AN: Wholesome chapter. No cliffhanger this time. 3.2k words. And as usual, let me know if you find any mistakes. I'll fix them.
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Alex rubbed the back of his neck, looking between Rachel and Angelina like they'd just asked him to walk a tightrope in designer shoes. "I've never done modeling," he said. "I took a few lessons. Just enough to know how to carry myself in interviews and on the red carpet. That's it."
Rachel was already typing something into her tablet, barely glancing up. She was probably putting the people to work to bring the clothes. "Exactly. You know how to hold posture, you're media-trained, and you're literally the face of Titan. This brand is you. You're young, handsome, hot, and you don't even try. That's the entire aesthetic."
Alex frowned slightly. "That's not a professional pitch, Rachel."
She grinned. "I'm not pitching. I'm stating facts."
He looked at Angelina, still clearly on the fence. "This is so last-minute. You alright with it?"
Angelina didn't hesitate. "I'm more than alright."
Her answer came almost instantly, but inside her mind, things were spinning faster than she let show. A couple shoot with Alex Wilson? The golden boy of Hollywood. Every camera adored him, every female fan worshiped his image, and every studio tracked his every move.
Pairing her with him was strategic. Rachel wanted to elevate Angelina's fame even further.
Working alongside him would skyrocket her relevance again. No more fighting to remind people who she was. This photoshoot would plaster their chemistry across billboards in L.A., New York, and other places. Besides, when would she ever get this chance again? To stand beside Alex, touch him, pose with him, look like they belonged together. She wasn't letting that go.
She walked closer, almost challenging. "Besides, I'm not passing up the chance to shoot with the man the industry can't stop talking about."
Alex sighed, finally smiling. "Alright. Let's do it. I'll jump in."
Rachel's voice piped up again. "We'll need an hour to prep the male line, steam the outfits, set the new lights, and update the team. We'll fast-track the couple shoot layout. So, take a break for now. I'll take care of things here."
Angelina tilted her head at Alex. "While they scramble, we could rehearse a bit. Better to figure out how to fake chemistry before the cameras start clicking."
He laughed softly. "Fake chemistry, huh? That'll be a challenge."
"Don't flatter yourself," she said with a smile.
"C'mon, follow me," Alex said, walking out of the set. He made his way to the next room. It was private and better to practice a bit and put up his A game. Angelina followed him.
...
While the team rushed to reset for the couple shoot, Max and Caroline were back under the lights for their final solo rounds.
Max stood on a faux-marble platform, the glam gown wrapped around her like liquid starlight. Her hair was teased into curls that looked like they belonged in a perfume ad.
"Alright, Max," the photographer called, "Give us something bold, confident. Imagine you're walking into a party where everyone wishes they were you."
Max tilted her head. "So… just exist?"
Laughter broke across the set.
The lights flared. She turned. Camera snapped. She shifted her weight, posed with a hand on her hip. One arm up, hair tumbling. She nailed it.
On the next stage, Caroline leaned against a velvet chaise, one leg tucked under her, her silk gown draped like it was made for her. Her expression was soft, mysterious. She gave the lens a look that could stop a clock.
"Hold that," the camera team murmured. Click. Click.
Back on the other side, Scarlett just entered the room. Since she went hard on Max last night, she wanted to see the fruit of her effort and decided to swing by.
She was leaning against a lighting stand, watching the shoot unfold with arms crossed and a small smirk.
"They're killing it," she said quietly.
Rachel replied. "Of course they are. One is natural, and the other is a hard-working girl with talent. And you helped. But the couple shoot is going to blow this whole day wide open."
"Huh?! What couple shoot?" Scarlett asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rachel didn't even pause in her typing. "Alex and Angelina. It's last-minute, but strategic. We're expanding the campaign and reintroducing Angelina as a timeless icon. Who better to pair her with than Alex himself?"
Scarlett stared at her, blinking once. "You're serious?"
Rachel finally looked up. "Completely."
There was a beat of silence. Scarlett's jaw tensed just slightly, barely noticeable, but it was there. Her arms stayed crossed, but her grip tightened.
"So let me get this straight," she said, her voice casual in a way that wasn't casual at all. "You've got me, who's starring in Alien, who just did Lost in Translation, the romantic comedy movie of the decade, but instead of asking me, you went with Angelina? For a couple shoot?"
