Page 29 of You. Me. Us.

He’d fucked up.

He’d known this was a risk, and he’d gone way too far.

He looked into her eyes, the captivating green that had first drawn him in filled with a mix of hurt, confusion, and anger. It pained him to know that he was the cause of her distress. He had only wanted to show her the potential he saw within her, the brilliant light that she kept hidden behind her journalistic pursuits.

“I never meant to upset you or make you feel like I was trying to control your life,” Julius began, his words careful andmeasured. “I just saw something in you, something special, I had the opportunity to help you in ways other people would love.” He let his hand run through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes. “And I didn’t want to go away for months and only see you on a screen. Not after yesterday.”

He took another step closer, the distance between them slowly shrinking as he tried to convey the sincerity of his intentions.

Taking a risk, he reached for her hands and she let him take them. “I was a selfish jackass because I wanted more with you.”

Julius’s voice grew stronger, more confident as he continued. “I know you’re scared. I know the thought of stepping into the spotlight terrifies you. But I also know that you have the strength within you to overcome that fear. You just need to trust yourself, to believe in the incredible person I see standing before me.”

He reached out, his fingertips grazing her arm with a feather-light touch. The contact sent a shiver down his spine, a reminder of the connection they shared, the undeniable pull that brought them together.

“I’m not asking you to give up your life, your career. I’m asking you to take a chance on yourself, to explore a side of you I think is hiding in there. And I promise, I’ll be there every step of the way. I’ll support you, guide you, and help you find the confidence you need to shine. I just want to show you that you have all the skills you need to command a room.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” He twitched, shaking his head because it was the last thing he’d actually expected her to say.

“Yes, because the minute I walk onto that small stage you’re going to see how absolutely crazy you are. I’m kind of falling harder for you knowing that you don’t want to stop seeing me, but letting me audition for the lead in your movie? That’s insane, Julius!”

He chuckled. “Actors do a lot of insane things. Comes with the territory of pretending we’re a million other people throughout our lives.”

“One shot. I’m going to let you embarrass me one time, and then I’m going to pitch the embarrassment as the story because Olivia will murder me if I don’t when she finds out what went you pulled.” She pulled her hand free and poked him square in the center of the chest. “And then you are going to make this up to me in some way I haven’t thought of yet.”

He grinned so wide his cheeks nearly hurt. “Deal.”

Julius led Hillary into the audition room, his hand resting reassuringly on the small of her back. Vera, his director, a tall woman with striking silver hair, had come in during the ruckus and taken a seat. The whole thing may taint her against Hillary, but he couldn’t deny that she was captivating and if she could feel comfortable, the whole world would agree.

“Hillary, I presume?” The director asked, extending a hand in greeting. “I’m Vera, and I’ll be directing this film. Julius has told me so much about you. In his producer role he seems to have some very far reaching ideas.”

Hillary shook Vera’s hand, but not before shooting him a dirty—but oddly adorable—look.

“This isn’t a scene from the movie in question, but it’s designed to show your range. I understand you’ve never done this before, so I promise not to let it go on too long if Julius has gotten it all wrong.”

He flinched when Hillary did. Vera wasn’t trying to be harsh, but it certainly came across that way.

Julius followed Hillary up onto the small stage, his own script in hand. He positioned himself across from her, taking a moment to study her face. Beneath the nervousness and uncertainty, he could see a glimmer of determination in herstriking green eyes. It was that spark, that hidden fire, that had drawn him to her in the first place.

As Hillary began reading her lines, her voice was soft and hesitant. She stumbled over a few words, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. But as she continued, something began to shift. Her posture straightened, her shoulders squared, and her voice grew stronger, more confident.

“How dare you come here and tell me this?” Hillary’s voice was laced with a raw, simmering anger as she glared at Julius. “My husband, the father of my children, is dead. And you have the audacity to stand there and deliver the news like it’s just another day at the office?”

Julius was taken aback by the intensity of her performance. The way her eyes flashed with fury, the way her lips trembled with barely contained emotion—it was mesmerizing. He found himself getting lost in her words, in the depth of feeling she poured into every syllable.

“I understand your anger, ma’am,” Julius replied, his own voice steady and calm. “But I assure you, we did everything we could to bring him home safely. Your husband was a hero, and his sacrifice will not be forgotten. He was the best damn Captain I’ve ever served under and I made him a promise.”

Hillary let out a bitter laugh, the sound cutting through the air like a knife. “A hero? What good is a hero if he’s not here with his family? What am I supposed to tell our children? That their father chose his duty over them?”

Tears began to stream down her face, and Julius had to fight the urge to reach out and brush them away. He marveled at the way she embraced the character, the way she let herself be vulnerable and raw. It was a side of her he had never seen before, a side that left him breathless and in awe.

As the scene progressed, Hillary’s performance only grew more powerful. She navigated the complex emotions of grief,anger, and despair with a skill that belied her lack of experience. Her voice cracked with sorrow one moment, then rose with righteous indignation the next. She was a force to be reckoned with, a talent waiting to be unleashed upon the world.

Julius found himself forgetting to look down at the script to deliver his lines; he was so entranced was he by the woman before him. The rest of the room faded away, and all he could see was Hillary. The way the stage lights danced across her face, highlighting the delicate curve of her cheekbones. The way her chestnut hair, now coming loose from its ponytail, framed her face like a halo. She was a vision, a work of art come to life.

Hillary delivered her final lines with a quiet intensity that sent shivers down Julius’s spine. “I will never accept you coming around here.”

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