Unfiltered Romance

The golden glow of Santorini's morning sun poured through the villa's expansive windows, pooling on the marble floor like molten gold. Vivien sat at the dining table, her laptop open in front of her, a half-empty cup of coffee cooling beside her. The air smelled faintly of citrus and salt, the quiet hum of the sea below blending seamlessly with the gentle rustle of the villa's sheer curtains. It should have been a perfect morning—a serene moment to reflect and recharge.

But instead, Vivien felt trapped. The screen's glare seemed to bore into her, highlighting the dozens of notifications crowding her inbox. Trending hashtags from the latest shoot buzzed across every platform: #VivienAndRen, #UnfilteredRomance, and the ever-persistent #EnemiesToLovers. The photos from last night's candlelit dinner had exploded online. Every outlet, influencer commentary, and fan edit dissected their "chemistry" with an almost obsessive fervor.

Some fans speculated they were secretly dating, piecing together moments from their shoots as if solving a mystery. Others debated whether their connection was real or just the product of brilliant marketing. TikTok was flooded with edits, complete with dramatic soundtracks and captions like:

"From rivals to lovers? The slow burn we never knew we needed."

Vivien sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair and closing her laptop with a sharp snap. The noise echoed faintly in the otherwise quiet villa. She rubbed her temples, willing the tension to dissipate.

She wasn't sure what bothered her more—the growing public obsession with their supposed romance or the fact that, somewhere in the back of her mind, she couldn't fully separate the fiction from reality. The lines were blurring, and with each viral moment, it became harder to remind herself that everything was just for the cameras.

Her eyes drifted to the untouched coffee beside her. Even the comforting ritual of her morning brew felt hollow today. The thought of opening her laptop again made her stomach twist, yet she knew she couldn't avoid it forever.

"Just focus," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the distant crash of the waves. But even as she said it, she knew the day would only get more complicated.

---

The sharp, rhythmic click of heels echoed across the marble floor, slicing through the tranquil silence of the villa. Vivien, who had been staring blankly at her cooling coffee, jolted slightly as the sound drew closer. She looked up, her brow furrowing as Vanessa Monroe appeared in the villa's open-plan living room, exuding an aura of effortless confidence that practically screamed trouble.

Vanessa was dressed impeccably, as always. Her tailored white jumpsuit hugged her figure perfectly, the fabric catching the soft morning light streaming in from the large windows. Oversized sunglasses perched on her perfectly straightened dark hair, adding to her air of untouchable glamour. Even her entrance seemed rehearsed, calculated to make an impression.

"Vivien," Vanessa said smoothly, her voice carrying a tone that was both polite and slightly condescending. She slid her sunglasses into her designer handbag with a practiced motion, her painted red lips curving into a faint, knowing smile. Her gaze swept over Vivien in one quick, appraising glance. "You're more beautiful in person. I can see why Ren enjoys working with you."

Vivien stood slowly, her spine stiffening as she adopted a posture of guarded composure. What is she doing here? she thought, her mind racing. She wasn't sure what was more unsettling: Vanessa's sudden arrival or her unnervingly direct comment.

"Vanessa," Vivien replied coolly, tilting her head slightly as if trying to gauge the other woman's intentions. Her tone remained neutral, but her narrowed eyes betrayed her unease.

Vanessa waved a manicured hand dismissively, her expression remaining perfectly composed. "Oh, no need to look so suspicious," she said lightly, as if she were the picture of innocence. "I'm not here to start trouble. LuxLife invited me for a feature. Didn't Ren mention it?"

Vivien's brow creased slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. Of course Ren hadn't mentioned it.

Before she could respond, the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and as if summoned by her thoughts, Ren Ashford appeared. His shirt was slightly rumpled, his hair tousled just enough to suggest he hadn't quite planned for company. But his grin, casual and self-assured, was already forming on his face as his gaze landed on Vanessa.

"Vanessa," Ren said, his tone laced with equal parts surprise and exasperation. He lingered in the doorway, one hand casually resting on the frame. "What a pleasant… inconvenience."

Vanessa chuckled, her laugh low and deliberate as she moved toward him with the same grace as a model on a runway. She brushed past him, her manicured fingers lightly grazing his arm as if staking some unspoken claim. "Always so charming," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Vivien stood rooted to her spot, arms crossing instinctively over her chest as she watched the exchange unfold. Her sharp gaze followed Vanessa's every move, a quiet tension building in her chest. Something about Vanessa's presence, her poise, and her almost predatory demeanor set Vivien on edge. It wasn't just that Vanessa was Ren's ex—it was the calculated way she seemed to navigate the room, as though she were still in control of some invisible game.

