The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Chapter 16

The morning after Serena saw the video, something shifted between her and Laurent. At first, it was subtle: a coolness in Laurent's tone, a new distance that hadn't been there the night before. 

Every time they crossed paths in the corridors of Gray Entertainment, Laurent seemed to have a sharp eye ready or a passing comment that lingered just long enough to feel intentional. He wasn't being openly disrespectful, but it was enough to make Serena feel as though she was being watched, and scrutinized.

"Keep your head up, Vale," he said casually, hands in his pockets. "Don't get too lost in thought. People might start thinking you've got something heavy on your mind. You wouldn't want your team to worry, would you?"

Serena looked up sharply, her eyes narrowing. "Thank you for your concern, Laurent. I think I can manage my own distractions."

Laurent shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Just looking out for you. Wouldn't want your team distracted by anything from your personal life, right? You're on the clock, so keep it together." His words lingered, and she could feel the subtle edge woven into them.

'What the hell is wrong with him?' Serena thought to herself, a mix of confusion and frustration building inside her.

LATER THAT DAY

Serena's mood had plummeted. The video of Elias with Charli kept replaying in her mind, an unshakable loop that left her distracted, sullen, and irritable.

Iso, her manager, picked up on it right away. He watched her with a concerned frown, noticing the tension in her shoulders and the distant look in her eyes.

"Serena," he said as they prepared for her first meeting of the day, his tone carefully neutral. "You seem a bit... out of it. Didn't get much sleep?"

She glanced up, managing a thin smile. "You could say that."

Iso raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. He could sense something was off, but he didn't want to risk breaking her concentration.

As the day went on, her distraction only worsened. At her dress fitting, she barely acknowledged the stylists, nodding absentmindedly as they held up different gowns.

"Miss Vale, what do you think of this one?" one of the stylists asked, holding up a sleek, midnight-blue dress.

Serena blinked, barely registering it. "Fine."

The stylist exchanged a worried glance with another crew member, who whispered, "Is she okay? She doesn't seem like herself."

Iso overheard, frowning. He wasn't used to seeing Serena like this either, and he knew how fragile her mood could be when something was bothering her, and it must be because of the video.

AFTER HOURS of dress fittings and preparations for the Oscars and press conference for the film, Serena made her way to the meeting room. The space buzzed with activity, her team deep in discussion about the upcoming press conference—roles assigned, arrangements finalized, last-minute tweaks debated. 

But as they spoke, Serena found her attention slipping, her thoughts wandering back to the video of Elias and Charli that had haunted her since she'd first seen it. Lost in thought, she hardly noticed Laurent watching her from across the room, a keen edge to his gaze as he took in her distraction.

"Vale," Laurent's voice cut through her thoughts, making her snap back to reality. "What's your take on the setup for the press conference? Any specific suggestions for the entrance?"

Serena blinked, thrown off by the question. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came to mind. She hadn't been following the discussion closely enough.