Chapter 18

Mariya was visibly disturbed. She had been told earlier that Christin’s co-worker played a major role in his recovery, but after what she had just witnessed, she remained on guard.

“Relax, Mariya,” Christin approached her. “We were just playing around,” he added, sounding slightly flustered.

He then turned to Austin.
“I texted you before, so why were you so surprised?” he asked, confused.

Austin immediately checked his phone.
“I was so busy—I probably missed it,” he said, standing awkwardly.

Christin knew he had to clear the air.
“Let’s have lunch together,” he said quickly, guiding them toward the dining table. He pulled his chair from the desk and sat beside Mariya.
“I ordered something you’d like, Mariya,” he added, sensing her lingering displeasure toward Austin.

Austin, meanwhile, felt ashamed.

“It was for the movie—to get comfortable with each other”, Christin explained, trying to reassure her.

“So, if there’s a kissing scene, you’ll start kissing around next?” Mariya shot back, glaring.

Austin choked and quickly reached for water. Her gaze was intense.
“Excuse me,” he said hurriedly. “I forgot to remove my makeup. I’ll be back.”
He escaped into the washroom.

“The lines you heard today belong to his character—Yaroslav Balabanov—Ivan’s lover,” Christin explained. “How will we look like a couple if we can’t even hold each other?”
That finally seemed to convince her.

Austin returned and glanced at Mariya—she looked a little more relaxed now. He quietly resumed eating.

“So… it’s just for the sake of acting?” she asked Austin.

Austin glanced at Christin, hesitated, then nodded. His heart clenched.

Mariya finally gathered herself.
“Thank you, Mr. Ivanov, for your help so far. We greatly appreciate it,” she said with an empty smile.

“It’s alright,” Austin replied softly, smiling at Christin. “I’m just helping a friend.”

He likes him, Mariya realized. Years as a lawyer had sharpened her instincts.

She pulled out her business card and handed it to Austin.
“Please reach out if you ever need help,” she said professionally.

This feels familiar, Austin thought.

“Christin,” Mariya said gently, “could you call Andrei for a moment? He wanted to discuss something—I completely forgot to mention it.”

Christin stood up and went to grab his phone.

“Do you like him?” Mariya whispered, her expression unreadable as she looked at Austin.

Austin was startled.

“I don’t know if there’s anything to dislike about him.”

“But… he’s broken,” she added quietly. “From the inside.”

Austin frowned.
“He’s strong,” he replied firmly. “And he’s fixing himself. What you said is cruel—and disrespectful.”

Mariya studied him, then glanced toward Christin, who seemed to be finishing his call. She rephrased her question.

“Do you like him romantically?”

Austin froze. His heart thudded.
Do I?

“Mariya,” Christin interrupted as he returned, “Andrei said he doesn’t remember what he wanted to talk about, but he’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.”

“Oh—you’re staying overnight?” Austin asked.

“Yes, I am,” Mariya replied brightly—her mood completely shifted.

“Andrei booked a room for you down the hall—room 118,” Christin added.

“Alright, then,” Mariya stood up. “I’ll put my luggage away and come back.”
She smiled playfully. “Next time you play around, make sure to warn me in advance. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

As they watched Mariya leave, Christin quickly punched Austin lightly in the ribs.
“How dare you glare at my sister?” he said, a hint of anger in his voice.

“I didn’t know... worst case, it could’ve been a stalker.” Austin tried to justify himself.

Still irritated, Christin walked toward the dining table and began clearing the dishes.

“Andrei has a crush on her,” he murmured.

“What—?” Austin froze.

“And she likes him too,” Christin added casually.

“She does? What’s there to like about him?”

“Rude,” Christin warned.

“If you want to be on good terms with Andrei,” Christin said, his back still turned, “you should get on her good side first.”

Austin sensed there was more behind that. He stepped closer, leaning over Christin’s back, his hands resting on the table.

“Why do you want me to be on good terms with Andrei?” he asked.

“Because I live with Andrei,” Christin replied innocently.
“And once this project is over, you won’t be able to see me if you keep picking fights with him.”

Austin’s heart raced.

Mariya’s question echoed in his mind.
Do I like him?

Before he could settle on an answer, Christin turned around.

They stood too close.

Austin could feel Christin’s breath. His body warmed instantly.
Those blue eyes are at it again… pulling me in.

Christin hesitated.
“Do you not want to meet after this movie?” he asked softly.
“Or would you rather keep your distance once you’re done working with a co-worker?”

He looked earnest.

Austin leaned in. His forehead rested against Christin’s. “I guess I’ll have to put in some effort,” Austin murmured

Their noses brushed.

The sound of a door unlocking snapped them apart.

Christin instinctively pushed Austin away.

Austin stepped back, heart pounding.
Maybe I do…

He grabbed a glass of water.

“Mariya,” Christin called out, his ears burning red,
“how was it? Do you need any help?”

Maybe we took it too far this time, Christin thought.

Mariya noticed their flushed faces.
They don’t waste an opportunity; she was slightly annoyed.

“Alright, you two,” she said, smiling at Christin. “Let me see you act your parts. Let’s see where I can help.”

Both of them got ready and delivered their lines. When they finished, Mariya was furious.

“Not only is Christin lacking emotional depth,” she said sharply, “but Mr. Ivanov—you’re holding your emotions back.”

This is completely different from how they were fooling around, she thought.

She sighed and paused.

Mariya knew she was about to do something unpleasant—but she had promised Christin she would help with his acting career. More than that, she didn’t want anyone questioning his potential.

“Think about how you fool around,” she said sternly.
“Don’t think of each other as Ivan and Yaroslav—but as Christin and Austin.”

She took a deep breath.

“Your emotions are more intense when you’re teasing each other than when you pretend to be lovers,” she scolded.

That unsettled them.

The scene shifted instantly—because now Austin had to confess his love to Christin and plead for another chance.

Austin felt his heart pounding. He looked at Christin—equally flustered.

“What are you waiting for?” Mariya pressed.

Austin approached Christin, suddenly self-conscious.

Christin stood more alert than before.

“Christin,” Austin began, his voice deep and steady.
“I—I have…” His voice caught.
“I have loved you for a long time now.”

Strangely, his heart eased.

He met Christin’s eyes, one hand resting on his waist, the other cupping his face.

“And I will always love you.”

Hearing his own name spoken like that—in that voice—made Christin’s heart spiral. A memory surfaced.

Didn’t she say the same thing…?

His expression darkened.

Austin noticed immediately.

He grabbed Christin’s hand and pressed it against his own face.

“I know you love me too,” he continued softly, grounding him.
He leaned closer.

Austin’s stubble brushed against Christin’s fingers.

This is different, Christin realized.

His eyes filled with tears. “I—I…” he faltered.

“Give me one more chance, Christin,” Austin whispered, “Let’s give us a chance.”

His gaze held longing.

“Okay,” Christin said quietly, on the verge of tears.

“CUT!” Mariya shouted.
“You’re supposed to say ‘NO’, Christin!”

Christin froze.

Reality crashed back in.

His face burned red with embarrassment.

Unfortunately… we were acting, Austin thought—yet he felt a quiet, dangerous satisfaction.

Mariya sighed.

“That was much better,” she said.
“But you forgot your lines, Christin. Just remember this feeling the next time you act.”