Neptune

Chapter 32 | The Collision

A sigh leaves my lips as Quartz Magazine's makeup artist finishes touching up my makeup. Today, I'm doing a cover photoshoot for them in their studio in New York.

Oscar and Peter have told me about this plan-they talked about this when they threw me the birthday surprise party.

However, right now, while I'm sitting in front of the set, my mind isn't filled with this photoshoot-it's filled with what happened with Luke yesterday when we played hide and seek with Aiden.

I just can't stop thinking about it. I can't believe that I kissed him back. It's crazy. The kiss has been consuming all of my senses-I can even still taste his lips on mine now.

His lips are so soft...

Abruptly, I shake my head in disbelief. Shit. What the hell am I thinking about? Pull yourself together, Cassie.

I have to focus my mind on this photoshoot. Yes, I think that I can be professional, like usual. I just have to nail the shoot and the interview that I have to do later once they finish taking my pictures.

"Hey, Jude. It's good to see you again."

Someone's voice snaps me out of my thoughts in an instant. I snap my head around, and my eyes widen when I see someone I didn't expect.

Jude Scott.

He arrives on the set, greeting some staff members. He still hasn't turned to see me yet, though. I wonder if he knows that I'm having a photoshoot here.

What is he doing here? I don't remember anybody telling me that Jude was coming to this studio today.

The makeup artist who just glowed me up, Celine, seems to notice the shock skating all over my face. She looks at me with wonder.

"I see that you haven't been made aware that Jude is going to work with us too today. Forgive us for not telling you in advance, Cassie. We're actually writing an article about him, which will be in the next edition of our magazine, and it's gonna be ten pages. It's crazy, isn't it?" She laughs.

If she thinks that's crazy, I don't know what she would think of my mind right now. Fate seems to like the idea of bringing Jude and me together.

But then again, we're working in the same industry, so there's always a high chance that we'll encounter each other again.

"He's not supposed to do the photoshoot and interview today, and that's why we didn't mention this to you before," Celine says, feeding me with more information. "But Jude told us that he'd be busy next week, so he opted for an earlier schedule, which is today. It was a bit rushed for us, but we managed to get everything prepared for him. The sooner it's done, the better, isn't it?"

I still don't respond to her words, my eyes locked on Jude. He notices my existence and stares at me with a knowing look, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"But I heard that you and him are on good terms now, so it shouldn't be any problem, right?" Celine asks, slight doubt in her voice.

Quickly, I shoot her a reassuring smile. Right. I have to be professional. I can't let anybody know what really happened between us. I can't make things suspicious. It will only waste all the acting that we've done.

"Of course," I say in a cheerful tone. "I just didn't expect this coincidence. It's good to have him here too."

Celine smiles before excusing herself to speak with the stylist, and that's when I take out my phone.

I have to text Luke. If he finds out about this from someone else before I tell him, God knows what he'll do. I don't want to replay what happened during Jamie Cohen's car ride.