LOVE, UNSCRIPTED

Grace Jasper adjusted the strap of her tote bag, her fingers brushing against the worn leather as she stepped onto the bustling film set. The air was electric with the hum of activity-crew members darting back and forth, cameras being adjusted, and the faint scent of coffee wafting from craft services. She had dreamed of this moment for years, and now, here she was, standing on the precipice of her future.

Her new role as an assistant to the director of Eternal Flame, a big-budget romance film, was everything she had ever wanted. Or so she thought.

Grace had always been a romantic at heart, though her own love life was a series of misfires and near-misses. She had spent countless nights curled up with her favorite novels, dissecting every grand gesture and whispered confession. She knew love-or at least, she knew how to write about it. But real life? Real life was messy, unpredictable, and far from the neatly scripted stories she adored.

"Grace! Over here!"

She turned to see her new boss, Director Marcus Hale, waving her over. He was a tall man with a salt-and-pepper beard and a perpetual air of impatience. Grace hurried over, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

"You're late," Marcus said, though his tone was more exasperated than angry.

"Sorry, traffic was-"

"I don't care. Just get to work. William Ross is on set today, and he's already causing problems."

Grace's stomach dropped at the mention of the film's lead actor. William Ross was a household name, known as much for his brooding good looks as he was for his unpredictable behavior on set. She had read the rumors-diva antics, last-minute script changes, and a penchant for pushing directors to their limits.

"What kind of problems?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He wants to rewrite the entire third act. Says it's 'unrealistic.'"

Grace frowned. The third act was her favorite part of the script-a sweeping, emotional climax that tied the story together. "But it's perfect the way it is," she said before she could stop herself.

Grace's first encounter with William Ross was nothing like she had imagined. She had pictured a dramatic entrance, perhaps with him sweeping onto the set in a tailored suit, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. Instead, she found him slouched in a folding chair, a script in one hand and a pen in the other.

He looked up as she approached, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "Who are you?"

"Grace Jasper," she said, extending a hand. "I'm the new assistant."

William ignored her hand, his attention already back on the script. "Great. Another assistant. What do you want?"

Grace swallowed her irritation, reminding herself that this was her job. "Marcus sent me. He said you had some concerns about the third act."

William snorted, scribbling something in the margin of the script. "Concerns? That's one way to put it. This whole thing is a mess."

Grace bristled. "I think it's beautiful."

That got his attention. He looked up at her, his expression unreadable

Beautiful? It's cliché. Unrealistic. People don't fall in love like this."

"Maybe not in real life," Grace shot back. "But this is a movie. It's supposed to be romantic."

William leaned back in his chair, studying her with a faint smirk. "You're one of those, huh? A hopeless romantic."

Grace crossed her arms. "And you're not?"

"I'm a realist," he said, his tone sharp. "Love isn't some grand, sweeping thing. It's messy. Complicated. unpredictable. And this script? It's a fairy tale."

Grace opened her mouth to argue, but Marcus's voice cut through the tension. "Grace! Stop chatting and get over here!"

She shot William one last glare before hurrying off, her heart pounding. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Don't be a pain in the ass and do exactly what Williams says, his good, a lot of companies need him at the moment, so don't do anything crazy , said Marcus.

Seems you will be the one losing your job, Marcus said angrily.

The next few days were a whirlwind of chaos. William's demands for script changes had thrown the entire production into disarray, and Grace found herself caught in the middle. She spent hours poring over the revised scenes, trying to reconcile William's vision with the original story.

It wasn't easy. William's version of the third act was darker, more introspective. Gone were the grand gestures and sweeping declarations of love. Instead, he wanted to focus on the quiet, messy moments-the misunderstandings, the missed opportunities, the raw, unfiltered emotions.

Grace hated it.

"It's not romantic," she complained to Marcus one afternoon. "It's depressing."

Marcus sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. But he's the star, Grace. If he walks, the whole movie falls apart."

Grace bit her lip, frustration bubbling up inside her. "There has to be a compromise. Then find one," Marcus said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

---

Grace spent the next few nights hunched over her laptop, rewriting the third act. She tried to incorporate William's ideas without losing the heart of the story. It was a delicate balance, and by the time she finished, she was exhausted but hopeful.

She presented the revised script to William the next morning, her hands trembling slightly as she handed it over.

"What's this?" he asked, flipping through the pages.

"A compromise," Grace said. "I kept some of your changes, but I also tried to preserve the romance. I think it works."

William was silent as he read, his expression unreadable. Grace held her breath, waiting for his reaction.

Finally, he looked up. "It's not terrible."

Grace blinked. "Not terrible?"

William shrugged. "It's better than the original. Still a little sappy for my taste, but... it's an improvement."

Grace couldn't help but smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."

William's lips twitched, almost like he was fighting a smile of his own. "Don't get used to it."