Chapter 226:
Unexpected Inspiration
Chris’s POV
Chris slumped forward a little over his cluttered desk, heaped with manuscript pages, cold cups of coffee, and a laptop half-open. The deadline for Megan’s book drew closer every day, and he was waist-deep in editing and rewriting. He had always found some way to bury himself in work, but now the words just seemed to slip through his fingers. He couldn’t quit thinking about Megan and the intricacies of their arrangement.
He was a bit too fresh in mind from what happened with Megan and Miles at the studio. Chris had tried to stay out of it, but he could not turn a blind eye to the tension that still lingered after their confrontation. The dynamics between Megan and Miles remained strained, and Chris wondered how this would further affect their fake relationship. He wanted to help but didn’t know how.
A knock at the door dragged him out of his reverie.
“Come on in,” Chris called, his voice coming out strained.
The door opened, and Megan came in, looking the slightest bit hesitant. She had a sketchbook tucked under one arm and an almost determined look on her face.
“Hi, Chris,” she said, her voice softer than usual.
“Hi, Megan,” Chris said, pushing the papers about on his desk. “What’s up?”
Finally taking a seat across from him, Megan’s eyes darted from the stacks on his desk to Chris’s tired face. “I was hoping to speak with you about the book. I have been working on some ideas and some sketches and thought maybe you’d want to see them.”
Chris raised an eyebrow at that, his interest piqued. “Sketches for the book?
Nodding, Megan pulled out her pad of sketches. “Yeah, I thought maybe it would add a little touch of personality. I want to engage my readers on a more personal level.”
Chris leaned forward, intrigued. “I’m all ears. Let me see what you got.”.
Megan opened her sketchbook, revealing a number of intricate drawings that encapsulated scenes throughout her life, from raw and emotional to triumphant. It was with these details, emotionalism, and depth that each illustration captured that took Chris’s breath away.
“This is beautiful,” Chris said as he flipped the pages. “You really captured the essence of your experiences.”
Megan’s face relaxed into a smile, her eyes flashing with a hint of relief. “Thanks. I was really hoping to add something a little bit different in this book. But I need your help to weave these into the narrative.”
Chris nodded thoughtfully. “I think it’s a great idea. You can really get a lot with visuals like that. We can integrate them into the chapters to show key moments.”
Megan’s eyes lit up. “Exactly. I’ve just been racking my brain for how to work them in without disrupting the text flow.”
Chris considered this a moment, his mind racing with a host of ideas. “We could use them as chapter breaks or within a special section at the end. Give the readers something to look forward to.”
Megan felt relieved. “Sounds really perfect. I was just worried this might be too much, but you’ve made me look at it in a new light.”
Chris looked at her with a softened gaze. “I’m glad I could help. Sometimes the right inspiration makes all of the difference.”
Megan chuckled. “So speaking of inspiration, I was pondering, how is the writing going, anyways? Are there any deadlines that are making you sweat?
Chris sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “Yeah, it’s been overwhelming. It isn’t easy to balance revisions with my own writing projects.” He grinned across the table at her. “Seeing your sketches has given me a whole new motivation boost, actually.”
Megan raised one eyebrow. “Really? How so?
Chris tipped his chair back, considering. “Your drawings are just so raw and honest and full of emotion. It’s a reminder of why I got into writing in the first place. Sometimes we forget that passion is what drives the work. Your sketches did that for me.”
Megan’s face relaxed in understanding. “I do. Sometimes we need that jolt of inspiration to remind ourselves why we do what we do.”
Chris nodded. “Exactly. And that’s not all of it. It’s more like getting personally involved in the story.”
Megan appeared deep in thought. “You know, I’ve been thinking about our arrangement too. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Chris. I know it hasn’t been easy on your part.
Chris met her gaze, his voice sincere. “I’m glad to be here for you, Megan. It’s been one hell of a ride, but I feel like we’ve both grown from it.”
Megan smiled, and her eyes warmed up just a little. “Yeah. Same here. I’m just so very indebted for your support. It isn’t about the fake relationship anymore. It has become real.”.
There was something in her words that began to reverberate deep within Chris. He had been trying to keep things with her professional, but that line began blurring into ways he could never fathom. He wondered if Megan felt the same way about him.
“Real,” Chris repeated softly. “That is a very powerful word. Sometimes we must learn to let go of our expectations and embrace precisely what is before us.”.
Megan’s eyes locked with his, a mix of curiosity and vulnerability. “What do you mean?”
Chris sucked in a deep breath before continuing. “I only mean that sometimes things we think are unreal or temporary really get to be real. It is all about how we open ourselves up to whatever happens to cross our paths.”
Megan’s eyes skimmed his as she looked for meaning in his words. “Are you saying you feel there could be something real in this arrangement?
Chris’s heart did a somersault. He wasn’t sure he was ready to verbalize what was actually on his mind, but then the honesty within Megan’s gaze proved hard to keep him from speaking.
“Megan, I think-” Chris began, but he was interrupted by the opening of the studio door as Max strode in. His face was irritable.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Max said brusquely. “I have to speak with you, Chris.
Chris turned around to Max with surprise. “Yeah, what is it?”
Max glanced at Megan, then back at Chris. “It’s about the painting. I have something I need your input on.
Megan stood, the tension palpable. “I should get going. Thanks for your help with those sketches, Chris.”
Chris nodded, still reflecting on their conversation. “Anytime, Megan. Let’s catch up soon.”
Max came over to Chris’ desk when she left. “What was that about?
Chris massaged his temples. “Just a concept meeting about working in some illustrations in the book. What’s up?”
Max sat down, his face scrunched in a mixture of concern and confusion. “It’s the painting I did of Megan. There’s something in it that doesn’t feel right. I need your perspective.”
Chris turned to Max, furrowing his brow. “What do you mean?”
Max pulled a small print of the painting from his pocket and passed it over to Chris. “Look at this. There’s something about it that feels wrong. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Chris set the print down onto his lap, taking in the focused intensity of Megan’s eyes, emotion fleshed out within them. “It is powerful, but what’s wrong?
Max sighed. “It’s like the painting is showing a side of Megan she’s not ready to confront. I worry it might hit her harder than we would think.”
Chris’s heart sank at the truth behind Max’s words. “You may well be right. She has been going through a lot lately. Maybe this painting’s a little too close.”
Max nodded; his frustration was obvious. “I think we have to tread very carefully here. The last thing we need to do is drive her further away.”
Chris turned to Max, his expression becoming very serious. “We will find some way to broach it. Megan needs to be helped here, not pressured.”