Devotion

Chapter 1

LEOMI

"Ma'am." I hear the faint sound of a man's voice from a distance, lost in the possibilities ahead of me. A new city, brimming with opportunities for me to pursue.

"Ms. Louis, we're here." The voice says again, this time impatient, snapping me back to reality. I glance around, realizing I've arrived at the cast's meet and greet.

I glance at my chauffeur in the rearview mirror, seeing him patiently waiting for my response. Shaking my head, I bring myself back to the present. "I'm sorry, Ryan. Did you say something?"

"Yes, we're here," he repeats in a gentler tone than before. I nod in acknowledgment and thank him.

Ryan steps out of the car to open my door. I carefully slide out, ensuring I grab my purse first.

When I step out of the car, the warmth of the summer sun kisses my skin. The venue for the meet and greet is just as elegant as I expected. The building's exterior is entirely glass, showcasing its modern design. Outside, the noise catches my attention, and I turn to see what's happening.

A crowd of women screams excitedly, surrounding someone in the distance. I stare in disbelief at the sheer attention one person can command, then quickly refocus on the task at hand-I need to get inside.

I woke up late this morning, having only arrived at my new apartment last night. I felt grateful upon learning that the studio would cover all expenses, as I had arrived with nothing to my name.

Realizing how late it was, I spent the entire day getting ready. I applied my makeup twice, frustrated by my lack of expertise in such matters, but eventually managed to get it right. With the rumors about the cast of 'Dream Shadow' beginning today, I was determined not to mess up my first encounter with the media.

I start navigating through the crowd, murmuring "excuse me" countless times, realizing I have to push my way through. Just as I'm about to reach the door, my hand poised to touch it, I bump into something hard. "Ow!" I lightly touch my temple, hoping my makeup isn't ruined.

Suddenly, someone harshly grabs my arm, pulling me aside. "Step away from Mr. Archer," a man, likely a bodyguard, commands. I glance down at his hand on my arm, then shoot him a harsh stare, prepared to tell him to let go.

"Let go of her," a deep yet warm voice demands, each word commanding attention.

"I'm sorry, sir. This one was getting a bit too close," the guard answers, bowing slightly to show respect to his boss, whom I now realize is Ares Archer-a man I've seen on television for years.

The camera did not capture his beauty accurately. His dark hair, a perfect blend of salt and pepper, flows in soft, wavy strands that frame his face with effortless elegance. He runs a hand over his stubbly chin, the roughness adding to his rugged charm as he sizes me up.

How could a man be so perfect? He smirks down at me, his hand slipping into his suit pocket as he stands tall. I'm not short by any means, but next to him, I feel like I'm standing in front of a giant-a beautiful giant. I shake my head, realizing I'm fangirling.

"Does she look like a fan? She's my co-star," he responds, his hazel brown eyes holding me in place.

"You know who I am?" I tilt my head slightly, eyes widening with realization.

"Yes, I do my research." Before I can reply, a fan pushes past me towards the door, eager to get closer to Ares. His face quickly shifts from fascination to anger.

Ares glares at his bodyguards, silently instructing them to handle the girl who pushed me, then grabs my hand and pulls me inside with him.

"I, um..." I mutter, feeling embarrassed by what just happened.

"Are you okay?" He looks down at me, his eyes examining to ensure I'm fine.

I nod quickly. "Yes, of course. I'm from New York, so I'm used to it." He squints at me, and I awkwardly glance around the room.

"Ares!" The movie director approaches us, her blonde hair cascading down her back, her smile lines and those around her eyes accentuating her beauty when she smiles.

"Emma." Ares greets her warmly, and she takes both of his hands before leaning in to give him air kisses on each cheek. When she pulls back and looks at me, I offer a smile.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Castillo." I calmly extend my arm for a handshake, but she pulls me in just as she did with Ares, giving me air kisses as well.

"I'm not that old, my dear. Please call me Emma." She winks at me, and I nod in response.

When she pulls back, she looks at both of us with contentment. "I see you've met Leomi," Emma says to Ares.

"I have," Ares replies simply, which makes me realize he's not much of a talker.

"That's great! Everyone else is already here. We were just waiting for you two," she responds, leading us around as we follow.

Emma introduces me to everyone, as it seems Ares already knows most of the people here, which makes sense given he's been acting practically his whole life.

Everyone shows great respect toward him, and even the rest of the cast appears to be admiring him. They're not being too obvious about it, but I notice.

Ares is constantly surrounded, with someone new approaching him as soon as he finishes talking to another. I realize I've been by his side this whole time, even though Emma has already left us. I should make an effort to socialize more with everyone since we'll be working together for the next couple of months.

Scanning the room for welcoming faces, I spot another castmate, Zamira Ellis, and head in her direction. When she notices me, she smiles and walks over.

"Leomi!" Zamira says excitedly, jumping into my arms. I hug her back warmly.

"Hi! It's so nice to meet you."

"Girl, are you kidding? I've been looking for you all night. I'm definitely the one who's pleased to meet you."

"What! Why?" I can't help but ask.

"Emma held auditions for nearly a year for the role of Scarlette. She turned down everyone until she saw you. She said no one else convinced her they were right for the part," Zamira explains. I look at her in disbelief; I was so nervous that day, wishing I had the confidence others saw in me.

"Wow," I say, brushing away tears. Zamira smiles at me. "I'm so excited for this role. I can relate to her on some levels, and I thought it'd be perfect as my first major role."

"This is your first?"

"Yes, I mean I've acted before, but not in a movie."

"Don't worry! You're going to ace it. I'm sure of it," Zamira says, her green eyes sparkling as she pushes a strand of her red, wavy hair behind her ear.

We continue to talk throughout the night, and I'm eventually reminded that I need to eat when my stomach embarrasses me with a growl. Zamira and I spend nearly an hour getting to know each other.

When the producer asks everyone to stand for a toast, Zamira and I look at each other and giggle, agreeing to finish our conversation later.

"Thank you for coming, everyone. I've been planning this movie for years, and I trust each and every one of you here. I believe we can execute the movie's vision perfectly. Cheers," he announces.

I clink my strawberry drink with Zamira's before taking a sip. Soon, others at our table start talking to her, and I take a moment to check my phone for emails.

"I don't believe we finished our conversation earlier," a voice I'm already becoming familiar with says.

A/N
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