Chapter 14

fourteen

. . .

Julius nervously perched on the edge of his plush couch, bouncing his knee with restless energy. His eyes were glued to the glowing screen in front of him as he repeatedly refreshed the entertainment news site, waiting for the latest updates. The soft hum of his computer was the only sound besides the tapping of his knees against the couch, and the faint smell of coffee still lingered in the air from his morning brew. Anxiety prickled at his skin, making every passing second feel like an eternity.

Where’s the damn casting announcement? It should have dropped five minutes ago.

This wasn’t even for him and he was more nervous than he’d ever been for a movie announcement.

He glanced at his phone, tempted to call Hillary and share in the anticipation together. But he assumed she was buried in work at the magazine, trying to wrap things up before diving into a month of acting boot camp with him and then months of filming.

He smiled, picturing her brow furrowed in concentration as she put the final touches her Muse exclusive article about the audition experience. That article would hit the web any minute now, too.

Julius refreshed the page again.

Still nothing.

He stood and paced around his loft, needing to move. It had been a week since he’d surprised Hillary with the audition, and they’d barely seen each other since, each consumed by preparations for the whirlwind ahead.

He missed her.

Missed her more than made any sense, but then, nothing had made sense since he’d laid eyes on her. She was everything he hadn’t needed, and she’d gotten under his skin. They should be awaiting this news together, the first of what he hoped could be of many press releases about their careers they could share together.

He loved that she loved her job, but she talked about it with so much terror he couldn’t help but want to show her there was other work. Potentially harder, with shitty hours, and dangerous stunts, but the payoff would be the same. He didn’t want to change her, only open her eyes to the things she didn’t want to see for herself.

“You’re being pushy.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She should have left your ass the minute you bombarded her.”

It was astonishing she hadn’t.

Grabbing his phone, he pulled up her name, thumb hovering over the call button. She’d insisted on going into the office today despite his pleas to take the day off. Stubborn woman. But that fire, that drive—it was one of the things he liked so much about her. It sparked off her like embers from a campfire, warm enough to get someone’s attention and dangerous despite the small size.

His phone pinged with a news alert, and he nearly dropped it in his haste to check. His face broke into a grin. There it was, the casting announcement.

Hillary’s name leapt off the screen in the first line of the press release. She did it. She was going to be his co-star.

Julius let himself fall back onto the couch, his earlier restlessness now transformed into a bubbling excitement. He moved to the second open tab and refreshed it. Grinning like a fool to see her Muse exclusive article as the home screen article. He couldn’t help the surge of pride in his chest at how quickly she had completed her article. The soft cushion of the couch enveloped him like a warm hug, adding to the sense of comfort and joy he felt in that moment.

He scrolled quickly, knowing he’d need to read it later, but wanting to see how many comments it had.

None yet, but it just posted.

Remembering the phone in his hand, Julius finally let his finger tap the call button, bouncing his leg again as it rang once, twice. “Come on Hil, pick up. I need to congratulate you.”

“Thanks for calling Hillary Mitchell, Associate Writer at Muse Magazine, I’m not here…”

Voicemail.

He barked a laugh. “Of course. You’re about to be the most popular woman in the city.”

He ended the call still chuckling. The whole world would be calling for Hillary Mitchell now. And he couldn’t wait to be by her side through it all.

“Well, I can still do what I wanted to do and figure out the getting it to her later.”

Julius printed out both articles, carefully trimming the edges. He traced a finger over her byline, a soft smile playing on his lips.

His mind drifted back to the table reads three days ago, a formality to ensure she could work with Ethan, Cole, and Valerie with her agent present to negotiate the contract.

But for him, it had been much more than that.

Hillary had been magnetic, embodying the regal bearing of the alien queen with an ease that left him in awe. Even Ethan, who always seemed so confident and cocky, had looked impressed. Julius could see the genuine respect for her talent in his eyes.

He chuckled as he remembered Valerie’s reaction because she had practically glowed with pride at being cast as Hillary’s mentor and confidante in the film. The two women already seemed to have formed a bond during the short table read. He wasn’t certain how old Hillary’s mother was, but Valerie was more than excited to play the closest thing the alien queen would have alive to a mother.

Everyone had been as taken with Hillary as he was. They saw what he saw.

It was the vulnerability she brought to the role that truly captivated Julius. The way her voice hitched with emotion during the queen’s impassioned speech, the subtle tremble of her hands as she reached for her dying lover—Ethan’s character before she realizes she was in love with Julius’s bounty hunter.

Those weren’t the scenes that came naturally to her, but she’d thrown herself into them with the same fierce determination he assumed she applied to everything in her life.

Julius glanced at his watch, his leg bouncing with renewed energy. Just a few more hours until he could see her, present her with the framed article, and tell her in person how incredibly proud he was.

He refreshed the page again, watching as the comments section exploded with praise for Hillary’s performance and excitement for the upcoming film. A grin stretched across his face.

“You’re going to be a star, Hil,” he murmured to the empty room.

He set the articles into the two sleek black frames he purchased just for them, carefully overlaying just a bit of the casting announcement news over it, and set it on the coffee table, his fingers lingering on the glass. Tonight, she had her first acting class, and he was going to be there for every moment, encouraging her.

She’d already declined celebrating, twice, and he’d begun to wonder if she’d changed her mind about him until she’d sent him an almost naughty photo of herself getting ready this morning.

It was obvious she wasn’t too comfortable in her skin, but he was going to show her exactly why she should be if it killed him.

The acting studio buzzed with energy as Hillary and Julius stepped inside, their hands intertwined. Ethan and Samantha, already engaged in conversation, glanced up at their arrival. Samantha’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features as she noticed Hillary’s proximity to Julius. She was one actress who had the role of villain far too easily matched to her personality.

