Chapter 18: Also a Proud One (2)

He'd already drunk from it! What if he has some sort of contagious disease? With what he does for a living, there's no telling. It would be tragic to get AIDS just from sharing a drink! With that thought, she quickly moved the drink away. "Um... aren't you on a diet? That Coke is high in calories. Maybe I should drink it instead?" Kris Cooper seemed not to care. He took the Coke, had a sip to make sure it wasn't too cold, and then handed it to her. Seeing the straw he'd just used, Vera Wave quickly shook her head. "Uh... Actually, I... I think I'll pass!" That damn girl, she's actually repulsed by me! Kris Cooper frowned, snatched the cup back, and slammed it onto the table. Noticing his action, Vera's heart jolted. She wanted to explain but didn't know how to begin, so she could only lower her head silently and diligently pick the fruits he "didn't like" out of his salad. Finally, she didn't forget to get a new fork and place it in front of him. "It's all picked out. There's absolutely nothing high-calorie, so you can eat without worry." Seeing the girl's caution, Kris Cooper's temper eased a bit. He reached out, took the salad, and brought it to his lips. "Actually..." Vera continued, nibbling on her pizza. "Have... have you ever thought about changing... changing careers? I... I'm not discriminating against your profession, it's just that you're so handsome, smart, and have such a great body... It would be a waste if you weren't an actor or a model." Handsome, smart, great body... Hmm, that's more like it. Kris Cooper glanced at the cake. "You should have the dessert too. Otherwise, it'll be a waste!" "In that case, it would be rude to refuse!" Vera unceremoniously pulled the dessert box towards herself, sneaking a peek at the man's expression across from her. So, he's the proud type who secretly likes compliments, huh? Well, that's easy enough. Pushing the pizza—now just a ring of crust—towards him, she continued her barrage of compliments. "Actually, I think you're a really kind person. You paid my medical bills and even gave me a discount on the service fee. Since you're so kind, umm... about that thing earlier... can we just... let it go?" "What thing?" "You know... that... 'bird-touching fee' from earlier... could you... waive it for me?" COUGH! Kris Cooper choked, a mouthful of salad going down the wrong way. This damn girl! She really has a knack for saying the most outrageous things! Seeing him coughing violently, Vera Wave raised an eyebrow. He's not actually choking, is he? Oh no! If he really choked to death, then even if I wouldn't have to pay the debt, the police would come, and I'd definitely be taken for his client! That would be a monumental embarrassment! She hurriedly jumped off the bed, ran to him, and patted his back forcefully. Kris Cooper kept coughing, his handsome face turning red. Anxious, she gave him a push, and he fell back onto the bed. She straddled him, placed her hands on his abdomen, and pressed down hard and urgently. COUGH! Only then did Kris Cooper manage to cough out the piece of apple stuck in his throat. "You... Are you trying to kill me?!" "You were clumsy and choked, what's that got to do with me?" she grumbled, even as she reached out to steady his shoulder, her gaze concerned as she looked at his face. "Are you okay now?" Kris Cooper caught his breath, his gaze sweeping over her long, slender legs exposed beneath her short skirt. "The service from yesterday... are you planning to make up for it now?" "Huh?!" Vera Wave froze. Lowering her gaze to look at herself, she finally realized just how suggestive her current position was.