Chapter 5: Luca Finally Makes His Appearance

I did everything I could to prep for this scene. I've been practicing for weeks, recording myself making various moans and whimpers and then playing them back to myself. I've never walked onto set without being completely and totally prepared. I might not be as experienced as many of the people I work with, but I work twice as hard.

When I reach the set, people are still rushing around and making their final adjustments to everything. Isaac Hillebrand, our esteemed director, is chatting with Leena, the set decorator, but as soon as he sees me, he makes a beeline right over.

"Luca's put us behind schedule," he says, his irritation plain on his face. "Is there something going on with him I should know about?"

After working with Isaac for two films, I'm used to his directness, but I'm not really sure how to answer his question. It is really weird for Luca to be late, but I haven't the slightest idea what's going on.

So I try redirection.

"Has no one been able to get in touch with him?" I ask.

"He's finishing up in makeup right now," Isaac says. "But he should've been there two hours ago." A fat, pulsing vein has appeared on his forehead, the way it always does when he gets stressed. "You two have a fight or something?"

"Not that I'm aware of," I say. We're not scheduled to have another big public fight for two months, right before awards season.

Isaac gives me a pointed look. Not for the first time, I wonder if he knows the truth about Luca and me. Fake celebrity relationships aren't exactly unusual here in Hollywood, and most people in the industry know how to spot the publicity stunts. But every once in a while, a real relationship emerges from all of the glitz and glamor of the film world, and those have their own special kind of power over people. Everyone wants to believe in them - including those who should know better - and so they do.

Or, as I'm starting to suspect, after working in this industry for decades, people stop being able to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake.

And speaking of fake...my fake fiancé has finally decided to make his appearance. I sense his presence before I see him. Even more than two years after meeting him, he still has that effect on me - on everyone, I suspect. Isaac and I both turn at the same time.

Luca, as usual, causes something of a stir simply by existing. Whatever his reasons for being late, he shows no signs of being frazzled. Despite the layers of "apocalypse dust" all over his body, he still seems to glow. He flashes that million-dollar smile and greets the crew members by name as he passes. He's laying the charm on extra thick today - I swear, if this were an animated movie his grin would sparkle and people would be swooning into dead faints at the sight of him.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I may have been taken in by that charm the first time I met him, but I've learned my lesson. It's all an act, just like everything else in his life. After two films and two years of pretending to be in a relationship with him, I still have no idea who the real Luca is - I'm not sure anyone does. The character he plays in his personal life isn't any more genuine than the one he plays on set. Honestly, sometimes I'm convinced the character he plays on set is more real - I swear, I feel more genuine emotion from him when we're doing a scene together than I do any other time.

Luca's grin widens when his eyes land on Isaac and me. He must know that he has something to answer for.

"Morning, love," he says when he reaches me. He grabs my hand and pulls me into his arms.

I don't resist, even though I'm ticked at him right now. I have a role to play.

He folds me into his chest, and I tip my head back as he leans in for a kiss. His soft lips come down on mine, and his hand spreads against my lower back, holding me tight against him.

One thing I'll give him - Luca is a fucking amazing kisser. Even knowing full well that this is fake, it's still impossible to keep my body from reacting in tiny ways. Warmth ripples through me, even though I try to fight it.

He smells different today, I find myself noticing. Like the ocean. I've spent enough time in close contact with Luca to pick up on little things like that. I pull back from the kiss, curious about this subtle change.

What I see in his face surprises me. His usual charming mask is still there, but beneath it I sense something else - something troubling. I can't put my finger on what it is, exactly - a shadow in his eyes, perhaps, or a slight tightness at the corner of his mouth - but something is off. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was stressed or worried about something.

"Enough with the mushiness," Isaac says behind me. "Let's save it for the scene, hm? You two ready?"

Luca's grin widens, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm ready," he says. "Emilia?"

There's a challenge in his eyes. I wonder if he realizes how nervous I am about today.

"I'm ready," I say, lifting my chin.

Still, the wooziness returns the moment he releases me. I try another one of my dad's mindfulness breathing exercises.

You can do this, I tell myself one more time. Just don't throw up all over the set and you'll be fine. I'm a legitimate movie star now. This should be a piece of cake. And, most importantly, This is exactly where I want to be. Making movies. As my dad likes to remind me, The secret to happiness is gratitude.

As I follow Luca onto set, however, I suspect this is going to be one of the longest days of my career.