Rachel closed her tablet slowly. "Scarlett."
"What?" she shrugged. "I just want to do a shoot with Alex."
Rachel kept her voice calm. "Don't get jealous. This isn't about favorites. It's marketing. And timing. Angelina needed a rebrand. This shoot helps her. It helps the brand. And Alex is the centerpiece of the Titan identity. Pairing him with someone on her level is a smart move."
Scarlett smiled. It was an evil smile that said, 'I'm not jealous or angry... Just gonna tie you down and do certain things.'
"No worries. I'm not jealous or anything."
"Oh, I know that smile," Rachel sighed.
"What smile?" Scarlett tried to hide it.
"The smile that says I'm gonna tie you up and do certain things," Rachel replied, shaking her head.
"It's nothing like that," Scarlett denied.
"Not to worry. You and Lilly are up for the next photoshoot for the Titan Perfume brand," Rachel said. "More sensual and intimate." She smirked.
"Really?" Scarlett smiled.
"Yes. After wrapping up the filming of Alien. So, try to get along just like you do with Lilly and the others," Rachel said, patting her back.
...
[Back to the set] [Max- Bridal dress shot]
The lights shifted.
The red-themed room was ready.
Scarlet satin sheets draped over the bed like spilled wine. Real roses lined the edges of the set, scattered across the mattress and the floor. Candles flickered inside glass votives, casting soft shadows on the walls.
Max stepped out of the wardrobe in a crimson bridal gown that hugged her like it had been painted on. The fabric shimmered in the low light, revealing subtle sheer lace along her thighs and sides. Her lips were deep red. Her black eyeliner was sharp enough to slice through a lie. Her hair had been pinned into loose waves that fell perfectly against her shoulders.
And her boobs... Well, they don't need another intro.
The heels she wore clicked across the set floor as she approached the stage.
The photographer, a young woman named Kim, froze when she saw Max. Her camera lowered slowly. Her mouth opened slightly. Then she laughed, just one breathless sound.
"Holy shit."
Max raised an eyebrow. "Is that a good holy shit or a 'my lens is fogging up' holy shit?"
Kim blinked twice, then lifted her camera again. "It's a 'you just made me question everything I thought I knew about my sexuality' kind of holy shit. You look like a goddess who just walked out of a forbidden fantasy novel."
Max smirked, stepping into the set, her hips rolling in slow, deliberate movements. "Let's get this over with before I trip on my own sex appeal."
Rachel, watching from off-set, spoke into the comm. "Everyone quiet. Rolling. Scene fourteen. Max, bedroom sequence."
The camera clicked to life.
Max moved onto the bed, sliding onto the satin, like it was something she did every morning. She leaned back against a mountain of rose-drenched pillows, one leg curled, the other extended in a perfect angle that made her heels the centerpiece of sin.
Kim adjusted her lens, breath hitched. "Perfect. Chin up, just a little. Now tilt your head. Right there. Hold that. Eyes to me."
Max's eyes met the camera. Not playful. Not shy. Pure heat.
Click.
She leaned on one elbow, lips parted slightly, fingers brushing a rose petal from her chest like she didn't even notice it was there.
Click.
She sat up slowly, turned, knees folded beneath her, looking back over her shoulder. The gown clung to her hips, the light outlining every line of her figure.
Click. Click.
The red bridal gown shimmered like a living flame as she shifted. She bit her lip once. That was all it took.
Behind the lens, Kim almost dropped the camera. "Jesus. Okay. We're going viral. We're crashing the servers. I'm pretty sure you just made straight women confused and gay women propose."
Max raised an eyebrow again. "That good, huh?"
Rachel cut in. "It's beyond good. Caroline, you're up for the roses set. Max, stay for some dual poses after this. You're not done yet."
Max smiled to herself and laid back in the bed, stretching like a panther in velvet. "God help whoever sees these in Times Square."
From the other side of the room, Caroline stepped onto the set dressed in a rose-sheer corset gown that caught every hint of the light. Her blond hair was curled, brushed to one side, and red lipstick matched the florals that now covered the bed.
She walked barefoot, graceful, feline, until she reached the edge of the bed and climbed in next to Max without saying a word.
The camera crew adjusted lenses and lighting. Rachel gave a nod.
