and he saw her

Chapter 4

To say Anthony was nervous was the understatement of the century, but when Kate approached his desk saying that everyone had already left, he realized that "nervous" wasn't really the word for what he was feeling.

"Petrified" seemed to be a better description.

It's not like they've never stayed in the same room together. They've actually become pretty close in the last few months, which is completely normal considering they've seen each other almost every single day since the contract was signed.

But then again, the conditions now were very different. They were completely alone... at night... and working on a sex scene...

God, this was the path to disaster.

- Hey you! - Kate sits on a chair in front of him, unaware of all the thoughts going through his mind at that very same moment.

- Hey! Thank you for staying, I know it's pretty late and you'd rather be with your sister at home.

- Oh, don't worry about it, I'm a night owl. Besides, my sister is not at home. - she adds quietly, looking around the room as if to avoid his eyes.

- Where is she?

- Back in San Francisco. She decided to spend some time with our mother.

- So she's still ignoring you. - Anthony said it more as a statement than a question.

- Something like that.

The tone in her voice made Anthony's heart break. She was clearly sad about this whole situation and no one had really noticed until now. She's obviously a great actress but up until this moment Anthony hadn't realized that she acted not only in front of the camera, but also off of it. She was hiding her feelings and it hurted him to know that she had no one to talk to.

- Kate. - he waited until she faced him to continue. - From what I've heard I can only deduce how close you are to your sister, and I don't know her that well but I know you. It didn't take long for everyone here to notice how amazing you are. And not just as an actress, but as a person. You have the biggest heart and the gentlest soul I've ever seen. If your sister is anything like you, which I think she is, she'll come around eventually. She'll understand and support you, because you're her sister. Nothing can change that.

Kate felt warm all around. No one ever reassured her like Anthony just did. For most of her life, her family was her safe harbor, helping her with any problem she had. But now that the problem involved her family, Edwina more specifically, she felt like there wasn't anyone she could open up to.

But here was Anthony, with his smooth hair and perfect smile, assuring her that everything would be alright. Speaking not just with words, but with feelings.

- You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Thank you.

- Anytime. - he replies holding her hands on his, and locking eyes with her.

And there it was. The electric shock they seemed to feel every time they touched.

It wasn't the first time and somehow they knew it wouldn't be the last time either.

- Uhm... - Kate broke the silence and took a few steps back. - So, the script... What have you written so far?

- Not much, really. - he handed her a few pages and notes. - I tried writing it in different ways but none of it feels real.

- Hmm. - her eyes are focused on the paper. - All your other scenes felt pretty real when I read them. What do you usually do to come up with the right words?