The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 458 MIRABELLE CARTER

SEEING as how Kiran was struggling to control his temper, Astrid strategically stepped between the two without showing that he was deliberately doing it.

”Hi,” he greeted the girl. ”Iʼm Kiranʼs friend, my name is Astrid Townsend. I donʼt mean to be rude, but—”

”Oh, the model on the billboard I saw earlier looked exactly like you,” the girl suddenly said, cutting off whatever Astrid was about to say. She tilted her head. ”Is it you? Or someone who just looks like you?”

”Yes, itʼs me. By the way—”

”I knew it. How can there be two people with the same outstanding looks?” the girl cut him off again. ”If youʼre here, then youʼre an artist under Polaris, right? Me too! Are you also from the music division? But how come I only see you now? I would have definitely remembered that face.”

”Iʼm from the acting division—”

Astrid stopped and blinked. The reason why he interfered with the two was so he could help Kiran out. But with this flow of conversation, it seemed like he was going along with the girlʼs pace. No, he was totally doing it.

He looked at this ʼMiss Carterʼ. The other had this atmosphere as if pink flowers were floating around her. Just like those anime characters who were designed to be natural airheads. But not in the annoying kind of way. Some might even find her cute and endearing. Though he could understand why Kiran would have a hard time dealing with her.

”Oh, the acting division!” the girl said with a clap of her hands. ”No wonder I havenʼt seen you. You must be really famous. Iʼm sorry if I donʼt know you.”

The other said it with no malice. Although some sensitive person might think that she was being sarcastic. But in Astridʼs opinion, that wasnʼt the case at all. She seemed to be really sorry that she didnʼt know him.

So, he also said in a light-hearted manner, ”Thatʼs okay. I also donʼt know about you. And donʼt worry, Iʼm not really that famous.”

As expected, the other didnʼt take offense to what he said and just accepted it as if it was natural.

”Iʼm also not that famous. Iʼm just starting as a singer. Oh, and my name is Mirabelle Carter.”

”Nice to meet you, Miss Carter,” Astrid said with a smile. ”As Iʼve said earlier, my name is Astrid Townsend.”

”Oh, you smile so nicely,” Mirabelle said, totally out of the blue. Then added as if she did not just say that, ”You can just call me Mira or Belle. Either one is fine. You canʼt call me ʼMimiʼ though. That one is reserved for Kiki.”

Astrid instinctively turned to Kiran and he saw how the facial muscles on the otherʼs face twitched at the mention of the nickname ʼKikiʼ. He must have really hated the name.

”Excuse me, but weʼre running out of time. We really have to leave now,” Kiran said through gritted teeth.

And then, he quickly pulled Astrid towards the elevator. This time, Mirabelle was not able to step in between and stop them.

”Wait- Kiki, what about the song?” she asked before the door to elevator closed.

”Letʼs talk about it tomorrow,” Kiran said.

The door to elevator finally closed and it descended. Astrid heard Kiran heaving a sigh of relief, as if he just passed a great ordeal.

”You seem to not like Miss Carter,” Astrid commented.

Kiran showed a complicated expression. ”Itʼs not like that. I donʼt dislike her. Itʼs just... sheʼs hard to handle.”

”Well, I could see that sheʼs definitely... unique. But I donʼt think that sheʼs that difficult to get along with,” Astrid said, truly meaning it.

Kiran sighed once again. ”Thatʼs because you have better social skills than me.”

And as if a dam had been opened, Kiran started to pour out all his dissatisfaction.

”That girl, she couldnʼt read the room at all. Itʼs like everything for her was all daisies and sunshine. As if she couldnʼt fathom that a person could have a negative opinion or emotion. Then, there was her habit of not letting people finish what theyʼre saying. Seriously, Iʼm surprised she had grown that big without getting on the nerves of the people around her.

”But thatʼs not the worst part of it. That girl, she seriously doesnʼt know what a personal space is. Ever since we met, and thatʼs only a few days ago, mind you, she kept on invading my personal space as if it was nothing. I wouldnʼt mind if we were close, but she could hardly be called an acquaintance at best and yet she was hugging my arm and back as if weʼve known each other for decades!

”It would be tolerable if she was as flat as a washboard. But no, those things she has are like mel—”

Kiran stopped and then his whole face suddenly turned bright red as if he only realized then what he was about to say.

Astrid glanced at him with interest and amusement. Maybe Kiran hadnʼt realize yet that the reason he couldnʼt ʼhandleʼ Mirabelle was not because of the things he listed but because of something else entirely. Something that he probably never imagined was possible.

”No, letʼs not talk about that anymore,” Kiran said, promptly putting an end to the topic of ʼMirabelle Carterʼ. ”What brings you here, by the way?”

Astrid smiled. ”Iʼm here to bring you lunch.”

Finally, Kiranʼs expression finally turned brighter. ”Really? Aww... you shouldnʼt have to. But Iʼm glad you came. If you didnʼt, Iʼll probably be stuck with Mirabelle in the studio all afternoon.”

Astrid smiled inwardly at how natural he called Mirabelleʼs name. The other probably didnʼt even realize it himself. ”Is she the singer youʼre writing a song for?”

”No. Itʼs for another singer. But she accidentally heard me playing one of the songs when I was in the studio and she insisted on being the one to sing it,” Kiran said with a grumble. ”And someone from the upper management probably agreed to it because the next day I received a message about letting her sing the song I made.”