Chapter 20

Olivia's POV

I flinched at the sound of the magazine smacking against the table in front of me, my eyes darting towards a furious Ava as she paced back and forth in front of my desk.

"Look at this picture, Liv," she pointed towards a photo of me leaving the club with Zoya, both of us seemingly emotional.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to remain composed. "Ava, I was simply being a supportive friend. Zoya wasn't feeling well, and I was just taking her home."

Ava scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Liv, you know how quickly rumors spread in this industry. The public will start speculating about your relationship. You need to be cautious and maintain a professional distance."

I hesitated, feeling conflicted. "I can't just abandon Zoya," I said, my voice laced with determination. Deep down, I knew my connection with her was something special, and I couldn't easily walk away.

Ava sighed, looking towards Elijah as if seeking assistance. "Please, Ava, give us a moment," Elijah interjected, his voice calm but firm. Reluctantly, Ava left the room, her frustration apparent.

Elijah walked over to me, his expression filled with concern. He gently held my face, searching my eyes for answers. I avoided his gaze, knowing that if I made eye contact, he would see the truth.

"I'm fine," I lied, trying to dismiss the tension. "Just stressed."

"Let's take tonight to relax," Elijah suggested, his words soothing. "We can discuss Ava's concerns tomorrow."

Before I could respond, he leaned in and kissed me. At that moment, something inside of me screamed that this wasn't right. It didn't feel like Zoya's touch, her warmth, or her love. My heart and mind were in turmoil, responding with a resounding "no," even though logic dictated it should have been the other way around. This should have felt wrong with Zoya and right with my husband.

But as his hands began to undress me, my body refused to respond. It wasn't guilt that overcame me; it was a deeper realization. I felt a profound desire to cry, to run away from this falseness.

"Elijah," I said, my voice shaky as I placed my hand on his chest, gently pushing him away. I quickly wiped away tears from my cheek, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern etched across his face.

"I... I'm on my period," I lied, unable to meet his eyes. From the corner of my vision, I saw him nod, accepting my excuse.

"But you understand Ava's concerns, Liv," he said, gently rubbing my forearm. "As the show airs, speculations will grow, and our lives will be scrutinized. You know this, I know this. What has changed now?" he asked, his voice filled with frustration and a tinge of sadness.

I knew all too well what had changed. Throughout my career, I had always made sacrifices, putting my ambitions above everything else. But with Zoya, it was different. Letting her go felt unbearable, even with the looming consequences. The mere thought of losing her suffocated me, and it was a weight I couldn't easily dismiss.

"Why should I have to sacrifice my friend just because both of you think it's the right thing to do?" I exclaimed, my anger seeping into my words.

"We're not asking you to lose your friend entirely, but to keep your interactions professional, like you do with all the other cast members. Why is that so difficult for you?" Elijah asked, his confusion evident.

"Because it just is! She's not just someone I'm filming with; she's my friend," I tried to explain, frustration lacing my voice.

"Ava is your friend, Liv. But this girl, you barely even know her," Elijah insisted, and my patience reached its breaking point.

"Did you sign away my friendship rights exclusively to Ava? Am I no longer allowed to have control over my own friendships?" I said, my voice shaky as tears threatened to spill. It felt like ever since I started this new project, everything that once made sense in my life now felt confusing and unsatisfying. The weight on my heart was becoming unbearable.

"Liv, it's becoming impossible to have a discussion with you. You chose this life, this career. I met you as an actress, I met you when you were already under your current contract. Neither I nor Ava forced this life upon you, so why are you mad at us?" Elijah's voice grew with anger. A part of me was grateful that he was finally challenging me, as I felt deep down that I deserved it. I didn't think we could just be okay after what I had done, and I couldn't bring myself to admit that.

"Exactly, it was my choice then and it's my choice now," I said, my voice rising as I clenched my fists. I stormed towards the door, grabbing my car keys in frustration.

