The script had been sitting in your lap for days, the words highlighted and marked with little scribbles in the margins. You’d been nervous enough just landing the part in the new romantic drama everyone was buzzing about. But when the cast list dropped and you saw her name — Eliza Taylor — opposite yours, the nerves turned into a full-blown storm

Now, standing on the soundstage for the first table read, you could feel the energy buzzing all around. The director was giving the opening speech, the producers were shaking hands, but your focus slipped the second Eliza walked in. Dressed casually, blonde hair falling loose over her shoulders, she had that easy smile that seemed to light up every corner of the room

She slid into the chair beside you, flashing you a grin as if the two of you weren’t about to fake fall in love in front of cameras for the next six months

“Hey,” she said softly, her accent warm and disarming “Guess we’re about to spend a lot of time together.”