Chapter 12

Olivia's POV

Tapping my pen on the scattered script papers in front of me, I finished reading the last few pages with complete engrossment. Andrew and Ezra, standing impatiently beside me, anxiously awaited my feedback. Although I could feel their intense gazes fixated on the side of my face, I paid no mind to them. I was taking my time, fully immersing myself in the script.

"You don't like the idea?" Andrew asked as he took the chair beside me.

"I love the idea," i said as i pryed my eyes away from the paper in my hand.

"Then why are you so quiet?" Ezra added.

"Just thinking of how this will make people react," i  confessed,  i felt comfortable discussing stuff like that with Andrew and Ezra.

"Why do you care about that all of a sudden?" Andrew asked me curiously.

"I don't care about bunch of people attacking the show, i don't even care about losing fans if those fans are homophobs" i clarified trying to understand myself what am i thinking about.

"Is it about Zoya?" Ezra asked me.

"I think so, can you imagine the amount of hate she will get, especially with her sexuality in consideration" i said while massaging my temple.

"She chose this career, and you can't protect her from the paparazzi and their mean words. It's how this industry works, so why are you only focusing on the hate she will get? She will also receive a lot of love, especially as it provides proper representation that LGBT people are missing on the screen," Ezra said, always being the wise one while I tended to be more emotional.

"You're right, and I know I can't protect her. It's just not something I wish upon anyone," I tried to explain.

"You're awfully interested in this Zoya girl," Andrew added with a chuckle.

"I like her; she is a fun and genuine person," I answered, smiling at the thought of my banter with Zoya.

"And she's a beautiful , and she makes you smile like this too," Ezra added, winking at Andrew.

"Okay, both of you, let's not joke about this. You know how much I love Elijah, and if anyone found out about this, considering where the show is heading, I could be in serious trouble," I said sternly, giving them a warning. However, deep down inside, I couldn't help but think about what Ezra said regarding Zoya making me smile. It was true; I found myself smiling a lot when I was with her, but it was just because of her down-to-earth personality.

They both exchanged chuckles as they glanced at each other, then raised their hands in the air, seemingly assuring me that they wouldn't misbehave. However, I knew better than to believe their words.

"Should I bring her in to discuss the idea with her?" Andrew suggested.

"I think we should. If she doesn't approve of the idea, then we'll have time to find a replacement before shooting begins," Ezra added.

"Replace her? What do you mean, replace her?" I asked, surprised by how readily they were willing to discard her.

"Our sponsors want this idea. If Zoya isn't on board, she'll have to quit the role. You know how it is, Olivia. Nobody would bend the rules for a new actress," Andrew explained.

"And you? Are you okay with this?" I asked Ezra.

"Olivia, I care about my work. I don't particularly have any attachments to Zoya," Ezra said, rubbing the back of his head. "But let's bring her in; I'm sure she won't mind it."

"She gets to kiss you, after all," Andrew chuckled, and I immediately threw the pen at his face.

"What did I say?" I warned in a firm tone. "Wait, what? There will be a kiss?" I asked, confused.

"No, we'll insinuate the relationship, like we used to do in the '60s. Come on, Liv!" Ezra said sarcastically. " few kisses, if not something else."

I observed as Andrew swung open the door to Ezra's office and motioned for Zoya to come inside. At first, she appeared apprehensive by the sudden summons to Ezra's office, but her expression froze when she caught sight of me. Her eyes slightly widened, and she took a deep breath before breaking into her familiar warm smile. It was infectious, and I couldn't help but reciprocate, feeling the positive energy she exuded.

"Oli," she greeted with a soft giggle as she took the seat next to me.

"Zoya," I responded, mirroring her cheerful tone.

My gaze shifted towards Andrew and Ezra, and as expected, they wore smirks that hinted at suppressed inappropriate jokes. Feeling the heat of their gaze, I fidgeted slightly in my seat, trying to regain my composure.

"Do you want me to be a part of this conversation, or should I wait outside?" I asked, reminding them that we had business to attend to.

"What's happening?" Zoya asked, concern evident in her voice. I glanced over to my side, noticing her pale face.

"Liv, you can stay. Zoya, nothing is going on; we just want to have a chat with you," Andrew clarified as he grabbed a chair and positioned it in front of us, taking a seat.

Zoya's eyes shifted from Andrew to Ezra, finally settling on mine. It was as if she sought reassurance through her gaze. Almost instinctively, my hand found hers, and I gently squeezed it, aiming to offer comfort. In response, she clutched my hand, refusing to let go.

