Chapter 13

thirteen

. . .

She could feel Julius’s hand on her back, a steady presence amidst the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to sweep her away.

She looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the hope and belief shining in his blue eyes. Those eyes that had captivated her from the moment they first met, that had seen something in her that she had never dared to acknowledge. And now, standing here in this theater, with the offer of a lifetime hanging in the air, she realized that maybe, just maybe, he had been right all along.

But the doubt still lingered, a nagging voice in the back of her mind that whispered of her inadequacies, her fears. She was a journalist, a writer, not an actress. She had spent her life crafting stories with her words, not embodying them on stage or screen. The thought of stepping into the spotlight, of baring her soul for all the world to see, sent a shiver of terror down her spine.

And yet... and yet there was a part of her, a small, quiet part, that yearned for this. That longed to break free from the confines of her carefully constructed life and embrace the unknown. To take a chance on herself, on the talent that Julius and Vera saw within her.

Hillary took a deep breath, the air filling her lungs and steadying her racing heart. She looked at Vera, at the silver-haired woman who had seen something extraordinary in her performance. “I... I don’t know what to say,” she began, her voice trembling with emotion. “This is all so unexpected, so surreal.”

Vera smiled, a gentle, understanding smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes. “I know it’s a lot to take in,” she said, her voice soft and reassuring. “But I meant every word. You have a gift, Hillary. A rare and precious gift that deserves to be shared with the world.”

Hillary swallowed hard, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her. She glanced at Julius, seeking strength in his steady gaze. He nodded, a small, encouraging nod that spoke volumes.

She turned back to Vera, a newfound determination settling over her. “I accept,” she said, her voice growing stronger with each word. “I accept the role. I don’t know if I’ll be any good, if I’ll be able to live up to your expectations. But I’m willing to try. To take a chance on myself, on this opportunity.”

Vera’s smile widened, her eyes sparkling with delight. “Wonderful,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “I have no doubt that you’ll exceed all of our expectations. And we’ll be with you every step of the way, supporting you once we get you an agent to help you make this official.”

Julius lifted Hillary into his arms, spinning her around as she let out a surprised laugh as the room slowly stopped spinning, but he didn’t set her down.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss that sent sparks dancing across their skin.

As they pulled apart, Julius rested his forehead against hers, a soft smile playing on his lips as he finally set her down. “You won’t regret this, Hillary,” he murmured, his breath warm against her cheek. “Stepping outside your comfort zone, taking a chance on yourself—it’s the beginning of an incredible journey.”

Hillary looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with the remnants of joyful tears. “But what about my writing? My job at the magazine?” she asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Julius brushed a stray lock of chestnut hair from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. “This doesn’t mean giving that up,” he assured her. “It’s just another way to tell stories, to share your talent with the world. Writing will always be a part of you, but now you have the opportunity to bring those words to life in a whole new way.”

Hillary nodded, a slow smile spreading across her face as she let his words sink in. He was right. This wasn’t an ending, but a beginning. A chance to explore a new facet of her creativity, to challenge herself in ways she never had before.

“You’re still in deep trouble for this little stunt, mister,” she teased, poking him playfully in the chest. “Springing this on me, making me think I was going to a real audition...”

Julius chuckled, capturing her hand in his and bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “I know, I know. But you have to admit, it worked out pretty well in the end.”

Hillary rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the grin that tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Don’t think you’re off the hook that easily. You’re going to have to work hard to make this up to me.”

“Oh, I fully intend to,” Julius said, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “And lucky for us, we’ll have months together on set for me to do just that. Plenty of time for me to grovel, beg for forgiveness, and show you just how incredible you truly are.”

Hillary laughed, shaking her head in amused disbelief. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Impossibly charming, impossibly handsome, impossibly in awe of you,” Julius listed off, punctuating each word with a quick kiss to her nose, her cheeks, her forehead.

Hillary swatted at him playfully. She wasn’t certain what had just happened, but she couldn’t deny the warmth that blossomed in her chest at his words. Couldn’t deny the way she’d felt up on that stage doing something as insane as thinking she could act.