I take a measured breath. "Lucas, can you link up with Emma and handle any adjustments? I'll text her now and let her know my schedule is shifting. You'll be fine."
He exhales sharply but nods, agreeing to disagree with me. He's a good guy, and I wouldn't want to do this gig without him, but some days, I just need him to go with the flow. He's so wound up.
"Fine. Just…try to stay out of any selfies. I'm sure people will post on their socials. I can manage any calls that come in from the press."
"Thank you, Lucas. I appreciate it."
When I return, I see Sophia at the head of the table, an empty chair beside her. She gestures me over, and a ripple of nerves sparks inside my chest.
"Hey, after this, do you want to grab lunch at the craft services tent?" she asks. "I promise I won't keep you all day. You can leave right after."
I check the time and remember my afternoon obligations. "How about we pop over to the executive dining room instead? It's closer to where I need to be."
"Perfect."
Somehow, it really is. It's shaping up to be one of the best days I've had in a long time—and I still haven't even gotten my first cup of coffee yet.
five
. . .
Sophia
I diginto my braised short ribs, barely pausing to chew before asking, "So, what did you think of the morning? I mean, be honest. I can take it."
My words come out muffled, but I don't care. I'm starving, and apparently, filming makes me eat like a linebacker.
I glance at Grant and almost laugh at how calm he looks, sitting across from me with that perfect posture, his sleeves rolled up just enough to showcase those strong forearms. His glasses sit slightly lower on his nose, and the way he glances at me over the frames makes him look both serious and unfairly attractive.
Meanwhile, I'm shoveling food into my mouth like I haven't eaten in a week. Not exactly glamorous, but it's not like he's thinking about me that way. And even if he did, we're colleagues, and he's a good decade older than me. That thought helps me relax—lets me be more of myself. No Hollywood persona, just Sophia.
Grant smirks, his dark brown eyes glinting with amusement. "Hungry?"
"Don't judge me."
"I would never."
His gaze lingers on me, and I find myself staring at his mouth. He has a beautiful mouth—soft, full, expressive, with those little lines at the corners when he smiles. I'm so distracted that I don't notice the smear of sauce on my lip until his brow quirks.
"You've got a little something," he says, motioning to his lip. I swipe at my mouth with my napkin, but he shakes his head. "Not quite."
Before I can react, he leans forward and brushes the pad of his thumb across the corner of my mouth. The touch is light, barely there, but it sets off a spark I didn't expect. My breath catches as his eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the space between us seems to vanish.
Then, just as quickly, he sits back, brushing his thumb against his napkin like it was nothing. "All clear," he says, his tone casual, but his gaze flicks away, betraying the tension.
"Thanks," I manage, trying to ignore the way my skin tingles where he touched me.
"Honestly? You were great this morning," he says, seamlessly steering the conversation back. "Natural. I've seen a lot of producers fumble through their first day, but you handled it like you've been doing it for years."
My stomach flips, and it's not because of the food. It's the way he says it—like he believes in me more than I do.
"Really?" I ask as heat rises to my cheeks. "I don't knowwhat I'd do without your guidance, though. This is a whole new ballgame for me. I can act all day, but producing?" I shake my head. "It's a lot."
When I started acting, I was enamored with the idea that I could transform into anything I wanted. I could pretend to be happy, sad, or angry. It was so fun to shift into a character who was a teen with psychic powers or a secret FBI hacker. The more I was around the magic of TV and movies, the more I learned about how it all came together.
In the beginning, someone handed me a script and told me where to stand, and then I played the part. It didn't take long before I thought about what I would've done in the script or how I would have blocked a scene. I shadowed some friendly directors and producers and realized I might enjoy creating movies as much as I enjoy starring in them.
When I signed with Blair, I told her it was a priority to expand my experience to behind the camera, and I can't believe she made it happen so quickly. Well, she and Grant.
