Page 23 of Unscripted with Mila

I blinked at the maelstrom of emotions in her gaze. It was like looking in a mirror some days. I felt her anxiety as if it were my own.

Then it happened. Her face went white, her left eyebrow quirked, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she pitched forward.

There was no thought, nothing but instinct. The anger I was feeling vanished. The script in my hand went one way, the coffee I was holding another. I was on my knees in front of her, catching her falling form before she hit the floor. I felt the heat of her coffee splash my chest and my arms. I ignored the burning sensation as the hot liquid hit one cheek. I encased her protectively as my joints took the brunt of the impact.

Then I held her close, refusing to let go until she woke up.

I needed to be the one to lay her fears to rest when she opened those incredible eyes.

Somehow, I knew it as strongly as I needed my next breath.

* * *

Chaos broke out around me. Amber ordered everyone out of the conference room. “Keep this to yourselves,” she ordered. “I’ll let you know what is happening.”

A woman dropped to her knees beside me. She was the one I had seen on set a couple of times. She pushed at my arms. “Let her go.”

“No,” I snapped. “Get a doctor.”

“She doesn’t need a doctor. She’ll come round in a minute.”

“How the hell can you be so sure?”

She met my gaze, hers upset but calm. “Because I know her. I’m Andi—her agent and friend. I know what she needs.”

Mila’s eyes fluttered open, and she jerked at finding herself in my arms. Her gaze flew to the woman beside me. “Andi?”

“It’s okay, kiddo. You’re okay.”

“Oh God, no. It happened,” Mila whimpered.

“It’s okay,” Andi soothed her. “Everything is going to be fine.”

Mila’s eyes met mine. She pushed at me. “Let me go, please.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, not wanting to release her.

“Yes. This, ah, happens.”

“What is this exactly?” I demanded.

“None of your business,” Andi replied, tugging on my arm to let Mila go.

Before I could retort, Amber leaned over me. “You should have your arm and face looked at, Nicholas. That coffee was hot.”

Mila gasped, going white again. “Oh, I am so sorry!”

Terrified she was about to faint again, I shook my head, reassuring her. “It’s nothing,” I grunted as Andi stood, helping Mila up. I rose to my feet, my hands outstretched, worried Mila would fall again. But Andi wrapped an arm around her, leading her to the end of the large table and away from me.

“Nicholas,” Amber said, her voice and stance every inch the director in control. “Go to medical. I can’t have your face marred for filming.”

“But—”

She cut me off. “Her agent has her. She probably forgot to eat or was overly nervous. I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll come get you when she is ready to talk to everyone.”

I had no choice but to leave, but everything in me hated it.

I headed to medical to get some salve, then to my trailer, where I pulled on a fresh shirt. I wasn’t surprised when I hurried back to find the room empty. I sought out Amber, who told me that Mila’s agent had taken her back to the hotel. “She’ll be back tomorrow. We’re doing some read-throughs today.” She handed me my coffee-covered script and a clean one. “You might need this one.”