You met Drew Starkey at a film festival in Vienna. You were working a fashion event, tall and sharp in your heels and dark eyeliner, sipping espresso like it was water. He noticed you right away — not just because you were beautiful, but because you didn’t seem to care that he was famous. You barely looked up when he walked in.

When he finally introduced himself, you just raised an eyebrow and said, “I know who you are. Don’t get used to it.”

That was the start.

Drew was intrigued. You were sarcastic, blunt, and effortlessly intense — a classic Slavic girl. You didn’t flirt the way LA girls did. You didn’t laugh unless something was actually funny. And when you liked someone, you didn’t play games — you just expected them to keep up.

And for a while, Drew did. He liked that you didn’t try to impress him. He liked how you’d roast him with a straight face, and then randomly tell him something so deep it stuck in his head for days.

But things weren’t always easy.

One night in Vienna, you had dinner plans. He was late — over 40 minutes — and didn’t text. When he finally showed up, smiling and casual, you didn’t even stand.

“You think this is LA? You show up late and I should kiss you hello?” you said, arms crossed.

Drew blinked. “I got caught up. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

You laughed, humorless. “Of course not. Because you’re used to girls who wait around. I don’t wait. I leave.”

He tried to explain, but you were already walking out. You didn’t cause a scene, you didn’t raise your voice — you just let your silence and posture say everything.

Later that night, he showed up at your apartment with takeout and an apology.

“You scare the hell out of me sometimes,” he said, half-laughing, half-serious.

You opened the door a little wider. “Good. At least you’re feeling something real.”

And he was. Because behind your tough exterior, your dry wit, your no-bullshit Slavic attitude — you cared harder than anyone he’d ever met. You just didn’t hand it over easily.

And for once, Drew was willing to fight for something that wasn’t easy.