Alex's POV
*****
A WEEK LATER
"Marcello!" I smiled brightly, grabbing my manager's arm when I opened my front door.
When he walked into the penthouse, I closed the door behind him, turning to face him. "Glad you made it. Quick question... What the fuck was that stunt at the Golden Globes?"
Marcello sighed, scratching his nose awkwardly.
He was a man in his forties with brown hair and stormy grey eyes, donned in a sharp black suit that looked too formal for a morning meeting.
I lazily adjusted my red bathrobe, folding my arms in front of my chest as I waited for his explanation.
"Mr. Cross." He began, raising his arms to calm me. "If you're talking about the movie's announcement, the producers decided that it would bring a lot of hype. Riding the currents of your coming out last..."
His words died in his throat the second he looked me in the eyes and realised I was glaring, my jaw tightening.
He looked away, clearing his throat before he brought his eyes to me again. "Come on, Alex! Lighten up. You're already gaining traction for the movie even though a name hasn't been decided for it yet."
He drew out his phone just then, scrolling through it like he was searching for something.
But I didn't have that patience and sighed, rubbing my forehead. "You know, the grand announcement at the award show wasn't really what got me riled up."
I walked away from the living room door and then strutted past him, heading to my obsidian wood dining table to the right.
When I got there, I grabbed a bottle of wine and then a glass, pouring to my satisfaction.
"Isn't it too early to be taking that?" Marcello asked like a bothered father behind me but I rolled my eyes, taking a sip.
"After the headache you've given me this past week? Nope." I dropped the bottle and turned to face him. "Vincent Moretti. The man who'll be playing my love interest."
Marcello nodded. "The Producers made a great pick with him." He walked toward me, stretching his phone to my face. "Just look at the trending tags this week."
My brows furrowed as I squinted at the phone.
When I saw "VincentxAlex" as the first hashtag on a post trending, I could've sworn I hurled in my mouth.
"Get that thing away from me." I looked away, shaking my head. "Vincent and I will never be a thing even if the Queen wakes from her grave and demands it."
Marcello chuckled. "Oh, come on, Alex. They're shipping you two mostly because they have no clue what your characters' names would be. This movie is gaining so much momentum for a queer rom-com."
Yay for us...
I took another huge gulp from my glass of wine, barely paying him attention again.
Marcello blinked at me before tapping his phone screen one last time, his lips twitching like he was holding back a grin.
"You'll change your tune soon enough," he said, sliding the device into his pocket. "Because you're meeting him today."
I tilted my head. "Who?"
"Vincent, of course."
"Like... Like in a Zoom meeting or something?"
Marcello face-palmed. "Alex, please don't do this to me right now. It's in your contract, remember? Before production begins in September, you and the person playing your love interest need to stick together for a week or two to really sell the movie's romance."
My eyes twitched and I felt like my blood pressure was spiking.
"That was before I found out my co-star was the devil's incarnate!" I snapped, nearly spilling my glass of wine.
I finished it all in a single gulp, dropping it on the dining table before I stepped down the marble steps leading back into the living room.
"Do you have any idea how much I hate that man?" I asked with curled fists as my mind trailed off to memories.
Memories of some of the worst moments in middle school, high school and college. All involving Vincent and his bullying tactics.
At one point I thought he might've had a crush on me, but the dude was straight as a ruler... Allegedly. So I never got his obsession with making my life hell.
"That's not what the tabloids see." Marcello shrugged, patting me nervously on the shoulder despite my temper. "Lighten up, would you? He'll be coming here any minute."
A shiver ran down my spine, my hair standing on end.
"The heck do you mean he's coming here soon?" I scowled, watching as he stared at his watch before bringing out his phone again. "Marcello, I swear on my father's grave, if that bastard gets anywhere near my door I'll rip—"
My words were cut short by the loud ring of the doorbell, causing my knees to go numb. My heart skipped a beat as I turned my eyes to the living room door.
Meanwhile, Marcello seemed ecstatic, clapping his hands with a bright smile.
"That must be him." He remarked, giving me a wink. "Be on your best behaviour."
I parted my lips, trying to say something, but no words were able to come out as he grabbed my arm, leading me to the door. He shoved me lightly, gesturing for me to open it while taking a few steps back.
"Bloody hell." I cursed under my breath, closing my eyes for a few seconds before I finally grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.
However, to my surprise, it wasn't Vincent at the other side of the door. It was—
"M–Mathias?" I blurted, blinking with stupefaction when I saw that smile that always managed to brighten my day.
My boyfriend's eyes trailed me from head to toe, obviously admiring my bathrobe. "Someone's up and ready this morning."
My cheeks flushed as he walked in and grabbed my jaw softly, planting a kiss on my lips.
"Hey, babe," I muttered, closing the door slowly. "You're... I thought we agreed to meet up at your place later today?"
Mathias nodded, his eyes flicking to Marcello and lingering briefly before scanning the penthouse like he hadn't been here a hundred times.
"Yeah, but let's be honest, babe." Mathias paused, turning to face me. "Your place is so much more fun. Speaking of which, there were tens of paparazzi downstairs. How are we going to—"
The doorbell rang again before he could finish, sending dread through me.
I knew who that would be. And I didn't like where this was going. Not one fucking bit!
"He's here!" Marcello cleared his throat, walking past me and heading toward the door.
I blinked at him, my throat getting constricted while Mathias furrowed his brows. "Who's here?"
I turned to the door, my forehead sweating bullets as Marcello looked through the keyhole before opening the door.
And there he was...
The wannabe Prince Charming himself.
"Vincent," I murmured, clenching my jaw as I stared at him and his expensive grey suit.
He had a small smirk on his face, slowly taking off the sunglasses he wore and squinting at me. "Alexander. It's... Been a minute."
Vincent's smirk widened as he stepped closer, ignoring Mathias entirely.
Before I could even react, he slung an arm casually around my shoulders like we were best friends and leaned in close enough that only I could hear:
"Ready to play lovers, sweetheart?"
My blood turned to fire but it seemed the worst was yet to come.
"Perfect timing!" Marcello said excitedly, closing the door. "The press will definitely eat this up."
Press?
What press?
As I tried holding myself back from clawing at Vincent's face after he finally withdrew his arm, I heard something coming from the ceiling-high windows at the side.
I turned my head in that direction, my blood running cold when I saw the flashing of camera lights pointed in the building's direction.
Shit...