Page 9 of You. Me. Us.

As the interview progressed, Hillary swore she found herself pulled deeper into Julius’s world. She was captivated by his unbridled passion for his work, his unwavering dedication to his craft, and his ability to articulate his thoughts with such eloquence. Her questions came one after another, each met with a thoughtful and insightful response that only strengthened her admiration for the man walking beside her.

That man was more than just a handsome face, and he was incredibly talented at putting others at ease. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was more charismatic talking to her than any other interview she’d seen with him from countless press tours.

She couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes lingered on hers, the way his smile seemed to hold a secret promise, a hint of something more. It was electric, this connection between them, and Hillary felt herself getting lost in it, her professional facade slipping away to reveal the woman beneath.

The bustling energy of the convention swirled around Hillary and Julius as they walked together, the interview drawing to a close no matter how slow she seemed to move.

Costumed fans and excited attendees passed by their chatter and laughter blending into a vibrant cacophony that seemed to fade into the background as Hillary focused on the man before her. She’d never experienced such a magnetic pull in all her life, and somehow, she wasn’t making a fool of herself.

“Last question,” she said, her voice soft and tinged with reluctance. “What’s next for Julius Theon? Any upcoming projects you can tease for your fans that will take you away from your most popular role?”

Julius leaned in, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, I can’t give away too much, but let’s just say there’s a certain sci-fi epic in the works that I’m very excited about. It’s going to be a game-changer to step into space.”

Hillary’s eyes widened, her journalistic instincts kicking in. “That sounds incredible. Can you tell me more?”

But before Julius could respond, a sudden surge of fans pressed forward, their voices rising in excitement as they clamored for autographs and photos. Security guards stepped in, trying to maintain order, but the chaos was overwhelming.

I can’t lose this opportunity, Hillary thought, her heart pounding as she watched Julius being swept away by the crowd. Ihave to find a way to get this from him.

Impulsively, she reached out, her hand grazing his arm. “Julius, wait! Can we?—”

“A ‘we’ question then?” he snickered and offered her his hand. “Come on, I’ve got a feeling this interview isn’t over just yet.”

She avoided putting her hand in his for fear she’d turn into a gelatinous puddle on the ground, but she did follow him as he walked through the outer hall and into an unmarked room, the security following.

four

. . .

Julius noticedthe nervous energy fluttering in the air around Hillary continued despite them speaking for quite a bit as he walked toward the sofa, ushering for her to follow. She’d started the interview looking like she might run away, changed for a bit, and it seemed returned to it with his potentially poor suggestion to move to a private space.

Unless you put her at ease.

“Sit, please.” Waiting for her to sit first, Julius sat across the way on a black lounge chair, not wanting to crowd her space.

“Are you certain your managers allow for extra time?”

Chuckling, he shifted his weight. “Agent, and she’s fine as long as I don’t give away anything expensive. Extra questions are basically free.” Julius leaned back in his chair, a relaxed smile playing across his features. “Are you always this nervous at interviews?”

Hillary met his gaze, her green eyes sparkling with annoyance if he had to guess. “I’m not nervous, Julius. I want this piece to capture the real you, beyond the Hollywood persona.”

He chuckled. “Well, in that case, your acting is as spectacular as mine. Let me tell you a little secret.” He glanced around conspiratorially before continuing. “I’m hoping to land a lead role in a book-to-screen adaptation next month. It’s a project I’m really excited about, don’t get me wrong, give me a good pair of elf ears and a sword any day, but to change genres? That’s the real acting test.”

Hillary’s eyes widened. “That sounds incredible! What’s the title of the book?”

Julius held up a hand. “I’m afraid I can’t reveal that just yet. It’s all very hush-hush at the moment. But I promise, it’s going to be big, and you can drop a little hint in your article.” He snickered. “Guess I did just give something expensive away.”

She looked away when he laughed, as if meeting him in the eyes made her uncomfortable despite her insistence she was fine around him.

He found himself wishing she hadn’t done that, because he was oddly captivated by the shade of green of her eyes and they way she did look at him. He had never seen such a striking shade of green before—like emeralds catching the light with gold coins scattered inside of them. The way they shone with genuine interest and intelligence drew him in. There was a depth to them that hinted at so much value waiting to be found.

Hillary nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Your secret is safe with me. Off the record, of course. Between us, this piece is going to make or break my entire career.” She looked up again, and their eyes locked.

He wasn’t certain if he was crazy, but he swore a connection sparked between them. It was more than just interviewer and interviewee. There was an understanding, a shared sense of authenticity that he rarely encountered in his world of glitz and glamor. Usually, the publication sent someone out to make a fast buck or to seduce him literally or into giving information. Notthis time. They sent someone how actually cared what he had to say.

He wanted to know more about the woman behind those captivating eyes. What made her tick? What dreams and aspirations drove her? For the first time in a long while, Julius found himself genuinely intrigued by someone not written in a script or book.

“I can appreciate that, Hillary. Honestly. There’s something special about you. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I have a feeling this won’t be our last conversation.”

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