Page 88 of The Producer: Aaron

“Are you happy?” she whispers, looking at me with happiness in her eyes.

“Yes,” I answer without having to think about it because I understand what happiness really is for the first time in my life. Sharing this success with the person I love is what I have always missed. This is what makes me happy, not the signing of a contract or the beginning of the first production of my company. It’s Dakota’s arms around my neck as she looks at me and rejoices with me in our success. A success that took two to achieve.

“I’ve found a new movie for you!” I rush into Aaron’s office with the book I just finished in my hand.

He looks up from his computer and shows off a smile that, like every time for two years now, makes my legs tremble. He leans against his chair and crosses his arms to his chest. His muscles stand out under the white shirt, and I’m happy to admire them since he doesn’t wear a jacket.

Many things have changed sinceSteel and Anderson Entertainmenttook off to become one of the most dynamic and successful realities in the Los Angeles entertainment industry. The first thing is that Aaron no longer dresses in elegant suits but wears his shirt out of his pants, like the fake-young people he calls those his age who don’t dress appropriately for the office.

The second is that he spends his lunch break in the common room furnished with sofas, armchairs, and tables, where most of those who work here stop for a quick lunch break. He never used to do something like that but decided he didn’t want to be labeledThe Butcheragain, so he started trying to have some relationship with his employees. He found that during these moments is where the best ideas to bring to life come out. At least two new productions for two tv shows were born between a salad and a sandwich sitting on the sofas of that room.

The third is that he takes a lot of time for his private life. He learned to delegate some of his work, and on weekends, when neither of us is busy, we like to explore the city or sometimes spend the nights reading books.

“Really?” he says, reaching out a hand and inviting me to sit on his legs.

“Really. She is an independent author who has a lot of success on TikTok with a retelling of Peter Pan.” I enjoy his arms around my waist and his lips on my neck.

He laughs, amused.

“I don’t even want to know what Peter Pan could do to Wendy. The books you read are usually interesting.”

“It may not be suitable for minors, but you would definitely attract the attention of many women,” I admit.

“Is there something in there I don’t know? Something we can try on this desk?” he whispers as he puts his hand under my shirt.

I really wish I could stay here and enjoy his attention, but I don’t want to keep my colleagues waiting.

“We are on a break because they have to dry a part of the set that flooded after the stunts in the pool. If I don’t come back, they’ll kill me,” I tell him getting up from his knees, earning a grunt of protest from him.

“By the way. Linda called me this morning and told me to compliment you on your interpretation of last night’s episode finale. She said she cried all the time.” He smiles at me sweetly, with that proud look that I often see on his face when he talks to me about my work.

“So all the tears I shed and the nightmares of the following days were useful!” I smile as I place the book on the table. “I’ll leave you the novel if you want to read a few pages during your lunch break. I really like the gloomy atmosphere. I think it is suitable for an adult audience that loves the slightly less romantic version of fairy tales.”

“I’ll definitely take a look,” he confirms, pausing to study my face.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Because I don’t know if you’re sexier when you pull out an Oscar-winning performance on set or when you turn into a producer.” His words are sincere as if they were a reason more than a compliment.

“I’m sexy when I use my brain, Aaron. That’s how I won you over.” I smile at him before winking and leaving the room.

I look at him through the glass wall, and I see him smiling with that mixture of sweetness and desire that made me capitulate almost three years ago, and that will never stop making me feel butterflies in my stomach. They told me I was crazy when I decided to live with him at twenty-three, but no one ever understands how difficult it is to find two brains traveling on the same wavelength. When you find someone with whom you just need an exchange of glances to understand his thoughts, you don’t stop in front of the age difference or social status. Because in a world of chaos and distractions, when you find the person who brings the silence around you every time you look into his eyes, you don’t let him escape.

I arrived in Los Angeles alone with a suitcase full of dreams. I never imagined that the best part of making them become true was to find someone to share them with.

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