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Olivia

I was seated next to Leo, which was unfortunate considering the circumstances. His presence was electrifying and intimidating all at once, and I struggled to maintain my composure under the weight of his penetrating gaze that felt as if it were boring a hole into the side of my face. I took a deep breath, attempting to focus on the commotion around us instead of the discomfort that accompanied being so close to him. My hand instinctively found its way under the table, reaching out to grasp Johnny's as a source of comfort and reassurance.

Johnny turned to me with a warm and gentle smile that radiated warmth, tightening his grip around my hand as if to say, "I've got you." He probably misread my anxious demeanor as being tied to the tension of the night—worrying about whether I would win the nomination for Best Actress. Truth be told, I couldn't have cared less about that. Our film, "To Have and Have Not," had already clinched the prestigious award for Best Motion Picture that evening, and that accomplishment alone was more than enough for me.

As the excitement continued to pulse through the audience, I felt a surge of pride as I caught sight of Collin who had just been honored with the Oscar for Best Director. He was seated right next to Johnny, and when his name was called, we all jumped to our feet in a wave of euphoria, rushing to embrace him in a collective hug that shared a moment of pure joy and triumph.

"Come with me," Collin said, beckoning to both Johnny and me with an infectious grin. We eagerly trailed behind him as he made his way to the stage, where he was presented with his first Oscar for Best Director. The thrill of the moment electrified the air, and as he stepped onto the stage, he took a deep breath before speaking into the microphone.

"I don't know what to even say," he began, clearly overwhelmed. The weight of the moment seemed almost too much to bear. "I could hardly believe this film was nominated for so many awards tonight, but to actually win Best Director and Best Motion Picture is... thank you," he said, shaking his head in disbelief, unable to wrap his mind around the enormity of it all.

"Thank you. I have dreamt of this moment for my entire career, and not to age myself, but I have been in this business for 30 years," he chuckled softly, the sound echoing through the auditorium, eliciting a wave of laughter and applause from the crowd. "I will never forget this moment," he continued, his voice softening as he looked out across the audience. "I would like to just very quickly say thank you to my partner, Jose, who is here in the audience with me tonight. He has been my biggest supporter throughout this entire journey. I love you dearly," he proclaimed, his eyes lighting up as they settled on Jose, who remained at our table, pride radiating from him as he beamed at Collin.

"I have the entire crew behind me, and I just couldn't have done this single-handedly, so thank you for this moment. Thank you for your hard work and dedication," Collin expressed, the genuine gratitude in his eyes evident as he gestured toward our team. "Thank you to everyone who showed up to the theaters and watched this beautiful love story that Olivia and Johnny worked tirelessly to portray for you all. Thank you for your love and support," he concluded, his voice filled with emotion as he stepped back and drew us into a heartfelt group hug, solidifying the bond we all shared in that unforgettable moment.

 Thank you for your love and support," he concluded, his voice filled with emotion as he stepped back and drew us into a heartfelt group hug, solidifying the bond we all shared in that unforgettable moment

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