Chapter 20

twenty

. . .

Hillary’s hand shook as she grasped the heavy metal handle of the studio door, pausing to suck in a lungful of air before letting herself in. She stepped inside and was hit with a wall of noise of all kinds—chattering voices, clanging equipment, and the whirring of cameras. She walked carefully through the maze of cables and lights, dodging frantic crew members. Her heart raced as she made her way into the room, her palms slick with nervous sweat. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before getting back on the saddle after yesterday’s disaster.

Julius had stopped by not long after she ended the call with Olivia, and rather than let him tell her how it was all going to work, she’d jumped him like a feral cat in heat and made sure they did absolutely no talking until they were both worn out. She’d slipped out this morning for an earlier call time.

Now, she had to navigate the work day on her own and be the person both Olivia and Julius seem to think she was.

She made her way to her makeup chair, her script clutched tightly in her hands. Once inside, she sank into the chair in front of the vanity mirror. Meeting her own gaze, she whispered, “You’ve got this, Hillary. You’ve come so far.”

Flashes of memory danced through her mind - late nights hunched over her laptop, writing articles that barely got noticed, the sting of rejection from countless pitches to Oliva. The whispers of doubt that had plagued her for so long. But she pushed them aside, focusing instead on the present moment. Today was the day she stood a shot at turning it all around.

“Miss Mitchell?” A woman with a dark black bob and a face full of neon makeup smiled at her from a chair.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Fantastic,” she stood and stuck out her hand. “Kendra. You are I are going to be spending quite a bit of time together as I make you glow like an alien princess every day.” She grinned. “Today is just for me to look over your skin tone, see any possible problem areas, and fit the latex pieces. But soon, you’ll see, we are going to be besties or you’ll hate the sight of me.”

Hillary gave a nervous laugh and sat as Kendra gestured to the chair. “I think that sounds wonderful to have someone to hang out with on set.” She let her voice drop to a whisper. “I’m new.”

Kendra chuckled. “We’re all new to this movie, don’t let being new to the industry throw you off.” Kendra moved to stand before her and squatted. “Do you mind if I touch you?”

Hillary shook her head, and Kendra set her fingers on Hillary’s chin, twisting and turning it, likely trying to color match her very stubborn shade of pink.

“May I run through my lines?” She hated the slight tremor in her voice but knew personality changes weren’t made overnight.

“You betcha. You can talk to me, ignore me, at the end of the day it’s a long time in that chair, you do what makes you comfortable.”

Smiling, Hillary flipped open the script and began to review her lines. The words flowed more easily now, each one imbued with the confidence she’d fought so hard to achieve. She could feel herself coming to life, the shy, unassuming journalist transforming into a force to be reckoned with, a princess-turned queen of an entire planet.

All the while Kendra brushed concealer on her cheeks, rubbed a cloth over her skin, and repeated the process, sometimes making sounds of approval.

A knock on the edge of the table startled her from her concentration. “Miss. Mitchell, you’re needed on set in five,” a voice called out.

“Thank you, I’ll be right there,” Hillary replied, her voice steady and assured.

She stood, straightening her hoodie and readjusting her jeans. As she caught her reflection once more, she smiled. She still looked like a journalist, but she knew there was more in her, she just had to embrace it.

With a deep breath and a nod of self-assurance, Hillary stepped out of her trailer and strode toward the set, ready to embody her character and prove to herself and everyone else that she was exactly where she belonged.

“Now, we’re going to take this from the top of the flashback. Hillary,” Vera called. “You’ve found out your mother’s wound is fatal. You know the tales of the famed bounty hunter from travelers to your planet. You also know how dangerous he is and why your mother locked him away, but you believe it’s time to let him out.”

Hillary nodded, blowing out a breath and praying she would remember the lines for the blocking session.

“I’ll stop you as I need to, follow the notes in the script unless you hear me jump in. Take your time everyone, it’s officially blocking day one, let’s not rush this!” Vera paused for a moment. “And, action!”

Hillary closed her eyes and opened them, pretending to look out at the world as her character, Princess , would see things. She stood before a council, her eyes hopefully blazing with conviction as the crew watched on.

“We have no choice,” she argued, her voice ringing out clear and strong. “The only way to catch this criminal is to bring in someone who thinks like one. We need the bounty hunter.”

The council members exchanged skeptical glances, but Hillary held her ground. She could feel the energy of the scene, the tension crackling in the air as she delivered each line with unwavering confidence.

“And what makes you so sure this bounty hunter won’t turn on us?” an unnamed council member spoke, challenging her as his brow furrowed with concern.

Hillary met his gaze unflinchingly, somehow not seeing a man in a tank and jeans but a yellow-skinned alien with large wide eyes.

“Because I’ll be there to keep him in check. I’ve faced far worse than this, and I won’t back down until justice is served. My mother doesn’t have long left and only she can free him.

As she spoke, Hillary the weight of her past struggles fell away. The countless rejections, the self-doubt, the fear of never being good enough—none of it mattered anymore. In this moment, she was the character she’d always dreamed of playing, strong, determined, and unafraid.

The scene built to a climax, and Hillary delivered her final lines with a fierce intensity that left the council stunned into silence. As the last word left her lips, she felt a rush of exhilaration, knowing that she’d given everything she had to the performance.

“Cut!” Vera called out, and the set erupted in applause.

Hillary blinked, suddenly back in the present moment. She looked around, taking in the smiling faces of her fellow actors and the crew members who’d watched her performance with rapt attention.

A grin spread across her face as she basked in the glow of their approval. For so long, she’d yearned for this feeling, for the validation that she was truly talented, that she belonged here among these brilliant artists.

As the applause died down, Vera approached her, beaming with pride. “Hillary, that was incredible. You nailed it on the first take, tell me it was just nerves yesterday?”

She nodded, praying that she wasn’t turning as red as a beet, but she met the director’s gaze with a smile. “Thank you.”

As the crew began resetting for the next scene, Hillary stepped back, taking a moment to catch her breath. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully absorb the significance of this moment.

She’d persevered, clinging to her dream of impressing everyone with a stubborn determination. And now, here she was, standing on the set of a major science fiction film, delivering a performance that had left everyone in awe.

As she opened her eyes, her gaze drifted across the bustling set, taking in the organized chaos of crew members moving props and adjusting lights as if the cameras were actually going to roll today. And then, she saw him.

Julius stood at the edge of the set, his eyes locked on her. Even from a distance, she could see the warmth and admiration in his gaze. He smiled at her, a smile that seemed to say, “I knew you could do it.”

A rush of emotion came over her as she kept her eyes on his, a wave of gratitude that threatened to overwhelm her. Julius had been her rock throughout this entire process, believing in her even when she’d doubted herself. He’d seen something in her that she hadn’t been able to see in herself, and he’d never let her forget it.

She smiled back at him, hoping that her eyes could convey all the things she couldn’t say from across the room. Thank you for being there, for believing in me, for helping me find my strength.

As they held each other’s gaze, Hillary knew their connection inched up a notch, another strand creating a bond between them.

Hillary’s heart raced as she walked toward Julius, each step feeling lighter than the last. The world around her seemed to blur, the bustling set fading into the background until all she could see was him. His eyes sparkled with warmth and pride, drawing her in like a beacon in the night.

When she reached him, Hillary a rush of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Gratitude, affection, and something deeper that she couldn’t quite put into words. She looked up at Julius, her eyes shining with a newfound confidence that took his breath away.

Without hesitation, Hillary leaned in and kissed him softly, pouring all of her unspoken feelings into the gentle press of her lips against his. Julius responded instinctively, his hand coming up to cradle her face as he returned the kiss with equal tenderness.

When they parted, Hillary rested her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for believing in me,” she breathed, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she savored the intimacy of the moment.

