56

Tomas.
“Mr. Tomas! Look! Jennifer is with Paul Walker! Wow, this is absolutely amazing!” Carl exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement and a wide smile spreading across his face like a child on Christmas morning. The moment I heard his words, I whipped my head around, my heart racing, only to be met with a sight that sent a wave of icy fury coursing through me. There stood Jennifer, radiant and beaming, her laughter mingling with the bright sounds of the bustling set, and next to her was Paul Walker, the incredibly handsome and outrageously famous actor. His hand rested casually on her shoulder as they exchanged pleasantries, and that sight ignited a storm of jealousy within me.
She was smiling, a genuine, bright smile that felt like a dagger of betrayal plunging into my chest. What in the hell was she doing with *him*? He was so charismatic, so charming, and the way he looked at her made my fists clench. My teeth ground together, a silent, furious whisper escaping my lips as I stalked toward them, each step fueled by a mix of rage and disbelief.
I stopped abruptly, a sharp shout cutting through the air like a knife. “Jennifer!” My eyes widened, my voice sharp with accusation, echoing with the intensity of my emotions. “What are you doing with *him*?!” I shrieked, the question bursting forth as an uncontrolled outburst of jealousy and anger. Jennifer was visibly shocked, her eyes widening as she cleared her throat, quickly pushing Paul’s hand away, her gaze narrowing in response to my fury.
“What are you doing here, Tomas? I think *I’m* the one who should be asking that question!” Jennifer retorted, her voice laced with a defiance that both surprised and angered me even further. I fought to control my temper, taking a deep breath to compose myself, carefully choosing my words before unleashing them upon her.
I blew out a breath, trying to regain my composure amidst the chaos of emotions swirling around me. Just then, the producer approached us, extending a welcoming hand and a smile that felt too forced in the heat of the moment. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Tomas, for this incredible opportunity, for investing in my company and, especially, in this movie,” he spoke effusively, but I barely registered his words, my gaze fixated solely on Jennifer.
“Come with me, Jennifer. I’ll help you with the script. I’m here for you,” Paul Walker winked at her, his hand gently taking hers as if he had the right to claim her. That was the last straw. I couldn’t control myself any longer. In a fit of rage, I grabbed Paul’s hand, yanking it away from Jennifer with a forceful shove that startled everyone around us. “Don’t you ever put your filthy hands on Jennifer, ever!” I snarled, my eyes blazing with fury, feeling the heat of anger radiating from my body.
“Um, Tomas! What are you doing?! We have a shooting scene today, and I’m supposed to run through this with Paul, learn about acting from him!” Jennifer protested, her voice rising in frustration as she tried to regain control of the situation. My glare remained locked on Paul, who stared back at me with a disconcerting confidence, a silent challenge simmering in his eyes. It was clear he saw me as a rival, and that only fueled my anger further.
Carl stepped between us, raising both hands in the air in a desperate attempt to diffuse the escalating tension. “Hey, both of you, please! Mr. Tomas, remember you’re investing in this movie, so as a businessman, you can’t let it fail. Please, don’t start an argument. And Mr. Walker, please, do your job and prepare for the scene. You don’t have to help Jennifer with the script; she wrote it, remember?” Carl addressed us both, but Paul merely offered a mocking, insincere smile before turning back to Jennifer, a sly grin playing on his lips that made my blood boil even more.
The director’s voice cut through the tension like a whip. “Hey, everyone, quiet! We’re about to shoot. Paul, get close to Jennifer, make the scene look natural and smooth. Charm her, look deeply into her eyes. It’s a romance scene…”
I sat beside the director and producer, waiting impatiently for Jennifer to begin. She emerged from behind the set in a simple white dress, but it looked like a wedding gown on her; she looked like a princess stepping into a fairytale. Paul moved toward her, and I felt my heart drop as Jennifer took a hesitant step back, but he pulled her close, his face inches from hers. He gazed at her lips, his fingers gently tracing her cheek, then met her eyes, pulling her head closer to his for what appeared to be a kiss. My blood boiled in my veins. Unable to contain myself any longer, I shouted “Stop!” and rushed toward them, my heart pounding in my chest.
“What are you doing?!” Paul Walker shouted at me, his voice bristling with anger and confusion, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst.
“What is this scene? Are you going to kiss her?” I demanded, my gaze shifting from Paul to Jennifer, searching for answers in her eyes.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas! It’s part of the scene. Please, go sit down and calm down,” Paul retorted, his tone dismissive as if I were nothing more than a nuisance.
“This scene is over! End the shooting day now!” I yelled at the producer, my voice echoing with authority and frustration.
“But Mr. Tomas, we can’t! We must shoot this scene!” the director protested, his face pale with worry.
