Song for this chapter: Taylor Swift - the 1 on the multimedia.

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Nat

The final week of February in London was brisk and overcast, typical for this time of year. I was sitting in the hotel lobby, waiting for another round of press interviews. My head buzzed with everything still to come, and I could already feel the tiredness creeping in after days of the same routine. But this was part of the job, and I loved my job, even if it meant endless press tours and maintaining that public smile.

Linc was across the room, as usual, keeping to himself with his headphones on, his expression distant and cold. He hadn't said much to anyone since we arrived, not that I expected him to. Linc was just... Linc.

The morning was filled with interviews—one reporter after another, all asking the same questions. "What was it like working on False Play?" "How do you balance action and romance in your role?" "Any funny behind-the-scenes moments?"

I could almost recite my answers in my sleep by now. "It was a challenge, but so rewarding... Reina is such a strong character, balancing her intelligence with vulnerability... Garsino and Reina's chemistry is this blend of danger and passion..." The usual soundbites.

When it was Linc's turn, he was cool and distant with the journalists, just like with everyone else. He gave short, sharp answers, which frustrated them, but I could tell it was just his way of managing these things.

After one of our joint interviews, I smiled and leaned in toward him, trying to lighten the mood. "Not a fan of these press tours, huh?"

He shot me a brief, unreadable look. "It's fine. Just part of the job."

I shrugged, "Could be worse. At least we're in London."

Linc didn't respond. He merely looked out at the rain-soaked streets through the windows, deep in thought, before another publicist waved us toward the next room.

In between interviews, I caught up with the other actors in our cast. There was this camaraderie building between us, a kind of shared exhaustion that came with the nonstop schedule. One of my co-stars, Grace, laughed as she slumped into a chair beside me after a particularly intense round of interviews. "Do you think anyone's going to ask about anything other than the stunts?"

"Not a chance," I chuckled, patting her on the back. "But hey, at least they like what we've done."

Our press tour was a whirlwind—today it was London, tomorrow it would be another city, then another. Endless camera flashes, quick-fire interviews, and always being "on." I didn't mind it, but I was already thinking about how nice it would be to get back to New York... to see Juls.

As the day wore on, the weight of everything began to sink in. I knew this was just the start. We had international tours lined up, with trips to Tokyo, Berlin, and Paris. It was exciting, of course, but exhausting at the same time.

The thought nagged at me... when would I get a moment to spend time with Juls? The months ahead looked packed, and I wasn't sure when I'd get the chance to really be with him again.

By the time the press day finally wrapped, the exhaustion felt like a heavy cloak, but the energy of the city kept me going. London, for all its gray skies, was alive. As we walked back to the hotel, I couldn't help but think about how much more of this we had to do.

I glanced over at Linc, walking ahead, still lost in his own world. Maybe it was time to try again, to see if he'd open up a little, but knowing Linc, that was as likely as the sun coming out right now.

It was my last week in London, and the press tour for False Play was in full swing. The city had been a whirlwind of interviews, photo ops, and press conferences. Despite the exhaustion, there was something thrilling about it. I'd spent most of the day being shuffled from one interview to another, answering the same questions about my role in the movie, about Linc, and about how it felt working on such a high-profile project. The spotlight was intense, but I'd learned to handle it.

Linc, on the other hand, was his usual distant self. Even during the press tour, he kept to himself, offering minimal words to reporters, but his brooding charm seemed to work in his favor. He was cold, but that only seemed to intrigue people more.

As we wrapped up another interview, the host smiled, "Nat, Linc, how does it feel to be a part of a movie that's about to become such a global phenomenon?"

I flashed my practiced smile. "It's been an incredible journey, really. Working with such an amazing team and bringing Reina to life has been a dream. I'm just grateful for the opportunity."

Linc gave his usual curt nod, muttering something about appreciating the hard work that went into the film. He kept things short, as always.

Later that day, I decided I needed a break. A real break. Not from the city or the press, but from the entire spectacle. The idea of wandering through the streets of London, disguised under a hat and sunglasses, felt freeing. I wasn't Nat the actress, just Nat the traveler.

The streets were buzzing with energy, and for the first hour, I managed to blend in, taking in the sights, feeling anonymous for once. But my disguise didn't last long. A fan spotted me while I was admiring some street art.

"Are you Nat?" a voice asked, and before I knew it, more people approached.

Panic rose in my chest as the crowd started growing. "Can I get a picture?" "Are you here for False Play?"

