Off Camera

Chapter 45

Tee POV

I snuggle up against Tae's firm body on the couch. My red eyes stare at the carpeted floor while I run my fingertip in a circle on top of Tae's tone stomach. His shirt's thin fabric is the only thing blocking me from playing with his six-pack, which I usually love, but tonight, it isn't as enjoyable as normal.

My mind is still stuck back at the studio and our tearful goodbyes to everyone.

This is the part I hate when working on a drama. You spend so much time together and form close friendships with many of the crew and cast members, but then it ends. Everyone promises to keep in touch, but we all know we won't which makes the end more painful.

I softly mumble, "Do you think they will talk in our group chat? Or will this drama be like all the others, and we go our separate ways to never hear from each other again, unless we work on a new project together?"

Tae kisses the top of my head and wraps his arm around my shoulders. "I'm sure they will try to keep in touch, but you know how it will probably end. At some point, everyone will stop posting and talking in the group, and we will all slowly drift away from each other. That is how the business is."

The corner of my mouth curls downward. I know he is right, but I don't want to admit it. He has done more dramas than me, but I'm aware of how things usually go.

My finger continues tracing circles on him. "Do you think you I will ever get used to it?"

He tightens his arm around me. "I'm sure you will eventually get used to it. I don't know when it will happen, but I'm sure you will learn to accept and deal with the end better than this."

I look up at him. "What is wrong with this?"

I don't know why I said that. I know exactly what is wrong with the way I'm behaving.

With a tender look in his eyes, he gives me a faint grin. "You've been crying. It hurts me to see you cry."

He kisses the end of my nose. "I want you happy all the time."

I shake my head. "There is no way I can be happy all the time, especially working as an actor."

He kisses my cheek. "I know, but I want you as happy as you can be. It is better for the both of us that way."

I shake my head and stare at him. Why is he thinking about me when he has his own problems we need to deal with?

"You know that isn't possible. I can't be happy all the time. Plus, I can't be happy when you aren't. We need to be happy together."

A faint snort spills from him. "I'm happy as long as you are happy."

I stare at him. Why is he so crazy tonight?

A crease forms along my forehead as my mind flips through the various probable reasons for his weird behavior. Unfortunately, my thoughts stop at his crazy stalker.

I tilt my head and softly ask, "Are you upset you couldn't go out to the restaurant and the bar with the rest of them?"

He sighs and runs his fingers down my back. "I don't know. It feels odd that we aren't going with the rest of them. It almost feels like we have done something wrong and have been punished for it, but that is crazy and not what happened."

I agree it feels a little odd, but it doesn't feel like a punishment. I'm a little relieved we won't have to deal with the crazy woman.

Ding.

Ding.

Ding.

Ding.

I quirk my eyebrow and look at him. "Whose phone is going off?"

Tae twists his head and glances over the end of the couch at the end table and our phones. He lets out a small grunt before replying, "It appears both of our phones are going off."

What?

I sit up straight and climb over the top of his lap. I grab both phones and sit up. With the phones side by side, another message comes in. Tae's phone dings first and then mine. The message is from one of the cast members out celebrating.

I tilt my head. "What is going on?"

Tae takes his phone and opens the message, while I open the message on my phone.

I let out a small gasp as I read it.

Our fear has come true. The crazy witch is at the restaurant, waiting for everyone to show up. She has even walked up to their table and asked when Tae was going to show up.

I can't believe her. Who in their right mind would think this is acceptable behavior?

As I read back through the other messages, rage ripples through me.

The crazy woman has had the audacity to ask several of the crew and cast for Tae's number to make sure he is alright.

Luckily, we have discussed this before everyone had left the studio. They did exactly what we told them to do. Everyone gave her the same answer as why Tae wasn't there. He had a schedule conflict, so he wasn't able to join them.

It doesn't matter that she doesn't need to know it or anything associated with Tae, but I'm crossing my fingers that this will stop the crazy bat. My gut isn't so sure. A part of me thinks she will be back and soon. The filming is done, and she thinks Tae has plenty of time now to devote to her and her crazy whims.

My anger bubbles just thinking about it.

Tae nudges my arm. "Hey, don't worry. She doesn't know where we are staying at. We are safe here, and Jane has given us a brief break from our small gigs. The crazy lady won't be able to find us."

My lip twitches as I snarl. "She isn't concerned about us. She only has eyes for you."

My blood boils at my words while a possessiveness, I didn't know I had, surges through me.

He is my boyfriend, and no one can have him.

A hearty chuckle echoes in my ears. Tae kisses the side of my head. "I don't have to ask what you are thinking about. By the deathly glare you have, I would say you are thinking about making it clear to somebody I'm not available and don't want to entertain anyone but you. Am I right?"

I press my lips together and remain quiet.

He lets out another hearty laugh and pulls me against him. "Stop it. I've lost count the number of times I've told you I love you. That should be proof enough that I only have eyes for you. I don't want you getting into trouble, or for the crazy witch to get mad and try to harm you. Your safety is a priority."

He kisses the side of my head again, but this time, his lips linger for a few moments.

I pat his leg. "Your safety is a priority, too. Don't forget, you are her prime target. No matter how I hate her for it, I can't ignore it either. I have a feeling it could be dangerous to ignore anything associated with her."

Silence falls down around us.

I hope I'm wrong.

Published on November 29, 2022