𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐓

Chapter Eight: Settling Scores.

Ｋｉａｒａ

"Cut!" Marco's voice sliced through the air, cutting through the tension on set. It wasn't the first time he had stopped the scene today, but this time, I could feel his frustration simmering beneath the surface. The way he looked at me, with his arms crossed and his lips pressed into a thin line, said it all. I was off my game, and everyone knew it.

I stood in the middle of the set, blinking under the harsh lights, trying to shake off the cloud that had been hanging over me all day. My heart pounded in my chest, but not because of the scene. Quentin's words from earlier kept replaying in my mind, throwing me off balance every time I tried to focus.

"Kiara," Marco called again, this time softer, more controlled. "You're not bringing it today. What's going on? I need more intensity, more emotion. You're giving me... nothing."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I tried to come up with an explanation. What could I say? That my head was completely elsewhere? That I was too distracted by the mess I had walked away from this morning? I had to pull it together, but I couldn't.

"I'm sorry, Marco," I said, rubbing my temples. "I'll get it right. Just give me one more take."

He sighed, clearly trying to be patient, but I could see his frustration growing. "We can't keep burning time like this. Let's take ten, and then we'll try again."

As he walked off, I stood there, feeling the weight of the entire crew's eyes on me. The murmurs started almost immediately, people whispering to each other, wondering what was wrong with me. I could feel the judgment radiating off them, and it only made the knot in my stomach tighten.

I turned and made my way back to my trailer, needing a moment to clear my head. The sun was blazing, but all I could feel was the overwhelming pressure pressing down on me. This wasn't how today was supposed to go. I was supposed to be focused, dialed in. But Quentin had gotten under my skin in a way I hadn't expected, and now I was spiraling.

Inside the trailer, I sank into the chair in front of my vanity, staring at my reflection. Everything about me looked perfect on the outside—my hair, my makeup, my outfit—but inside, I felt like I was falling apart. I couldn't stop thinking about Quentin, about the conversation we had, about the unresolved tension between us. Why couldn't I just forget him?

I began repeating my lines to myself, trying to force myself back into character. "You're going to regret this," I whispered to my reflection, but my voice sounded hollow, like the emotion had drained out of me completely.

A knock on the door startled me. I didn't bother looking up, assuming it was Cammie, my assistant. "Come in," I called, still focused on the lines in the script.

The door creaked open, and I heard the familiar sound of heels clicking against the floor.

"Kiara?" Cammie's voice was soft, and when I finally glanced up, she had a hesitant look on her face. "I just wanted to check in on you. You okay?"

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Not really. It's just been... one of those days."

Cammie nodded sympathetically, holding her clipboard to her chest. "Well, I wanted to let you know we're wrapping for the day. Marco decided it's best to pick things up another day. And..." She glanced down at her notes. "You've got that Levi's brand deal shoot tomorrow morning at ten. They want you on set early for hair and makeup."

I rubbed my eyes, trying to process everything. "Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll be ready."

Cammie lingered for a moment, looking like she wanted to say more, but she hesitated. "Oh, and... your friend Amira is here. She's waiting outside your trailer. She said she has something to tell you."