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Chapter 22 - CHAPTER 20

BEHIND THE SCENES

Goddessinthelobby–Behindthe Scene

Gemini stood near the set's glass partition, flipping through his script.

Focused.

Calm.

Untouchable.

At least—that's what it looked like.

Across the room,

Massimo was in discussion with the Director, posture sharp, voice low, completely in control again.

Back to being the man everyone respected… except—his gaze kept drifting. Always back to Gemini.

"The Trigger"

"Gemini!"

One of the co-stars jogged over—a young actor playing one of the junior executives.

Bright.

Easy smile.

Too comfortable.

"You killed that last scene," he said, stepping closer.

"Seriously, the chemistry? Insane."

Gemini looked up, offering a polite smile.

"Thanks."

The co-star leaned casually against the glass beside him.

"You free after wrap?

A few of us are heading out—thought you might—"

Gemini let out a soft laugh.

Light.

Unthinking.

"Maybe.

I'll see how tired I am—"

Across the set… silence.

Not actual silence, but the kind that presses, because Massimo had stopped mid-discussion with the Director.

The Director blinked.

"Massimo?"

No response.

His eyes were locked on Gemini, laughing.

Massimo moved. Not fast. Not rushed.

But direct.

Crew members instinctively stepped aside.

The co-star didn't notice, still talking, still smiling.

"And we could—"

He stopped.

Because suddenly, Massimo was there. Standing right behind Gemini.

Too close.

Too still.

Too present.

The air changed.

Gemini felt it before anyone else did.

His smile faded.

Slowly.

"Is he interrupting something?" the co-star whispered, unsure.

Massimo looking at him smiling.

The co-star straightened immediately.

"I—I just—"

"You are," he said softly.

The co-star stepped back quickly.

"I'll—I'll catch you later."

He didn't.

He left.

"Too close,Too public "

Now it was just them.

In the middle of the set.

With everyone pretending not to watch.

Massimo stepped closer.

One step.

Then another.

Until Gemini's back nearly touched the glass.

"Enjoying yourself?" Massimo murmured.

Low.

Private.

But not private enough.

Gemini's breath hitched.

"We were just talking."

"I heard you."

Massimo's hand came up—slowly—adjusting Gemini's collar.

Innocent, except it lingered.

"Sounded like more than that."

"You're doing this here?" Gemini whispered.

Massimo's lips curved faintly.

"Yes."

"You don't get to look like that with someone else," Massimo continued quietly, brushing lightly along Gemini's collarbone.

Barely there, but enough.

Gemini's chest tightened. "That's not what happened."

"No?" Massimo murmured.

Hand sliding to Gemini's waist, firm, possessive, in full view.

"Because from where I was standing," he said, voice lowering, "you looked very comfortable."

Gemini's fingers curled slightly.

"Maybe I'm allowed to be."

Massimo's grip tightened just enough to pull him a fraction closer.

"You are.

Just not with anyone who isn't me."

Silence.

Heavy.

Electric.

Gemini's voice dropped.

"You don't own me."

Massimo's eyes darkened.

"No. But you don't walk away from me either."

Their eyes locked.

Everything else blurred.

For a second—too close, too intense—neither of them moved.

Then—they both stopped.

Both Massimo and Gemini burst out laughing.

The tension broke.

Laughter spilling, soft at first, then full-bodied, irrepressible.

"Crew Chaos"

The co-stars, wide-eyed, stared.

Some whispered to each other.

Others shook their heads, grinning.

"Did you see that?!"

The Director chuckled behind the cameras, shaking his head. "Okay… cut. That was… unplanned."

Assistants scurried to adjust lights and props, trying not to laugh themselves.

One junior co-star whispered to another:

"Are they… always like this?"

"Apparently," the other said, eyes still on Massimo and Gemini, who were still smirking at each other.

The Director, clipboard still in hand, finally walked over, smiling but slightly exasperated.

"You two are impossible.

The tension, the timing… I swear, it's like watching a live wire.

But… it works. God, it works."

Massimo leaned toward Gemini, voice low, teasing:

"See? Even the Director thinks we're… electric."

Gemini laughed again, leaning closer, eyes sparkling.

"And the crew is traumatized."

Everyone else on set couldn't hide their amusement—some were laughing openly, some whispering in disbelief, others still trying to focus on their own marks.

It was chaos.

But the kind that made the scene alive, dangerous, intoxicating.

The magic of Massimo and Gemini's chemistry didn't need scripting—it owned the room.

The penthouse behind the scenes

The penthouse set was dimly lit, intimate—almost dangerous in its quiet.

