Meanwhile; after dinner finished, Kyle took Ellie to the villa assigned to them in his private chauffeur-driven car. This was where they would stay during the filming days.
When Ellie got out of the car, despite the darkness, the villa's captivating beauty enchanted her. The spacious garden, the swimming pool shimmering in the moonlight, the white marble columns… Everything was like a dream.
"This place… is this real?" Ellie whispered.
Kyle laughed. "Yes. And this is your home. For six weeks." he said.
The large doors opened. The inside was even more impressive than the outside. Chandeliers, a spacious living room, massive staircases… Ellie stepped inside, her mouth agape.
"I… am I staying here? You're joking!" she said. "This is too big for me."
Kyle picked up Ellie's and his own suitcase, which were by the door, and entered. Then he turned, looked at Ellie, and smiled.
"Actually…" he said. "We're staying together."
Ellie froze. Her face turned bright red instantly. It was as if this man's single word was giving her a fever.
"W-what?!" she stammered. "What do you mean… with you… me… alone?!"
Kyle found Ellie's shy antics amusing. He approached her slowly with a flirtatious smile. He tucked the hair falling over her face behind her ear. His fingers gently brushed her skin.
"Yes," Kyle said, his voice soft. "The whole world thinks we're lovers. Wouldn't that be normal?"
Ellie's heart was pounding wildly. Kyle's touch, his warmth, his scent… Everything was intoxicating her. She swallowed; her heart was practically beating in her throat. Thoughts like, 'How can he be so handsome? Don't do anything stupid, Ellie! Don't act like a loser,' were running through her mind.
She was too excited to speak, so she nodded as if to say, "Okay."
But right at that moment…A shadow appeared in the doorway.
"Actually…" said a cold, familiar voice. "The three of us are staying."
James Valentine was standing on the doorstep. His bag was slung over his broad shoulder. He put out the cigarette in his mouth with his hand and dropped it on the ground. Crushed it with his foot.
He had that familiar devilish look on his face.
Ellie was shocked. She hadn't expected him to be here. But seeing James had comforted her in a way she couldn't explain. Because she hadn't been able to get him out of her mind since he left the restaurant. She had been worried about him.
"I'm so glad!" Ellie said, genuinely happy. "How wonderful! I think it'll be so much fun!"
James, however, was being harsh with Ellie for the first time. That warm smile wasn't on his face.
"Hmph,"he said coldly. "Yes. It will definitely be so fun."
Then he headed for the stairs. Carrying his bag on his shoulder, he stepped onto the first step. "I'm picking the first room," he said, without looking back. And he went upstairs.
Kyle was upset. He hadn't known James would be staying here either. But he tried not to show it. He turned to Ellie and forced a smile onto his face.
"Come on,"he said. "You pick your room too," directing her towards the stairs.
Ellie nodded. But she had a strange feeling inside. James's coldness had bothered her.
'What happened to him?Did I make a mistake? Did I hurt him?' she thought.
The following days passed like a dream.
Every morning,Ellie was on set. Every day, a new scene. Every day, she spent more time with Kyle.
And every day…Ellie let herself get a little more carried away.
Kyle was acting close. He held her hand. He touched her shoulder. He smiled. He made jokes. They had long conversations; everything felt so real.
Everyone said Kyle acted completely differently with her.
And Ellie…She was on the verge of a heart attack from all this attention.
'This can't be real,' she kept thinking. 'But why does it feel so real?'
Outside the set, social media was going crazy. The promotion teams were working very well. So much so that every day a new photo. Every day a new video dropped into the gossip columns. The hashtags were set:
#EllieAndKyle
#PerfectCouple
#RealLove
Fan clubs had opened. Pages, accounts, videos… Everything was about them.
Comments poured in like a flood:
"Are these two real or am I dreaming?They're perfect!"
"Kyle has finally found real love!"
"Ellie is the queen of body positivity!"
"Kyle is a lucky man.Don't let Ellie get away!"
But of course… there was also hate.
"She's still fat.You're overdoing it!"
"Kyle definitely chose her for her money."
"Even if she dated Donald Trump,she doesn't look good on screen. Are you blind?"
When Ellie read the comments, she didn't cry anymore. Because James's words were still echoing in her ears:
"People will always talk.Forget them all and play by your own rules."
And Ellie was playing. Every day she grew a little stronger. Every day she believed in herself a little more. And most importantly…
She saw herself in Kyle's eyes.Had she transformed into a woman worthy of love? Could she now dare to imagine being loved...
Amidst all these dreamlike days, one night;
Ellie was sitting in her room,scrolling through Instagram. She was looking at the photos Kyle had taken that day.
In one, Kyle was smoothing Ellie's hair. In another, they were laughing together. In yet another… Kyle was touching Ellie's hand.
Ellie pressed the phone to her chest.Her heart was pounding wildly.
All these scenes were like a real romance movie.Giggling, she murmured, "I'm falling in love. I'm really falling in love with him."
But there was also fear. Because she knew. This was a game. A fake relationship. Everything was for the contract. Everything was just a game of make-believe.
But…what if Kyle felt the same way? What if he was also getting carried away the more time they spent together? Could his feelings be real?
This thought both excited and frightened her.
Just then, her door knocked. Ellie jumped. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's me," said Kyle's voice.