Max turned her head, her fingers brushing Caroline's thigh as they leaned together. One rose petal fell from Caroline's shoulder onto Max's collarbone.
Click.
They posed like queens of red: untouchable, dangerous, dripping in elegance and power. Eyes locked. Smirks shared. Fingers grazing petals and skin in just the right balance of intimacy and restraint.
Kim whispered, "God. Someone write poetry about this."
Rachel crossed her arms, nodding. "Perfect."
Scarlett watched from behind the monitor, eyebrows slightly raised. "Okay, I admit it. The chaos duo just went full divine."
Kim lowered her camera, cheeks flushed. "I think I just fell in love with both of them."
Caroline leaned toward Max and whispered out of the corner of her mouth. "We're definitely buying that pool-inside-a-pool villa now."
Max grinned. "And printing these photos in black and white… hanging them in the foyer like a warning."
The cameras snapped again.
Red. Roses. Desire. Icons in the making. And Max?
She's going to become the next hot topic in the industry. Men and women are going to fall for her, hard. God bless those oldies with weak hearts.
And Caroline?
The hot, feral blonde with a dominating aura. She'll be popular among a certain group of people.
...
[Meanwhile...] [Private room]
The room was simple. A wooden desk. A large couch. Three chairs and a tall bookshelf stacked with books. Light filtered in through a frosted glass panel on the wall, casting soft, diffuse illumination across the space.
Alex stepped out from behind a divider, adjusting the sleeves of his dark brown suit. His hair was still slightly tousled from the styling team.
Across the room, Angelina stood near the couch, already in position. The deep purple dress wrapped around her like silk smoke, the high slit revealing one flawless leg, the neckline just low enough to show a bit of her upper cleavage.
Alex slowed to a stop when he saw her.
He exhaled. "Jesus."
Angelina gave him a crooked smile. "That good?"
"You look like the woman they warn you about in poems."
She tilted her head. "And you look like the man who writes them. Alone. After."
He laughed softly. "Touché."
Angelina walked over to the couch and sat, crossing one leg over the other. Her gaze trailed down his suit, then back up to his face.
And Alex saw her white panties. Was the intentional, or did she just not notice?
"Shall we? Take the lead. Show me what you got," Alex said with a confident smile. 'Well, confidence is the key. Just be yourself. Let's go.'
[Pose One: The Recline and Reach]
Angelina lay back on the couch, her head tilted against the armrest, one leg draped across the cushions, the other extended slightly over the side. Her arm reached toward Alex, inviting, fingertips just barely curved.
"Sit at the edge," she murmured, "like you're debating whether to lean in and kiss me."
Alex followed her lead, sitting with a slight lean toward her. His eyes were low, thoughtful. One hand on his thigh. The other was loosely draped behind her on the backrest. Tension lingered in the few inches between them.
Angelina whispered, "This is the 'don't do it' moment in every film right before they definitely do it."
Alex chuckled under his breath. "You're good at this."
"I know."
[Pose Two: The Whisper]
They stood now, bodies close but not touching. Angelina leaned in, lips near his ear, as if telling him a secret that might ruin someone's life. One hand rested casually against his chest, fingers just barely curled.
Alex didn't flinch. His jaw was tight, expression serious, one brow raised like he'd just heard something worth remembering. He kept his hands in his pockets, the perfect balance of tension and restraint.
Angelina whispered. "Tell me what you're thinking right now."
Alex murmured back, low and calm, "That if I move an inch, it stops being a shoot."
The silence between them buzzed.
[Pose Three: Close-up shot]
Alex sat on the couch, and Angelina straddled him, her knees folding onto either side of his thighs as she settled onto his lap. Her dress shifted, the slit sliding higher, the fabric pooling around them. Their faces were close, breath warm between them.
'HOLY SHIT! Calm down, Wilson. Don't get hard. Just don't. Control it.' Alex screamed in his mind. 'She is so gorgeous. Those plump lips are just... Shit!'
'God! We are so close. So, handsome... His lips, so close... His eyes, so deep... I could just get lost in them. It's so hard to hold back in this situation,' Angelina thought.
Alex leaned back slightly, resting his hands on her hips, just enough pressure to ground them both. Angelina grabbed his wrist and slowly moved his hand down from her waist to her exposed thigh and gave a little squeeze on his hand.