“How can she do this scene, kiss someone, when she doesn’t even know how to kiss? She needs more practice!” I bellowed, my voice echoing with frustration, my mind racing with thoughts of her innocence.
“Then leave it to me, Mr. Tomas! You don’t have to worry! I’m a good kisser. All I have to do is give her some practice. And she might become a great kisser… and maybe a great girlfriend too,” Paul smirked, a cocky glint in his eyes that made me see red.
“What are you saying?! I warned you an hour ago. Don’t ever touch her! Or I swear I’ll rip your tongue out! Remember my words!” I roared, grabbing Jennifer’s arm and pulling her away from the scene, my heart racing with rage.
“Wait, Tomas! This is enough! Who are you to decide for me?! I signed a contract, and I wrote this script, so let me go!” Jennifer shouted, her voice filled with righteous anger, her eyes flashing with defiance.
“Don’t do this, Jennifer! Don’t make me angry, or I swear I’ll smash Paul’s head!” I threatened, my eyes wide with barely controlled rage, my fists clenched at my sides.
“This isn’t about Paul! It’s about you, Tomas. You always want what you want; you never think about me! You never say anything nice! Don’t you think you should at least congratulate me on getting this great job?” Jennifer’s voice was low, filled with disappointment, and I could see the hurt in her eyes.
“What great job? A kissing job?” I scoffed, my eyes narrowed in disdain, my breath coming in short, angry gasps. “Listen to me, Jennifer. You’ll never be with anyone else, so accept it. You’re mine. Don’t you get it?” I exclaimed, my voice rising in intensity, the desperation leaking through.
“You’re so selfish! No, I’m not yours anymore. And I won’t let you control me. I’ll do what I want; I won’t let you ruin my life. You’ve threatened me before, but this time I’m telling you, don’t interfere in my life. Stay away from me,” Jennifer’s voice was sharp, filled with a newfound resolve. She pushed my hand away and turned to leave, but my heart raced with panic.
I followed her, blocking her path, then grabbing her hand again, holding on tightly. “Then why did you come back into my life?! Listen to me. I won’t let anyone else get close to you. I’ll protect this love, my love. I’ll protect you,” I said, my voice softening slightly, the vulnerability creeping in.
“Then you have to make me forgive you. You have to make me fall in love with you again. You have to make me trust you and respect your decisions,” Jennifer said, her voice serious, before walking away. She stopped, her back to me, and I could feel the tension between us crackling in the air. “I have to admit something, Tomas. Even when you’re being rude and selfish, my heart still beats for you. I do love you. But this time, I’ll do it my way. I need to be sure you really love me and that you won’t leave me easily like before. So I need more time.”
“So you’re telling me you’ll leave my house and start your own life without me until…” I began, but she interrupted, her voice firm.
“I won’t leave your house, not until I figure out if you really love me or someone else. But I have to deal with another man to realize if I love you or not. Oh, and I invited Paul to the nightclub, and I think Selena and Amanda will be there too,” Jennifer said, a mischievous glint in her eyes, her smile both playful and challenging.
“Oh, do we have to invite Jack or something?” I mumbled, feeling a knot of apprehension tighten in my stomach, my mind racing with the implications.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be there too,” Jennifer laughed, leaving me utterly bewildered. She always did this to me, throwing me off balance. It hurt. I felt so weak around her. But at the same time, she was right; I had trusted Amanda more than her. I hadn’t hurt Amanda, but I had hurt Jennifer. I wondered why. Perhaps because I loved her more than any other woman. When you love more, you hurt more. I was lost in thought when Carl approached, his expression serious.
“Mr. Tomas, I have to warn you, I think Paul Walker’s intentions towards Jennifer aren’t so good,” Carl said, his voice low and serious, filled with concern.
“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, my eyes widening, my heart racing as I prepared for his answer.
“I mean, I think he really likes her. After you left with Jennifer, he asked the director to remove the kissing scene, saying Jennifer is so pure, looks like a virgin, and he wants to keep her that way,” Carl informed me, his expression grave.
“Why her? He’s famous, rich, and handsome; he could have anyone!” I spun around, my eyebrows furrowed in disbelief, feeling a surge of protectiveness.
“Well, from my experience, she’s an unexpected character, so I guess he’s attracted to her. But I have to warn you, if you really love her, you have to win her heart this time. Paul Walker isn’t Jack; he can definitely beat you at love; he won’t be an easy rival. That’s his strong point; he really knows how to treat a woman romantically,” Carl explained, his voice laced with concern, making my heart race even faster.
“So if he defeats me, I should kill him?” I murmured, a chilling threat escaping my lips, the darkness of my thoughts swirling as I considered what I was willing to do to protect what I loved.