Chapter 2

Chrissy's POV

"Cut! Perfect! That's a wrap!"

With the assistant director's shout, the tension on set instantly dissipated.

I was lowered from the thirty-foot wire rigging. The moment my feet touched the ground, a stabbing pain shot through my left knee.

I couldn't keep my balance and dropped to one knee on the mud-soaked mat.

The rough blast suit choked me, making it hard to breathe.

My shoulder, where I'd just crashed into the prop wall, was already bleeding through the fabric, burning hot with pain.

Gritting my teeth, I was about to push myself up with one hand when rapid footsteps rushed past me, creating a gust of wind.

"Lexi! Are you okay? That explosion was so loud. Did it scare you?"

It was Zavier's voice.

The man I'd been with for seven years, who was now a hot new director rising in the entertainment industry.

I looked up through the crowd to see him rushing anxiously toward the rest area.

Sitting there was the female lead of this production, Lexi Summers.

She was completely clean, not even a hair out of place, just clutching her chest with slightly reddened eyes, putting on a frightened act.

"I'm fine. The blast was just so loud, my heart's still racing."

Lexi leaned toward Zavier, her voice sweet and delicate, like a startled rabbit.

Zavier didn't hesitate to pat her back gently, his tone softer than I'd heard in ages.

"Don't be scared. I'm here. Your scenes are done for today. Go rest in your trailer."

I froze in place, watching their shameless display. The blood from my shoulder seemed to flow faster, dripping down my arm into the muddy water and spreading into dark red blooms.

The crew around me was busy wrapping up. No one noticed me, the stunt double who'd just completed a dangerous high fall for Lexi Summers.

I took a deep breath, fighting through the pain in my knee, and limped toward the monitor tent.

I wanted to review the footage from that take to make sure there were no flaws in my performance.

The tent was empty. The sound engineer had probably gone to the restroom, leaving the headset carelessly tossed on the mixer.

I'd just put on the headset and hadn't even pulled up the playback when a clear conversation suddenly came through.

It was Lexi's wireless mic. She hadn't turned it off.

"Chrissy fell so hard just now. Is she going to be okay? It looked scary."

Lexi's voice carried a hint of testing the waters.

Then came the sound of Zavier lighting a cigarette. The click of the lighter was especially sharp in the quiet headset.

"What could possibly happen to her? She's tough as nails. She survived rolling down a mudslide before. This height is nothing for her. Just routine."

Zavier's tone was casual, even dismissive.

"But... she's still a woman. Aren't you being too cold to Chrissy? Won't she get upset? I heard you two used to..."

"Used to is used to."

Zavier cut her off, his voice edged with irritation.

"She's hard as a rock. Doesn't need anyone worrying about her. You think she's delicate like you? I keep her on the crew because she's useful. She knows what shots I need without me having to explain. As for feelings... they've just worn down into habit. What I feel for her is more like gratitude and obligation."

"Then... what about me?"

Lexi's voice dropped, tinged with grievance.

"You?"

Zavier let out a soft laugh, his voice suddenly lower, carrying an intimacy that made hearts race.

"You're nothing like her. She belongs in the mud. You belong in the spotlight."

I yanked off the headset. My stomach churned violently.

Gratitude? Obligation? Useful? Tough as nails?

This was the evaluation I'd earned after breaking three ribs for his independent film.

I didn't cry.

I just felt cold. A chill seeping out from my bones, instantly freezing all my emotions.

I pulled out my phone and opened a conversation I'd left untouched for a long time.

It was with the captain of the Denali Mountain Wildlife Conservation Station.

"Do you still need people for next month's assignment?"

The reply came quickly.

"Need them! Desperately! But this time we're going deep into the wilderness. You'll be out of contact for at least three years. Conditions are extremely harsh. Are you sure you've thought this through?"

I looked at the monitor showing Zavier helping Lexi into her trailer, my fingers typing steadily.

"I've thought it through. I'm signing up. I'll report to the base in five days."