A Kiss Long Overdue
When they returned to the studio, the staff were enjoying a short break.
The music had been turned off, cameras rested on their tripods, and several crew members chatted while sipping coffee. The relaxed atmosphere disappeared the moment Julian D’Aurelius and Bianca De Dominicis stepped inside.
"Mr. Julian is back."
"So is President Bianca."
Everyone quickly stood up and returned to their positions.
Director Miss. Svensson hurried over with a script tucked beneath her arm. After greeting Bianca, she looked toward Julian with an awkward smile.
"Mr. Julian, please be a bit more serious when shooting the commercial later."
"Huh? Wasn’t I serious before?" Julian asked, genuinely confused.
Director Miss. Svensson coughed lightly before replying with an embarrassed smile.
"It’s not that you weren’t serious... but your gaze needs attention. Your eyes look like those of a male lead in an adult film. We need a look of deep affection, not a predatory gaze."
For a brief second, silence filled the studio.
Then laughter erupted everywhere.
Several staff members struggled to hold it in, while others openly laughed.
Bianca couldn’t stop herself either.
She laughed so hard that she leaned against Julian’s shoulder, one hand covering her lips while the other rested lightly on his arm.
"Did you hear that?" she teased between laughs. "Everyone thinks you look like a lustful ghost."
Julian looked utterly wronged.
"..."
He shot Bianca a resentful glance.
Who had been teasing him on purpose during rehearsal?
Who kept getting close enough for him to smell her perfume?
Now she was acting innocent.
Seeing his expression only made Bianca laugh harder.
The atmosphere inside the studio instantly became lighter.
After everyone regained their composure, filming resumed.
Since Julian and Bianca already understood each other’s rhythm perfectly, the entire dance sequence flowed effortlessly.
Every step matched.
Every turn felt natural.
It was as though years apart had never existed.
Their eyes met again and again beneath the studio lights.
There was no awkwardness.
Only familiarity.
Only trust.
Soon, they reached the final scene.
The cameras slowly moved closer.
Director Miss. Svensson quietly raised a hand.
"Action."
Julian gently placed one hand around Bianca’s waist.
Unlike before, there wasn’t the slightest trace of mischief in his movements.
His touch was respectful.
Steady.
Warm.
Bianca slowly lifted her gaze.
Their eyes met.
For a fleeting moment, neither of them remembered the cameras surrounding them.
What surfaced instead were countless forgotten memories.
The university campus.
Rainy afternoons.
Shared umbrellas.
Late-night walks.
Dreams they once believed they would chase together forever.
Time had separated them.
Life had changed them.
Yet somehow...
Standing face to face again, those feelings had never truly disappeared.
Bianca’s heartbeat quietly quickened.
Julian looked into her crimson eyes.
This time...
His gaze wasn’t greedy.
It wasn’t playful.
It was gentle.
Director Miss. Svensson smiled behind the monitor.
"That’s it..."
"Keep that expression..."
The music reached its final note.
Bianca slowly stepped closer until only a breath separated them.
For just an instant, she hesitated.
Then...
She rose onto the tips of her feet.
Instead of another playful kiss on the cheek like the ones she’d secretly stolen after their reunion...
Her soft lips gently met Julian’s.
The kiss was light.
Tender.
Filled with years of longing that neither had ever found the courage to put into words.
Julian’s eyes widened slightly.
His body froze.
His heartbeat seemed to stop before racing wildly in his chest.
Instinctively, he closed his eyes and returned the kiss just as gently, afraid that even the slightest excess force would shatter the beautiful moment.
Neither of them moved.
Neither tried to deepen it.
It lasted only a few quiet seconds.
Yet for both of them...
It felt as though the years they had spent apart disappeared completely.
Around them, the studio had become utterly silent.
Even the staff unconsciously held their breath.
No one wanted to ruin the moment.
Director Miss. Svensson watched the monitor with shining eyes before quietly whispering,
"Perfect..."
"Cut."
Only then did Julian and Bianca slowly separate.
Their foreheads almost touched.
Neither spoke.
Bianca’s cheeks carried a faint blush she couldn’t hide.
Julian looked just as stunned.
He hadn’t expected this at all.
Bianca smiled softly before taking half a step back.
Without saying anything, she simply looked at him.
The warmth lingering between them said more than words ever could.
The crew immediately burst into applause.
"Perfect!"
"That was amazing!"
"One take!"
Director Miss. Svensson couldn’t hide her excitement.
"This is exactly what we wanted."
"A genuine feeling."
"Excellent work."
Only then did Julian finally regain his senses.
He scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
The commercial had wrapped up far more smoothly than he expected.
After changing back into his usual clothes, Julian planned to invite Bianca out for dinner.
Unfortunately, she received an urgent notice from the company.
"I’m sorry."
She smiled apologetically.
"I have a meeting that can’t be postponed."
Julian nodded with understanding.
"Work comes first."
"I’ll take a rain check."
Bianca smiled warmly.
"It’s a promise."
After watching her leave, Julian headed toward the parking lot and drove home.
His thoughts gradually shifted away from the commercial.
The Ashbourne family’s matter demanded his full attention.
On the way back, he contacted Amara Ravenswood to confirm the situation.
Everything was exactly as expected.
Zyan Ashbourne had indeed visited the Ravenswood clinic.
And, just as Julian remembered from the Tyrant System’s spoiler, he had returned empty-handed.
That meant the story was unfolding according to the original plot.
Steffan had already begun moving his pieces.
His next target was obvious.
He intended to use Zyan Ashbourne as a puppet.
If nothing changed...
Zyan would eventually poison his own father, Dario Ashbourne, seize control of the Ashbourne family, and later lose his own life in the process.
Julian rested one hand on the steering wheel while quietly organizing every detail inside his mind.
"So that’s your plan..."
A faint smile slowly appeared.
"Then I’ll simply turn your own trap against you."
If everything went perfectly...
He wouldn’t just save the Ashbourne family.
He would eliminate Steffan in one decisive move.
The Tyrant System’s reward alone made the risk worthwhile.
Just as Julian was carefully refining his strategy...
His eyes shifted toward the rearview mirror.
A black Cadillac had been following him for several intersections.
It maintained a careful distance.
Never too close.
Never too far.
Julian’s golden eyes narrowed.
"...Interesting."