From the early hours, the venue was crowded with people. Cameramen jostled for a good seat, and those who gathered outside the long photo line screamed in anticipation of the celebrities who were about to show up.
There have been several occasions when Italian luxury brands have held collections for the new season, but this time was special for a reason. Earlier, the announcement of a new men's collection was highly anticipated, and the list of invited celebrities was huge. Among them, the celebrity who received particular attention was the actor who was known to be the most expensive in recent times, and despite his immense popularity, his private life was little known. Neither the paparazzi who stuck around like leeches and took intimate photos of celebrities, nor the reporters of gossip magazines who persistently pry behind their backs to uncover any secrets, have found out about his private life.
The reason is simple. Because everyone's life is precious. Everyone had the desire to catch a scoop and get hit with money, but if you can't spend that money, it's meaningless. The paparazzi who took nude pictures of 'the actor' were almost dead. Fortunately, his life was saved, but he could not get out of bed for the rest of his life. The actor, through his lawyer, made a generous compensation to his family and promised to pay for the treatment.
But what did that mean? After that incident, the reckless people who risked their lives to take pictures of the actor disappeared. Sometimes there were times when people who didn't know the world well or lost their fear were blinded by money and ventured out. It was a very rare occurrence, but after a few more cases of similar incidents or near misses, now no one even bothered to try. Thanks to this, there was no opportunity to take a picture of him or listen to his story except for this official statue.
"It's amazing. The bodyguards will have a hard time."
When the cameraman, who had settled down and was ready to shoot, muttered, the reporter who was waiting for the interview responded.
"Of course, look at today's list. Everyone must have decided to come, right?"
"When will he come?" someone else asked.
One side asked dryly. "Who?"
"Who are you talking about?"
The sarcastic voice returned.
"Chase Miller."
Just in time, the Sedan stopped, and cheers erupted from the waiting crowd.
***
Josh inadvertently frowned at the sound coming from outside the car, and Henry spat out a curse. Isaac, who was sitting in the driver's seat, opened his mouth.
"There are a lot of them."
"I guess so."
Mark, sitting in the passenger seat, continued. "Our roles are fixed, so don't overdo it and just do what you're assigned to do."
"Yes."
"Of course, I won't do more."
After Josh, Henry added one more word. Everyone was thinking the same thing, but they didn't say it out loud.
With a schedule set during filming, the security team, including Josh's team, made it to the event, leaving a few people on set to protect Chase. Seth was included in the remaining staff. He did not hide his feeling of relief and sent the other members off. Henry, who had been devastated by the fans rushing at Chase, trampled the lot he had drawn and screamed as they tore his hair, but it was already irreparable.
The number of people lined up outside the car window gradually increased. He couldn't even guess how many people gathered at the event.
There was nothing special.
For reasons different from Henry's, Josh was nervous. Of course, no one knew about his relationship with Chase. Pete didn't even know that Chase was his dad. Josh's opinion was that after Chase had finished filming, the announcement should be made at an appropriate time. It took some effort to convince Chase, but he agreed anyway.
The problem was that even Josh had a hard time getting the timing right. While raising Pete, he never thought about marriage. He vaguely left open the possibility that he could do it if he met a good person someday, but he hadn't even imagined a specific plan.
Besides, the opponent was Chase Miller.
First of all, it was a challenge to inform the people around him that he was getting married. Of course, everyone would be surprised and congratulate him, but his partner was the problem. The moment he revealed that it was Chase Miller, the faces of everyone would be shocked. It wouldn't end there. From Pete's father being Chase, Mark might have a heart attack. He wasn't yet at that age, but it was quite predictable that he would be shocked.
Not just his colleagues, but Emma's reaction would be similar. At least Pete's or his mother's reaction might be a little better. His mother may not be aware of how famous Chase Miller is because she had no interest in celebrities, and Pete may be glad since he has a crush on Chase. Chase is the hero who saved him, and even in Josh's eyes, Pete has a crush on Chase. As proof, Pete was staring at Chase's face frantically while clinging to Josh's leg until just before they parted ways.
After all, bloodlines can't be faked.
Feeling strange, Josh turned his thoughts back to reality. After getting to know Pete a bit, he should reveal that Chase is his dad. When would it be a good time to inform his colleagues? First of all, his mother and Emma...
"..."
Can earphones work properly in this state? As Josh put his earphones back on, Mark's voice came in just in time.
[Can you hear me? Take care of yourself, everyone.]
Overshadowed by the shouts, but not so much so that Josh nodded his head. Henry, who had followed and stood beside him, muttered something with a tired face, which everyone who knew him naturally assumed was an abusive word.
As soon as he turned around, the head of the regular security team who checked the surroundings was opening the door of Chase's car.
Ah.
Josh could sense Chase's movements through his sense of smell before his eyes. Even in the midst of so many people, his sweet scent could not be hidden. Immediately it went through the air and numbed Josh. For a moment, Josh felt nothing but the scent of Chase.
He should have taken more medicine, but in hindsight he regretted it, though it was already too late. Josh shook his head vigorously to focus his attention. If he made a mistake in a place where so many people gather, he would be swept away. Then an irreversible situation would happen. Didn't he see the fans flocking to him like zombies?
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...!"
The shouts made everyone dazed for a moment. The experience of being exposed to such an enormous crowd was not common. Not only Josh's team, but also the existing regular team could be seen momentarily hesitating. And finally, Chase appeared in front of everyone.
