Chapter 10: New Dynamics

The day after their kiss, things felt different, but neither Aaron nor Kimberly was quite ready to admit why. Aaron spent most of the day in and out of meetings, though his mind frequently drifted back to Kimberly. He couldn’t help but wonder what it meant, what she was thinking. And though he knew he couldn’t push her, the look she gave him, the way she responded—it stayed with him. He’d never been this unsure of himself, but there was something about her that had a hold on him.

It wasn’t until the evening that Aaron found himself walking into his apartment, tired from a day’s work but with a spark of anticipation at the thought of seeing Kimberly again. He knew she was coming over later to discuss the Mufasa movie offer, but he had an idea to kill two birds with one stone—talk about business, but also clear the air between them.

He hadn’t even set his keys down when his phone buzzed. It was a message from his long-time friend and co-star, Kelvin Harrison, Jr.

Kelvin: Yo, man. How you holding up? You sure you're ready for this next step with the movie and... other stuff? Let me know if you need to talk.

Aaron couldn’t help but chuckle. Kelvin was like that—always direct but somehow managed to be his shoulder to lean on without the heavy drama. They’d been through a lot together, especially on set, but this was different. It wasn’t just about movies anymore. This was about him and Kimberly—and he couldn’t exactly talk about that with the world.

He typed a quick response:

Aaron: You know me. Just focusing on the next project, but I might need some backup on the personal front. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.

Just as Aaron put his phone down, the doorbell rang. It was Kimberly, dressed casually but in a way that made Aaron’s heart skip a beat. She was wearing a fitted white sweater that clung to her curves just right and some dark jeans. She looked stunning but in an understated way, like she hadn’t even tried.

“Hey, Kimberly,” Aaron greeted, his voice low as he opened the door. The moment she stepped inside, her gaze briefly flickered to his bare chest, and he could feel the energy shift. Neither of them said anything, but there was a palpable tension in the air.

“Hey, Mr. Pierre,” she said, her voice a little more formal than usual. She wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but she’d noticed his look earlier, and now, after what happened, she wasn’t sure how to act.

Aaron watched her closely for a moment, sensing her awkwardness. “You know, you can just call me Aaron, especially now that we’re... figuring things out.”

She smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, I’m just... not used to it yet.”

“Fair enough,” Aaron said, leading her toward the living room where they could sit and discuss the movie offer. “Let’s get to it then, huh?”

As they sat down, Aaron couldn’t help but steal a few glances at her, feeling the weight of the unspoken words between them. She was sitting a little closer than usual, and with her legs crossed, the way her body language shifted only made him more aware of how things had changed between them.

Kimberly, on the other hand, was doing everything she could to act like it was just another day, just another meeting. But she couldn’t help but remember the feel of Aaron’s lips on hers, how his touch had lingered, how his presence had made everything else fade away.

“So, the movie offer…” she started, trying to focus on the task at hand. “We’re looking at a potential schedule conflict with your current commitments. We’ll need to consider the press and your fanbase. They’ve been really invested in your previous roles, so this will need some careful planning.”

Aaron nodded, though his focus was clearly divided. He wasn’t as interested in the movie right now as he was in the woman sitting across from him. He couldn’t stop looking at her—those eyes of hers were locked on him with an intensity that he couldn’t ignore.

He cleared his throat, trying to shift the conversation. “Kelvin was just texting me. He’s been asking about the movie offer too. We’re both kind of in the same boat with this. He’s got some ideas for the press angle, though. Maybe you can work together on that?”

Kimberly’s brow raised slightly. “Kelvin Harrison, Jr.?” she asked, surprised. “Your co-star?”

Aaron smiled a little, his gaze softening. “Yeah. We’ve known each other a long time. He’s more like a brother than a co-star. He’s been helping me navigate this whole public life thing for a while now.”

Kimberly nodded, her thoughts swirling for a moment. She felt a pang of jealousy that wasn’t really about Kelvin—more about how much Aaron had shared with him, how close they were. It wasn’t something she had with him, and it made her realize just how much she wanted that.

