Unfiltered Romance

The familiar skyline of Los Angeles stretched out before Vivien as her car wove through the city streets. The villa in Santorini already felt like a distant memory, replaced by the endless hum of traffic and the haze of skyscrapers glinting in the California sun. But the whirlwind of emotions she'd left behind hadn't faded.

She stared out the window, her mind replaying every interaction with Ren. The good, the bad, the moments that had felt real and the ones she questioned. She hated that he still occupied so much space in her thoughts, even after everything.

By the time she stepped into her apartment, the air of familiarity was both a comfort and a reminder of how much she needed to focus on herself. The sleek, minimalist décor she had chosen years ago reflected her precise, controlled approach to life. Here, she was in charge.

Her assistant, Chloe, had already been by, leaving stacks of documents and campaign proposals on the marble kitchen counter. A neatly written note was perched on top:

"Welcome back! These are priority. Call me if you need anything. – C."

Vivien sighed, running her fingers over the stack before tossing her bag onto the couch. Work was what she needed now—a distraction, a purpose. Something to drown out the memories of Santorini and everything that had unraveled there.

But as she flipped through the first proposal, her phone buzzed, drawing her attention.

Vivien hesitated before picking it up. She knew what it would be—social media hadn't stopped buzzing since the campaign wrapped. Sure enough, her feed was flooded with posts about the final release of LuxLife's campaign.

The official videos and photos had dropped that morning, showcasing Vivien and Ren in their most compelling moments: the candlelit dinner, the sunset shoot by the pool, and a few candid clips that somehow felt more intimate than they should have.

The comments were relentless:

"The chemistry is unreal. Are they dating?"

"Vivien and Ren better not break my heart. #UnfilteredRomance."

"I NEED a Vivien/Ren rom-com ASAP!"

Vivien's chest tightened as she scrolled. Every like, every share, every overanalyzed frame reminded her of the line she'd tried so hard to draw between reality and fiction.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a notification she couldn't ignore.

It was a text from Ren.

"Saw the campaign's out. Looks great. Hope you're doing okay."

She stared at the message, her thumb hovering over the screen. Simple, polite, no hidden agenda. But that didn't stop the flood of emotions it brought.

After a long pause, she locked the phone without replying.

---

Across town, Ren was sprawled on the couch in his loft, his gaze fixed on his own phone. The campaign was a massive hit—critics and fans alike were calling it one of the most impactful collaborations of the year.

But Ren couldn't bring himself to celebrate.

He scrolled through Vivien's latest posts, her polished, composed self shining through in every frame. But he could sense the distance in her eyes, even through the screen.

His loft felt too quiet, too empty. For the first time, the city he loved felt suffocating. He wanted to call her, to explain himself again, but he knew she wasn't ready to hear it.

Instead, he fired off the text, a simple olive branch, and set his phone aside.

---

Determined to push past the noise, Vivien dove headfirst into work. She spent the next few days buried in proposals, meetings, and photoshoots for her personal brand. The familiar rhythm grounded her, offering a sense of control she hadn't felt in weeks.

But no matter how much she tried to focus, Ren's presence lingered. In every compliment about the campaign, every comment about their "chemistry," his name was there, refusing to be forgotten.

Even Chloe noticed.

"You seem… distracted," Chloe said one afternoon as they went over her next schedule.

"I'm fine," Vivien replied curtly, not looking up.

Chloe raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Well, let me know if you need anything. Oh, and LuxLife wants to schedule a follow-up interview about the campaign. They're hoping you and Ren can do it together."

Vivien's pen froze mid-note.

Vivien stared at the planner in front of her, Chloe's words hanging in the air like an unresolved chord.

"Ren and I? A follow-up interview?" she repeated, her voice calm but tightly controlled.

Chloe nodded, oblivious to the turmoil beneath Vivien's poised exterior. "It makes sense. The campaign's success is unprecedented, and LuxLife wants to ride the wave of attention. They're framing it as a 'reflective look' at your collaboration. You'd talk about your creative process, how you overcame challenges… you know, the usual fluff."

Vivien's stomach churned at the thought. The idea of sitting next to Ren again, pretending everything was fine for the sake of PR, felt unbearable. Yet she couldn't deny the logic. LuxLife had invested millions into this campaign, and their expectations for follow-up publicity were clear.

"And they want us both there," she said, her tone clipped.

Chloe shrugged. "Of course. You're the dream team right now. Fans are obsessed, and the media can't get enough of you two. Separating you at this point would be… weird."

The casualness of Chloe's reply only deepened Vivien's unease. She wasn't ready to face Ren, not after everything that had happened.

After Chloe left, Vivien remained at the table, her planner open but untouched. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the sleek white ceiling as her mind raced.

You can't avoid him forever.

