Chapter 4 Sophia

• Sophia's body was tired and thirsty. She brought a water bottle with her, but she thought it was not enough liquid after running almost three kilometers to get back home. Her assistant, Keilly, was trying to kill her with so much exercise and a restricted diet that left her more stressed than usual.
• If only she had someone to, perhaps, distract herself or have a good night of sex... That would help her endure so many demands and stressful days. But at that moment, Soph didn't want to get involved with anyone; she was focused and had other problems. However, she had to admit that a man had been on her mind for months.
• Christian was indeed an annoying jerk who even stole her thoughts. And it wasn't for no reason. Last night, the bastard sent her a message, asking her out. She should have declined, but that stupid girl still existing within her led her to accept.
• She returned home to take a shower and read something on her phone, which usually meant scrolling through Twitter, before getting ready and trying to find the emotional strength to meet him.
• Sophia enjoyed playing that role. In fact, she felt like never before in front of the cameras. No matter how much Chris irritated her or had hurt her in the past, she liked the damn guy and had to confess that he wasn't so bad. In fact, his performance made her think that he wasn't the same man from years ago. However, when the cameras turned off, she saw his naughty side return, leaving her disappointed.
• Soph couldn't lie: that man had the power to stir her emotions, provoke her body, and make her desire him even in her dreams, which had become routine.
• She entered the shower thinking about him, his masculine body, his scent, and that smile. She enjoyed kissing him during the filming. Her goal, when she became an actress, wasn't to take advantage of the moment and kiss random people, but Christian was her teenage crush, the heartthrob of the moment, an irresistible man who did a little bit of everything to take her to bed.
• If Soph wasn't grounded, she would have surrendered and finally taken the opportunity to have sex with her idol. Most likely, she would be labeled as a slut.
• Thank God I'm not like that.
• She tried to get him out of her head, at least for the moment. When she sat at the table for breakfast, she saw many good things on it, but she could only eat a little at that time of day. Fruits were allowed, natural yogurt, and juice, but she preferred a much more calorie-filled meal: a warm coffee, a bread, a sandwich... It had been a long time since she had eaten something that she truly enjoyed.
• Hollywood was cruel most of the time, and her personal assistant, under the agent's command, made Soph suffer with restrictions and exercises. If she didn't stay in line and gained a few pounds, she would be out of advertisements, fashion shows, and even potentially lose out on roles. It was frustrating. Despite the good parts of being a successful actress, life behind the cameras was almost like torture.
• She thought that with Chris, things were probably the same. She imagined what it must be like for someone who had been in the industry for years, starting as a child. Perhaps that's why he was the way he was: so egocentric and arrogant.
• Many people in Hollywood had some kind of issue, whether it be personal or professional. They turned to alcohol, drugs, and sex. And it was this side that Christian chose to follow.
• ***
• Unwilling to admit it, Sophia was eager for that encounter. It had been days since she had seen him in person. She had grown accustomed to meeting him on the film set or at some event related to the movie.
• That week, there would be a photo shoot in which they would both return to their characters. She would play her part, but she wouldn't admit that she was excited for that day.
• Upon entering the restaurant, Sophia immediately noticed some women whispering and taking photos as if no one was noticing. It was obvious that Christian Harrison was there, and upon seeing her, he brightened up. He looked handsome, wearing a basic white shirt underneath a blue blazer that complemented his skin tone, along with the pants he wore.
• Even without saying it aloud, Sophia was still somewhat of a fan of the man.
• Why does he have to be so attractive?
• They had been seen together only a few times since they started working together. And most of the time, it happened behind a camera. Nevertheless, rumors of them being together circulated among the crew and beyond. There was even a fandom dedicated to the couple. Sophia found it absurd.
• Harrison would never commit to a relationship; he was a playboy. Women knew that and wouldn't risk trying to be the one to tame him.
• "Sophia," he stood up as she approached the table.
• His confident smile made her roll her eyes. Fortunately, she was wearing sunglasses, which she removed with his assistance as she took her seat.
• This man is being too gentlemanly. What does he want?
• "I must confess, I missed you," his words whispered in her ear made her shiver.
• Her heart fluttered, her hands perspired, and she grew nervous, but she managed to disguise it. He was a whirlpool of lust that she thirsted to drink from, but it was not a good idea.
• Chris was genuinely happy to see her. The woman had an impressive magnetism that always made him wonder, "Where must she be?", "What is she wearing?", "Is her perfume still the same?"
• As much as Chris liked her, he also resented her for being the only one, since he started in this business, who truly caught his attention and made him lose a few minutes of his day imagining her beautiful eyes devouring him and her cunning lips smiling and teasing him with words he knew were false.
• If there was one thing Christian excelled at, it was reading the eyes of a woman who desired him. Sophia was indeed a different kind of woman, one who knew how to dodge and resist, but like the others, she longed to be in the bed where he would take her to paradise.
• In truth, he didn't like to admit it, but he had only ever had erotic dreams about the feisty woman. And in the end, he knew he wouldn't be able to fulfill that desire.
• "I don't know why we're having this meeting or what you want from me," she remained calm and glanced around the restaurant. There weren't many familiar faces.
• Obviously, this would be captured in photographs and posted on some website that would reinforce the rumors of a romance between them.
• "Admit it," she observed him, returning to her seat. Everything he did was elegant. Harrison had the power to make her both hate him and love him. "You missed me."
• "I would say I wish all of this would end soon," he chuckled, locking eyes with her. She lied shamelessly. The two of them exchanged a long, silent gaze until Sophia finally spoke. "What do you want from me?"
• "Everything you can give me," he replied, sarcastic with a hint of truth.
• He would say that it was all her fault. If she stopped being so difficult and slept with him at least once, Chris swore he would never lose sleep again thinking about what could have been.
• "But I'll try to be objective and sincere."
• "Two things you're not," she remarked, narrowing her eyes and offering a slight smile.
• "You know... I enjoy being with you," he said, reaching for his drink, which he had ordered shortly before she entered the restaurant, and took a sip. "You're the only woman in the world who truly interests me, the only one who has my undivided attention, and the only one who has kept me chaste for over six months."
• "Don't exaggerate," she said, surprised and thinking that obviously he must have been with other people during that time. "We're not in front of the cameras, Chris. You can be honest."
• "Believe me, I'm dying to fuck someone, and that someone is you. No other woman entices me enough to simply forget about you," he confessed. Worse still, he was being sincere, as she could see the frustration in his eyes caused by the lack of sexual intimacy. She laughed and held back a burst of laughter in front of the entire restaurant. "Is it a joke to you?"
• "Yes," she confirmed, still laughing at him. "You're admitting that you don't sleep with other women because you think of me. Isn't that a joke?"
• "No, it's tragic. So stop laughing," he snapped, irritated. He thought his pride had already been wounded enough to endure this mockery. "To cut to the chase: I'm backed into a corner."
• "And when aren't you?" she beckoned the waiter with a wave of her hand, and Chris fell silent. This conversation couldn't escape the intimacy between the two of them. "Water, please," she said to the waiter, who promptly went to fetch her order. "So, you want to talk about your problems. Do you think we're friends?"
• "We're much more than friends, I would say."
• He found it comfortable to talk to her. He believed he could say anything to Soph, and she would laugh and give him advice that he probably wouldn't follow. And there was the bonus of her mockery, which he hated, yet loved hearing the words come out of her mouth. He even thought he might be a bit bipolar because of this contradiction.
• "But you insist on leaving me frustrated."
• "Stop putting those sinful thoughts in my head," she blushed, embarrassed by actually imagining herself taking hold of them and squeezing.
• "Sophia," he called her attention, whispering. "I want to have a real conversation here." The brunette stared at him, finding it strange, and then she let him continue without any further mockery. "My bad behavior is affecting my work."
• "You're only realizing this now?" she couldn't help herself. "You've been in Hollywood for 30 years, and now you're just realizing it?"
• "You have no idea what it was like to start this shit so early," he snapped. He realized his tone was exaggerated because he hated being reminded of everything he had been through.
• The waiter brought the water that his companion had ordered, and once again, he fell silent, further clouding the woman's mind. When they were alone again, he continued.
• "I'm still haunted by it all. I have to be the heartthrob, I have to be in shape, and I have to have a happy family so the producers don't bench me."
• "Is that your fear?" she raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow and stared at him. "Man, you've done countless movies, and you have professionalism despite the controversies."
• "I'm tired of being the playboy or the hero in teenage movies."
• "Are you complaining about your roles?"
• "I'm saying that rumors of my behaviors, which have been under control for a good while, are causing a stir in the industry, and some idiots don't want to even go near my name."
• "That's very true," she thought and recalled a recent conversation. "Alright, you have to change. If you're currently avoiding controversies, what's your fear now? What do you want to do to change? And most importantly, what do I have to do with these rumors?"
• That's when he straightened up in his chair, looking at her with a mischievous smile. She quickly realized she was his target.
• "The gossip says we were involved in a romance, and I'm not talking about the film, although it's related."
• "We have nothing," she replied, but inside, she started to imagine various scenarios, words, and conversations that would lead to a pensive end to the day. It was obvious that he had a plan, and that plan would use these absurd and baseless rumors. "What? Are you thinking of confirming it? You know it's not true. The only times we've been close to each other were purely professional."
• That wasn't entirely true. She remembered the times when she was so excited and aroused that she took advantage of her character's privilege to kiss him, as she had wanted to do for a long time. Chris wasn't naïve or innocent. He had done the same, and she knew it and even enjoyed it.
• "Actually, I've always wanted to press you against those set walls and give you a real kiss, not the fakery we do for the cameras. And I've seen you use that excuse to take advantage of me as you pleased."
• "The only pervert here is you," she was good at acting, but with him, things took a different tone. Christian was her weakness. "Anyway, whatever you're thinking, you'd better forget it. I never..."
• "An agreement," he interjected, not waiting for her to finish. Soph froze in time, trying to reflect. "Everyone loves us together. You're a righteous person, captivating, charitable, loved, and with an excellent reputation. And we have chemistry. Honestly, it's no secret to either of us that we want to fuck each other without any excuses."
• "That's a lie," she lied. She wanted it more than she wanted to act. "I won't get involved in this crazy plan. It would ruin our careers. It would put me by your side, but as you just mentioned, you have a terrible reputation."
• "Just until the dust settles. I won't be Christian Harrison, just Chris. I promise you won't regret it."
• "I regret coming here."
• "Don't deny what you feel," he became irritated, but he made sure to be discreet. "You can proclaim all you want that I'm an idiot, a scoundrel, and everything bad, but don't lie about your desire for me. And in the end, it would benefit both of us. We would be like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, but without the scandal of betrayal."
• "Do you really think people would believe we're a couple?" She was nervous. This wasn't expected. Did he choose her for this madness just because of that stupid rumor? Sophia suspected that was the case. "Christian, you're a 41-year-old bachelor who has never committed to anyone, living with a different woman every night, and now you suddenly appear in a relationship?"
• "You're the woman of my life. It won't be difficult to convince them of that. You're intelligent, beautiful, charismatic, unafraid to speak your mind to my face, and you love to make jokes and tease. I'm always happy when you're around. What more do you want me to say?"
• Sophia didn't know if she liked those words or hated them. It meant he was watching her, that he liked her.
• "It's still risky. I won't get involved in this, Christian," she gave her final answer.
• He understood her refusal, although he didn't like it. Sophia had a much stronger head on her shoulders than he did, and he wouldn't insist since she rejected him.
• "Alright, I tried," he said, frustrated, staring at Soph, just as she stared back at him.
• Deep down, she thought about what she said and how good it would be to have him in her hands, but it would still be risky, even if she could take advantage of it.
• What would it be like to be the official girlfriend of Hollywood's biggest womanizer?