Chapter 106: Returning to the residence.

The set finally began to empty, with the crew setting up equipment, adjusting final details and preparing to call it a day. Emily, exhausted, waved goodbye to a few people with a slight wave and a tired smile. She walked over to Roberto, who was standing next to a monitor, watching the day's takes.

"Roberto, can we talk for a minute?" she asked, her voice soft but firm.

Roberto turned around, his eyes still heavy with the intensity of hours of work.

"Sure, Emily. What's up?"

"What are tomorrow's scenes?" he asked, trying to appear professional, despite his evident fatigue.

Roberto sighed, running his hand over his forehead.

"Tomorrow we'll start with the outdoor scenes in the square. The weather should be nice, so we need to make the most of it. Then we'll film the sequence in which Ana and Léo discover that they'll have to work together on the project. It's crucial for building their relationship."

Emily nodded.

"Okay. I just... I think the crew is at their limit. Today was tough. Maybe it's good to take a breather before we start something so important."

Roberto frowned, but then relaxed a little.

"You're right. I'll adjust the schedule to start later. But you know how it is... we need perfection."

Emily gave a half smile.

"We know. We just don't want to collapse before we get there."

As she walked away, Arthur appeared, still with his relaxed energy, although he was also showing signs of fatigue. He gave her a lazy smile and asked:

"Hey, Emily. Want to go to a bar?"

She fixed him with a hard, tired look, crossing her arms.

"Arthur, after today, the last thing I want is to see anyone else from the set."

He raised his hands in surrender, laughing. " Fair enough. But you know that would be fun."

Emily huffed, turned around, and left without another word, leaving Artur behind, still laughing at his own failed attempt at socializing.

As soon as she got into the car, Emily let out a long sigh of relief, leaning her head back against the seat. The ride to the hotel would be short, but even that small moment of silence was welcome. Picking up her phone, she began scrolling through her Instagram feed, trying to distract her mind from the long hours of work.

As she scrolled through the posts, a headline caught her eye: "Aurora Artists Awards: Gala Event Brings Together the Industry's Biggest Stars." The photo featured several well-known celebrities, and the title piqued her curiosity.

Frowning, she thought about the impact such an event could have on her career. Deciding, she clicked on Gabriela's number, her manager, and waited for the call to connect.

"Gabi?" she began, hearing the voice on the other end.

"Emily! What a surprise. I thought you'd be resting by now."

"I should have, but I saw something on social media about the Aurora Artists Awards. Is that true?"

Gabriela let out a short laugh.

"Yes, it's true. I was going to call you tomorrow morning to talk about it, but it seems you beat me to it."

Emily shifted in her seat, curious.

"And we were invited? Not to belittle you, but... I'm just a B-class artist."

Gabriela laughed again, but this time with more empathy.

"Oh, Emily. Don't underestimate your potential. The organizer sent an invitation, yes. But honestly, with filming over there in Italy just starting, I don't see how you could go."

Emily sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation.

"That makes sense. But honestly, today was a nightmare. Roberto yelled at the crew all day. My ears are still ringing."

Gabriela let out a soft sigh on the other end.

"Well, that's normal. Directors like him are always demanding. And you know that, in the end, the result is worth it."

Emily didn't answer right away, letting the silence speak for itself. Gabriela continued.

"Since you're there, take the opportunity to take pictures. Post something on your social networks. Show that you're involved in a big project. It keeps your followers engaged and attracts new opportunities."

Emily mumbled a thoughtful "hmm" before saying goodbye with a brief "bye" and hanging up the call.

As the car approached the hotel, she looked out the window, seeing the lights of the Italian city shining in the night. Despite the exhausting day, her mind was restless, thinking about the event, her career and the increasing demands of her professional life.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Emily took a deep breath.

Emily entered the hotel room and, without even turning on all the lights, let the door close with a soft click behind her. She threw herself on the sofa facing the window, letting out a long, heavy sigh. Her body felt like it was made of lead, every muscle screaming for rest after the intense day of filming and Roberto's constant pressure.

She was almost dozing off when she heard footsteps coming from the bathroom. Matthew appeared in the doorway, drying his wet hair with a towel, wearing a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants. He paused for a moment, watching her with an amused smile on his face.

"Tough day, milady?" he teased, as he approached the kitchen.

Emily mumbled something unintelligible, without moving more than her eyes to follow him. He opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water and filled a glass, returning to the living room with the ease of someone who knew exactly how to lighten the mood.

"Would you like some water?" he asked, holding the glass at her height.

Emily looked up lazily, pouting exaggeratedly.

"I want you to carry me to bed, that's what I want."

Matthew laughed, placing the glass on the table next to him.

"Well, I can't promise to carry you to bed, but I can help in another way." He sat down next to her and, with a gentle movement, pulled her onto his lap.

Emily let herself be embraced, resting her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her lovingly. Matthew began to stroke her hair, his fingers moving slowly, as if he wanted to undo every knot of tension that had accumulated throughout the day.

"You know, you should ask for a raise for putting up with yelling all day," he commented, his voice low and warm, almost joking.

"And you should open a school for 'How to Be the Perfect Husband,'" Emily murmured, her eyes already closed as she snuggled closer.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, the room plunged into a comfortable silence. The soft sound of Matthew's breathing and the warmth of his body made her feel calmer, safer.

Finally, Emily sighed deeply and pulled away a little, her eyes still half closed from sleep. "I'm going to take a shower," she said, slowly getting up.

"Good idea. You'll feel better," he replied, adjusting himself on the couch as he watched her with a tender gaze.

Emily went to her room, opening the closet and looking for something comfortable to wear. She chose a pair of light, fluffy pajamas, something that would make her feel embraced by the comfort of the night. As she sorted through the clothes, she heard Matthew on the other side of the door.

"And don't be long! I'll be requesting your lap later."

She laughed softly, rolling her eyes as she gathered her things. "This man... always finds a way to make me smile," she thought, heading for the bathroom.