"Where the fuck are you going? It's almost midnight!" I heard him shout as I slammed the door shut behind me, my mind racing with conflicting emotions.

Zoya's POV

I rested on my bed, my body shifting restlessly as I searched for a position that might ease the ache in my heart. In frustration, I lay on my back and let out a deep sigh, my forearm shielding my eyes from the world. Why did she have to kiss me that way? It shattered everything I thought I knew, turning my entire existence upside down. The way she felt against me was etched into my senses, making it difficult to banish her from my thoughts. And the painful truth that she was a married woman only intensified the torment, weighing heavily on my soul with each passing moment. The internal struggle had become an unbearable burden, testing the limits of my endurance.

I felt my phone vibrate, alerting me to a new notification. Swiftly reaching for it, I saw a message from Olivia that sent my heart racing. "Are you awake?" it read. Taking a deep breath, it felt as if all the air had suddenly left my lungs, leaving me breathless. Trying to steady myself, I quickly typed my response, my anticipation palpable as I bit down on my lower lip.

I heard the bell ring, making me jump in my bed and sit up straight. Glancing at the clock, it read 12:30 am. I quickly grabbed a wooden spoon from the kitchen, my weapon of choice, and approached the door, opening it slowly. My heart nearly stopped when I saw Olivia standing outside, dressed in sweatpants and a casual shirt, which was unusual for her.

"Oli? What's wrong?" I asked, my voice filled with worry.

"Zoya," her voice cracked as she took a step towards me, throwing herself into my arms. If I hadn't been so concerned, I might have been caught off guard by the sudden hug.

"What happened?" I whispered, feeling her body slightly tremble in my arms as she sobbed softly. She shook her head, which was nestled in my neck, sending all sorts of sensations through me.

"Okay, let it out, baby," I cooed, stroking her hair lovingly. I almost missed the endearing term I called her if her head hadn't snapped to look at me.

Her red eyes and flushed face stared at me in a daze. Her tears had stopped, but a streak remained on her cheek. She was still beautiful, even more so in her vulnerable state.

"Sorry, I..." Before I could continue, she smashed her lips against mine, causing me to gasp once again. She grabbed my shirt roughly and threw me against a nearby wall, not breaking the kiss. Her hands hastily tangled in my hair as she bit down on my lower lip, causing a moan to escape from me.

"Fuck," she groaned in frustration as her lips trailed down to my neck, biting down softly. My hands scratched down her back, desperately trying to bring her closer.

She broke the kiss, grabbed my face in her hands, and stared into my eyes as if searching my soul. "Say that again," she demanded, making me gulp.

"Baby?" I whispered, already out of breath. She hummed in satisfaction and pressed her lips against mine once more.

Her hands went down to my thighs, carrying me and making me wrap my legs around her. She walked us over to the couch and threw us onto it, her body landing on top of mine, pressing down on me.

I clenched the nearby pillow, trying to suppress the moans that were escaping my lips. She buried her face back in my neck as her pace slowed down to a torturous rhythm. She pressed her lips against my skin, and I could feel her tongue subtly leaving her mouth and touching my skin as I tightened my grip on the pillow.

"Babyyy," I whined, unsure of what I wanted, but certain that I wanted her to continue.

"You have no idea what hearing you call me that is doing to me," she bit my neck and soothed it with her tongue, her hand traveling up my legs and settling on my waist.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I gathered my courage to ask, knowing that discussing the issue might cause her actions to cease, but I was worried about her.

"Can you just let me touch you?" she rested her forehead against mine, softly caressing my cheek.

"If that's what you need," I said, "I'll be whatever you need me to be," I managed to add, losing myself under her gaze.

"Then be mine, even just for tonight?" she whispered.

"I'd be yours forever," I pressed my lips back onto hers in a quick kiss.

She sighed, wrapping her arms around me, resting her head on my chest. We laid there silently, in each other's arms, dreading the morning that was soon to come.