The Line Between Us - Alejandro Balde Love Story

Chapter 11: The Campaign

The sound of my heels clicking against the polished floor echoed through the studio as I arrived for the latest project. Today was a big day—a major joint campaign for a high-profile brand. But instead of excitement, I felt a knot of tension twisting in my stomach. Not because of the campaign itself, but because of who I'd be working with.

Alejandro.

I still wasn't over our almost-kiss from the game. It played over in my head far too often for my liking, leaving me flustered and frustrated. And now, here we were—forced to work together, up close and personal. Great.

Berta had teased me endlessly when she found out about the campaign. "This is the universe throwing you two together again!" she'd laughed. "You can't escape the tension forever, Isa. Something's bound to happen."

Well, nothing was going to happen. Not if I could help it. I'd promised myself to keep things professional, despite the undeniable chemistry that always simmered between us.

As I reached the makeup chair, I noticed Alejandro across the room. He was leaning against a table, looking effortlessly handsome in a crisp white shirt, his sleeves rolled up just enough to show off those annoyingly perfect forearms. His dark hair was tousled in that way that looked both intentional and careless. A few of the makeup artists were giggling amongst themselves as they sneaked glances his way. Typical.

I took a deep breath and looked away, pretending not to notice him. The last thing I needed was to get distracted by him again. But, of course, the universe—or fate, or whoever was pulling the strings in my life—had other plans.

"Isabella, you're with Alejandro for the first setup," the creative director announced, clapping his hands together with enthusiasm. "You two will be standing close, lots of interaction, lots of intensity. We want to feel the chemistry between you."

Wonderful.

I forced a smile and nodded, pretending not to care. But when Alejandro's eyes found mine, the spark between us was undeniable, and the small smirk tugging at his lips told me he knew exactly what was happening.

"Ready for this?" he asked as he strolled over, his voice low and teasing.

I raised an eyebrow, refusing to give him the satisfaction of rattling me. "It's just work," I said coolly, turning my attention to the stylist adjusting my outfit.

His grin widened, as if he could see right through me. "Sure, it is."

As we positioned ourselves in front of the camera, I felt Alejandro's presence beside me—too close for comfort. The photographer's instructions floated around us, but I could barely focus. Every move he made felt intentional, from the way his hand brushed against mine to the heat radiating from his body as he stood just inches away.

My breath caught in my throat when his fingers lightly grazed my back, adjusting my stance. His touch was gentle, but it sent a spark straight through me, igniting the tension that had been building between us for days.

"Relax," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.

I stiffened, shooting him a sharp look. "I am relaxed."

His dark eyes glittered with amusement as he leaned in slightly, his voice a low murmur only I could hear. "You're doing a terrible job of hiding it."

I wanted to smack that smug look off his face. He knew exactly how he affected me, and he was enjoying every second of it. But I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. I'd worked too hard to keep my composure around him.

"Focus," I snapped, adjusting my posture, determined to get through the shoot without incident.

The photographer snapped away, oblivious to the invisible tug-of-war happening between Alejandro and me. Each pose brought us closer, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. My heart was racing, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the magnetic pull that seemed to draw us together.

It was infuriating.

Every glance, every fleeting touch, it was like the world disappeared around us, leaving just the two of us in this heated dance we couldn't escape. I could feel the frustration bubbling up inside me. How could someone make me feel so much without even trying?

"Alright, take five!" the photographer called out, breaking the spell for a moment. I quickly stepped away from Alejandro, needing space to clear my head.

I grabbed a bottle of water and leaned against a nearby table, trying to calm my racing heart. This was ridiculous. It was just work. Just a stupid campaign. I needed to pull it together.

But as I sipped my water, Alejandro sauntered over, that signature smirk still playing on his lips.

"Having trouble concentrating, Isa?" he teased, leaning against the table next to me. "You seem a bit... flustered."

I shot him a glare, refusing to let him get under my skin any more than he already had. "I'm fine, thanks."

He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving mine. "You sure? Because you looked a little distracted back there."

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. "If you think I'm distracted by you, you're sorely mistaken."

"Am I?" His voice dropped, and he leaned in just slightly, his gaze flicking to my lips for the briefest moment.

My breath hitched, and I cursed myself for the way my pulse quickened. I couldn't let him get to me. Not again. But the heat between us was undeniable, and for a split second, I wondered what it would be like to give in—to stop fighting the pull that seemed to draw us together at every turn.

"You think you have me all figured out, don't you?" I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

Alejandro's eyes softened, his smirk fading just slightly. "I don't have you figured out at all, Isabella. That's the problem."

For a moment, neither of us said anything, the weight of his words hanging between us. It was rare to see him this serious, and it threw me off balance. I wasn't sure how to respond, wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with the intensity of the moment.

But then, just like that, his playful grin was back. "Let's finish this shoot," he said, standing up straight. "Wouldn't want you to get distracted again."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't deny the flutter in my chest as we returned to the set. This campaign was going to be the death of me.