Chapter 25

twenty-five

. . .

Julius’s voice rose above the noise of the press party. “Hillary, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Why can’t you see that?” She was doing it again, retreating when she should have been embracing everything she was.

Two months since the end of filming and a pre-press tour to being the hype started tonight with an offer from a producer to Hillary for a role in his upcoming drama. A perfect moment for Hillary to embrace everything that was coming to her.

Only, the new star was running from the stage light every chance she got tonight. Including the opportunity that fell into her lap.

Hillary shook her head, her chestnut ponytail swaying. “I’m just not sure, Julius. What if the movie flops? I don’t want to lose what I have at Muse over a, maybe.”

“But you’re a natural! Everyone who’s seen the pre-edit clips have raved about you.” Julius gestured emphatically.

“I know, but...” Hillary bit her lip, doubt clouding her striking green eyes. “Can we just wait and see how this film is received first? I’m not ready to dive into another project yet.”

Julius sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. How could he make her understand? This was her big break. “Fine. Do what you want,” he snapped, immediately regretting his sharp tone.

A look of disappointment clouded Hillary’s features, causing her face to fall. Without uttering another word, she turned and began to make her way through the sea of partygoers, quickly becoming swallowed up by the crowd and disappearing from sight. The pulsing beat of music and chatter filled the air around her as she pushed through the throngs of people, walking away from him. From their first fight.

Damn it.

He hadn’t meant to snap at her, and she’d walked away without even defending herself.

So go after her.

He started to move and stopped himself. He needed to calm down before he fucked up again.

They were so different that way it was a wonder they’d never fought before this. He was too passionate, and she was too afraid.

Julius briskly made his way to the bar. The sharp scent of alcohol and the low murmur of chatter enveloped him as he took a seat on one of the worn, leather stools. He needed a moment to collect himself before attempting to make amends with Hillary.

“Whiskey sour,” Julius tapped the counter when the bartender looked his way.

He watched the bartender deftly mix the drink and slide it toward him. The first sip brought a wave of warmth and calm over him, allowing him to think more clearly. Downing it, he winced slightly at the usual burn and took a deep breath.

“Time to eat crow.” He hadn’t meant to change Hillary. He loved who she was and who she is. He just didn’t want her to throw away opportunities because she was still nervous.

Setting the empty glass on the counter, he moved away from the bar, ready to apologize and let her know he wouldn’t dream of influencing her choices.

Then he spotted her across the room, talking with Ethan. Julius frowned. Something about the way Ethan looked at her made his skin prickle. The guy might be one of his best friends and frequent co-stars, but he had a habit of moving in on people and the way he looked at Hillary was the same way his character looked at Stella.

And Julius was less than okay with that.

He started making his way over to them, stopping just short of them thanks to Ethan’s next move.

Ethan pulled her close, drawing her in toward his body. As their lips met in a passionate embrace, he allowed his hands to trail up and down her back, feeling the softness of her skin beneath his fingertips. His fingers then found their way into her hair, gently twirling and tugging at the strands as their kiss deepened even further.

And Julius froze as his world shattered like sugar glass.

Ethan broke the kiss, a smug smile on his face when he pulled away and saw Julius behind Hillary, leaving Hillary standing there, staring as a hellish paparazzi broke out before leaving.

Julius’s fists clenched, and his face contorted in a mask of white-hot fury. How dare that smarmy bastard lay a hand on Hillary? His blood boiled as he pushed through the dense crowd of people, their curious eyes and gossiping whispers only adding fuel to his anger. All thoughts of their earlier argument were overshadowed by an overwhelming desire to protect her. He had to get her out of this place, away from the leering stares and judgmental glances. She was his to defend, his to shield from any harm even if he wasn’t certain she didn’t want Ethan to kiss her.

Julius pushed through the throngs of gawking onlookers, their excited whispers fading into a dull roar as he reached Hillary’s side. She stood frozen, her face contorted in shock and fear, her eyes wide and glassy as she stared out at the sea of people surrounding her. The bright flashes of cameras lit up the scene like bolts of lightning, capturing her humiliation from every angle. The air was thick with anticipation and tension, as if the very atmosphere was holding its breath for what would happen next.

His heart clenched at the sight of her distress. He quickened his pace, not caring who he jostled in his haste to reach her. How could Ethan blindside her like that? Kissing her in front of everyone, knowing full well the media frenzy it would ignite. Either he created a scandal or he’d taken what Julius loved most.

He focused on her again and realized Ethan was gone.

Julius’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in his cheek. He’d deal with Ethan later. Right now, Hillary needed him.

“Hillary!” he called out, his voice lost amid the clamor of the crowd.

She didn’t hear him, her gaze distant and unfocused. Julius finally broke through the last line of people, reaching for her hand. His fingers closed around her trembling palm, and she startled, her eyes flying to his.