The thought was unwelcome but undeniable. She had told herself that leaving Santorini meant leaving Ren behind, yet here he was, a shadow she couldn't seem to escape.

Vivien reached for her coffee, taking a slow sip as she considered her options. Refusing LuxLife's request would damage her professional reputation, something she wasn't willing to risk. But agreeing meant stepping back into the narrative the world had created for her and Ren—a narrative she wasn't sure she could control anymore.

Her phone buzzed beside her, breaking her train of thought. Another notification from social media.

"Vivien and Ren better be at that interview together! #UnfilteredRomance."

She groaned, setting the phone face down. The public obsession with their supposed chemistry was relentless, and part of her resented how much power it seemed to have over her life.

But beneath the frustration was something more complicated—an ache she couldn't quite name. Ren's presence, his words, even the memories of their fights all lingered in her mind, refusing to be ignored.

By the time the sun set, Vivien had made up her mind. She wouldn't run from this. She couldn't. Her brand was built on authenticity, and she refused to let personal feelings interfere with her professional integrity.

She picked up her phone and typed out a quick email to Chloe:

"Schedule the interview. Let LuxLife know I'm in."

Her finger hovered over the send button for a moment before she pressed it. The message sent, and a strange mix of relief and dread washed over her.

This wasn't about Ren, she told herself. It was about proving she could rise above the drama, the doubt, and the emotional chaos that had followed her from Santorini.

Still, as she closed her laptop and prepared for bed, her thoughts drifted to him. To the way he had looked at her during their last goodbye, his vulnerability so unlike the confident Ren she thought she knew.

"Focus," she whispered to herself, pulling the covers over her shoulders. But as her eyes closed, she couldn't help but wonder what Ren would say when they met again.

---

Ren was mid-rep at the gym when his phone buzzed on the bench beside him. He finished his set, set the dumbbells down with a soft thud, and grabbed the phone, swiping the screen without much thought. But the email subject line immediately caught his attention:

"LuxLife Interview Request: Vivien and Ren Panel."

He sat back on the bench, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple as he read through the message. LuxLife wanted a follow-up interview, a joint one, highlighting their collaboration and the campaign's success. The language was polished and professional, but the subtext was clear: LuxLife wanted them to recreate the magic that had captivated the world.

Ren's lips twisted into a wry smile as he set the phone down. Of course they wanted him and Vivien together. The campaign wasn't just about the products; it was about them. The "Unfiltered Romance" narrative had taken on a life of its own, and the media was eating it up.

But it wasn't the interview itself that weighed on him—it was Vivien.

He hadn't spoken to her since Santorini, not beyond that one simple text she hadn't replied to. He had told himself to give her space, that pushing too hard would only make things worse. But the silence between them had been harder to bear than he expected.

Ren stood and grabbed his towel, wiping his face as he made his way toward the water fountain. His mind replayed their last conversation, the look in her eyes when she told him she didn't know if she could trust him. That moment had stuck with him, more than he cared to admit.

For years, Ren had coasted on charm, his ability to win people over with a grin and a well-placed joke. But Vivien was different. She didn't fall for his easy charisma, and when she had let her guard down, it had felt like a victory he hadn't earned.

Now, with the interview looming, he couldn't help but wonder how she would react. Would she be cold, professional, pretending like nothing had happened? Or would the cracks in their connection finally show?

Back at his loft, Ren sat at his kitchen counter, staring at the email as if it might offer him some insight. Finally, he picked up his phone and dialed Kira, the one person he knew would give it to him straight.

"Kira," he said when she answered. "Got a minute?"

"Depends," she replied, her tone teasing. "Is this about work, or are you calling me to complain about Vivien again?"

Ren rolled his eyes. "Both, probably."

Kira chuckled. "Go on, then. What's up?"

He explained the email, his tone casual but betraying the unease he felt. When he finished, Kira let out a thoughtful hum.

"You want my advice?" she asked.

"Always."

"Don't overthink it," she said bluntly. "Vivien's a pro. She's not going to let her feelings get in the way of the interview, and neither should you."

Ren frowned, leaning back in his chair. "It's not that simple, Kira."

"Isn't it?" she countered. "You care about her. Fine. But if you want to fix things, you're going to have to meet her where she is. Be honest, but don't push. Let her see you're serious about more than just this campaign."

Ren was silent for a moment, her words settling in. "You think she'll even listen to me?"

Kira sighed. "That's up to her. But if you go into that interview pretending everything's fine, she'll see right through you. Just… be real, Ren. For once."

After hanging up, Ren stared at his phone, his fingers hovering over Vivien's contact. He wanted to reach out, to test the waters before they were face-to-face again. But he didn't.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair, staring out the window at the city lights. The interview would be his chance, maybe his last, to show Vivien that what they had—whatever it was—wasn't just for the cameras.

He just had to figure out how to say it.