But you’re going to protect Hillary from her.

“Hillary, darling!” Ethan called out, his voice dripping with charm. “Come join us. We were just discussing the nuances of our characters’ relationships.”

Hillary hesitated, her grip on Julius’s hand tightening. He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. “You’ve got this, Hil. They’re your co-stars, not your enemies. Besides, we all chose to come and help, this is about helping you, not judging you.”

She nodded, steeling herself before releasing his hand and approaching Ethan and Samantha. Julius watched, a mix of pride and protectiveness swelling in his chest as she engaged in the conversation, her initial nervousness melting away.

“All right, everyone!” Vera’s voice cut through the chatter. “Let’s dive into today’s lesson. Julius, I believe you had something you thought would help Hillary learn how to get in character?”

Julius grinned, stepping forward. “Indeed, I do. To truly embody a character, we must understand their world, their motivations, and the people who shape their lives. Hillary, you mentioned the challenges of portraying an alien ruler at the table read. While we may not have access to extraterrestrial life, we can learn from those who lead in our own world.”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. With a few taps, the room filled with the confident, measured voice of the female Vice President. Hillary’s eyes widened, her mouth forming a silent “oh” as she listened to the recording.

“Notice her tone, the way she commands attention without raising her voice,” Julius instructed, his eyes locking with Hillary’s. “The power behind her words, the conviction in her beliefs. These are the qualities you can infuse into your performance.”

As the recording ended, Julius pocketed his phone, a satisfied smile on his lips. “The key is to observe, to study, and to allow yourself to be inspired by the world around you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her hand finding his once more. “For believing in me, for pushing me to be better. I’m still pissed at you, but it’s lessening.”

Julius smiled, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Always. You have a gift, and I’ll do everything in my power to help you share it with the world. But is that why I haven’t seen you all week?”

She nodded, not even bothering to hide her flush. “If I was around you, I knew I’d forgive you.”

His hand enveloped hers, his fingers intertwining with hers as he pulled her close until their bodies almost touched as he gazed down at her. His lips hovered just above hers, knowing the warmth of his breath brushing against her skin. “And how’s that forgiveness coming?” His voice was low and husky.

The small space between them was heated. Charged.

The charged energy between them was palpable, crackling in the air like electricity from a storm. He heard the sharp intake of breath as she stared into his eyes nearly bringing him to his knees.

“How did you manage to get a recording of the Vice President?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Julius chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Let’s just say her teenage daughter has a bit of a crush on me,” he revealed, leaning in closer. “The VP agreed to do the recording in exchange for a few minutes of my time with her daughter.”

Hillary couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re unbelievable,” she whispered. “But be careful, Julius. If you keep this up, I might just start breaking all my dating rules for you.”

His eyebrows shot up, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “And what might those rules be, Miss Mitchell?” he asked, his voice low and alluring.

For a second it seemed she might but off, but she held his gaze. “No more than one date a week in the beginning,” she began, ticking off the rules on her fingers. “And absolutely no sex until we’re exclusive.”

“Smart rules,” Ethan chimed in, appearing behind them with a knowing grin. “Keeps things from getting too complicated too fast. Especially with this one.”

Hillary jumped, likely startled by his sudden presence. Even Julius had forgotten they weren’t alone. Ethan’s words irritated him, but his friend wasn’t wrong. Sticking around for multiple dates hadn’t often been his thing.

Ethan clapped Julius on the shoulder, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “A bunch of us are heading out for drinks to celebrate the announcements. You two should join us.” he looked at Hillary, almost boxing Julius out. “You have to come with us.”

“Thank you for the invitation, Ethan,” she said, her voice warm but firm. “But I actually have plans with my family tonight. They’ve been so supportive, and I really want to celebrate with them first.”

Ethan nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Of course, family comes first. We’ll have plenty of time to celebrate together in the coming months.” He winked at her before turning to Julius. “What about you, Julius? You coming?”

Julius glanced at Hillary, his brow furrowing slightly. He didn’t want to leave her side, not when they had barely seen each other all week. But he would have months with her, and her family deserved this moment.

“You should go,” Hillary encouraged, squeezing his hand. “Have fun with the cast. We’ll have our own celebration soon enough.” Her eyes sparkled with promise, and Julius’s heart skipped a beat.

“Are you sure?” he asked, searching her face for any hint of hesitation. “I don’t mind skipping drinks if you want company.”

She shook her head, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I’m sure. Go, enjoy yourself. Just don’t have too much fun without me.” Her tone was playful, but there was an undercurrent of something more, a hint of the growing connection between them.

Julius sighed, relenting. “All right, if you insist.” He turned to Ethan, who was watching their exchange with a knowing grin. “Count me in for drinks.”

As Ethan led the way out of the studio, Julius reached into his bag, pulling out a small, elegantly wrapped package. “Before I forget,” he said, pressing it into Hillary’s hands. “I got you something. To celebrate.”

Hillary’s eyes widened, her fingers trembling slightly as she carefully unwrapped the gift. Inside was a stunning silver bracelet, delicate and intricately designed. Each link was shaped like a tiny star, catching the light and sparkling like a miniature galaxy.

“Julius,” she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s beautiful. You didn’t have to.”

He silenced her with a gentle finger against her lips. “I wanted to. You deserve to be celebrated, Hillary. Not just for this role, but for everything you are. Then there’s this,” he rushed to the table and took the two frames off the table, spinning them so she could see.”

“Oh, Julius! Is this my article?”

He nodded, thrilled at the way her voice rose an octave and her eyes lit up.

“You’re going to need to be a lot less charming if we’re going to have even footing in this relationship.”

He chuckled, pressing his lips to hers. “I promise you, we are even.”