I tried to remain calm, smiling, nodding, but I felt the pressure closing in. And then, I realized—I didn't have my phone. No way to call my assistant, no way to get help. Just as I was trying to figure out what to do next, I heard a familiar voice cutting through the crowd.

"Hey, back off," Linc said, stepping in front of me, his serious expression freezing the group. He wasn't one to raise his voice, but something about his presence was enough to get people to stop pushing in. "Give her some space."

The crowd hesitated, and in that brief moment of confusion, Linc grabbed my arm and pulled me through the throng of people. We moved quickly, ducking down side streets until the sounds of the crowd faded behind us.

When we finally stopped, I was out of breath, both from running and from the surprise of Linc's unexpected rescue. He stood there, scanning the area like he was still on guard, his face as expressionless as ever.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, but there was a hint of concern.

I nodded, still catching my breath. "Yeah, thanks... I didn't expect that."

Linc just shrugged, glancing around the quiet street. "Next time, don't forget your phone."

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah, lesson learned."

We stood there for a moment, the silence between us not as awkward as it usually felt. Maybe there was more to him than just the cold exterior after all.

I opened my mouth to thank him, but before I could, he spoke.

"You really need to be more careful," he muttered, not looking at me. "I don't have time to deal with this kind of complication if you get yourself into trouble."

His words hit me like a cold splash of water. It wasn't concern that had driven him to help—it was inconvenience. He couldn't afford to have anything happen to me because it would affect our schedule.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. Of course, Linc would see it that way. "Thanks for the save, I guess," I mumbled, glancing away.

He didn't respond, just nodded curtly and started walking back toward the main road. It was clear that, for him, this was just another task completed. No warmth, no connection. Just business as usual.

As I watched him walk away, I couldn't shake the feeling that, even though Linc had saved me, we were still miles apart. A part of me had thought, after all this time working together, maybe we'd become closer, even just a little. Maybe there was something like a friendship forming. But this moment shattered that illusion. To him, I was just another obligation, and whatever I had imagined, it wasn't real.

At the team dinner later that evening, the room buzzed with conversation and laughter as everyone unwound after a long day of press. I tried to stay engaged, listening to my co-stars talk about their upcoming projects and swapping stories about funny moments on set. But my attention kept drifting to Linc, seated across from me.

He wasn't laughing, wasn't chatting like the rest of us. Instead, his eyes kept darting down to his phone, his face as unreadable as ever. Every few minutes, he'd unlock the screen, glance at it for a moment, and then lock it again, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

I tried to focus on my own plate, telling myself it was none of my business. It was probably something work-related, maybe an important call he was waiting for about our upcoming schedules. But the more I watched, the more I couldn't ignore what I'd seen that night at Juls' restaurant. The way Linc had stared at Sign, the silent intensity in his eyes, and now, this—this restlessness.

Was he waiting for her to call? Did he regret not saying something that night?

I pushed my plate aside, my mind racing. I had promised myself not to get involved. Linc was difficult enough to deal with, and whatever was going on between him and Sign—well, it wasn't my problem. But something about his behavior was nagging at me, and before I could stop myself, I got up from my seat and walked over to him.

Linc looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as I approached. "What?" he said, his tone flat.

I leaned down, keeping my voice low so the others wouldn't overhear. "Look, I know it's not my place, but... if you're trying to get in touch with Sign, I might be able to help."

For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression hard to read. I half-expected him to brush me off, to give me one of his typical cold responses and tell me to mind my own business. But instead, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—surprise, maybe? Or hesitation?

"I saw what happened at the restaurant on Valentine's Day," I continued, my voice softer now. "I don't know all the details, but... if you want to talk to her, I could try to set something up. Only if you're interested, of course."

Linc's jaw tightened, and he shifted in his seat, his gaze dropping back to his phone for a moment. I could see the conflict playing out on his face, even if he was trying to hide it. He wasn't used to people offering him help, especially not with something personal like this. And I wasn't sure if he'd even admit that he needed it.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice low and guarded. "Why would you do that?"

I shrugged, crossing my arms. "I don't know. Maybe because I think you two need to talk. Or maybe because I know what it's like to have unfinished business with someone." I paused, meeting his gaze. "It's up to you."

Linc stared at me for a few seconds longer, his face impassive. Then, without a word, he nodded once—barely noticeable, but it was there.

I straightened up, giving him a small nod in return before heading back to my seat. I wasn't sure if he'd take me up on the offer, but at least I'd put it out there. Whatever happened next was in his hands.

As I sat back down, I couldn't help but feel the tension in the air. Linc was still a mystery to me, but maybe, just maybe, he was ready to start unraveling a piece of it.