Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Sudden
Emily waited for a few minutes while the message was marked as delivered, but there was no immediate response from Matthew. "He must be busy," she thought, putting her cell phone away on the table next to her bed. Before going to bed, she picked up the movie script again. The next day's scenes would be intense and emotional, including the first big argument between Ana and Léo.
Early in the morning, Emily arrived on set to start filming. The crew was excited and organized, with cameras positioned and the set ready. The main scene of the day marked the first time Ana and Léo openly confronted each other about their divergent views on the project.
Artur approached Emily to review some lines.
"I'm looking forward to this scene. It'll be the moment when the audience really notices the tension between the two."
Emily smiled.
"I think so too. It'll be good to explore a more vulnerable side of Ana, even if it's through stubbornness."
Roberto interrupted the conversation to gather the cast.
"Guys, this scene is one of the most important to establish Ana and Léo's dynamic. I want you to channel the conflicting emotions, but keep that natural comedic touch that we've been working on so far. Let's make this happen!"
The camera starts rolling. Ana and Léo are in the middle of the historic square, surrounded by drawings and models of the project. The tone starts with light humor, but quickly escalates into a more heated discussion.
Ana (Emily)
"You can't just throw random ideas out there like it's an endless brainstorming session. This is a serious project!"
Léo (Artur)
"And you can't plan every detail like you're building a bunker. The square needs life, emotion!"
Ana
" Emotion doesn't pay the bills, Léo. Planning does."
Léo
" And that's why you can't see beyond your drawing board. The world doesn't work that way!" The tension between the two characters grew, but Emily and Artur, with impeccable chemistry, inserted small comical touches into their lines, such as a quick exchange of glances or an exaggerated gesture that alleviated the intensity.
Léo
"Maybe the problem isn't the square, but you."
Ana was silent for a few seconds, clearly affected.
Ana
"Maybe the problem is that you don't know how to take anything seriously."
Roberto shouted "Cut!" and applauded.
"Perfect! That's exactly what I wanted. Let's do one more just to be sure, but it was incredible!"
During the break, Emily went to the trailer to rest a bit. As she reviewed her next scenes, she realized that she still hadn't received a response from Matthew. She frowned, but was soon interrupted by Gabriela, who came in excited.
"Emily, you're all over social media! The photos from yesterday's filming went viral, and the fans are dying to see the movie."
Emily smiled.
"That's great. I hope all this work is worth it."
Gabriela sat down next to her.
"It will be, trust me. Now, how are you? You seem a little distracted."
"Nothing much," Emily replied. "Just worried about some things."
Gabriela didn't insist, but she noticed Emily's thoughtful tone.
The second part of the day brought a lighter scene, where Ana and Léo, after the fight, are forced to work together again. Despite the tense atmosphere, the dialogue between the two was full of humor and irony.
Léo
"Did you know that there's a study that says that fighting helps creativity?"
Ana
"Sure. I bet you were the one who wrote that study."
The interaction was natural and fluid, with Emily demonstrating growing confidence in the role.
Roberto
"Great job, guys! I think we have everything we need for today."
Emily returned to the hotel exhausted but pleased with her progress. When she picked up her phone, she finally saw a message from Matthew.
Matthew
"Sorry I'm late in replying. I've had a busy day, but I loved hearing about the filming. I bet you're killing it, as always. I miss you."
Emily smiled, feeling warmed by the words. She replied:
"I miss you too. I can't wait to come back and tell you all about it. I hope we can watch the movie together when it comes out."
After sending the message, Emily looked out the window again, admiring the city lights. Florence had been more than just a setting for the film; it was also a time of personal and professional growth for her.
With a clear mind and a slight smile on her face, Emily finally allowed herself to rest.
But Emily was awakened in the middle of the night by unusual sounds coming from outside her room. Confused and with her heart racing, she got out of bed and hesitantly walked to the door. Peeking through the peephole, she froze when she saw an anxious man trying to force the door lock.
