Chapter 9

Olivia's POV

My eyes couldn't help but linger on Zoya, taking in her shaken demeanor. The interaction with Anne had clearly unsettled her, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for stepping in the way I did. Maybe I should have given her some space and let her handle it on her own, but something about Anne's condescending tone towards Zoya just infuriated me.

Ava's gaze on me was telling, and I knew she had a different perspective on the situation. Being in the public eye meant navigating through delicate politics to maintain my image. Not only could the paparazzi have captured the entire exchange, but Anne's actions had the potential to ignite unnecessary attention online. Yet, deep down, I couldn't bring myself to care about that. I despised people like Anne who seemed intent on bringing others down.

While the rest of the cast continued their conversation, the three of us remained in a tense silence. I could only wonder what Ava was strategizing in her mind, perhaps already formulating a damage control plan if the situation escalated. But what was Zoya thinking in that moment? Did I overstep my boundaries? Was she simply upset about running into her ex?

"Zoya, let me give you a ride home," I declared, deciding to end this tense situation and maybe take a moment to check on her.

"That's alright, I will take a taxi," she answered, avoiding eye contact. It was clear that she was still upset with my interference.

"I insist," I said, determined to ease the awkwardness hanging between us.

"Maybe it would be best for everyone if she took a taxi," Ava interjected. Although I appreciated her concern for my public image, I couldn't help feeling frustrated with her constant need for control. She knows how much I despise being managed, and she could at least grant me the freedom to offer my friend a ride home.

"I'll be going ahead then," Zoya said, getting up from her seat.

I shot Ava an angry look and gestured for her to wait inside as I followed Zoya outside.

"What's gotten into Olivia today?" I heard Anthony ask Ava, to which she replied with a statement I couldn't quite make out.

"Zoya, wait! I need to apologize," I hurriedly called out, finally catching up to her.

"Apologize? For what?" she responded, confusion evident in her expression.

As we stood there, a sudden flash from a camera interrupted our conversation. I momentarily forgot that we were in front of a busy restaurant in broad daylight.

"Please, just get in the car. Let's talk," my eyes pleading with her to understand. I kept my body language relaxed, trying to prevent any unwanted speculations or rumors about a cast argument.

She looked around, her gaze shifting to the growing number of people gathering around us. She nervously bit her inner cheek, contemplating her response for a few moments. Eventually, she nodded slowly. A sigh of relief escaped me as I gestured for her to follow me into the car. Once we were safely inside, Noah drove us away from the gathering crowd.

"Thank you," I said, my voice filled with genuine gratitude. "I was really hoping we could have a moment to talk, so I could apologize."

Curious, she raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

I nervously scratched the back of my head. "For meddling in your business. I assumed you didn't want to talk to her, so I asked her to leave. In doing so, I might have unintentionally ruined your chance to fix things."

Her eyes softened as she shook her head. "You've got it all wrong. I actually appreciated that you came to my rescue. She was making me feel incredibly uncomfortable, and you didn't do anything wrong."

Confusion and relief washed over me. "Then why the silence? I thought you were upset with me."

She turned towards me, a small smile playing on her lips. "You are something else," she remarked, her voice filled with a sense of intrigue.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, feeling completely lost in the moment, unsure of what she truly meant.

Her gaze held mine as she posed another question, her curiosity evident. "It didn't bother you what she said?"

Perplexed, I met her eyes once again, getting lost in the unique combination of green with flicks of golden brown. "What did she say?" I inquired, hoping for clarity amidst the swirl of emotions.

With a hint of nervousness, she admitted, "That I have a crush on you." The words hung in the air, both of us aware of their weight.

A chuckle escaped me as I relaxed back into the car seat, breaking our intense eye contact. "Is that what bothered you? It's not like I don't understand what it's like to admire an actress or an actor. Believe it or not, I fangirl too sometimes when I meet certain people in the industry," I confessed, offering a reassuring touch to her forearm with my hand.

Her brows furrowed slightly before she finally spoke. "I see," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of relief and hesitation, her fingers fidgeting nervously.

Sensing that something was still bothering her, I asked, "What's the matter? Something else is on your mind, isn't it?"

Her gaze shifted, as if contemplating her words, before she mustered the courage to share her concerns. "No, nothing. I was just worried because, well, you know my sexuality. I was afraid you might think my crush is different, that it means something more," she confessed, her voice tinged with anxiety.

My mind raced, realizing the truth in her words. It had never occurred to me from that perspective. She was gay, and there was a possibility that her feelings for me went beyond a mere crush. I struggled to grasp the implications, questioning whether I had missed something meaningful.

After a brief pause, I collected my thoughts and spoke sincerely. "Zoya, I didn't think of it this way at all. You have nothing to worry about. Your sexuality doesn't change anything between us," I assured her, hoping my words would alleviate her fears.

She nodded, her gaze shifting away once again. "So, we're good?" I asked gently, wanting to ensure our connection remained strong.

