Chapter 13

Cast in scene : Olivia Lopez as Amelia

Anthony William as Paul

Place : Amelia's and Noah's Penthouse

1,2,3 and... Action!

Scene description: Amelia stood by the door of her house, expressing gratitude to the people who came to offer their condolences after the loss of her husband. After the guests left, she took a seat next to her brother-in-law, Paul.

[Paul]

Where is Lana?

[Amelia]

She fell asleep, I put her in her room.

[Paul]

We need to discuss what comes next, Amelia .It has already been a week since my brother passed, and the company requires someone to step in and handle matters.

Amelia nods, her eyes filled with a mix of grief and determination.

[Amelia]

I understand, Paul. I've been trying to gather my thoughts and prepare myself for this responsibility.

Paul places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

[Paul]

You don't have to take it all on yourself, Amelia. I'll be right by your side, assisting you in any way I can.

They sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the weight of the situation.

[Amelia]

Let's gather all the necessary information and schedule a meeting with the lawyer. It's time to open his will.

Cut!

Zoya's POV

"Great job, everyone. Let's take a 45-minute break," Ezra exclaimed, his voice filled with appreciation. "Olivia, let's have a quick look at your make-up. You seemed to tear up a bit too much," he chuckled.

Olivia arched an eyebrow playfully at Ezra. "Ah, that's called professionalism," she responded with a wink, gracefully making her way towards her chair for the make-up crew to retouch her look.

Dressed in a black pencil skirt and a sleek black silk shirt, Olivia exuded an air of elegance. Her make-up was meant to portray exhaustion and sadness, but to my eyes, she appeared radiant and stunning as ever.

I sat in my chair, attempting to focus on reviewing the contract she had given me earlier. However, I found myself irresistibly drawn to watching her as she flawlessly acted out each scene. It was a surreal experience witnessing her talent firsthand, without the screen as a barrier. As I observed her from start to finish, it became increasingly evident that she possessed an unwavering talent, leaving me in awe once again.

"Are you focused on reading your script? I thought you weren't scheduled to film today?" Layla's sudden interruption caused me to jolt in my seat, my gaze torn away from Olivia.

"Oh, no. It's not my script. It's actually unrelated to work, and you're right—I don't have any filming scheduled for today," I responded, feeling a mixture of confusion and surprise. It baffled me as to why Layla had suddenly chosen to acknowledge my existence and strike up a conversation, especially considering that she, like the rest of the cast, had always ignored me.

"So, how does it feel after your role got upgraded to nanny with benefits?" Layla taunted, her laughter obnoxious and cutting.

"I'm not sure if that's how I would define the role change," I responded, unwilling to join in her joke.

"And how would you define it then?" she challenged, her raised eyebrows daring me to respond.

"Personally, I would describe it as being a co-star," Ava chimed in, throwing her arm playfully around my shoulder, offering support.

"Where did you come from?" I asked, smiling gratefully that she had intervened, bringing some relief to the tense conversation.

"I came to see Olivia; I have to give her the schedule for tomorrow," she responded. "Actually, let's go together. I have something I want to talk to you about," she said, gripping my arm and pulling me away, leaving a fuming Layla behind.

"Thanks for stepping in," I expressed my gratitude.

"I can't believe she's behaving like this, as if we're still in high school," Ava criticized, shaking her head in disbelief.

"What's her problem, anyway?" I asked, rubbing the back of my head in an attempt to ease my anxiety.

"She has a massive crush on Anthony and sees you as a threat, most likely. Just ignore her," Ava dismissed, as we finally reached Olivia's side.

"Are you two off having fun while I'm trapped in this chair? All alone, bored, and hungry?" Olivia complained, a playful glint in her eyes.

"I was just saving Zoya from Layla," Ava said, a hint of irritation in her voice as she handed Olivia her iPad. "Please tell me you've already looked at this."

Olivia's smile widened, her eyes sparkling. "What did Layla do now? You should have seen the look on her face when the news was announced."

Ava chuckled. "I can only imagine how infuriated she must have been. But, hey, let's stay focused. Have you checked your schedule?"

"I totally did," Olivia glanced at me, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she winked. In that exact moment, my heart skipped a beat, and I found myself struggling to form coherent thoughts.

"You didn't, did you?" Ava added, her frustration becoming evident.

"I will, after we finish filming. Did you arrange a dinner reservation for me and Elijah?" Olivia asked, and my stomach twisted into knots. Do they always have romantic dinners and dates?

"Yeah, are you planning to tell him about the changes in the plot?" Ava asked, biting her inner cheek.

"Yes, now that it's been announced, I can discuss it with him," Olivia said, giving her reflection a final glance in the mirror.

"He might be upset that we didn't inform him earlier," Ava said, concern etched in her eyes. It was clear that the three of them were close friends, with Ava genuinely worried about Elijah's feelings.

"He'll understand that we couldn't disclose anything due to the 'Do Not Disclose' agreement we signed," Olivia said, shaking her head as she hopped off her chair in celebration of her newfound freedom.

"Let's grab something to eat now," she said, pulling both of us away, while the unhappy makeup artist grumbled about her work being ruined yet again with food.

"You two go ahead, I still need to resolve some scheduling conflicts," Ava said, engrossed in scrolling through her iPad.

"I heard they have donuts," Olivia whispered in my ear as we walked toward the break room. A shiver ran down my spine, and I tried to suppress it with a chuckle.

"Have you read your contract?" she asked, holding the door open for me.

"Not yet. Honestly, I was more focused on watching you act, and the contract seems too complicated and boring for me to understand," I confessed.

"We can set up a meeting with Michelle. She can provide a summary of the legal clauses for you," Olivia suggested, her eyes gleaming with delight at the sight of the donuts.

She grabbed one and took a big bite, not caring about the powdered sugar now smudging her face. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she chewed on the fluffy pastry. She discreetly ran her tongue over her lower lip in an attempt to clean up the mess, but it only resulted in a futile smudge.

I couldn't help but be entranced by the sight before me, a change from her usual poised and seductive demeanor. In that moment, she seemed liberated, almost childlike and carefree. My imagination ran free, painting a picture of her sitting upon my kitchen counter, her hair playfully tied up in a messy bun. She wore an oversized t-shirt, in a relaxed morning. Rays of warm sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting a golden glow upon her radiant, natural beauty.

I saw myself standing before her, hands gently resting on either side of her body, as I admired her morning radiance. A soft smile played upon my lips, blissfully content as I imagined sharing this intimate moment with her.

"Zoya," she snapped her fingers in front of my face, jolting me out of my daydream.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I stammered, suddenly aware that I must have been staring at her like a creep.

"I asked if I had made a mess on my face, you were staring," she replied with an embarrassed chuckle.

"No, I mean, yes," I fumbled, attempting to explain myself. "There's a little mess here," I pointed to the corner of my mouth, "but that's not why I was staring."

"Oh," she responded, attempting to wipe the corner of her mouth with her finger, only to smudge her makeup further. "Why were you staring?" she inquired, a question to which I had no answer.

"You missed, can I..." I quickly offered, hoping to divert her attention from her question.

She nodded, and I proceeded to take a napkin, gently wiping the corner of her lips. My eyes couldn't help but dart from her lower lip to her jawline. My mouth was dry, and my hands trembled, making it challenging to focus on the task at hand without ruining the painstakingly applied makeup she had just fixed during her break.

"I did the best I could," I whispered weakly, my voice barely audible as I met her gaze.

"Did you guys start shooting without the rest of us?" Anthony's voice abruptly interrupted, causing me to jump away from Olivia as though I suddenly realized I had no right to be this close to her.

I glanced at Olivia, and she remained as composed as ever, laughing at Anthony's joke, one that I didn't find particularly funny due to my feelings for her. To her, my proximity held no significance.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am that I won't be kissing you this time," Olivia chuckled, taking another bite of her donut.

"That's hurtful," Anthony attempted to joke, but I could sense that Olivia's words had dented his male ego.

"No, it's not," Olivia retorted, clearly fed up with the constant rumors surrounding her and Anthony. "If I see one more post online about theories of us secretly dating, I might just choke on this donut," she declared, displaying her frustration with the relentless gossip.

