Chapter 10
My eyes widened as I stared at his face, I could feel his breath on mine.
v kaze.
I opened my mouth to speak but I could barely find the words, his eyes were fixed on my lips before looking up to meet my
Wh, what are you doing?” I stuttered.
His weight was warm above me too close, I could feel his chest pressing against my tits while I clutched to the sheets next to me, my knuckles turning white from how hard I clenched them.
There’s a paparazzi camped near the third balcony, he murmured in a whisper that caused goosebumps to trail down my skin, his voice was smooth and unhurried, “I can see his canera, if you flinch, if you scream, we’re screwed.”
He tilted his head, not enough to kiss, but just enough that from a distance, it would look like we were.
His nose brushed against mine, slow, intentional, his breath hot against my mouth.
My heart jumped, my breath catching slightly. “This is my privacy…
“Which you signed away,” he cut in, his eyes not leaving mine, one hand sliding behind my head, fingers brushing the pillow, “you agreed to bfit
His gaze flicked upward briefly, scanning past the curtain.
Then, slowly, he rolled off me, pulling away like it was nothing, the warmth of him leaving a trail across my skin,
I turned onto my side, my back to him, stiff under the covers, my heart thumping hard.
this, all
“Shouldn’t you give me a warning first? You said you hated that I kissed you without your permission, don’t you think this is worse?” I whisper yelled, my voice shaking a little as I still felt his body.
“We hu
have to prepare for moments like this,” he said,
I needed this nightmare to be over, first, I was sharing a room with him and now I had to deal with this. I closed my eyes tight, turning my back to him, it was clear he was only going to be playing by his own rules for now.
His arm suddenly slung around my waist, his hand resting low near my stomach.
I reopened my eyes and let out a sharp gasp, my mouth dropping in shock. “In case anyone’s still watching, he muttered behind me before slowly pulling me toward him, my back pressing against his chest.
I didn’t say a word, just lay there, trying not to react, trying to ignore the way his breathing tickled the back of my neck, how his body curved. naturally into mine, like we’d done this a hundred times.
Eventually, exhaustion won. My body relaxed, sleep pulling me in.
When I woke, light filtered through the curtains.
My check rested against something firm. My eyes blinked open slowly, registering the warmth beneath me.
My head was on Karl’s chest, his arm still around me, his hand resting near my waist, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear.
1 froze, his other arm was belund his head, like he’d been like this all night. I started to lift myself carefully, barely breathing
“You’re not exactly subtle, you know,” his voice came out low, amused.
“You were awake?”
He didn’t move, just slid his hand off my waist slowly, brushing my hip as he sat up. “I’ve got a meeting downstairs, be ready in an hour.”
I watched him get up, shirtless, the muscles in his back shifting as he reached for his shirt and disappeared through the door.
Is there a moment longer, then reached for my robe and walked to the window.
That’s when I saw them. Lights, cameras, crew members setting up around the pool.
A inan adjusting a mic, another clapping a slate board. They were filming a movie.
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Chapter 10
I quickly changed into jeans and a tank, slipped into sandals, and headed down the private stairs.
Excitement hummed beneath my skin as I approached the set, slipping through the staff and watching faces I didn’t recognize.
It felt surreal, like stepping into a dream I didn’t know I had.
I turned a comer, scanning the crowd, when my steps halted
Layla.
She stood near the director’s chair, her hair curled perfectly, makeup flawless, lips painted like she was born to be famous
Her eyes met mine, and her smile stretched into something vicious,
“You!” I said, my voice dry, confused, unsure whether I was still dreaming. “What are you doing here?”
“Didn’t I tell you things changed the moment you left?” H
Herl
laugh was soft and cruel, her tone thick with mockery.
“I’m the lead actress in a new series, streaming deal already locked, press will be everywhere, looks like I’m finally getting what I deserve.”
I stared at her, “you’re serious?”
More than you’ll ever be,” she said, her gaze trailing down my body, taking in my casual clothes with a look of disgust.
She stepped
Lever:
closer, her perfume sharp and sweet, fake to the core. “And Karl: Really? How did a broke, pathetic slut like you
end
up
with Karl
My jaw clenched, “watch your mouth”
“Or what?” she laughed, loud enough to turn heads. “You’ll have the cameras erased? You think you’re some kind of queen now? I saw the news, Ellen, but we both know what you are, a good story, a well–packaged lie.”
And then her lips shifted into a smirk.
Before I could step back, her hands shoved me, hard.
I gasped as my feer slipped beneath me, the pool hit fast, water surrounding me, cold and shocking.
I surfaced just in time to hear the second splash.
Layla
She screamed, her voice piercing, hands flailing as she made a scene. “She pushed mel Someone help!”
Heads turned, cameras raised, phones clicked.
“Isn’t that Karl Lever’s wife
“That’s her!”
“Get her facet
I reached for the pool edge, coughing, my hair clinging to my face, “I didn’t push her! She fell!”
Layla clung to the tiles like she was drowning. “She attacked met This is why Karl should’ve never married someone like her!”
Cameras zoomed in, clicking in rapid succession, crew members shouted, a few running toward us.
Jool
And
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