Ezra's smile peeked through, though he quickly masked it with a fake cough. He kicked Andrew's chair, and I couldn't be sure if it was to prompt him to speak or to signal that I held Zoya's hand. All I was doing was comforting a friend, and I struggled to comprehend why they felt the need to romanticize every gesture.

"As you're aware, our TV show will focus on Olivia's character as she navigates life following the death of her husband. In the storyline, Anthony's character, who portrays her brother-in-law, discovers that his brother left the business to Olivia. He'll go to great lengths to reclaim the business, while Olivia's character, overwhelmed with work and her child, decides to hire a nanny. This is where you come in," Andrew explained, with Zoya nodding rapidly, indicating her familiarity with the plot.

"She doesn't really need a nanny anymore?" Zoya asked, her voice betraying a hint of dissapointment.

"No, Zoya. Actually, the nanny will become the love interest for our main protagonist," Ezra interjected.

"Oh... so Anthony will be the nanny?" Zoya asked, tilting her head in slight confusion. I couldn't help but burst into laughter at her conclusion, earning chuckles from Ezra and Andrew.

"Zoya, you will be my girlfriend," I explained, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.

"W... what?" she asked, clearly confused. "When?" she added, seeking further clarification.

"What do you mean 'when'?" Andrew chimed in, his amusement evident in the wide smile spread across his face. "In the show, you will be the nanny, and the nanny will be Olivia's secret girlfriend," he explained.

"Oh..." Zoya responded, a perplexed expression furrowing her eyebrows. "Oh! What?" she exclaimed, her confusion escalating.

I couldn't help but smack my forehead in response, joining in the laughter that erupted from all of us. We watched as Zoya's face transitioned from confusion to realization, finally settling on a horrified expression.

"But I thought Anthony would be trying to win Olivia over throughout the entire TV show," she finally spoke, clearing her throat.

"He will, and you will be the reason why she refuses any interference from Anthony in her life," Ezra responded.

I couldn't contain my anxiety any longer and asked her, "Is this okay with you?" I was worried she might refuse and they would replace her.

"I have a say in this?" she asked me, her confusion evident.

"Not really. I'm afraid it's more like you either agree to continue with the role or not," Andrew asserted firmly.

"I am not quitting this role," she said after a few seconds of contemplation.

I breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her words, but I sensed that something was troubling her. This opportunity would bring her role more exposure than she had anticipated, potentially leading to additional pressure. It seemed she was simply overwhelmed.

"Great, then it is settled. Shall we inform the rest of the cast? Will you both be joining?" Ezra asked, brimming with excitement.

"We will follow," I replied, signaling to Zoya that I needed to talk to her privately.

Andrew chuckled as he playfully pulled Ezra by the arm, both of them leaving the room while undoubtedly whispering about us. I didn't mind their playful banter; it was something we were accustomed to. However, with Zoya, I worried she might feel uncomfortable.

"What has gotten them in such a giddy mood?" she asked, resting her head in her hands.

"Pay no mind to them. The real question is, why aren't you in a good mood?" I asked, turning to face her, giving her my undivided attention.

"No, I am okay. It's great news," she replied, forcing a smile.

"Your role just became significantly larger. I know it can appear daunting, but I'll be by your side every step of the way," I reassured her, taking her hands in mine once more.

She gazed down at my hand and gently caressed the back of it with her thumb, maintaining a moment of silence.

"Do you think this will be strange?" she finally asked.

"What do you mean?" I inquired, feeling a sense of confusion.

"Us, acting as if we are in love. Do you think it could negatively impact our friendship?" Her concerns were genuine, and I could sense her unease.

"Of course not, why would it? I've kissed Anthony in many movies before, and we're still good friends," I chuckled, attempting to alleviate her worries.

"Yeah, but that's a different situation, isn't it?" she added. I didn't quite understand what she meant, so I patiently waited for her to continue.

She nervously bit the inside of her cheek and mumbled, "Nevermind," under her breath.

"No, please tell me. What's bothering you?" I insisted.

She hesitated for a moment before explaining, "It's nothing, really. I'm just overwhelmed because the role has become much bigger, attracting more attention. I still don't have any agency for support and guidance, so everything feels chaotic for me." She fiddled with the ring I was wearing, clearly troubled.

"I've told you, I'm here for you. We'll figure things out together," I reassured her, hoping to alleviate her concerns.

"I know, and it truly means a lot to me that you are," she responded. Despite her words, I could still sense that something was troubling her. However, I didn't want to make her uncomfortable by pushing her further.

"Shall we join the rest of the cast now?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood by joking about the potential reactions some people might have.

She forced another smile and nodded slowly. I stood up and extended my hand to help her up. It unsettled me to see her in such distress, but if she didn't want to share more, there was nothing more I could do.

Zoya's POV

"Fuck."