"Alright," he said, his voice low, calm. "Now, what would a couple with perfect chemistry do?"
Angelina's hands slid up his chest, slow and teasing. She stopped at his shoulders, her fingers resting near his collarbones. Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was studying him.
"They'd forget the cameras," she said.
"No cameras," he replied.
"They'd stop pretending."
A beat passed. His hands shifted... His fingers ran over her exposed thigh. So soft...
"You sure this is just practice?" he asked, his voice even softer now, the kind of quiet that demanded attention.
Angelina leaned in until her forehead nearly touched his. Their lips almost brushed against each other. Both could feel their breath.
"Why? You nervous?" She said softly. Her eyes were down on his lips.
He gave a faint, crooked smile. "No. Just wondering how much pretending we're allowed before it stops being fake."
She didn't answer. Instead, her fingers brushed the back of his neck, slow and feather-light. She leaned in close, her lips near his cheek, barely grazing the edge of his jaw.
Alex's breath hitched for half a second. Then he shifted underneath her. His hand moved, trailing up her spine, settling in the curve between her neck and shoulder. His other hand moved to her thigh, fingers grazing the skin just under the slit of her dress.
"You're not faking it," he said.
Angelina smiled against his cheek. "Neither are you."
Their movements stilled again. The space between them was thick with something unsaid. Not tension. Not even desire.
It was curiosity. Pull. Gravity.
Alex touched her chin, raised her face slightly. Their eyes were locked onto each other. Neither of them could look away. Their thoughts were a jumbled mess.
Then, she did it...
Angelina could hold back anymore. Without thinking, she leaned in, pressing her lips against him.
The kiss was soft. Tentative. His lips were warm, and for a second, time vanished.
Just her mouth on his.
Alex didn't pull away. His hand stayed steady on her thigh, the other gently cupping her waist. His eyes fluttered shut halfway through. Ten seconds. That's all it was. But it felt longer. Like something had cracked open.
Then Angelina pulled back. Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes wide. Reality hit like cold water.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
She stood up so fast she nearly tripped, stumbling back a step. Her heart pounded. "I… I didn't mean to do that. It was supposed to be practice, I wasn't..." she stopped, covering her mouth for a second. "Shit. I'm sorry."
Alex blinked, still seated, lips parted slightly as if the ghost of the kiss lingered there.
"You don't have to..."
"No. I crossed a line. That was completely unprofessional. I didn't mean for that to happen," she said quickly, backing away another step, her arms crossed in front of her like a shield. "I am so sorry."
He stood up. "Angelina."
She didn't look up. "Seriously, I'm sorry. You were just in the moment and I... I ruined it. Please don't cancel the contract."
"Angelina," he said again as he grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "You didn't ruin anything."
She stared at him, trying to read the tone in his voice. It wasn't mocking. It wasn't cold. If anything… it was gentle.
"You sure?" she asked, her voice small.
He gave a soft exhale and nodded. "It didn't feel fake. That's all I know."
Her brows drew together. "It wasn't supposed to happen at all."
"Maybe not. But it did," he said, stepping a little closer. "And I'm not upset."
She hesitated, searching his expression for any trace of discomfort or judgment. There wasn't any. Just calm… and something else. Something unspoken.
She exhaled, finally letting her shoulders drop. "Still. That was reckless."
"Maybe. But truth be told. I was going to kiss you, but you beat me to it. Dang!" Alex said.
Before they could continue their little conversation...
[Knock! Knock!] A knock on the door...
"Alex, Angelina. Time to get ready," Rachel's voice came from outside.
"We should go," Alex said with an awkward smile.
"Yeah, we should," Angelina said as she fixed her dress.
"Is it weird that I want to invite you to pose as a model for my painting?" He asked.
"Painting? You draw?" She asked as she put on her heels.
"Yeah. Pretty good at it, if I say so myself."
"Alright, Mr. Wilson. Just sent me the date, time, and place. I'll be there," She walked past him and toward the door. Then she turned back. "This is the least I can do after..." She didn't finish her words and simply gave him a smile that nearly made him skip a beat or two. Then she quickly walked out.
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AN: 1 more chapter on the Photoshoot, then back to the Alien Shooting. I'll be adding some relationship development on the side.
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