Her body tensed, and panic began to take over. With trembling hands, she picked up the room phone and dialed the front desk. Speaking in a low voice, she reported what was happening.
"Someone is trying to break into my room. Please send security immediately!"
As she waited, the noises from the lock grew louder and louder, as if the man was determined to open the door. Unable to think clearly, Emily ran to the bathroom and locked the door. Sitting on the cold floor, she hugged her knees, trying to control her labored breathing.
Minutes seemed like hours. Suddenly, the noise stopped. Emily, still afraid, cautiously opened the bathroom door and returned to the bedroom door. Peeking through the peephole again, she saw that the hallway was empty.
Reluctantly, she decided to call the front desk once more. The attendant informed her that the situation had been resolved.
"The man has been removed from the hotel. We apologize for what happened and guarantee that it will not happen again."
Despite the assurance, Emily spent the rest of the night unable to sleep.
Emily sat up in bed, her legs curled up and her eyes fixed on the bedroom door. Even though she knew that the man had been removed, her heart was still beating wildly. Every noise in the hallway made her body stiffen.
She picked up her cell phone and sent a message to Gabriela.
"Something scary happened at the hotel. I'll tell you in the morning. I couldn't sleep."
Gabriela didn't answer right away, and Emily realized that it was the middle of the night. She didn't want to disturb anyone any further.
Trying to distract herself, she picked up the movie script, but the words seemed jumbled in her mind. The emotional exhaustion of the day and the recent scare made it impossible to concentrate.
Finally, when the clock struck 5:00 am, Emily gave up. She called room service and ordered a strong coffee. As soon as the drink arrived, she took a sip to chase away the sleepiness and began writing an email to the production team, reporting what had happened and requesting more security.
Gabriela arrived at the hotel early, worried about the message. When she entered Emily's room, she found the actress with dark circles under her eyes and a tense expression.
"Oh my God, Emily, what happened?"
Emily recounted everything in detail, from the sounds at the door to the moment the man was removed. Gabriela was visibly alarmed.
"This is unacceptable. I'm going to talk to the hotel and make sure they increase security immediately."
Emily nodded, still hugging a cup of coffee. "I just want to feel safe. It's impossible to work like this."
Gabriela picked up the phone and made a series of calls, talking to the hotel reception and the production team. Meanwhile, Emily went to take a quick shower to try to recover.
Despite the difficult night, Emily decided to continue filming. The director noticed that she was down and suggested lighter scenes for the day. The first scene filmed was a comical sequence in which Ana tries to assemble a small prototype of the square and accidentally spills paint all over Léo's materials.
Emily managed to bring the lightness of the scene to life, but it was clear that her usual brightness was overshadowed by fatigue. During a pause, Artur approached.
"Are you okay? You seem... distant."
Emily forced a smile.
"Just a bad night. Nothing to worry about."
Artur seemed about to insist, but Roberto called them back to work.
During the lunch break, Gabriela informed Emily that the hotel had assigned the actress to a different room, on a restricted floor. In addition, two security guards would be assigned to accompany Emily while she was there.
"I also spoke to the production team, and they suggested hiring a bodyguard for you while we're in Italy," Gabriela said.
Emily sighed, relieved with the arrangements, but the idea of always being accompanied made her a little uncomfortable.
"Maybe that's for the best, at least until we're done here."
Gabriela nodded.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
Back in her new room, Emily finally began to relax. The exclusive floor was completely silent, and the security guards were stationed outside. Sitting on the bed, she took out her cell phone and sent a message to Matthew:
"Something scary happened yesterday. A man tried to break into my room, but they've already taken measures to increase my security. I'm fine now."
Matthew responded almost immediately,
"What? Why didn't you tell me before?"
Emily smiled slightly as she read the message.
"No need to worry. Everything is already sorted out, and Gabriela took care of everything. I just needed to vent."
"Okay, but let me know if something like this happens again. It doesn't matter what time it is."
Emily thanked the concern and closed her eyes, finally trying to rest.