The LuxLife campaign had taken a life of its own. Every day brought a new shoot, a new trend, and a fresh wave of speculation about Vivien and Ren's "relationship." By the time they arrived at their next location—a quaint winery nestled in Santorini's hills—Vivien felt like she was running on fumes.
Ren, on the other hand, seemed annoyingly unaffected. As the crew bustled around setting up the next scene, he leaned against a wooden barrel, sipping a glass of wine with the ease of someone on vacation.
"This is what work should always look like," he mused, swirling the deep red liquid in his glass.
Vivien shot him a withering look as she adjusted her floral wrap dress. "Some of us actually take work seriously."
Ren smirked. "You mean like last night's 'serious' pool dive? Very professional."
Vivien opened her mouth to retort, but Kira interrupted, clapping her hands. "Alright, team! Today's theme is rustic romance. Picture a couple sharing quiet moments in the vineyard, sipping wine, basking in the Mediterranean sun."
"Rustic romance," Vivien muttered under her breath. "Perfect."
---
The Vineyard Shoot
The setup was simple but stunning. A small wooden table was placed under the shade of a sprawling olive tree, surrounded by rows of grapevines stretching into the horizon. Vivien and Ren were instructed to sit side by side, sharing a glass of wine while pretending to discuss something intimate.
"Lean in closer," Kira called out from behind the camera. "Ren, put your hand on her arm—like you're reassuring her."
Vivien stiffened as Ren's hand rested lightly on her forearm. The warmth of his touch was unexpected, sending a small jolt through her. She kept her expression neutral, focusing on the camera instead of the way his thumb lightly brushed her skin.
"Perfect," Kira said, snapping a series of photos. "Now laugh. Something natural."
Ren didn't miss a beat. He leaned in closer and whispered, "What do you call a fake noodle?"
Vivien blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"An impasta," Ren said, his face completely serious.
Despite herself, a laugh bubbled out of her. It was short and involuntary, but the camera caught it, her head tilted back as a genuine smile crossed her face.
"That's it!" Kira exclaimed. "Beautiful, Vivien. Keep that energy."
Vivien glared at Ren, though her lips still twitched. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet, here we are," he replied, his grin infuriatingly wide.
---
The heat of the Santorini afternoon had finally given way to the soft, golden hues of early evening. The winery terrace was bustling with activity as the crew finished their wrap-up for the day. Vivien Hart stood at the edge of the terrace, clutching a glass of chilled white wine as she watched the shadows of the grapevines lengthen over the hills. The shoot had been long and chaotic, and she felt drained.
Ren Ashford was somewhere nearby, probably charming the crew or sneaking another glass of wine. Vivien didn't care where he was, as long as he wasn't bothering her. She sighed, tipping the glass to her lips.
"Escaping already?"
Speak of the devil.
Ren's voice carried easily over the low hum of conversation. Vivien turned to find him walking toward her, his signature grin firmly in place. He held his own glass of wine, its deep red color catching the light.
"I'm taking a moment," Vivien said, turning back toward the view. "Alone."
Ren sidled up beside her, leaning casually against the railing. "And yet, here I am. Lucky you."
Vivien rolled her eyes. "Can't you ever leave well enough alone?"
"Not when there's good wine and better company," Ren replied, lifting his glass in a mock toast.
---
Behind them, the LuxLife crew was celebrating the success of the day's shoot. Kira's voice rang out over the chatter as she raised a glass to toast the team. "To another perfect day! And to Vivien and Ren, the stars of the campaign!"
The crew cheered, their applause punctuated by laughter. Vivien winced at the attention, but Ren turned and gave them an exaggerated bow, drawing more laughter.
"Unbelievable," Vivien muttered, shaking her head.
Ren turned back to her, his grin never faltering. "What? They love us. You should try basking in it for once."
"Pass," Vivien said flatly, though the corners of her lips twitched.
---
As the crew began packing up, Vivien slipped away, her sandals crunching softly against the gravel path that wound through the vineyard. She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed space. The rows of grapevines offered a sense of peace, the earthy scent of the soil grounding her after the whirlwind day.
The sound of footsteps behind her made her groan inwardly. She didn't need to look to know who it was.