A weak smile graced her lips as she nodded. "We're good," she confirmed, a sense of relief enveloping our conversation.

Zoya's POV

I'm astounded by how oblivious this woman is, but strangely grateful for it. Anne nearly ruined everything for me, but thankfully Olivia didn't piece it all together. I'm genuinely perplexed as to how she hasn't realized the impact she has on me, considering I've been quite obvious about it. Nevertheless, by some stroke of luck, things fell into place. Moving forward, I just need to be more cautious and guarded with my feelings.

"Where to, Miss Lopez?" Noah asked.

"Oh right, where do you live?" She asked, slapping her forehead in forgetfulness.

"You can drop me anywhere, I don't want to cause any trouble," I replied to Noah.

"That won't be happening, it's already late. I won't leave you on the side of the road," Olivia said, shaking her head with determination.

Knowing I had no other choice, I gave Noah my address, and the car ride was spent in comfortable silence. I couldn't help but steal subtle glances at Olivia every now and then. My resolution to be careful always faltered when she was around. When her phone started buzzing, she quickly took it out to text someone before putting it away.

"Elijah is asking where I am," she chuckled. "I'm late for movie night."

"Oh, sorry for ruining your night. I could have just taken a taxi," I said, trying to hide the pang of pain in my heart.

"Nonsense, he's very understanding. It helps that he's also in the industry. He knows how busy the days can get. I'm lucky to have him," she said, and I felt like I wanted to throw up.

"He's lucky to have you as well," I blurted out, my big mouth acting before my brain could register my words.

"That's nice of you to say. I think we're lucky to have each other then," she said, smiling. Great, I just made the situation worse for myself.

"What about you? Who's lucky to have you?" she asked me curiously.

"Are you asking about my love life?" I said, intrigued by her sudden interest, but she remained silent, waiting for my response.

"No one is. I'm not ready for anything right now," I said, feeling awkward discussing this with her.

"Because of your ex-girlfriend?" she pressed.

"Because my life suddenly turned upside down. I don't think I have space for a relationship right now," I said, secretly telling myself I'd make an exception for her.

"But it's nice to have someone to come home to after all that mess," she insisted on continuing the conversation.

"I guess so, but for that, you need an understanding partner," I said, hoping she wouldn't bring up her husband once again.

"And Anne wasn't?" she asked, catching me off guard. "Sorry if that was out of bounds. You don't need to answer."

"Anne didn't even believe in the career I chose. And it's not out of bounds. You can ask me anything," I replied reassuringly.

"I bet she's regretting her choices now," she said, her laughter filling the air.

"I highly doubt it. Word is she's landed herself a wealthy boyfriend," I replied, though my teeth were clenched in frustration.

"It's her loss. You have this charm that can win over any girl," Olivia said, and her words made my heart skip a beat.

"Well, I don't know about that," I said, getting lost in the depths of her captivating eyes once again.

"You know, your eyes are absolutely stunning," she whispered, gently touching my chin and locking gazes with me. My chest tightened, and I found myself breathless, rendered speechless by her touch. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.

"They remind me of a fierce wildfire burning through a forest," she continued, her smile making my heart race. As she released my chin, completely unaware of her impact on me, I remained captivated, unable to look away from her enchanting presence.

"You know what I just realized?" She said, smoothly transitioning to a different topic as if she hadn't just tried to murder me.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"You never texted me," she pouted, and with that simple gesture, I found myself falling even harder for her.

"I didn't want to come across as overly eager," I confessed, realizing that I should probably tone down my honesty.

"So, am I desperate now for asking why you never did?" she said, feigning offense.

"Olivia Lopez, you possess the ability to do anything and get away with it," I replied with a smile.

"I wish that were true, but it's quite the opposite. There's nothing I can do freely," she said, her typical smile fading away, replaced by the same haunted expression from the night of the meet and greet party.

Curiosity piqued, I asked her, "Why do you say that?" Concern for her well-being filled me, as this was the second time I had witnessed such a drastic shift in her demeanor.

"I've been meaning to ask, what kind of contract do you have with your agent?" she asked me, her face serious and focused.

"Just a simple one. But I'll be signing another contract with them soon. I plan to go to their office over the weekend," I replied, wondering why she was suddenly interested in my contract details.

"Would you mind if I joined you, along with my lawyer?" she asked. Perplexed, I nodded slowly.

"Contracts can be quite tricky. You could end up unintentionally signing your life away. I want to make sure that doesn't happen to you," she explained, and I felt a wave of warmth wash over me. She was genuinely looking out for me, ensuring my well-being. However, a realization slowly dawned on me.

"Is that what happened to you?" I asked, my voice filled with empathy. She offered me a weak smile, confirming my suspicions. I could tell she wasn't ready to delve into the depths of her own struggles, and I respected that. I was grateful that she even shared a glimpse of her burdens with me and offered her support. Though I knew we could never be more than friends, I considered myself lucky to have her in my life in any way.