Chapter 4
1281 Words
Purple.
One Month Later.
The hall buzzed with different sounds: the directors screaming at the team to hurry up, the makeup artist asking for a few minutes, the co-actors who were muttering their script.
I sat, staring at the script while the makeup artist touched up my makeup.
It had been a month after my graduation, and I had started my job.
I thrived in this moment. My first day here, I thought I wouldn't fit in, that I was a newbie. Whispers of misfortunes that befell newbies just like me echoed from every corner. Then I started my first film. Every scene, every second, I realized this was what I was born to do, this was everything, the bane of my existence.
“Are you anxious?” The makeup artist asked. A little smile tugged at her lips. She looked a little older, her rainbow hair tied into an unclean bun. She stood 5'6", the same height as I.
“No. I am not.” It was the truth; I had gotten the hang of things.
“I heard today's scene is a kissing scene.” With that, the confidence I spent all morning building up withered into shreds; my inside twisted and nudged me.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Don't worry, you will get used to it.” That made me feel more disgusted. “Plus, I heard the male lead is hot and handsome. Some are envious.” I whipped out a weak smile.
I wasn't here to crush on hot male leads; I was here to act and grow my career. Sadly, I couldn't avoid the kissing part.
On the bright side, the producer did mention that the biggest investor in Starlight Entertainment was coming to the set. That means everything must be extra perfect. I can't lag—never did, but still—we need to make him proud.
I sucked in a breath and stared at my reflection.
My brown hair was dyed blonde and styled into straight curls, my face decked up with makeup. I looked different, like some supermodel with my brown honey eyes that glittered under the light, my sharp nose and lips, which were greased with a pink lipstick.
I wore a red gown that clung to my body in all the right ways. The scene was simple: A party which ends with me kissing the strange prince charming.
Which I hadn't even met.
“All done.”
“Let's go!” The director screamed. I was now starting to think that was his normal tone.
I stepped out and made my way to the settings where a little crowd swarmed up.
“The sponsor is here,” one gushed.
I moved closer and closer still; I got a better view of him.
I went numb, my eyes widened.
He…he was here. The airport guy was the sponsor?
I staggered but caught myself almost immediately.
“And.. Miss. Corinth, our female lead.” The crowd parted as I walked up to him.
“Nice to meet you again.”
“You two have met before. That's great,” the producer spoke. “Acting in today's scene won't be hard 'because you all have established an understanding.”
I snapped my gaze to him, then the airport guy.
“He—”
“Yes, Miss. Corinth, meet Troy Griffin, our sponsor and also the male lead.”
My brain crashed while trying to process his words.
He—he was the male lead.
“I look forward to acting with you.”
I felt like wiping that smug off with my fist, but I couldn't.
Calm down; it's just a scene, nothing else.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Action!” The director thudded.
“Who are you?” I said, acting out the scene. Troy moved through the fog of smoke, each step inching him closer. Still, he stood close, leaving no space for air. His hard torso pressed against my body, sending a spark of electricity through my skin. I fretted. He extended his hands, trailing his finger through my jawline.
He tilted his head, taking his time to watch me shudder under his hold. Then he leaned in, and his lips met mine.
It wasn't rough; it was sweet, mild, and slow, dragging every atom of air in my lungs. My knee buckled, and I would have crumbled if his hands hadn't gripped my waist and pressed our bodies closer. I leaned in greedily for more, to taste the addictive sweet taste. He tasted like alcohol and strawberry, a dangerous combination. My hand snaked around his shirt and tugged it.
“Cut!” The director's voice jarred me out of it. I stepped back almost immediately, like I had been electrified.
“It's a wrap for today.” I forced a smile and rushed out of there, not sparing him a glance.
The bathroom door shut in a gentle thud. I leaned into the sink; the memory replayed; his taste lingered on my lips.
It wasn't an act; it wasn't the script. The kiss felt real. His touch, his gaze, the smug he had, and the way I shuddered under his hold, submitting to his every will.
I needed help! I breathed.
I was seeing things. Troy wasn't like that; he was nice, one who helped me. And that was just a movie, nothing more or less.
I spent the next fifteen minutes there before I left.
I walked back to the closet, and they all stared, whispering to themselves.
“The kiss was so real??”
“I think it's more than acting??”
“Are they dating??”
I ignored it, pulled out my phone to keep me distracted, when my gaze caught something.
Our kissing scene! It was online!!
“f**k!” I cussed. The movie hasn't been released, definitely not in fifteen minutes; someone must have videotaped us.
I scrolled through my comments, and my mouth parted at the comments.
Half were gushing, celebrating our union. While the rest dragged me, saying I had stolen their idle/husband.
What nonsense!
I made my way to Troy's private suite, without bothering to knock, and I stormed in.
“We just kissed. That doesn't make us lovers that you would barge in like that,” he joked without looking up from his phone.
“Tell that to the media. Our kissing scene was released, and people are misinterpreting it,” I said, more calmly than I had expected.
“It's a good thing.”
“What??” The word slipped out of my lips before I could process it.
“With this, the movie rating would shoot up before it's actually released. Secondly, it's good for the company image.”
Was he serious?? “Company image?? Do you know what people are saying?”
“They can talk all they want. It benefits us.”
Fuck him! f**k me for thinking he was different; he was the same. He and Leon were disgusting men who didn't care about others and would use them to get what they wanted.
Heartless.
I glared at him, then stalked out, disgust coating my being.
I felt stupid for kissing him, and I felt more stupid for asking him to get us out of this.
I went back to the make-up suite.
If he doesn't want to help, then I will get myself out of this madness.
I pulled out my phone and started recording.
“Hello, world.” I started. “I am Miss. P, and Troy and I are definitely not dating...”
At this moment, I didn't think of the aftermath, nor did I care to know.
I needed to do this now.
- Writer