“Julius!” Her voice wavered, barely audible above the din.

He drew her close, shielding her from the prying lenses and shouted questions. “Let’s get out of here,” he murmured, his breath stirring the wispy tendrils of hair at her temple.

Hillary nodded mutely, allowing him to guide her through the throng. Julius kept a protective arm around her shoulders, his face set in a thunderous scowl that warned off anyone who dared approach but that didn’t stop the flashes of cameras.

His mind raced but he schooled his face to stay as calm as possible. How had things spiraled so far out of control? First their argument, and now this public spectacle. The press would have a field day, spinning sordid tales of a love triangle between the film’s leads.

He tightened his hold on Hillary as they neared the exit. No matter what the tabloids printed, he wouldn’t let them drag her name through the mud. He’d weather this storm by her side, offering unwavering support and comfort.

“Ethan!” Julius hissed as they pushed out of the building and he found his friend leaning against the wall, foot casually propped up against it.

Julius’s grip tightened on Hillary’s hand as he moved to face Ethan, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. “What the hell was that, Ethan?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Ethan took a step back, hands raised in a placating gesture. “Easy, mate. It was just a bit of fun for the cameras. Not like they won’t see it in the film and we haven’t done it before, right, Hil?”

“Fun?” Julius scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You call forcing yourself on Hillary in front of everyone fun?”

“I didn’t force myself on her,” Ethan protested, his gaze darting to Hillary. “We’ve been flirting for weeks. You know it. Think about the set. It’s been a few months since we left and you two took off to hide away, but it was there. The entire crew saw it, you just weren’t looking.”

Hillary’s eyes widened, a mixture of shock and anger flashing across her face. But there were no words of denial, only the flush of a blush.

Julius’s jaw clenched as he struggled to rein in his temper. The urge to lash out at Ethan was overwhelming, to make him pay for the humiliation he’d caused Hillary. But causing a scene would only make matters worse. And that didn’t begin to cover the discussion he needed to have with Hillary.

“You crossed a line,” Julius ground out, his tone leaving no room for argument. “If you ever touch her again without her consent, I swear I’ll?—”

“Julius, please,” Hillary interjected softly, her hand coming to rest on his arm. “Let’s just go.”

He met her gaze, seeing the pleading in her eyes. She looked drained, the sparkle he adored dimmed by the night’s events. His heart ached for her, for the pain and embarrassment she must be feeling.

With a curt nod, Julius turned his back on Ethan, dismissing him as unworthy of further attention. “This isn’t over,” he warned, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge of menace. They’d pick up filming the other series together soon, but Julius wasn’t certain he’d be over this by then.

As they walked away, Hillary leaned into him, her voice barely above a whisper. “I should have seen it coming. The way he looked at me, the comments he made when we were alone. I just thought he was being friendly. I swear to you.”

Julius’s jaw clenched as he fought to control the maelstrom of emotions swirling within him. Anger, hot and fierce, coursed through his veins, mingling with the overwhelming desire to protect Hillary from the vultures that circled, ready to tear her apart. He drew in a deep breath, the air shuddering in his lungs as he sought to regain his composure.

“We need to get out of here,” he murmured, his gaze sweeping over the sea of curious faces, the flashing cameras, and the whispers that buzzed like angry bees. Hillary nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and he felt his heart constrict at the sight.

With a gentle yet firm grip, Julius led her through the throng of partygoers, his broad shoulders serving as a shield against their prying eyes. He could feel the heat of their stares, the weight of their judgment, but he refused to let it penetrate the bubble of solitude he’d created around them.

As they navigated the street, she didn’t say a word. His mind raced, torn between the primal urge to lash out at those who dared to hurt Hillary and the desperate need to understand what had transpired. Questions burned on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back, knowing that now was not the time or place.

Julius’s hand found the small of Hillary’s back, guiding her toward the waiting car that would take them to his undisclosed apartment, a sanctuary amidst the chaos. A place where he ultimately had to have a conversation he never thought would be a thing with Hillary.

In the silence of the vehicle, Julius allowed himself a moment to breathe, to center himself before the inevitable confrontation that loomed ahead. He glanced at Hillary, taking in the way she huddled against the door, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if to ward off the world.

“It’s going to be okay,” he promised, his voice low and soothing. “We’ll figure this out together.”

But even as the words left his lips, Julius couldn’t shake the feeling that their relationship had irrevocably changed, that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges and obstacles they’d never before faced. And yet, as he looked at Hillary, he knew with a bone-deep certainty that he would walk through fire to keep her safe, to ensure that her dreams remained intact.

Even if it meant destroying his like she’d destroyed his trust by staying silent.

The door slammed behind him, the sound echoing through the spacious apartment. Julius spun around, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and concern. “What the hell were you thinking, Hillary?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the tense silence. He should have calmed down, but he couldn’t. Not when the woman he loved might have actually been attracted to someone else.

