.

She was already in the doorway when she turned and announced.

"You know, Dominik, it is customary that some things are only said to women, but I have a different opinion on that. Don't be offended, I don't mean anything by it, but I have to tell you. You are beautiful. Divine."

The actor blushed.

"Thank you," he replied shyly.

She stood in the doorway for a moment, never taking her eyes off him. He felt strange under her gaze.

"Call me, please," she touched his hand again. "I will be in Warsaw as much as I need. I will not leave until I feel that I have used all the means of persuasion. Will you call?" She squeezed his fingers.

"Maybe."

"I'll wait," she kissed his cheek. Dominik stepped back in surprise.

"Forgive me! I did something wrong? I hear they say goodbye in Europe this way!"

"Maybe in France," he said, trying not to be rude, but he really hoped the actress would just go away.

"Ah yes. I apologize again then. See you soon."

She's gone after all, he thought with relief as he closed the door. He returned to the living room and turned on the TV.

"The causes of death are still unknown. It is not known that the twenty-five-year-old director suffers from any chronic disease, the greater the shock of his death to the film community. According to unofficial sources, Mr. Werner recently suffered from depression, which made him withdraw from the project planned for the end of this year. So it follows that it could have been a suicide death. The date of the funeral has not yet been established ..."

Dominik stared at the screen at the black-and-white photo of Maciej Werner and the quickly edited footage of his achievements to date. There weren't many of them. Werner's star was just rising.

The actor remembered their first meeting. Then, when at a party, Marek dragged him to a secluded place and started kissing him, making him sick, Dominik was saved by Werner. Did the director already know that Śliwiński was gay? Or maybe it was this scene that made the previously unrealistic fantasies a chance to be realized in his mind? Maciej was so helpful and kind at the time. Dominik liked him. He was grateful to him for the rescue and the awakening friendship. He thought that his world was beginning to expand with another kind and kind man. He trusted him and let him into his home.