Julius smiled, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheekbone. “You believed in yourself, Hill. I just reminded you of what I already knew—that you’re incredible, and you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Hillary’s heart swelled at his words, a lump forming in her throat as she tried to blink back the tears that threatened to fall. She had never felt so seen, so understood, so appreciated for who she truly was. In that moment, she knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with Julius by her side, not because she needed him to be strong, but because he made her stronger just by being there.

As she stood with him, the world slowly came back into focus around them. The crew bustled about, preparing for the next scene, but Hillary and Julius remained lost in their own little bubble of happiness and connection. For now, nothing else mattered—not the cameras, not the script, not the expectations of the world outside. She was where she felt she needed to be.

Julius watched Hillary, marveling at the transformation he’d witnessed since setting her up for the audition. The woman standing before him was a far cry from the timid, uncertain journalist he’d first met at con. Her eyes sparkled with newfound confidence, her posture straight and proud, her smile radiant and genuine. She might not fully know her worth yet, but he wasn’t done showing it to her.

“You know, I always knew you had it in you,” he said softly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “From the moment I first saw you, I could see the fire burning inside you, just waiting to be unleashed. And now look at you, stealing the show and shining like the star you were always meant to be.”

As expected, Hillary ducked her head, trying to hide a blush.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” she whispered, her fingers playing with the collar of his shirt. “You believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. You pushed me to be better, to take risks, to step out of my comfort zone. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.”

Julius shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. “You don’t need to thank me, Hil. Seeing you like this—confident, happy, glowing from the inside out—that’s all the thanks I need. You didn’t need to change for me or for anyone else, but seeing you embracing your true self, letting the world see the amazing woman I swore lurked inside of you is a wonderful gift.”

He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his forehead against hers. In that moment, nothing else existed. Not the buzz of the set around them, not the demands of their careers, not the uncertain future that lay ahead. He had a million hours to figure out what this was between them, and the longer he spent with her, the more confident he was that this was the real deal.

“Hillary, we’re ready for you.”

“Didn’t you say on set you’re called by your character name?” She lifted a brow as she stepped back from his embrace.

“Some sets, when you truly embody your character do that,” he gave her a playful shove. “Now go before you get us both in trouble.”

“I see your priority,” she chuckled as she turned to jog back over to Vera, Ethan and Samantha.

Julius watched as Hillary returned to the set, her smile radiant and her eyes sparkling with newfound confidence. The transformation was stunning, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride and affection as he watched her work, delivering her lines and captivating everyone around her, if even stumbling a few times. They weren’t off book yet, they were merely blocking.

He found himself lost in thought, an idea taking shape when all that should be there was lines. He wanted to do something special for Hillary, something that would show her just how much he believed in her and how proud he was of everything she had accomplished.

Spotting Vera across the set, Julius made his way over to her, his charm turned up to full wattage. “Vera, my favorite director,” he said, flashing her his most winning smile. “I was wondering if there might be a bit of wiggle room in the budget to make a small change to the filming schedule.”

Vera raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What did you have in mind, Julius?”

He leaned in conspiratorially, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I want to surprise Hillary, do something special for her. She’s worked so hard and come so far, and I think she deserves a little celebration.”

Vera pursed her lips, something he knew meant she wasn’t happy, but she wasn’t denying him just yet. Julius held his breath, hoping she would agree. He knew it was a lot to ask, but he also knew that Vera had a soft spot for Hillary and would want to support her in any way she could.

Finally, she nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I think we can make that work,” she said. “Leave it to me. I’ll take care of everything, but it’s twenty-four hours. Longer than that and you’ll have the rest of the producing team to answer to.”

Julius grinned, his heart soaring with excitement. He couldn’t wait to surprise Hillary, to sweep her off her feet and show her just how much she meant to him. With Vera’s help, he knew he could create a moment that would show Hillary he wasn’t playing around when he said how attracted he was to her.

Hillary had come into his life like a whirlwind, turning everything upside down in the best possible way. And now, as he watched her shine, he knew that he would do anything to make sure she never lost that light again.