The day wound down as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the set.
The crew bustled about, packing up equipment and tidying the scene, their energy a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. Charles clapped his hands together, his voice cutting through the chatter.
"Alright, everyone, thank you for your hard work!" he called out, his tone neutral but sincere. His sharp gaze swept over the group before he turned and began walking toward Liam.
Liam, standing near the edge of the set, raised his brows slightly when Charles approached. The director reached into his pocket, pulling out a neat bundle of cash. Without hesitation, he extended it toward Liam.
"Here you go," Charles said, his expression unreadable. "This is your wage for the hard work you've put in over the past two days."
Liam blinked, his eyes landing on the bundle of cash.
A thousand dollars.
He hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was some kind of test, but Charles's unwavering demeanour reassured him. With a grateful smile, Liam took the money, stuffing it into his pocket. "Thank you, Director," he said earnestly. "It was a pleasure working with you."
Charles gave a curt nod but didn't walk away immediately. Liam took the opportunity to speak again, his tone hopeful. "I hope you can refer me if you have any roles in the future—no matter the position. Even an extra is fine."
Charles regarded him for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly in thought. Then he nodded. "I will," he said simply before turning and walking off to handle other matters.
With Charles gone, Liam realized his time on set was officially over.
A bittersweet feeling settled over him as he glanced around, taking in the faces of the cast and crew he had grown accustomed to in just two short days. Among them, Damien stood near one of the cameras, chatting with a crew member.
'I should say goodbye,' Liam thought.
Straightening his shoulders, he walked over, waiting for a lull in the conversation before clearing his throat lightly.
"Hey, Damien," Liam began, his tone warm but slightly hesitant. "I just wanted to let you know that today's my last day on set. It's been awesome working alongside you."
Damien turned to face him, his easy smile faltering slightly. "You're leaving?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise. "You're not coming back tomorrow?"
Liam shook his head. "No, my part's done."
Damien frowned slightly, scratching his chin. Then, as if a lightbulb had gone off, he grinned. "Alright, then. Let's exchange numbers."
Liam froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly.
'Did I just hear that right?'
Damien Taylor—an actual movie star—was asked to exchange numbers with him, a mere extra.
Damien's expression was genuine, his outstretched hand holding his phone.
"Sure," Liam said, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.
He quickly entered his number into Damien's phone and handed it back to him.
Damien clapped him on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Don't be a stranger, alright? Let's stay in touch. Who knows, maybe we'll end up working together again."
"I'd like that," Liam replied, his smile genuine.
...
Liam walked off the set. Just as he reached the edge of the road.
A pitch-black G-Wagon rolled up in front of him, coming to a stop so abruptly that Liam instinctively took a step back. The car's dark-tinted windows and imposing presence screamed wealth and status, but it wasn't the sort of thing Liam wanted to deal with at the moment.
"Why is that car stopping right in front of me?" he muttered under his breath, glancing around to see if anyone else was nearby. When no one stepped forward, he shrugged it off, assuming it had nothing to do with him.
"I'm clearly trying to leave, that was unnecessary for them to do," he thought, stepping around the G-Wagon and continuing on his way.
"Hey!" a feminine voice called out, clear and direct.
Liam barely registered it, assuming it was meant for someone else. He kept walking, his pace quickening slightly. 'Probably some fan looking for Damien or one of the other leads,' he thought, his focus now on finding the nearest bus stop.
The G-Wagon's engine growled as it moved again, rolling forward to block his path once more. This time, Liam's frustration flared. He stopped, glaring at the car. "What the hell is this, a car chase?" he muttered under his breath.
The passenger-side window rolled down with a smooth hum, revealing none other than Selena Carter, the film's female lead.
Her striking features were as attractive as ever, framed by loose waves of her dark hair. She rested her elbow on the edge of the window, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Liam froze for a moment, his brain scrambling to process the sight before him.
'Selena?' Of all the people he could have imagined in that car, she was at the very bottom of the list.
"Are you always this good at ignoring people?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.