"Anyway," Anthony said, rubbing his hands together, "I came to call you. Break is over," he declared, walking away.

She glanced at the box of donuts on the table, then back towards me. She pouted slightly in objection to leaving all those donuts behind and made her way back to the set.

I followed behind her, my eyes unwillingly trailing over her beautiful body as it swayed in front of me. I knew she didn't indulge in those donuts often; she must adhere to a strict diet to maintain her figure.

Feeling my ears reddening, I quickly averted my gaze, realizing that I was checking her out right in the middle of the set. I couldn't afford to let my guard down. With the first few episodes airing soon, millions of eyes would be fixated on us. I've witnessed what fandoms can do to celebrities, and I couldn't let my actions result in a picture that would haunt Olivia forever.

"Olivia! Why is your makeup smudged again?" Ezra grumbled in annoyance at the delay.

"It's not my fault. It's Zoya's," Olivia hurriedly responded, pointing towards me. I froze in my tracks, horror washing over me as I assessed how easily her words could be misunderstood.

"Zoya smudged your makeup?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and implying exactly what I feared.

"Oh!" Olivia covered her mouth with both hands, realization dawning upon her. "She was wiping my mouth with a napkin, you jerk!" she exclaimed, playfully smacking Ezra's shoulder.

Ezra wiggled his eyebrows at her and they walked away together, laughing loudly. I stood there, still in shock, contemplating how I would survive this entire filming without succumbing to a cardiac arrest.

Cast in scene : Olivia Lopez as Amelia

Anthony William as Paul

Layla Johnson as Audrey

Place : Jack's law firm

1,2,3 and... Action!

Scene description: This scene takes place in the lawyer's office as Amelia, Paul, and Audrey (Paul's secretary) prepared to go through Noah's will.

[Paul]

What do you mean everything is in Amelia's name?

Paul stands up and forcefully slams his hands on the table in anger.

[Jack]

This is the content specified in Mr. Nilson's will, and I am merely reading and ensuring that his wishes are fulfilled for the intended beneficiary.

Jack securely returned the stack of papers to the safe located behind him, carefully locking it afterwards.

[Amelia]

I think it must be a mistake, I have limited knowledge about the company, and Paul has consistently been a valuable resource for assisting Noah with his work.

[Jack]

I assure you that Mr. Nilson's intentions were unmistakable; he explicitly designated that everything is to be entrusted to you without any ambiguity.

With an affirming shake of his head, Jack dismissed any lingering doubts about the plausibility of the situation.

[Paul]

So, if Amelia decides to give everything to me, it will be mine, right?

[Jack]

If Mrs. Nilson were to decide to give it to you, no one can interfere since it legally belongs to her. However, I would strongly advise against it as it would mean giving away Lana's future right to her father's company.

[Paul]

I have no intentions of stealing Lana's money, Jack. However, I believe I am the most suitable candidate to manage the company until she reaches an appropriate age.

[Jack]

Mr. Nilson had a different perspective on the matter.

Jack subtly glances at Amelia, silently urging her to consider the potential ramifications of fulfilling Paul's request.

[Amelia]

Alright, I guess I can give it a shot. I'll do my best, but to be honest, I'll need Paul's guidance. There's so much to learn and I'm not entirely sure what Noah was thinking.

Amelia reluctantly nods, trying to grasp her husband's wish, even though it didn't quite make sense to her. She couldn't hide the hesitation and fear in her eyes as everything started to feel overwhelming. It was all too much, and she couldn't help but feel that she needed time to grieve. However, instead of being able to take that time, she found herself burdened with yet another responsibility.

[Paul]

This is ridiculous! You should be home taking care of Lana!

[Audrey]

If you allow me, Paul, I think we should let Amelia go to the company and try. Maybe she will have some valuable input.

Paul gives Audrey a confused and angry look. However, Audrey senses his apprehension and gently reassures him by resting her hand on his leg, silently communicating that she knows what she is doing and asking for his trust.

[Amelia]

I will hire someone to help in taking care of Lana, Paul. I understand that this may not be the most ideal situation, but it your brother's wish.

Cut!