Chapter 19Lights. Camera. Tension. – Kerry
Chapter 19
Lights.
Camera.
Tension.
– Kerry
S ince fall break is coming to an end, I decided to take the girls on a field trip to the Marine Science Center to view the tide pool exploration exhibit before the season changes.
We had so much fun watching the hermit crabs scuttle around and gently touch the sea stars.
The girls were completely mesmerized, asking a million questions about every creature they saw.
By the time we wrapped up, we still had nearly 45 minutes to kill before heading back to our studies.
And what better way to spend it than surprising Vic at work?
Of course, Serena tags along.
She waltzes in beside me with her notebook and is fully prepared to get the inside scoop of the most anticipated show of the year.
“This is gonna be good.” She muses, already scanning the set and taking mental notes for her buzz-worthy article.
When we arrive, the studio is in full production mode, with cameras rolling, producers barking orders, and assistants darting around like maniacs.
The space is massive and filled with the buzz of controlled chaos, but my focus is on Vic.
He stands at the center of it all, commanding the room without even trying.
His sleeves are rolled up to his forearms, and his hands are gesturing as he discusses some final details with the director.
Even from far away, I can see his intensity and the way he owns every space he walks into.
And then, as if sensing me, he looks up.
The moment his eyes land on mine, his expression changes.
His sharp, businesslike exterior softens, and his lips twitch like he wants to smile but fights it .
“I’m taking a break.” He announces, then yanks off his mic pack like he runs the damn network.
The crew groans.
“But Chef, we just started this take—”
“Then, we’ll start over.” Vic replies, already walking toward us.
Ari tilts her head, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Wait… can Daddy just stop like that?”
I laugh, shaking my head.
“Nope, but he does it anyway.”
When Vic finally reaches us, he immediately wraps his arms around the girls.
Syd squeals as he lifts her up and presses a kiss to her temple before doing the same to Ari.
And as soon as he sets them down, his focus is on me.
He lifts an eyebrow, then drags his eyes over me in a slow, appreciative perusal before he smirks.
“And what about you, Kerry? You need a hug too?”
I scoff.
“Oh please, you don’t pay me enough for that.”
His smile deepens, and I hate that I suddenly feel hot under his gaze.
Thankfully, Vicky appears, pulling all of us into a warm embrace.
“Well, aren’t y’all a sight to behold?” She beams, kissing Syd and Ari’s foreheads.
Then, Vic briefly steps away to resolve an issue, allowing enough time for us to explore the studio.
However, with a knowing smile, Vicky glances at me and says, “So, have you met his new co-star yet? She’s a firecracker, that one. A little too…handsy for my taste, though. Don’t you think?”
I squint at her as suspicion creeps into my voice.
“Ms. Vicky, are you being messy?”
She shrugs, completely unbothered.
“I can spot a snake from a mile away, that’s all.” She sews the seed then struts off, leaving me on edge.
During the crew break, Serena steps off to interview the showrunner while Ari anxiously tugs my hand and bounces with excitement.
“Can we meet Krista Ray?” She asks, flashing a huge smile across her face.
“We follow her on Instagram! She’s so cool and stylish, and she cooks the prettiest meals.”
I side-eye her, hard , but Ari’s sparkling eyes make me cave.
“Fine,” I say reluctantly, then motion for them to follow me toward the set.
“But if she’s rude, I’m not responsible for my actions. ”
We wait patiently as Krista finishes talking to someone.
Then, I step forward with a warm, professional smile.
“Hi, Krista Ray. I’m—”
Her eyebrows shoot up in annoyance before I can even finish.
“A fan, I know. Nothing new.” Then she glances down with an exaggerated sigh.
“Since when were kids allowed in here? I wasn’t aware we’d be doing charity work today.” She blurts out, but her gaze lingers on Ari’s prosthetic leg…
too long.
Ari’s happy mood instantly changes, and the excitement drains from her face.
She takes a half step back, visibly shrinking within herself and twisting her shirt between her fingers in a desperate attempt to hold back the sting of tears.
And all I see red.
Without thinking, I immediately pull the girls closer, using my body as a protective wall between them and Krista.
“Well,” I say, my voice razor-sharp.
“I guess I why they say it’s best not to meet the people you admire from afar. You’re absolute trash, Krista.”
Her shock is brief before she scoffs and rolls her eyes just as Vic’s voice cuts through the air.
“There are my three beautiful ladies. What’re we talking about over here?”
My little tell-it-like-it-is Syd pipes up, “Ms. Kind was just about to beat up Ms. Mean Krista Ray.”
