An Hour Later;
Time had passed in Ellie's room with trembling fingers and a rapidly beating heart in front of the mirror. But the person now descending the stairs was not the same girl in pajamas with messy hair from an hour ago. The transformation was absolute.
She wore a stark white dress that gracefully followed the curves of her body, adorned with lace details. Her hair was gathered in an intricate bun at the nape of her neck, with intentionally escaped strands framing and emphasizing the elegant lines of her face. Her makeup was natural yet flawless; her skin smooth, her cheeks lightly blushed. Her lips shone with the most appealing shade of pink, and the subtle lining around her eyes made them appear deeper, more meaningful. She was no longer the girl in the funny SpongeBob pajamas, but a dazzling, breathtaking star.
In the living room, standing in the light from the window, James was stunned by the vision coming down the stairs. He rose to his feet instinctively. His breath was literally taken away. His eyes swept over her from head to toe, as if studying a masterpiece. His mind was busy realizing how accurate his "princess" description from an hour ago had been, but now the woman before him carried an aura of a queen.
Ellie faltered slightly under James's gaze. With a shy smile, she asked, "How do I look?" Her voice held the fragility of a little girl seeking approval.
James was speechless for a moment. Words were stuck in his throat. Then, with all sincerity, he said, "Perfect." His tone was uncharacteristically soft yet filled with a seriousness born of being deeply impressed. "Truly... perfect."
A blush spread across Ellie's cheeks at this genuine compliment. "Thank you," she whispered.
Just at that moment, the main entrance door opened, and Kyle entered, brimming with post-run energy. His workout clothes were damp with sweat, his face glowing red from exercise. But the moment he saw Ellie, he froze like a statue. His eyes were locked on her.
"Ellie!" he exclaimed, still slightly breathless. "Wow! You look... absolutely stunning!"
Ellie turned to him and offered a polite smile. "Thank you, Kyle."
Without so much as a glance at James, Kyle headed directly to Ellie's side. He moved close, leaving almost no space between them. "We have that kissing scene on set today, you know, right?" he said, a distinct excitement in his voice. "We talked about rehearsing it together."
Ellie's face instantly flushed at the sudden proximity and the reminder of the scene. "Yes... I know," she murmured, averting her gaze for a second.
"Don't worry," Kyle said, casually placing his hand on Ellie's bare shoulder. His touch was possessive and overly familiar. "I'll guide you through it. Just trust me. Everything will be great, I'm sure."
James watched quietly from a few steps away, like a shadow. His face was a professional mask, stoic and expressionless. But inside, a hurricane was raging. 'He needs to remove his hand. Now. He shouldn't be touching her like that.' Kyle's close stance, his hand on her shoulder, the shy blush coloring Ellie's cheek... it all stoked a primal anger and jealousy within him. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. But as her manager, he had to just watch and remain silent.
Half an hour later, the three of them were seated in the luxury limousine. A heavy silence dominated the journey. Ellie sat in the back, staring out the window. Kyle was glued to her side, constantly trying to engage her in low conversation. James sat in the front passenger seat, as still and silent as a stone statue, his gaze fixed ahead, his back rigid.
When the limousine pulled up in front of the studio, the scene outside was pure chaos.
Hundreds of paparazzi were pushing against the barriers, forming a human flood. The area in front of the set was filled with an army of lenses and microphones. Camera flashes went off like blinding lightning bolts in broad daylight, and the screams were deafening.
"ELLIE! ELLIE! LOOK OVER HERE!"
"KYLE!GIVE US A POSE!"
"ELLIE,IS THERE SOMETHING REAL BETWEEN YOU AND KYLE?"
"ARE YOU ANNOUNCING A WEDDING DATE?"
The moment the limo stopped, James switched into professional mode. He swiftly stepped out, quickly coordinated with the security team, and then opened the rear door. Ellie and Kyle stepped out into the storm of flashes.
The barrage of light was so intense that Ellie had to blink, temporarily blinded. Kyle instantly seized the opportunity. He grabbed Ellie's hand firmly. "Smile, sweetheart," he whispered, his own lips still curved in a grin. "Let's give the fans a show. Remember, the cameras are always watching."
Ellie fixed a strained smile on her face. It wasn't a genuine smile, but the cold, perfect expression of a model. Kyle wrapped his arm tightly around Ellie's waist, pulling her closer to him, presenting the perfect picture for the media. The paparazzi went wild at the sight; their screams and the intensity of their flashes multiplied.
"KYLE! ELLIE! GIVE US A KISS!"
"CLOSER!STAND A BIT CLOSER!"
"ELLIE,ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH KYLE? CONFESS!"
James watched from a few steps behind, from a safe distance. His face was as hard as stone, his eyes as dark as a stormy night. Watching Kyle hold Ellie so possessively, pulling her toward him, ignited a poison-like fury spreading inside him. 'This is just a show. It's all strategy. Keep it together, Valentine,' he coached himself. But the tense smile on Ellie's face suggested she was uncomfortable too, and that drove James even closer to the edge. Yet, he restrained himself.
When they finally entered the calm of the set, they headed straight for the makeup room. Ellie took the seat where the makeup artist, Scarlet, was waiting. Scarlet was young, physically attractive, but noticeable for her chattiness and artificial warmth. The moment she saw Ellie, she greeted her with an exaggerated hugging gesture.
"Ellie, my darling!" she squealed with enthusiasm. "I missed you! Did you see the chaos outside? The entire media is buzzing about your love story! You and Kyle... Everyone is talking about you!"
Ellie looked at Scarlet's reflection in the mirror with a weak smile. "Yes," she said simply. "I noticed."
Scarlet picked up a powder brush and started dusting Ellie's face as she continued talking. "You know, you were the top trending topic on social media yesterday! The #EllieAndKyle hashtag was everywhere! People are debating whether your relationship is real or just a PR stunt. But I know!" she said, winking meaningfully at Ellie. "You two are the real thing, aren't you? I can tell, even if you don't say it."
Ellie looked at her own eyes in the mirror. She didn't know what to say. "I... well... um..." she stammered.
"Ah, don't you worry, sweetie!" Scarlet cut her off, her voice dripping with false reassurance. "Your secret is safe with me! But I must say, I think Kyle is totally in love with you. You should see the way he looks at you! That's the look of a man in love, I'm sure of it!"
However, the overly polished and calculated tone of Scarlet's voice was obvious in her every gesture.
'Ah, Scarlet! You sly snake... What's churning in that dark, scheming brain of yours now? What games are you playing?'