"Running away from me again?" Ren called out, his tone light and teasing.
Vivien stopped and turned to face him, crossing her arms. "What do you want, Ren?"
He caught up to her, his own glass of wine still in hand. "Relax, Hart. I'm just here for the view."
Vivien's eyes narrowed. "If you're here to gloat about today's shoot—"
"I'm not," Ren interrupted, raising his free hand in mock surrender. "Scout's honor."
Vivien sighed, uncrossing her arms. "Fine. Walk if you must, but don't talk."
"Deal," Ren said, falling into step beside her.
---
They walked in silence for a while, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of cicadas filling the air. For once, Ren wasn't his usual chatty self, and Vivien found the quiet surprisingly pleasant.
Eventually, it was Ren who broke the silence. "Do you ever feel like you're just playing a role?"
Vivien glanced at him, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"
"I mean this whole influencer thing," Ren said, gesturing vaguely with his wine glass. "It's all about presenting this perfect version of yourself. But sometimes, I wonder if anyone really knows who I am behind all the posts and hashtags."
Vivien frowned, the unexpected vulnerability in his tone catching her off guard. "You're asking me? I thought you loved the spotlight."
Ren shrugged. "It's fun, sure. But it's also exhausting. Sometimes I feel like I've become more of a brand than a person."
Vivien was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "I know what you mean. People think they know you because of what they see online, but it's all just… curated. Controlled."
Ren looked at her, his expression soft. "You don't strike me as someone who likes being controlled."
Vivien let out a short laugh. "I don't. But I like even less when people think they know me when they don't."
They stopped at a small clearing, the view of the vineyard stretching out before them. Ren leaned against a wooden fence, his eyes thoughtful.
"For what it's worth," he said, "I think there's more to you than people realize. More than even you let on."
Vivien's cheeks warmed at the unexpected compliment. "Thanks," she said quietly.
Ren grinned. "Don't get used to it."
---
As the sun dipped lower, painting the vineyard in hues of amber and violet, they sat on a patch of grass near the fence. Ren poured the last of his wine into Vivien's glass, holding it out to her with an exaggerated flourish.
"Your Majesty," he said, his tone mock-serious.
Vivien rolled her eyes but accepted the glass. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet," Ren said, leaning back on his hands, "here you are, sharing wine with me in the middle of a vineyard."
"Against my better judgment," Vivien replied, though her tone lacked its usual bite.
They lapsed into silence again, the kind that felt less awkward and more comfortable. The stars began to peek through the darkening sky, their faint glow mirrored in the stillness of the vineyard.
"Do you ever think about what's next?" Ren asked suddenly, his voice quiet.
Vivien glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"This campaign," Ren said, gesturing vaguely. "Our lives after it. Do you think any of this will matter in the long run?"
Vivien considered the question. "I think… it matters if we let it matter. If we take something from it."
Ren nodded slowly, his gaze distant. "Maybe you're right."
---
By the time they made their way back to the villa, the crew had mostly cleared out, leaving the terrace quiet and bathed in moonlight. Vivien paused at the entrance, turning to Ren.
"For what it's worth," she said, surprising herself, "you're not as unbearable as I thought."
Ren's grin widened. "Careful, Hart. That almost sounded like a compliment."
"Don't let it go to your head," she replied, stepping inside.
As Vivien's door clicked shut, Ren remained on the terrace, the faint echo of her words still hanging in the air. For a moment, he didn't move, his usual grin replaced by something softer, something more contemplative.
The villa was quiet now, the distant hum of the sea the only sound breaking the stillness. Ren leaned against the railing, his hands gripping the cool stone as he stared out at the vineyard below. The moon cast a silvery glow over the landscape, making the rows of grapevines shimmer like threads of light.
He replayed Vivien's words in his mind: "You're not as unbearable as I thought." It wasn't much, but coming from her, it felt monumental.
Ren let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Not unbearable. I'll take it," he murmured to himself.
He wasn't used to people like Vivien. She didn't laugh at all his jokes or fall for his charm the way most did. She challenged him, kept him on his toes, and somehow managed to see through the mask he'd spent years perfecting. It was equal parts frustrating and fascinating.