Ren turned back to Vivien, his grin faltering slightly when he caught her expression. He opened his mouth as if to explain, but Vivien's cool tone cut him off before he could speak. "Interesting timing," she said, her words clipped. "I suppose this was just another thing you forgot to mention."

Ren rubbed the back of his neck, shooting Vanessa a brief, almost sheepish look. "It wasn't exactly high on the list of priorities," he said, though his attempt at levity fell flat.

Vanessa's smile widened as she glanced between the two of them, clearly enjoying the tension in the room. "Well," she said brightly, stepping further into the space, "I suppose I'll leave you two to it. I wouldn't want to… interrupt." Her tone carried an unmistakable hint of amusement as she disappeared down the hallway, her heels clicking against the marble once again.

As silence settled over the room, Vivien turned back to Ren, her arms still crossed and her eyes narrowing further. "Care to explain why she's here?"

Ren sighed, running a hand through his already messy hair. "Look, it's just a LuxLife feature. She's not here to cause trouble."

Vivien's eyes flashed with irritation. "She is trouble, Ren. And you know it."

Ren hesitated, clearly debating how much to say. "She's… complicated," he admitted finally, his voice lower. "But she's not a threat to what we're doing."

Vivien didn't respond immediately, her jaw tightening as she mulled over his words. She wasn't sure if she believed him—or if she wanted to.

---

Later that afternoon, Vivien found herself alone on the villa's terrace, the quiet breeze doing little to calm her frayed nerves. She was still replaying the morning's interaction when Vanessa appeared again, her presence as polished as ever.

"Mind if I join you?" Vanessa asked, not waiting for an answer before taking the seat opposite Vivien.

Vivien forced a polite smile, folding her hands in her lap. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Vanessa leaned back, her expression casual but her eyes sharp. "I just thought we should chat. After all, we're both… close to Ren."

Vivien's jaw tightened. "I'm sure whatever you want to say, you can get to the point."

Vanessa's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Ren's great, isn't he? Charismatic, funny, knows how to play a crowd. But you've probably noticed that already."

Vivien remained silent, refusing to rise to the bait.

Vanessa tilted her head, studying her. "The thing about Ren is, he's always been good at making people believe they're special. It's his talent. But it's also his game."

The words hung in the air, heavy and pointed.

"I don't know what you think is happening here," Vivien said evenly, her voice colder than the sea breeze. "But Ren and I are just doing our jobs."

"Of course," Vanessa replied, her tone dripping with feigned understanding. "But just be careful. Ren has a way of blurring lines. I'd hate to see you get hurt."

With that, Vanessa stood, smoothing the fabric of her jumpsuit before walking away.

Vivien stared after her, her mind racing. She hated the seed of doubt Vanessa had planted, but the worst part was that it had already started to take root.

---

That evening, the villa felt heavier than usual. Ren knocked lightly on Vivien's door, leaning casually against the frame when she opened it. "Everything okay?" he asked, his usual grin faltering when he saw her expression.

Vivien crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Why didn't you tell me Vanessa was coming?"

Ren blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I didn't think it mattered. She's here for her own feature, not to interfere with ours."

"She's already interfering," Vivien said sharply. "Do you know what she said to me today?"

Ren frowned, stepping closer. "What did she say?"

Vivien hesitated, the memory of Vanessa's words still stinging. "She warned me not to trust you. Said you're good at making people feel special, but it's all part of your 'game.'"

Ren's expression darkened, his playful demeanor vanishing. "That's ridiculous. You don't actually believe her, do you?"

"I don't know what to believe," Vivien admitted, her voice quieter now. "She seemed pretty convincing."

Ren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Vivien, whatever Vanessa said, it's her way of stirring trouble. She thrives on drama, always has. Don't let her get in your head."

Vivien wanted to believe him, but the doubt lingered, a small but persistent voice in the back of her mind. "I just… need some time," she said, stepping back and closing the door softly.

Ren stood there for a moment, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing in his ears. For the first time in a long while, he felt powerless to fix the situation, and that scared him more than he cared to admit.