Hidden Obsession

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎: 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆

The next morning, Leo woke up alone in his own bed. The faint sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. He stretched, a sense of unease settling in his chest as the events of the previous night replayed in his mind. Adrian was gone, as if the moments they had shared were nothing more than a fleeting dream.

Leo rubbed his eyes and slowly got out of bed, his thoughts still lingering on Adrian. There was an emptiness in the room that hadn’t been there before, a quiet that made Leo feel more alone than ever. But he couldn’t dwell on it—he had work to do.

After a quick shower, Leo got dressed and grabbed his things. He had signed up for a new series, and today was the first day of filming. The thought of immersing himself in work was a welcome distraction, something to take his mind off the confusing emotions swirling inside him.

At the studio, the buzz of activity was infectious. Crew members hurried about, setting up cameras and adjusting lighting, while actors rehearsed their lines off to the side. Leo took a deep breath and walked in, ready to dive into his role.

As he made his way to the set, he felt a pair of eyes on him. He turned to see the boss of the production—a confident woman with a sharp gaze—walking towards him. She gave him a once-over, a playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our leading man,” she said, her voice teasing. “Looking good, Leo. Ready to steal the show?”

Leo couldn’t help but smile, though it was tinged with uncertainty. “I’ll do my best,” he replied, trying to shake off the feeling of discomfort.

She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. “With those looks, you’ve already won half the battle.” She winked, and Leo chuckled, though his mind was elsewhere.

As the boss moved on, Leo felt a sudden chill run down his spine. The sensation of being watched intensified, and he instinctively looked around. That’s when he caught a glimpse—just out of the corner of his eye—of Adrian standing off to the side, his expression unreadable, his eyes locked onto Leo with an intensity that sent a shiver through him.

Leo blinked, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly turned his head to where he had seen Adrian, but there was nothing. The space where he had stood was empty, as if Adrian had vanished into thin air.

Confused and unnerved, Leo forced himself to focus. Maybe he was imagining things. After all, the previous night had been emotionally exhausting, and his mind could be playing tricks on him. But the feeling of being watched lingered, a constant reminder that Adrian, or the idea of him, was still haunting him.

Leo threw himself into his role with a fervor he hadn’t felt in years. As the cameras rolled, he became someone else entirely, channeling every emotion, every line with precision. The character’s anguish, hope, and determination flowed through him effortlessly, as if the role had been tailor-made for him. Each scene was a triumph, and by the time they wrapped for the day, the crew was buzzing with excitement.

“Leo, that was incredible!” one of the producers exclaimed as they walked off the set. “You brought the character to life in a way none of us could’ve imagined.”

Leo smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. “Thanks. I just… connected with him, I guess.”

The director approached, beaming with pride. “You nailed it, Leo. Absolutely nailed it. We’re off to an amazing start.”

As the cast and crew dispersed, Leo exchanged pleasantries and thanked everyone for their hard work. He was still riding the high of a successful first day as he headed toward the exit. But as he pushed open the door, he nearly collided with someone standing just outside.

Leo looked up, his breath catching in his throat. It was Adrian, his expression dark and unreadable.

“Adrian,” Leo breathed, surprised to see him there. He took a step back, unsure of what to say.

Without a word, Adrian handed Leo a bottle of water, his eyes flicking up and down as if to make sure Leo was okay. There was a tension between them, something unspoken yet heavy in the air.

“Thanks,” Leo said, taking the bottle. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that there was more behind Adrian’s sudden appearance than he was letting on.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze lingering on Leo’s face. “She’s not your type,” he said, his voice low and laced with a hint of bitterness.

Leo blinked, taken aback by the comment. “Who? The director?”

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. He just gave a slight nod, his jaw tightening. “Don’t let her get too close.”

Before Leo could respond, Adrian turned on his heel and started walking away, leaving Leo standing there, confused and more than a little unsettled. He wanted to call out, to stop Adrian and demand an explanation, but something held him back.

As Adrian disappeared around the corner, Leo felt a pang of frustration. It wasn’t just about the director’s flirting, or the cryptic warning Adrian had given him. It was the fact that Adrian was still keeping secrets, still holding back when Leo desperately needed clarity.

Leo sighed, taking a long sip from the water bottle as he watched the spot where Adrian had vanished. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, and now he felt drained, uncertain of what to do next. He wanted to confront Adrian, to ask him what was really going on, but deep down, he knew it wouldn’t be that simple.

Shaking his head, Leo turned and walked away from the studio, the weight of the day’s events pressing down on him. Adrian’s sudden appearance had stirred up more questions than answers, and Leo couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated.

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥...