Chapter 11 Beneath The Spotlight

• Sara***
• The break felt like anything but. The bright set lights bore down on me, illuminating every anxious shift of my stance. The hum of the cameras, the muffled conversations of the crew, and the occasional rustling of scripts created a dissonant symphony that only amplified the tension radiating between Sam, Max, and me. I tried to focus on the task at hand—the job I had worked so hard to land. This was my moment, an opportunity to solidify my place in the industry, but the emotional storm brewing between these two men made it almost impossible to breathe, let alone think clearly.
• Sam’s arm remained around my waist, a steady yet unyielding presence that spoke volumes. It was as if he wanted to shield me, not just from Max, but from the world itself. And while part of me found comfort in that possessiveness, another part of me felt suffocated. This wasn’t just about him wanting to protect me; it was about control, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about being at the center of it.