Chapter Six: Under One Roof
779 Words
Nathan didn’t take his eyes off the street.
The hooded man was gone.
Almost as if he’d never been there.
“You saw him too, right?” Amelia asked quietly.
Nathan nodded.
“I did.”
“Do you know who he was?”
“No.”
“But I intend to find out.”
He immediately dialed Oliver.
“I need security at Amelia’s apartment tonight.”
Oliver didn’t even question it.
“I’ll have a team there in fifteen minutes.”
Amelia sighed.
“This is ridiculous.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Which part?”
“The fact that I signed a fake dating contract yesterday…”
“…and tonight I have bodyguards outside my apartment.”
He managed a small smile.
“I’ll admit, this isn’t how I imagined introducing someone to my world.”
She folded her arms.
“Your world is exhausting.”
“I know.”
The following morning…
Nathan arrived at the film studio only to be greeted by his director.
“You’re late.”
“Five minutes.”
“It’s still late.”
Nathan apologized and headed toward makeup.
Before he reached his trailer, he overheard two crew members talking.
“I heard the girlfriend’s just after his money.”
“They always are.”
Nathan stopped walking.
He turned toward them.
“You’ve got it wrong.”
The crew members froze.
“She’s the least interested person I’ve ever met.”
“And if you’re going to talk about someone…”
“Make sure they’re there to defend themselves.”
The set fell silent.
Nathan walked away without another word.
Across town…
Amelia was shelving books in the school library when her phone buzzed.
It was a text from Nathan.
How’s your day?
She smiled despite herself.
Quiet. Which is a miracle.
A reply came almost instantly.
Mine isn’t. Want to have dinner tonight?
She frowned.
Is this a real dinner or a fake dating dinner?
Nathan’s answer made her laugh.
Honestly… I don’t know anymore.
That evening, Amelia arrived at the restaurant.
It was small.
Warm.
Nothing like the glamorous places she’d expected Nathan to choose.
“I thought celebrities only ate in fancy restaurants.”
Nathan looked almost offended.
“They have the worst mashed potatoes.”
She laughed.
“So this place?”
“The best in New York.”
After tasting the food, Amelia nodded.
“You may actually be right.”
“I usually am.”
She rolled her eyes.
“There he is.”
“Mr. Perfect.”
He groaned.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s the title the media gave me.”
“I hate it.”
She studied him for a moment.
“You really do.”
“I’ve spent ten years trying to live up to a nickname I never wanted.”
As they talked, Nathan seemed… different.
Less polished.
Less rehearsed.
He told stories about failed auditions.
About sleeping in his car before his first big role.
About missing birthdays, weddings, and holidays because of filming.
Amelia listened quietly.
“I never knew.”
“Most people don’t.”
“They only see the red carpets.”
Just as dessert arrived…
The restaurant door burst open.
Sophia Blake walked in.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Confident.
Every conversation in the room stopped.
She smiled when she spotted Nathan.
“Nathan.”
“It’s been a while.”
Nathan’s expression hardened ever so slightly.
“Sophia.”
She turned her attention to Amelia.
“So…”
“You’re the famous girlfriend.”
Amelia stood politely.
“You must be Sophia.”
“The ex.”
Sophia smiled sweetly, but her eyes were cold.
“I hope you’re enjoying the attention.”
She leaned a little closer.
“Just remember…”
“Nathan gets bored easily.”
The table fell silent.
Before Amelia could respond, Nathan stood.
“That’s enough.”
Sophia looked surprised.
“I was only talking.”
“No.”
“You were trying to provoke her.”
He took Amelia’s hand.
“We’re leaving.”
Outside the restaurant, Amelia finally spoke.
“She still loves you.”
Nathan let out a slow breath.
“Maybe.”
“And you?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“I left that chapter behind a long time ago.”
High above them, in the apartment building across the street…
A camera lens zoomed in.
Someone captured the moment Nathan gently tucked a loose strand of Amelia’s hair behind her ear.
The photograph would be on every entertainment website by morning.
But the photographer wasn’t working for a magazine.
Someone had paid specifically to follow them.
- Writer
