With a shake of her head, Greta pushed past Nora, heading out a door and into the corridor, to leave the noise and pressure behind.
‘Where are you going?’ Nora called after her, the question failing to reach Greta’s ears.
With each step she took away from the ballroom, the air grew cooler, and the noisy hubbub faded. Greta gradually felt like she could breathe again.
A soft breeze wound around her shoulders, and she opened a door into a small, dimly lit room. In desperate need of some time alone before she retreated to her hotel, she stepped inside.
Heading toward the window, Greta looked out onto the square. The last of the crowd were dispersing, and the red ropes were being dismantled. A few guests loitered near the fountain, their laughter ringing in the night air. It was hard to believe all the fuss had been for her—even though she’d wished for it.
Greta exhaled, trying to process the strange disconnect she felt, as if the evening had belonged to someone else.
She didn’t notice the door opening until a slice of yellow light swept across the floor. A figure appeared in silhouette, standing still for a moment before moving toward her.
She squinted to see who it was.‘Millie?’
‘Hiding, are we?’
Tobias’s voice was as rich and smooth as on the big screen. The moonlight caught his eyes, making them shine pewter.
Greta’s spine stiffened, and she struggled to breathe. Thank goodness the room was dark so he wouldn’t see her cheeks flushing. She swore she heard a crackle of electricity when he reached her side. ‘I just needed some time to myself,’ she said breathlessly.
‘Understandable,’ Tobias said, his tone all velvety. ‘The constant attention and adoration can be exhausting, don’t you think? One needs the time to recharge.’
‘You think so?’ Greta said, surprised to find his words echoed her own thoughts.
‘Absolutely. What we do isn’t for the faint of heart,’ Tobias continued, edging even closer toward her. ‘The world looks to us, expecting us to always shine and to carry their hopes and dreams. Yet being adored can take its toll.’ He let out a dramatic sigh, as if the universe rested on his shoulders.
Greta resisted the urge to roll her eyes. As Lottie would say, this sounded a bit cringe. ‘Isn’t it what we signed up for?’ she said.
He chuckled, as if her question was naive. ‘True, though we both know it’s a lonely existence. Even the people closest to us see the performer rather than the trueus.That’s what makes us different, Greta. We’re destined to be admired but never truly known.’ Tobias dropped his voice to a more intimate level. ‘That’s why it’s good we’ve got each other . . .’
He reached out, his fingers brushing hers. Then he took her hand fully.
Greta felt a strange sensation whoosh over her. Was Tobias hitting on her? Or did he just see her as a kindred spirit? They’d apparently already kissed on screen, but this felt . . . different.
She’d admired Tobias from afar, even found him attractive. But up close, he seemed like a self-obsessed bore.
Greta pulled her hand away from his, wishing he’d remained as a fantasy figure.
‘Maybe we perform because we need to feel admired, or loved,’ she said. ‘Or, perhaps it’s something deeper . . . searching for something that’s missing in our lives. We’re always seeking affirmation . . .’
Tobias’s shoe nudged against hers. His cologne was so overpowering it made her want to cough.
He lowered his voice further, as if sharing a secret. ‘The need to connect is in our blood. It’s not the fame, it’s the craft. When we’re creating those timeless moments on screen that will last forever, nothing else matters.’
Greta’s brows shot up, and she stifled a giggle.Timeless?An image of Tobias widening his eyes in mock horror at a CGI shark flashed in her mind.
A snort of laughter escaped before she could stop it.
‘Ha!’Tobias shrank back. ‘Why are you laughing?’
Greta clamped her hand to her mouth, struggling to contain the giggles that shook her body. Nora would never forgive her for this. ‘Sorry,’ she said, fighting the grin spreading across her face. ‘What you’re saying just sounds . . . preposterous.’
What had she ever seen in him?
Tobias’s expression hardened. ‘I thought you of all people would understand.’
Greta mulled over his words. She had spent too long chasing the empty promises of life in the limelight. ‘I think I finally do understand,’ she said. ‘More than you think.’