The cameras rolled, but the focus wasn't on the scene.

It was on them.

Massimo's hand lingered on Gemini's waist, firm, possessive.

Gemini's breath hitched, a shiver running down his spine.

Then came the jealousy.

Gemini had just handed Massimo the prop folder when the co-star, teasingly, leaned a little too close.

The way Massimo's eyes darkened, the way his hand tightened on Gemini's waist—it was no longer acting.

His possessiveness flared openly, and Gemini felt it, heart hammering.

"Don't move," Massimo whispered, low and controlled, close enough that Gemini could feel his warmth against his ear.

The co-star froze, sensing the intensity.

Gemini tried to mask his reaction, but his fingers curled slightly around Massimo's arm, betraying him.

Massimo leaned in, brushing his lips softly against Gemini's temple—possessive, intimate—enough to leave everyone breathless.

"Crew Reactions"

The cameras caught it all.

The crew exchanged stunned looks.

Even the director paused mid-shot, holding the slate unsure of what to say.

Then Massimo laughed, tension breaking.

"Relax," he said to the co-star. "It's just a joke."

The co-star, still slightly flustered, whispered,

"Wow… you two really… feel this, huh?"

The crew erupted in chatter, some laughing, some shaking their heads in disbelief.

The co-star couldn't stop grinning. "I—I just… wow."

Gemini flushed, heart still racing.

Massimo's lips curved into a mischievous smile.

"Always," he murmured, gaze locked on Gemini's, letting the moment linger just long enough to feel real.

Social Media Explosion

Unbeknownst to them, one of the crew had discreetly recorded snippets of the lobby and penthouse scenes—the stolen glances, the tension, Liam's subtle possessiveness, Aria's fleeting blushes.

Within hours, the clip was everywhere.

Fans erupted.

Comments poured in.

Likes soared.

Every account discussing Apex-Global's production exploded with reactions: admiration, awe, and relentless curiosity about Liam and Aria.

Their personal social media accounts skyrocketed.

Followers surged by over 2 million in a single day.

Messages flooded in:

"@ariaobsessed: WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE WAY HE LOOKED AT HIM???"

"@massimofanclub: this is NOT acting. I refuse to believe it."

"They're perfect together,"

"Is this real?"

"I can't—this is everything."

"OMG! Massimo and Gemini are literally giving me life 😍🔥"

"That laugh at the end? I'm dead. Their chemistry is untouchable."

"Who even lets this happen on set? I'm living for it!!"

Some fans speculated about a secret relationship.

Others celebrated their on-set dominance.

Comments poured in from every corner of the globe:

"We stan Massimo and Gemini,"

"The ultimate duo,"

"I need more content now!"

Fan interactions continued non-stop:

Duets and reactions flooded TikTok, with fans lip-syncing lines from the scene or mimicking the possessive gestures.

Polls on Twitter:

"Who's more intimidating on set—Massimo or the co-star?"

The results overwhelmingly favored Massimo, adding to the buzz.

Fan theories on Instagram stories:

"The laughter at the end proves they're really in sync.

It's not acting!"

The viral moment created a feedback loop.

It was chaos.

It was fun.

"10M views in 3 hours."

It was the perfect storm of chemistry, humor, and fame—a BTS moment no one would ever forget.

"The Owner's Proposal"

The CEO of Apex-Global production noticed the engagement and called them into his office.

"Massimo.

Gemini.

That clip… it's insane and incredible, she said, tapping her tablet.

"It's already everywhere."

Her eyes moved between them.

"You two aren't just actors anymore. You're a brand."

The fans are obsessed.

I want you both to open a joint page on social media.

You can record anything—outings, dances, behind-the-scenes moments, even just moments like this."

Gemini's eyes widened.

"A joint page?"

Massimo's lips curved into a small, knowing smile.

"I think it's a good idea," he said, fingers brushing Gemini's hand lightly.

Gemini's chest fluttered.

That one touch, that one look, and the world could watch—but it felt like Massimo was only for him.

"Only us," Massimo murmured.

"Everyone else can watch.

But you… you belong to me."

The owner hesitated,chuckled quietly, still slightly flustered by how intimate their interactions were, as if the sweetness between them had embarrassed her.

"Honestly… seeing you two like this… it's—well, it's sweet.

Too sweet for words.

I didn't expect to see such… connection on set."

"Just try not to break the internet in one day."

Massimo didn't answer.

He just glanced at Gemini—slow, deliberate.

Like the internet was the least dangerous thing they had started.

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