Lines Begin To Blur

The morning after the gala was quiet.

Too quiet.

Olivia Carter sat at her kitchen counter, a half-eaten piece of toast forgotten beside her

laptop. The headlines screamed at her from the screen:

> "Liam Hunt & Mysterious Assistant: Are They Hollywood's Next Power Couple?"

> "Serena Who? Liam's Got a New Flame and She's Gorgeous!"

> "From Personal Assistant to A-List Girlfriend? Olivia Carter's Sudden Rise in the Spotlight."

She slammed the laptop shut and dropped her head into her hands. "This is insane."

Just forty-eight hours ago, she was a struggling writer bouncing between side jobs. Now she was a viral sensation and not for any of the right reasons.

Her phone buzzed. A text from Ethan.

ETHAN: Press is eating this up. Keep playing the part. You and Liam are scheduled to be seen leaving the cafe on 6th at noon. Casual. Hold hands. Smile.

Olivia groaned. She hadn't even had her morning coffee and already her day was being choreographed.

FAKE relationship. Right. Easy.

Except for the fact that Liam Hunt was confusing. Infuriating. And last night, just for a split second, she forgot it was all pretend.

************************

By the time she arrived at the cafe, Liam was already there, seated outside, wearing sunglasses, and tapping on his phone like he didn't have the weight of the world's gossip columns on his shoulders.

He glanced up. "You're late."

Olivia slid into the seat across from him. "Traffic."

He smirked. "Sure it wasn't you hiding in your apartment, overwhelmed by my charm?"

She deadpanned. "You wish."

"Smile," he said without looking. "We're being watched."

She noticed the subtle angle of his head toward the paparazzi half-concealed behind a trash

bin. Classic.

She pasted on a smile. "This is exhausting."

"Welcome to my world."

They ordered coffee and pastries. Played their part. Laughed at invisible jokes. Olivia wasn't

sure what was more exhausting: the lies or the flickers of truth between them.

Because Liam wasn't being entirely fake. She could feel it in the way he leaned in just a little

too close. In the way his fingers brushed against hers like it meant something.

"You know," she said quietly, "if you'd just kept your personal life private, none of this would

be necessary."

He didn't respond at first.

Then, "I've tried. Doesn't work."

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He sighed. For once, the smirk faded. "Privacy's a myth in my world. They make up stories

whether I give them something or not."

Olivia saw it then, a rare glimpse of vulnerability. Not the arrogant actor. Not the public

persona. Just Liam.

She softened. "Still doesn't mean I have to enjoy being dragged into the mess."

He tilted his head. "And yet… here you are."

"Because I was assigned," she said, rolling her eyes. "Not because I wanted to be."

His grin returned. "That's not what your eyes said at the gala."

She flushed. "You are impossible."

He leaned back, smug. "And yet… here you are."

She hated that he was right.

*************************

Later that day, Olivia returned to the studio to prep Liam's schedule for the week. Ethan was already there, juggling two phones and an iPad.

"How'd it go?" he asked, not looking up.

"Like a badly written rom-com," Olivia replied, scanning the production notes on the table.

Ethan finally glanced at her. "It's working. We've got two brand endorsements reaching out because of this new 'image'. Keep it going."

She rolled her eyes but nodded.

Just as she reached for Liam's call sheet, a voice cut through the room.

"Look who's settling in."

Serena.

Draped in confidence and designer silk, she strode in like she owned the place.

Olivia stiffened. "What are you doing here?"

Serena offered a coy smile. "Came to visit old friends. And check on Liam. Of course."

Ethan's jaw ticked, but he said nothing.

Liam entered moments later, stopping in his tracks. "Serena."

She turned, her smile sweet. "Liam. You look well."

He folded his arms. "What do you want?"

She shrugged. "Curiosity. Jealousy. Maybe a little regret. Take your pick."

Olivia narrowed her eyes. "Is this necessary?"

Serena ignored her. "You're really parading your assistant around like some new toy?"

Liam's gaze darkened. "Don't talk about her like that."

Serena laughed, but there was no humor. "Oh, please. Don't tell me this isn't another act. You've done this dance before."

Olivia opened her mouth to respond, but Liam beat her to it.

"This isn't your business anymore."

Serena's face faltered, and for the first time, Olivia saw a crack in her perfect exterior.

"Just be careful, Liam," she said softly. "Not every lie stays a lie forever."

She turned and walked out, leaving behind a silence so thick it made Olivia's chest tight.

Ethan finally spoke. "That woman is a storm."

Liam said nothing.

Neither did Olivia.

******************************

That night, Olivia found herself back at home, staring at the ceiling. Serena's words echoed in her head:

> Not every lie stays a lie forever.

She didn't want to believe that anything about this fake relationship was real.

She didn't want to admit that Liam's touches were starting to feel natural, that his teasing had started to carve its way under her skin.

She didn't want to admit… that she was beginning to like the attention.

The worst part? Liam wasn't making it easier.

A text buzzed in:

LIAM: Tomorrow. 10 AM. I need you to come with me.

OLIVIA: Where?

LIAM: You'll see.

She rolled her eyes but typed back:

OLIVIA: Fine. But I'm not wearing heels.

LIAM: You'd look good in anything. ;)

She stared at the screen.

Then shut off the phone.

Trouble was coming.

And she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop it.