Chapter 82 An Interview With Francis
Christina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She could feel the growing tension in the air, and as the curtains began to open, the reality of the situation hit her—she couldn’t leave just yet, not with the way things were unfolding. She had to find a way to get Francis to delete the photo, or it would be another issue for her to deal with later, especially when it came to Nathaniel.
In an instant, she formulated a plan. Turning to the production assistant, she forced a smile, though the nervousness was evident in her voice. “I’m not done yet,” she said, pointing at Francis. “I’ll need a moment to finish sewing the button properly.”
The assistant, trying to maintain the flow of the production, hesitated but nodded, giving her some space. Meanwhile, Christina’s eyes locked with Francis, and she could feel his amusement radiating from him like a palpable force. She couldn’t let him get the upper hand any longer.
“You know, Francis,” she began in a soft but pointed tone, “I really don’t mind helping you. But you should know, I’m quite protective of my privacy.”
Francis raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?” He seemed genuinely interested, but Christina could tell he was still teasing her.
“Just that if that photo doesn’t disappear,” she continued, her voice steady, “I might have to take a few of my own… of you.” She flashed him a mischievous smile, one that wasn’t too different from his own. “I think my fans would love to see what their idol looks like without his shirt buttoned, wouldn’t you agree?”
For a brief moment, the confident gleam in Francis’s eyes flickered. He was clearly not expecting that response. His posture relaxed, and he glanced down at his phone, considering the situation carefully.
“Alright, alright,” he said with a chuckle, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “I get it. No need for threats.” He quickly navigated to his photo album and deleted the picture, making sure to show her that it was gone.
Christina, feeling a small sense of victory, nodded once. “Thank you.”
Turning on her heel, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. But just as she was about to leave, Francis’s voice stopped her.
“You know, you’re quite the fiery one,” he said, his voice warm but teasing. “I think I might have underestimated you.”
Christina didn’t turn around to respond. Instead, she walked away with a slight smile on her face, hoping to escape the increasingly awkward tension. She returned to her seat next to Bailey, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“What happened?” Bailey asked, noticing the way Christina seemed to have handled the situation with Francis.
“Nothing,” Christina replied with a smile. “Just making sure my privacy stays intact.”
Bailey’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Did he give you trouble?”
Christina laughed, a little more relaxed now. “You could say that. But I handled it.”
As the interview continued, Christina found herself distracted once again by the thought of Nathaniel. His jealousy, the tension between them, and his possessiveness—it all seemed to weigh on her more than she wanted to admit. But here she was, surrounded by flashing lights, fans cheering for an idol, and the buzz of a celebrity’s world, all while feeling distant from the one person she truly cared about.
Meanwhile, across town, Nathaniel sat at his desk, the picture of concentration. Yet, every time he looked at his phone, the image of Christina, or more precisely the lack of communication with her, gnawed at him. He could feel the distance between them growing, and it frustrated him. He knew he had to do something, but the more he tried, the more elusive she became.
Perhaps, he thought, he was going about this all wrong. Maybe what he needed wasn’t to control, but to understand.