had never imagined herself being part of them. She was comfortable in her quiet corner of the industry-typing away in coffee shops, sitting i

s, unti

out to Emma's manager

movie press meeting that she will

We will start roughl

while William sat in the makeup chair getting his final touches. Everyone was waiting for Emm

oducer's desk. Grace, being the c

el

expression shifted. Her fing

Are you

s turne

ear. "It's Emma. She's had a serious health complication.

ence fell o

've got to be kidding me. We can't postpone this.

role needs depth. Chemistry. If she can't carry the par

ace watched William carefully. He looked concerned-not jus

all hung in

money lost and more p

ovie's producer, groaned as he paced the dimly lit produ

nded on Grace. She had been sitting quietly at the end of the table, watching t

stunned. "W

better than anyone." He leaned back in his chair, a

e. But the room remained eerily silent. "That's rid

ing his temple. "Actually..

twisted. "You'

ace. You're here, you know the lines, and it's just one scene. We

ut

s voice was softer now, less teas

she belonged. But the weight of everyone's stares, the pressure of the production, and t

owed hard

-

designed rooftop where the final scene was set. The Los Angeles skyli

s clammy. The script she had written n

t breathe," he murmured. "For

intimacy, the closeness, the eyes watching.

the direct

woman who had spent years running from love, only to find herself unable to escape it. And Williams wasn't just Williams-

hick with emotion. "Tell me you don't feel

s was her dialogue, her scene, yet standing her

er lips, whi

closed the distance between them. His hands f

round them

pulling her closer, and without thinking, she responded. Her hands found his chest, feeling the warmt

e directo

urned, her breath uneven. She stared a

murmured, clearly pleased. The crew

but Williams caught

m off, forcing a small laugh. "Good job,

ore he let her go. "Yeah," he said, but h

wing the lump in h

see the emotions swirling in he