When was the last time I saw him? Josh thought blankly. If another guy had said that, he would have laughed out of embarrassment. But when it came to his own business, he didn't even raise the corner of his mouth, and Chase had left the black hair he had dyed for his role. During most of the filming, he wore an eyepatch on one eye and colored lenses on the other to hide his purple eyes, but now, except for his hair, everything was still the same. In addition, wearing a suit specially gifted by the designer, he could not take his eyes off him.
Just in time, Chase ran his long fingers through his neatly combed hair and brushed it behind his forehead. At the same time, the cheers multiplied several times, and the bodyguards hurriedly exchanged glances with each other.
Damn, Josh thought annoyed, even in his distraught mind. I want to imprison that child.
Seriously, he wanted to kidnap Chase right away and take him somewhere unknown and lock him up. It seemed like he would feel relieved if he put the shackles around his neck and make him wait all day. Everyone present would feel the same way. To that, Josh added regret.
Why didn't he kidnap that child and hide him in the first place?
He barely looked away and looked elsewhere. It seemed that he would be able to maintain his rationality if he did not see him. It was clear that he would become a criminal if he did that.
Wake up, Joshua Bailey.
In a fit of rage with his irritation, Josh slapped himself hard on the cheek. Isaac, who saw this, opened his eyes wide in surprise, but Josh turned his head away as if he hadn't seen him.
Things were set. Chase would take pictures, answer a few questions from reporters, and then step inside the venue and take a breather. What came out after that would be a problem again, but if it went according to the simulation, it would end somehow. He was prepared for any accident that might happen. He just hoped it didn't happen.
Amidst the shouts, Chase walked along the prepared path. Flashes went off everywhere and reporters pressed the shutters continuously. The assembled spectators screamed and clicked the shutter of their mobile phones, becoming distracted.
Reporters lined up scrambled to try and say a word to Chase. As expected, questions about the movie currently being filmed, questions about what he was wearing today, and other small and obvious questions followed.
What was different from usual was that Chase, who usually gave short answers or showed signs of annoyance, did not do that today. Even so, it wasn't that he became particularly friendly or talkative, and his insincere attitude did not change, but the reporter asked a bold question in a slightly softened atmosphere.
"During the filming, was there something special? For example, did you find someone?"
In fact, most of these questions did not mean much. The truth of the scandal didn't matter too much, and the public preferred gossip to the truth. Most of Chase's scandals were the same, and again, everyone was ready to make up their own words if given a little excuse.
Chase glanced down at the reporter who was waiting for an opportunity with high expectations. He didn't even deny it, and all he did was cast his gaze for a moment.
But the camera didn't miss that moment. The slightly raised corners of his mouth and softly curved eyes changed his mood. He must have remembered something. It was possible to pour out speculative articles with just that, but it did not satisfy the reporter's curiosity. He impatiently opened his mouth to ask another question, but Chase's attention had already shifted elsewhere. The reporter followed and turned his gaze, but there were only screaming people and bodyguards to stop them.
"What's up?" The bewildered reporter asked the other with his eyes.
The reaction that came back was not very different from that of the reporter. Everyone expected that it was just a meaningless look, and soon they would turn their attention and go inside the event, but they were wrong. Chase didn't move and kept looking in the same direction.
He couldn't possibly pay that much attention to the fans.
Just as he was puzzled and about to make his own guess, Chase suddenly moved his body.
"Chase?"
"Mr. Miller!"
"What, why?"
Some screamed in panic here and there, but no one could stop his sudden action. At the same time, the ranks on one side collapsed, and Chase suddenly started running. The shouts that followed multiplied and made the minds of the people gathered in a daze for an instant.
*
"Josh, stop there!" Before Isaac's cry finished, Josh used his body to block people from crossing the safety line.
"Back away, quickly!"
Among the crowd of people reaching out and screaming, someone started taking pictures of Josh's face. Because he was wearing dark sunglasses, which covered half of his face, and because he was often photographed like that while working, Josh concentrated on his work rather than being offended.
Meanwhile, people were freely taking pictures of Josh without restraint. It was difficult to hear properly because the shouting was drowned out by screams from all over the place. Other sounds buried in the screams took a long time to reach Josh's ears as he was moving his body mechanically.
"Who is this? New actor? Model?"
"Chase, Chase Miller! I love you!"
"Is he a bodyguard? Or a performer?"
"Get out of the way, I can't see him! Fuck, ah!"
"Let's take a picture together! Look here!"
"Chase!"
There was no need to respond, so Josh ignored him and just focused on making sure they didn't step out of line.
This situation would have been better if Chase had gotten inside quickly.
However, the time they planned was too long, the reporters' questions were endless and the sound of the shutter taking Chase's pictures continued continuously. There was no need to study the theory of relativity. Every minute and second was just too much.
"Oh, wow!"
While he was struggling to block the crowd of people, he heard an ominous from behind. When he reflexively turned around, he saw Isaac staggering around. The staff helped him, but it was too much. It seemed like the ranks would soon collapse and the nightmare would repeat itself.
What about Chase?
Josh turned his head reflexively and an unbelievable situation came into view. Chase was running towards him.
"I..."
He tried to yell 'Don't come', but before he could, shouts poured into his ears. Then the ranks collapsed, and the crowd poured over Josh.
"Joshua!"
Chase shouted, extending his hand. Josh shouted, urgently pushing people away.
"Go, go! Go in now!"
He shouted repeatedly, but his shouts were drowned out by the shouts of the people and did not even reach his ears. Chase grabbed Josh, overcoming the number of agents and security guards who had multiplied. The shouts became louder and the people's madness became uncontrollable. Soon the event venue turned into chaos. Inside, Chase was brooding and frantically trying to pull Josh away.