Chapter 6
Zoya's POV
Everything happened exactly as Sebastian had informed me. Emre sent me my schedule for the next three months, complete with the meet and greet party, press conferences, and the table reading times. Thankfully, this gave me enough time to organize my lectures around it.
Taking a deep breath, I walked hand in hand with Sebastian into the much-anticipated meet and greet party. My nerves were on edge as I prepared myself not only to come face-to-face with Olivia once again but also to be in the same room as some of the most prominent stars and directors in the entertainment industry. Despite feeling like I was still a nobody, I held on to Sebastian's hand tightly for support and reassurance.
"Are you sure I look okay?" I couldn't resist asking Sebastian one last time as we walked into the room.
"For the tenth time, you look absolutely stunning," he reassured me with a gentle pat on my hand.
I chose to wear a backless teal dress that hugged my curves in all the right places, I was still a little hesitant. But Sebastian had insisted the color of the dress perfectly complemented my eyes.
I surveyed the room anxiously, taking note of the familiar faces that surrounded us. Though I recognized most of them, a few sets of curious eyes lingered on Sebastian and me, making me feel self-conscious and unsure of myself. What were they thinking? Did I look out of place? These thoughts raced through my mind as I searched for a sign of reassurance from Sebastian.
As Ezra made his way towards us, I could see the surprise on his face slowly turn into a big smile as he approached us. His eyes darted between me and Sebastian and I could feel a warmth spreading over my cheeks.
"I had no idea you knew my brother, Zoya!" Ezra exclaimed, greeting me warmly with a kiss on the cheek.
"I didn't mention it during my audition," I admitted shyly, feeling a little overwhelmed by the attention I was receiving.
"I think you made the right call," he replied, a warm smile on his face. "It's important for me to see who you are outside of your association with Sebastian. But I'm so glad to know that my initial impression of you wasn't off the mark."
As he gestured towards the crowd, he urged us to get to know the other attendees. "Go mingle a little bit," he said with a pat on Sebastian's shoulder. "We'll make sure to introduce you to everyone in due time."
As I anxiously scanned the room, my heart racing, my gaze landed on the familiar breathtaking woman. She commanded attention in a stunning black strapless dress, the delicate train trailing behind her as though she had stepped out of a fairytale. Her hair draped in perfect waves across her back, heightening her already alluring aura.
I couldn't help but notice the small group of people gathered around her, captivated by her effortless charm. As my gaze wandered, it fell on one man in particular, Elijah Lopez, who stood by her side, a look of pure adoration in his eyes. He was the luckiest man on earth, having managed to capture the heart of the woman that thousands of others could only dream of trying to steal.
"I think you should be careful. People might start to notice you're drooling," I heard Sebastian tease from beside me. I nudged him with my elbow, trying to silence him as he groaned dramatically.
"I can't help it. She looks gorgeous," I whispered, hiding my face in Sebastian's shoulder.
"Well, you better pull it together because the gorgeous woman is making her way over here," Sebastian warned, his voice low. I felt my heart skip a beat at his words.
My head snapped up in her direction, and I couldn't help but stare in awe as she made her way closer to us. Embarrassingly, she caught me ogling her and let out a chuckle, but I didn't care. To me, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, and I stood there frozen, transfixed by her beauty even when she was standing right in front of us. My mind raced as her lips moved, trying to process what she was saying.
"Olivia's talking to you, Zoya!" Sebastian's voice snapped me out of my daze.
"What? Sorry, she is?" I stammered, my eyes darting between Sebastian and Olivia.
"You are?" I asked looking at her.
"Yes, I am," Olivia confirmed, her smile warm and friendly. "I was just saying it's nice to see you again."
"Oh, right. It is.. so nice," I said, feeling my face flush at how stupid I must have looked.
Olivia turned her attention to Sebastian then, and greeted him with a quick kiss on the cheek. "You look handsome, Sebastian," she complimented. "I didn't know you knew Zoya, let alone dating her."
Sebastian and I exchanged a knowing look before putting on perfectly-timed gag voices that caught Olivia off guard.
"Olivia, surely you've noticed that I'm gay? I comment on your shoes every time we meet!" Sebastian exclaimed with a hint of offense.
Olivia looked confused and rubbed the back of her head. "I had no idea," she admitted.
"And this one is even gayer than I am. She likes women," He gestured toward me, and I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks at his revelation. Although I was out and proud, I had been admiring Olivia in a more than friendly way and now she knew it.
To my surprise, Olivia seemed more taken aback by my sexuality than by Sebastian's. She turned to me with a look of confusion and curiosity in her eyes
My heart pounded in my chest as Olivia's gaze fixed on me. Did she have a problem with me being gay? My stomach churned with panic as I awaited her response.
"A lot of men will be heartbroken today, then," she said with a chuckle before glancing at Sebastian. "And a lot of women, of course."
I breathed a deep sigh of relief as her smile reappeared and her body language relaxed.
"I'm here to steal Zoya away from you," she declared, glancing over at Sebastian. "We need to join Ezra for the cast's press announcement on stage," she explained, gesturing animatedly towards the crowd.
I nodded slowly, still feeling a knot of anxiety in my chest. But her easy presence and confident tone made me feel a little calmer.
"Relax, Zoya," Sebastian reassured me with a smile as we made our way towards the stage.
Olivia jumped in, adding, "Come on, I'll be right with you." Her words sent my heart fluttering, but also eased some of my nerves. I followed her lead, casting a nervous smile at Sebastian as we walked.
All eyes were on Olivia. It was hard to believe I was walking beside her. As we approached the stage, she placed a comforting hand on my bare back. Instinctively, I shivered at her touch. I gazed at her, feeling dazed and numb.
She then motioned towards a chair, indicating I should sit down. My knees were weak, and I gladly followed her instructions, collapsing into the seat and taking deep breaths to steady myself.
As she took the seat next to me, I couldn't help but notice her subtle interaction with her husband. She caught his eye and winked at him as he blew her a kiss, and my heart tightened in my chest. I knew that I had no right to feel this way. I was grateful to be in her presence, and I needed to remember my place.
But it was hard to resist her charm, her warmth, her perfection. I knew that I needed to find the strength to keep my emotions in check. This was going to be a challenging situation, and I didn't want to risk anything jeopardizing my opportunity.