Ellie sprang to her feet. She was panicked. In her SpongeBob pajamas, she didn't resemble the swan she was transforming into; her hair was messy, she had no makeup on.
"One second!"she shouted.
But Kyle opened the door. "Is it too late?" he asked, smiling.
Ellie blushed. "No, I just…" was all she could say. She hurriedly tugged at her pajamas, frantically trying to smooth her hair with her hands.
Kyle stepped inside. He had two mugs in his hand.
"I made you hot chocolate,"he said. "I thought you might be awake." he said with a flirtatious smile.
Ellie's heart melted. She swallowed, trying to steady her voice. Hiding her excitement, she whispered, "How did you know?"
Kyle shrugged. "Because I can't sleep either," he said.
He handed the mug to Ellie.Their hands touched for a moment. That brief contact sent a wave of electricity through her body. But for Ellie, it felt like an eternity.
"Thank you," Ellie said, her voice trembling.
Kyle sat down next to her, on the edge of the bed.
"Ellie,"he said. "I want to ask you something."
Ellie, "Yes?" she asked curiously, her voice came out calm but her breath was caught.
Kyle looked at her. There was a seriousness in his eyes.
"This…I mean, us.. Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, averting his gaze. He looked genuinely embarrassed, like a little boy.
Ellie was stunned. "What?" she whispered.
Kyle, as if gathering his courage, clenched his fist and reached out, touching Ellie's hand.
"I know we were supposed to be acting,but something changed for me. If you have a boyfriend, I'd be upset. Because for me… it doesn't feel like acting anymore."
Ellie's head was spinning. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't breathe.
"I…"she said, but no sound came out. She wanted to answer, but the moment felt so incredible that she bit her lower lip, as if to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
Kyle, emboldened by Ellie's silence, slowly leaned closer to her face. He was very close. So close that his warm breath seemed to wash over her face.
"Ellie…" Kyle whispered, his eyes focused on her wet, pink lips. "Do you want this too?…"
But at that moment…Suddenly, the door swung open forcefully.
James was standing in the doorway. His face was expressionless. But in his eyes… there was a fire.
"Sorry," James said, his voice icy. "Am I interrupting?"
Kyle immediately stood up. This man's gaze alone made him shudder. "No, I was just…" he mumbled.
James stepped closer quickly. "Just what?" he asked, taking another step so he was practically nose-to-nose with Kyle. With a burning, devilish look in his eyes, he hissed through his teeth,
"What were you doing in Ellie's room,in the middle of the night?"
Kyle's face tightened. He was scared of James, but his feelings for Ellie were real. In fact, it was the first time he'd ever felt something real for a woman. He straightened his posture, frowned, and said, "That's none of your business."
"It is my business," James said, his voice threatening. "Because Ellie is my responsibility. And I won't let her get hurt by some womanizing pop star wannabe."
Ellie intervened. "James, please…" she said.
But James didn't listen to her. He seemed to be in a trance, his eyes blind with rage at that moment. He looked at Kyle.
"Get out of this room,"he said. "Now."
Kyle looked at Ellie. Ellie's face showed only shock and fear. Then he looked at James. Then back at Ellie. In that moment, he understood that staying would only make things harder for Ellie.
"I'm sorry,"Kyle said to Ellie. "Goodnight."
And he left the room.
James waited until Kyle was gone. Then he turned to Ellie.
"What were you doing?"he asked, his voice still harsh.
Ellie was bewildered. "Nothing! Kyle was just…"
"Kyle was just what?" James shouted, his voice raspy and aggressive. James quickly moved closer to her. "Was he trying to seduce you?"
Ellie lifted her head and looked up; James was looming over her like a shadow. At first, she was at a loss for words, but then her anger flared. "Isn't this interrogation a bit too personal? Is it any of your business?" she asked.
James stopped. He looked into Ellie's eyes. And in that moment… his mask slipped. He seemed to realize what he was doing just then. He shook his head as if snapping out of a hypnosis. His face showed pain. Jealousy. Fear.
"I…"James said, his voice breaking. "I was just trying to protect you."
Ellie softened when she saw his expression shift from devilish glare to that of a helpless kitten. "James… I'm fine," she said.
"You're not," James said, his face contorting as he continued.
"Kyle… Kyle is dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Ellie asked, her eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
James opened his mouth angrily. But he said nothing. Because he knew. If he told the truth… Ellie would never forgive him.
"Just…" James said, stepping back. "Just be careful. Okay?"
Ellie couldn't make sense of his behavior, but James was the person she trusted most in this world now. So she didn't object, she nodded. "Okay," she said.
James looked at Ellie one last time. Inside, a storm was raging, urging him to confess, but he couldn't. Then he turned and left the room.
The door closed behind him.
And Ellie was left alone.
She sat on her bed.She was holding the mug. Kyle's mug.
Is Kyle dangerous?she thought. But why?
James wouldn't give such a warning for no reason,because he was her savior.
He was her one and only Devil.
And that night, Ellie couldn't sleep. Because two faces were in her mind. Kyle's smile. And James's pained eyes.And that night, Ellie couldn't sleep. Because two faces were in her mind. Kyle's smile. And James's pained eyes.
Why was she thinking about both of them at the same time?