Before she could respond, Aaron stood up, his tall figure towering over her. “Hey, I’ll let you get to work on those details. But, uh, I have an idea. We could all go out for drinks after this—me, you, and Kelvin. Talk about this project and whatever else.”

Kimberly stood too, shaking her head. “I’m not sure about drinks just yet. Let me process everything first. But thanks for the offer, Aaron.”

Aaron’s expression softened as he took a step closer, the brief closeness between them making the air feel thick again. “Of course. We’ll figure things out. But let me know if you change your mind.”

She gave him a small smile before turning toward the door. “I will.”

As Kimberly stepped out of Aaron’s apartment, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this whole thing with him was about to become something more than she had bargained for. But at the same time, she couldn’t help the pull she felt whenever he was near. There was something undeniable between them, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could pretend otherwise.

Aaron sat on the edge of his couch, staring at his phone as the sound of Kimberly’s footsteps faded away. She had left his apartment, and with it, the lingering tension between them. He had wanted more. He had wanted to pull her closer, kiss her again, but he had to remind himself—she was his assistant. No matter how badly his body ached for her, he couldn’t cross that line. Not yet.

Sighing, he ran his hands over his face. He needed a break. A distraction. Something to clear his head before this feeling consumed him. So he grabbed his jacket, slammed the door behind him, and made his way to the bar to meet Kelvin.

He knew his best friend would have no problem talking him through whatever mess his head was in.

When Aaron walked into the bar, he spotted Kelvin immediately at their usual booth, a drink in his hand, a cocky grin on his face.

“You made it,” Kelvin said, a knowing smirk on his lips as Aaron slid into the seat across from him. “I figured you might need this after whatever just went down.”

Aaron didn’t respond right away, instead signaling the bartender for a drink of his own. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, but Kelvin was persistent. He always was.

“You good, man?” Kelvin asked, his gaze narrowing as he studied Aaron. “You’ve been acting all weird since she left. What’s going on with you?”

Aaron glanced down at his glass, swirling it gently. It wasn’t like him to be this thrown off. But tonight was different. Kimberly was different. She had that effect on him, and he hated how quickly she was starting to take over his thoughts.

“Work stuff,” Aaron muttered, trying to keep it casual. “It’s nothing.”

Kelvin raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the excuse. “Nah, man. I know you too well. This is more than just business. So what happened?”

Aaron leaned back in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn’t ready to get into it, but Kelvin’s probing was relentless.

“It’s complicated,” Aaron said, his voice low. He couldn’t stop the images of Kimberly from rushing to the forefront of his mind. “She’s my assistant. I can’t cross those lines.”

Kelvin chuckled, leaning forward with a sly grin. “Man, if I had a dollar for every time I heard you say that... But you don’t get it. I see the way you look at her. She sees it too. You two have this thing. Don’t pretend like you don’t feel it.”

Aaron’s jaw tightened. He couldn’t deny it. He had felt it the moment he met her. There was a chemistry between them that couldn’t be ignored. But now, with everything on the line, he wasn’t sure how to handle it.

“I’m not ready for the drama, Kelvin,” Aaron said, frustration creeping into his voice. “I’ve got enough going on with my career. I don’t need to add more to it.”

Kelvin rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. “You’re always acting like it’s more complicated than it is. But I’m telling you, man, if you don’t do something about it, you’re gonna regret it. She’s not just some assistant. You know that, right?”

Aaron didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. Kelvin had a way of cutting through all the bullshit, and right now, he was right. Aaron had to make a decision. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Kimberly was getting under his skin, and ignoring it was becoming impossible.

“I’ll figure it out,” Aaron said finally, his voice quieter now. “But I can’t deal with this right now. Not yet.”

Kelvin leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile on his lips. “I just hope you figure it out before she walks away. You don’t want to let her slip through your fingers, man. Trust me.”

Aaron exhaled, his mind racing. He had a lot to think about. And now, with the weight of Kelvin’s words hanging in the air, he knew the next move he made could change everything.