Hillary flinched, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I wasn’t thinking anything. It all happened so fast. I was upset and he as just talking to me until he wasn’t.” She wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders hunched as if to make herself smaller.

Julius ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line of his face. “Do you have any idea what this could do to your career? To us?” He paced the room, his steps heavy and agitated.

“I didn’t ask for this, Julius!” Hillary’s voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. “Ethan caught me off guard. I never wanted any of this attention. I thought we were friends.”

“But you got it, anyway.” Julius stopped, his gaze locking with hers. “And now we have to deal with the fallout.”

He sighed, the anger draining from his face, replaced by a weariness that seemed to seep into his bones. He loved her, god, how he loved her. But in that moment, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disappointment, a sense that their carefully constructed world was crumbling around them.

Julius walked to the window, staring out at the city skyline, gazing at the The Eye as his thoughts a tangled web of emotions. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to assure her that everything would be alright. But a part of him, the part that had clawed its way to the top of this unforgiving industry, knew that the road ahead would be far from easy.

He turned back to Hillary, his expression softening. “We’ll get through this,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “But we need to be smart about it. We need to control the narrative before it controls us. Assuming there’s a narrative to control.”

Say there is.

Hillary nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’m sorry, Julius. I never meant for any of this to happen. He did it once before, blaming it on excitement.”

“That bastard,” he nearly punched out the window. “He’s done some shit before, not one to be content being in the shadows, but this is too fucking far. You weren’t some meaningless fling he had to prove he could fuck too.”

She flinched and tears began to slide down her face.

Julius crossed the room, gathering her into his embrace. He held her close, his chin resting atop her head. She didn’t feel the way she always did in his arms. Yes, she fit like a puzzle piece, but he couldn’t stop playing Ethan’s sentence over and over in his mind as he tried to hold her tight.

But as the silence stretched between them, the weight of the situation began to settle on his shoulders. He stepped back, his hands gently gripping her arms as he looked into her eyes, searching for answers he knew she didn’t have.

“Why, Hillary?” His voice was strained, a mixture of hurt and confusion. “Why did you let him get so close? Didn’t you see the signs? Why didn’t you tell me when it happened before? Ethan made it sound like this happened before and I had no idea. No way to protect you.”

Hillary’s gaze dropped to the floor, her shoulders sagging under the burden of guilt. “I thought...I thought he was just being friendly. I never imagined he would do something like that.”

Julius released her, running a hand through his tousled hair as he turned away. The anger that had been simmering beneath the surface began to bubble up once more. “Friendly? Hillary, he’s been after you since the moment you stepped on set. How could you be so na?ve? How could I? It’s what he fucking does.”

The words hung in the air between them, sharp and cutting.

Hillary flinched as if he’d struck, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m sorry, Julius. I never meant to hurt you.”

But Julius was already moving toward the door, his jaw clenched tight. He paused, his hand on the doorknob, and looked back at her. “I need time, Hillary. I need to think about what this means for us, not because you kissed him back—because you did—but because if you can keep a secret from me, one that I could have helped protect you from, I don’t know what that means for us. There’s so much pressure in this lifestyle, and this could make or break some”

And with that, he was gone, the door closing behind him with a finality that made Hillary’s heart ache. She stood alone in the apartment, the silence pressing in on her from all sides. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around herself, desperate for comfort.

As the minutes ticked by, Hillary’s mind raced with the consequences of the evening’s events. The press, the public, the studio...they would all have opinions, expectations. But more than that, she feared losing Julius, the one person who believed in her from the start.

With a shaky breath, Hillary moved to the window, staring out at the London skyline. The city lights blurred through her tears, a kaleidoscope of uncertainty and fear. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, that she would have to face the fallout of Ethan’s actions. But in that moment, all she could think about was Julius, and the love they had built against ridiculous odds.

Hillary’s heart sank as Julius’s words echoed in her head. It was like she was falling apart, piece by piece. The room spun around her, and she stumbled over to the nearby sofa, collapsing onto it with a heavy sigh. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the floor.

She had tried to keep her distance from Ethan, but he was always there, constantly flirting with her, making it hard for her to resist his charm. And now look where it had gotten them—in the middle of a scandal they couldn’t escape from. All she’d had to do was tell Julius when he’d kissed her two months ago.

She thought back to the press tour party. His lips had been warm against hers, tasting of sweet wine and temptation. She’d never felt anything on set, and she hadn’t then, but for some reason she’d leaned into the kiss.

“You went to hurt him because he tried to control you.” the tears slipped into her mouth and she closed her eyes. “He was trying to help you become more than you were and you panicked and then lashed out. Kissing Ethan has never felt like anything, but you gave in because you were mad. That isn’t you.”

She slumped against the window, hating that she was here and not in New York. Here she was alone.