77 The Gift of Keys

The camera rolled quietly, barely noticeable as Lex leaned against the edge of his desk, arms crossed as the faint city glow filtered through the window behind him.

Noah's soft voice broke through the quiet. "Alright. Next one, Lex—by the window. Just let the light catch you."

Lex moved to the glass, glancing down at the street below. The brownstone felt different under the camera. Smaller, more intimate—like every corner carried more weight than usual.

"Rolling." Eli's voice drifted from behind the lens.

Lex stood still, eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the city skyline.

Two hours in, and they were moving faster than Lex anticipated.

Benny leaned against the far wall, arms folded with a satisfied smirk. "You're surprisingly good at this. Didn't expect you to take direction so well."

Lex shot him a dry look but didn't break posture. "Don't make me regret agreeing to this."

Benny grinned but stayed quiet.

"Perfect. Hold that." Noah circled around the camera, his gaze fixed on Lex as if he were dissecting each frame in real time.

Eli adjusted the focus, zooming in slightly as sunlight edged along Lex's jawline.

"Got it."

The camera beeped softly as Eli hit pause.

Noah stepped forward, glancing at the monitor. "That's almost everything we need from you, Lex. A couple more filler shots and one dialogue scene with Rose."

Lex exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. The process was quicker than expected. No over-the-top production—just a camera, natural light, and silence that filled the gaps like its own character.

Rose wandered in, brushing her hands on a kitchen towel as she leaned into the doorframe.

"Done already?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Benny shrugged. "Almost. Lex breezed through his shots like he's been doing this for years."

Rose smirked. "Guess you've got hidden talents."

Lex arched a brow. "It's called standing still, Rose. Hardly a talent."

Eli chuckled, adjusting the camera rig. "You'd be surprised how many people mess that up."

Noah scratched something in his notepad, already mapping out the next shot. "One last scene. You and Rose, by the piano."

Rose glanced at Lex. "What's the dialogue?"

Noah flipped to another page. "It's more natural. The script just calls for conversation—about anything."

Lex exchanged a glance with Rose, smirking faintly. "I can handle that."

Rose grinned. "Good. Because if this goes badly, I'll be doing all the talking."

"Let's not kid ourselves, Rose. You were going to do that anyway."

Benny laughed from the corner. "Alright, places. Let's knock this out. I'm hungry."

The golden glow of late afternoon stretched through the brownstone, casting long shadows across the floor. The living room had quieted, save for the faint shuffle of equipment being packed away.

Eli repositioned the camera one last time, framing the shot carefully as Rose sat beside the grand piano, fingers trailing lazily over the keys.

Lex leaned against the opposite side, arms crossed, watching her with a calm that felt a little too easy for someone who'd been under a lens all day.

Noah stood behind Eli, arms folded, not bothering to give directions. This scene wasn't scripted.

"You play?" Lex asked, nodding toward the piano.

Rose shrugged, pressing down a single soft note. "A little. My dad taught me when I was a kid."

Lex watched her for a moment. "Play something."

Rose lifted a brow, tilting her head. "What, now? In the middle of a shoot?"

Lex smirked faintly. "No cameras rolling. Just play."

Rose exhaled softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. Her fingers lingered on the keys for a second longer before pressing into them, weaving together something soft—delicate but unpracticed.

The melody drifted through the room, echoing faintly against the old wooden floors.

Lex didn't say anything, leaning further against the piano as he listened.

When the last note faded, Rose let her hands slip away, glancing toward him with a faint smile.

"I'm a little rusty," she admitted.

Lex shook his head. "It sounded fine."

Rose's gaze narrowed slightly. "Since when did you care about piano music?"

Lex chuckled softly. He didn't.

Not until now.

Lex stepped around the side of the piano, letting his hand brush lightly over the polished cover.

"This was a gift," Lex said, almost absently. "From Cross. After the penthouse sale finally closed."

Rose arched a brow. "Wait—Cross gave you a grand piano?"

Lex smirked faintly. "He called it an apology for how long the deal took."

Rose's eyes flicked across the piano with new interest, her hand grazing over the edge. "I thought Cross only dealt in overpriced art."

Lex knelt slightly, lifting the lid just enough to brush his hand along the underside of the piano cover.

"Look under here," Lex said, nodding toward the hidden space.

Rose leaned in, eyes narrowing as she traced the faint signature carved just beneath the surface. Delicate, but unmistakable.

Her breath hitched slightly. "This is…"

Lex smiled. "Signed by Kento Ishida."

Rose stared at him, blinking. "The Kento Ishida? The composer?"

Lex nodded. "Cross outdid himself. Apparently, Ishida played this piano for part of a private charity concert in the 90s. It got auctioned off quietly."

Rose straightened, shaking her head slightly. "Lex, this thing is worth a fortune."

Lex shrugged, pushing the lid back down gently. "Maybe. But I'm not the one who's going to keep it."

Rose frowned, her hand still resting lightly on the piano. "What do you mean?"

Lex met her gaze, calm but steady.

"It's yours."

Rose's eyes widened. "Lex, no. I can't—"

"Yes, you can." Lex's tone softened, but there was no room for argument. "I'm not going to let it sit here collecting dust. You'll play it."

Rose stared at him for a long moment, her lips parting slightly as if searching for words.

But none came.

Instead, she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You're impossible," she muttered.

Lex smiled faintly. "I've heard."

Rose pressed down a key again, the sound brighter now—sharper, like it carried more weight.

Noah, still standing quietly by the camera, exchanged a glance with Eli, who gave him a small nod.

Eli clicked the camera off.

"I think we just found the closing shot," Noah whispered.