Juliet looked up, expression brightening as she realised who it was. She was always happy to see Mia. When she’d been with Luca, she’d always been worried that she was a wet blanket, uncool, boring for her constant encouragements for Luca to get on the straight and narrow; but Mia always made her feel like she was doing the right thing.
Maybe Mia had had a tumultuous past, but she’d gotten her act together incredibly well, and for that Juliet respected her. She couldn’t imagine anyone better for Mason to be seeing, although she knew they’d both cringe if she verbalised that thought. They were both totally unwilling to talk about how the future might look, even though Juliet was pretty sure Mason wanted something more. So, Juliet tended to do the talking for them. There wasn’t a lot that made her happy, these days. Knowing that her brother, and someone she’d come to look up to and admire, were together in some capacity… that made her happy.
“Just some asshole at work,” Juliet shrugged, glancing at her security detail. It seemed to her to be an overreaction, but she’d also learned over the years that the Costellos looked after their own. Besides, it took more than one idiot trying his luck to shake her. “Nothing I couldn’t handle. Well, nothing a couple of beefy security guards couldn’t handle on my behalf. But Roma takes good care of its employees. Are you working?” Juliet asked, gaze wandering briefly to the counter where a flurry of coffee-making seemed to be going on.
She was always interested to hear about Mia’s work. Not because Juliet herself wanted to get involved - she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be comfortable in front of the camera, and she made enough money escorting - but because it was comforting to know that the adult film industry wasn’t all bad. Mia made sure her employees were treated right, and as an employee in a related industry, Juliet appreciated that. She knew not all sex workers were so lucky. Growing up where she had, she’d seen enough hookers on street corners dressed in black eyes and track marks to know that it was a harsh industry.
Every time Mia ran into Juliet, she was reminded of her younger self, and just how easy it had been for someone with a big heart and kind spirit to be set on the wrong path. Though Juliet was certainly innocent and decidedly pure in ways that Mia never thought she herself had been. When you grew up with two older brothers to copy and a mob father to admire and study, it would take a lot to remain free of a certain degree of corruption, misguided values and mischievous ways to get your own way. While Juliet had been, at least as much as possible, been shielded from her parents by Mason.
When they had first met, and the younger girl had been presented as her little brothers girlfriend, Mia had found it easy to like her. There was no doubt in her mind that Juliet was a wonderful influence on Luka, and that she was exactly the kind of person that might be able to lead him to happier, safer and better places than most of his other female friends. Even his own twin sister.. Then again, one person could only do so much, and she had never begrudged Juliet for breaking things off. It had clearly shook Luka, which she had felt for and wanted to help cope, but it was hard to argue or disrespect someone who walked away to save themselves from vices and a life style they did not want. Had Mia herself been stronger at Juliet’s age she’d like to think she could have made the same choice, and she often wondered what life would have been like if she had.
If only Juliet had managed to say not to the darker aspects career wise.. That sometimes stunned Mia, how someone who was so clearly disinterested in partying, in drugs, and in that entire scene, could choose to become a working girl. And while she was definitely someone who thought Juliet was made for bigger things, she tried not to judge her for choosing this line of work. Then again she didn’t much encourage it either. It was why she had never asked the younger Charmicael to star in one of her movies. She didn’t want to open a door for her that would undoubtedly lead her deeper into promiscuity. Also she figured Mason would literally blow a casket and she wouldn’t blame him for it either.
“The guy was sent packing then? Personally I hope he was given a bit more than a warning. Creep like that have no business at the Roma, let alone near you. Has Cass been notified? I’m sure she’d like to know. No, not yet. I’m getting coffee before work. For me and the crew.” She said with a small shrug. Noticing that the barista seemed stressed, Mia took the chair opposite Juliet, figuring that he might take it easier if she wasn’t seen standing and waiting for him to finish. “I’m doing this new thing where I bring everyone their preferred coffee order before we start a shoot. There’s been a lo of late nights in the past month and they deserve a pick me up to start off with.” Had it been anyone else she probably wouldn’t have bothered giving up such details, but Juliet always seemed interested and Mia was never shy about talking about her work whenever someone was willing to listen. Even trivial stuff like this. “Are you okay though?” She added, not entirely reassured given the reply before that hadn’t noted to any of Juliet’s feelings on the matter.