Page 39 of Love in Times of Contempt

Ely: Good luck <3

Breakfast that Sunday morning turned out to be the only time they had to catch up with life in general. As soon as the food was gone, Ana joined Liam for a virtual meeting with a production team in Europe, which expressed interest in discussing a co-production. After, Liam attended a couple of interviews booked with him alone to discuss multiple projects with which Ana wasn't involved. During that time, she worked with her agent on the phone to prepare for the premiere, and had two interview calls from people around the world.

Knowing that it would take them a long time to prepare for the premiere, Ana and Liam went for an early lunch to a restaurant in the hope to interact with people before the main event. By this point, Ana wasn't surprised anymore that people mostly cared about Liam. The reality was that directors didn't get as much love from fans, despite what Raegan wanted her to believe.

Upon returning to the hotel, they both worked with their stylists and makeup artists to prepare for the red carpet and following party. The festival being somewhat more casual than an awards show, they dressed less formally. Liam wore a charcoal suit, purple shirt and no tie. Ana wore a two-layer dress, with a tight white mini dress, covered in white chiffon embroidered with bold, colorful flowers. Her hair was half-up and half down, curled into romantic waves.

Once ready, they stood face to face admiring each other. Liam's eyes roamed over her, and he lifted a finger to touch one of the bright flowers on a balloon sleeve.

"Gorgeous," he said. "I'd kiss you, but I don't want to ruin your makeup."

She stepped closer to him and gave him a peck on the lips. "I'm wearing long-lasting lipstick."

"Then can I give you a proper kiss?"

She shook her head. "I wish, but let's not push our luck."

"Oh, well." He reached for one of her hands and lifted it to his lips, where he placed a tender kiss on the back of it.

"Sorry to interrupt," Mo said. "We should get going."

Liam checked his watch. "Okay. Let's do this."

Ana's stomach buzzed with adrenaline. She squeezed Liam's hand to the point it had to hurt him, but he didn't complain. He guided her to their car with a big grin on his face and joy shining in his green eyes.

In the car, Becca and Mo reviewed the plan with them.

Liam's publicist took the lead. "This is how the premiere is set up. Liam will get out of the car first, helping Ana out. From there you can chat briefly with fans, sign posters, et cetera, but you should move quickly— assistants will help you with that. Mo and I will trail behind from a safe distance, so as to not distract from the both of you. After the fans, you'll walk the photo section, then move to chat with journalists in the final part. Got it?"

Now near the theater, they reviewed details on the drawn map of the space. The car stopped, and Liam prepared to get out first.

"Ready?" he asked.

Ana nodded. An assistant opened Liam's door; anticipation built inside of her to such high levels she got dizzy— and yet, butterflies took flight all over her inner world.

Liam got out of the car and buttoned his jacket. People screamed and called for him, but he turned to her and offered his hand. She grabbed it and let him help her out of the car, grounding herself in his touch.

Ana's eyes swept the gathering and the short walk to the theater's entrance. Noise still surrounded them, familiar like the times she went with him to award shows the previous year but different, too. Not as loud, not as busy… but many people, and all of them for something that was hers. Her grin broke wide, and Ana wondered if it was possible to be so happy that your very sense of reality shifted.

Liam kissed her temple. "Let's do this," he said in her ear.

Screams multiplied with his gesture. She smiled at him, grateful for his presence, for how he'd opened a door for her and encouraged her to cross it.

He nodded, like he knew what she felt, and smiled back. He held her hand and they walked to the group of fans waiting across a barrier.

"Liam! Liam!"

"Can you sign this?"

"Sure," he said, letting go of her hand and, taking a marker from Becca, signed posters and random merchandise from his movies.

Ana stood beside him, waiting.

"Can we take a selfie?" One of the fans asked him.

"Absolutely." He brought Ana in with an arm around her waist.

"And can we get one of the two of us?" The fan asked.