Stars of My Heart

Mary entered a dimly lit, inconspicuous bar, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes permeating the air. Her eyes swept the place quickly, analyzing the men and women there carefully. After a few seconds of hesitation, she approached the counter and whispered something to the waiter.

The waiter, a thin man with sharp eyes, watched Mary for a moment before nodding at her. Without saying anything, he guided her to a side exit, leading her to a house next to the bar.

Stopping in front of the door, he knocked three times slowly. The answer was a muffled sound, almost imperceptible. The waiter pushed the door open, revealing a dark, poorly lit hallway.

"Mr. Nyx is upstairs," the waiter murmured, indicating a narrow staircase.

Mary nodded, swallowing hard, and took a deep breath before starting to climb. Each step seemed to weigh more than the last. When she reached the top, she stopped in front of a worn wooden door, her heart racing. She looked around, checking to see if she was alone, and knocked twice.

The silence that followed was oppressive, until a deep, cold voice rang out from the other side.

"Come in."

Mary slowly pushed the door open, entering a simply decorated but somber room. Sitting in an armchair, Nyx, a tall, muscular man with cold eyes, stared at her like a predator assessing its prey.

"M-Mister Nyx, good evening," Mary began, her voice wavering.

Nyx raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile appearing on her lips.

"Good evening, Mistress Mary. What brings you to my humble home?"

Mary hesitated, looking away nervously.

"I-I'm here for the money."

Nyx crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly.

"Money? Our agreement was for you to pay in three months, and there are still two weeks left. What's wrong?"

Mary laughed nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her purse.

"I... I'm here to ask for an extension, Mr. Nyx."

Nyx stood slowly, walking to the window and looking out.

"An extension? Ms. Mary, are you aware that our agreement was non-negotiable?"

Mary clasped her hands together, the tension evident in her eyes.

"Please, Mr. Nyx. I'm having a hard time at home. My son lost his job, and my family is suffering."

Nyx laughed softly, not taking her eyes off the street.

"And what do these problems have to do with me?"

Mary shivered, hanging her head in defeat.

"Please, Mr. Nyx. Just one more month. I promise I'll pay you in full."

Nyx turned to face her, a dark smile on her lips.

"I might consider it, Mistress Mary. But what do you have to offer in return?"

Mary looked up hesitantly.

"What do you want?"

Nyx pretended to think for a few seconds before answering.

"Joana."

Mary froze, shock evident in her expression.

"What about my daughter?"

Nyx took a step forward, her smile widening.

"I want her for myself. If you agree, I'll give you another month to pay off your debt."

Mary instinctively recoiled, indignation dominating her features.

"Mister Nyx, my daughter has nothing to do with this!"

Nyx raised an eyebrow, amused by Mary's outburst.

"Two months, then."

Mary's hesitation was clear, but the pressure of the circumstances spoke louder.

"Okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Nyx laughed, pleased.

"Good choice, Mistress Mary."

After a few more minutes of conversation, Mary left the house, walking quickly through the dark streets. Her steps were hurried, but her mind was a mess.

Across town, Matthew sat in his office, analyzing information on his laptop. He had received the update about Mary Mars and her encounter with Nyx.

"So they really are that kind of people," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he examined the details.

He accessed Nyx's financial records and found suspicious connections to criminal activity. Despite the gravity of the situation, an amused smile appeared on his face.

"They think they can use Emily as a pawn. That's not going to happen."

Matthew closed his laptop and stood up. Deciding to let the matter drop for now, he went down to the living room. He turned on the TV and chose one of Emily's movies to watch, a way to relax.

Florence, Italy

Piazza della Signoria was transformed into a set for the filming. The cobbled streets, surrounded by Renaissance architecture, added a special charm to the film. Emily, playing Ana, was on the scene alongside the supporting actors who played her character's friends, watching the filming of one of the film's lighter moments.

In the daytime scene, Ana is with her friends in a square near the renovation project site. During the conversation, one of the friends, played by Marco Valente, jokes about the relationship between Ana and Léo.

"You know, Ana, you and Léo have such good chemistry that you almost seem like a couple from one of those silly romantic movies," said Marco's character, with a mischievous smile.

Emily, playing Ana, responded with her characteristic sarcasm:

"And you look like an extra in that same silly movie. What's the next line? 'Should you kiss?'"

The other friend, played by a young Italian actress, laughed and joined in the conversation:

"Now that you mention it... Why not? Let's see how it would be!"

The hesitation and embarrassment were written all over Ana's face. Emily perfectly played her character's comical discomfort while the group insisted.

"Okay, let's get this nonsense over with!" declared Ana, crossing her arms.

During the rehearsal for the kiss, the scene became even funnier. As soon as Ana and Léo got closer, with their friends watching intently, they both started laughing before the kiss happened. The lightheartedness of the moment reflected the romantic and comedic tone of the film.

Roberto (off camera):

"Perfect! This energy is exactly what we want. Let's reshoot it just to be sure, but it was great!"

While the crew set up the cameras and lights for the next take, Emily retreated to a corner, studying her script. The quick, comical exchanges of dialogue required concentration. Gabriela, her manager, approached with a smile.

"You look amazing, Emily. The crew is delighted with your delivery."

Emily looked at Gabriela.

"Thank you, Gabi. This role has been amusing me."

Marco Valente also joined them, still laughing about the previous scene.

"You really captured Ana's essence. Is this natural sarcasm a gift or are you improvising?"

Emily rolled her eyes playfully.

"Maybe I'm like that in real life. Be careful, Marco."

Everyone laughed, and the lighthearted atmosphere between takes reflected the tone of the film itself.

The next take focused on a scene where Ana is in an impromptu meeting with her team, discussing the details of the square project. Emily joined the supporting cast as one of the characters pitched eccentric ideas for the space.

Supporting character:

"What if we put a modern art installation in the center? Something to break up the monotony."

Emily, playing Ana, responded with her usual irony:

"Great idea. Maybe a giant cheese sculpture? That way people can bring bread to complete their meal."

The dialogue continued with more quick and humorous exchanges. Roberto applauded Emily's energy in the scene, praising her ability to balance comedy and firmness.

Between takes, Emily took the opportunity to interact with the crew. She posed for a few photos with the cast and posted one of them on social media with the caption:

"A break between laughter and heated debates. I love this team! 💕 #EntreRisosAndSighs"

The comments started to flood in:

@CinemaFanatic: "Emily is getting better and better! I can't wait to see the movie!"

@ItalianFilms: "The Florence setting fits the story perfectly. Great choice!"

@AnaFangirl: "Emily, you are my inspiration! Any chance of an autograph someday? 🥺"

@FilmGeek: "What a wonderful setting! This production promises!"

Emily responded to some, thanking her fans for their support.

The last recording of the day was a calmer and more emotional scene, where Ana and Léo share personal stories while sitting on a swing in the park.

Ana:

"Do you think people can really change? Or do they just pretend until the weight of the masks becomes unbearable?"

The melancholy-laden speech brought a new layer to Ana's humor, highlighting the character's duality.

Roberto was thrilled.

"Emily, that was your best scene of the day. Let's end it here."

With filming over, Emily returned to the hotel exhausted but satisfied. Florence had been a generous source of inspiration.

As she gazed out her bedroom window at the city lights, Emily picked up her phone and texted Matthew:

"We filmed some of the funniest and most emotional scenes today. I can't wait for you to watch. How was your day?"

The message was followed by a heart emoji, and she smiled, already anticipating his response.