the door and saw B

nt, fumbling to find her phone. "Can I take

alm and approachable. "How about a

rame and striking features were effortlessly captivating, and the

out softly, her voice

ind her, the late afternoon light casting a soft glow over her. The golden hue illuminated her features, accentuating

d a faint smile pa

the script and the half-eaten appl

prise. "Wait-you tw

ith a small s

y event where they had performed together. Over time, they had collaborated on a few project

ome of gentleness and class, and standing before

dinner gathering tonight?" B

ook her

. "Me neither. How about we

replied witho

stry, their paths hadn't crossed publicly. Their careers existed on entirely different levels,

..

the hotel to arriving at the restaurant, and even after finis

, however, Twitter wa

ss media accounts. The photos featured a man, suspected to be Brody, and a long-haired woman in a mask, ent

asleep, blissfully unaware of

led her. She shuffled to open it, finding Kate practically bursting with excitement as she rushed insid

. "What's gotten into you this ea

ike a trophy. "You're

e. Sure enough, the trending topic was blazing across Twitter, w

udden frenzy unsurprising. Anything remotely

uise and Emma's mask left their

efore leaving for the set, she told Kate to grab breakfast while en route. In the

nd while Emma's scenes were limited, she maintained her focus, pouring h

tel that evening, the situa

nal tidbits. Her senior-junior connection to Brody at the academy, their shared stage performanc

most recent post, a month-old promotional update about her movie, had gone from being sparsely commented

the comments, but the words quickly became to

othe her with a few comforting words be

worried that Ricky might see the trending topic and misunderstand

her life, so why would baseless rumors abou

finally drifted into a restless sleep. When she awoke again,

ding her that she hadn't eaten all day

ge, round blue gift box. "Emma, you were asleep earlier, and

sen

"I'm not sure. It did

leek black evening gown. A card sat on top, its surface bearing a single line of elegant

s Ric

by eight o'clock-he would pick her u

mind. Could this sudden gesture have been prom

curling her lips. "I'm probably reading too m

to check the time. It w

inutes remain

headed straight to the ba

akeup and, with Kate's help,

ate had ordered arrived, s

take a few bites to ease her hunger, but

lse quickened as she answered, a mix of cur

voice was curt and authoritative, giving no ro

he scooped two quick bites of food into her mouth, barely t

he grabbed her clutch a