Krista stiffens when he looks down at Ari and sees it.
Her insecurity.
Her self-doubt.
A look we haven’t seen in months.
His smile disappears, and his eyes darken.
His voice remains calm but drops dangerously low.
“What the hell did you do to my daughter?”
The entire set goes quiet.
Krista pales.
“I—I didn’t realize they were your daughters. I’ve only seen pics online. I just thought they were—”
“Oh, so you just treat everyone with disrespect, huh?” His voice stays calm, but the disgust in it is unmistakable.
“Apologize.”
Krista blinks.
“Huh?”
Vic’s tone doesn’t waver.
“Apologize to my family. Now . All three of them. Or I won’t film another minute with you.”
Humiliation spreads across her face like wildfire, laid bare for the entire set to witness.
She mumbles out an apology, her voice small, tight, and fake as hell.
“I’m sorry. ”
Vic doesn’t blink.
“Try again.”
She swallows hard.
“I’m sorry, Ari. And Syd. And…” She hesitates, her jaw tightening before forcing out my name, tight with resentment, “…Ms. Kind.”
Suddenly, Serena reappears, eager as ever.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who are we fighting?”
Hudson steps in just in time to answer.
“Hopefully, no one—or at least not near any cameras.”
Their eyes lock instantly.
“Hudson Grimes.” He says, surveying all of her perfection.
Serena lifts a brow.
“I know who you are.”
She doesn’t even get the chance to introduce herself before he cuts in.
“And you’re the journalist I’ve been hearing so much about. My office has been trying to connect with you for a story.”
Serena tilts her head, studying him like a meal she’s about to devour.
“Oh, is that right? Then, you should take me to a room with a lock so I can interview you.”
Hudson grins.
“I’d be honored.”
Without another word, they vanish.
The girls shuffle off with Vicky, and Vic turns to discuss business with the producer—leaving me alone with Krista.
She seizes the moment to make one last dig.
“I’m sorry again for not realizing who you were.” She tilts her head, scanning me up and down.
“You just look so different in your posts. So eye-catching. Must be those filters, huh?”
It takes everything in me not to snap, but by the grace of these cameras, I hold it together.
“Let Vic not remembering you after the first smash be a sign. He didn’t want you then, and he doesn’t want you now.”
Krista’s mouth opens and then closes.
It opens again, and still, not a damn thing comes out.
Her mouth is as empty as her brain.
With a frustrated huff, she storms off.
Vic, completely unfazed, pulls me in and presses a goodbye kiss on my forehead.
The crew melts, letting out a collective aww .
When the girls and I leave, we make a quick stop at Izzy’s flower shop, where the girls pick out new arrangements for the house.
I spill the tea on that evil Krista Ray, but mostly on my feelings for Vic.
I can’t believe how possessive I felt over him, how jealous I get watching another woman want him, touch him, let alone kiss him.
I acted as if he’s mine, which he isn’t…
I don’t think .
And then, just when I think the day can’t get wilder, Serena strolls into the flower shop with her hair a mess, lipstick smudged, and an unapologetically smug look on her face.
Izzy gasps.
“Girl…?”
Serena, satisfied as hell, grins.
“Girl.”
We laugh, then head back home, where the warmth of the day settles around us.
The girls are still buzzing, talking animatedly about everything from the pretty flowers they picked to Vic’s bossiness on set.
But once we get settled, I pull them close and anchor them in a way I hope they’ll always remember.
I remind them of who they are and their worth, which can overpower the ugliness in the world, the people who will try to dim their light, and the Krista’s who will come and go.
Most importantly, I remind them of the good people, the ones who love them fiercely, and who see them for the perfect individuals they are.
I make sure they know that without a shadow of a doubt they’re amazing, strong, intelligent, beautiful, and loved.
By the time the day finally ends, exhaustion has settled deep in my bones.
I ask Ms.
Tina to keep an eye on the girls so I can escape to the library, curl up in my reading nook, and—hopefully—get a few hours of sleep with a glass of wine in hand.
But my phone won’t stop buzzing.
Over and over.
Annoyed, I finally check it, only to be hit with a flood of texts about articles and social media posts.
I frown as I scroll, the headlines flashing like neon signs straight from hell.
Headline #1 : A Culinary Match Made in Heaven
Headline #2 : Little House on the Prairie Cheating Scandal!
Headline #3 : Chef Grimes’ Secret Affair: Who Will He Choose?
And the comments are even worse!
Troll #1 : Well, he was too rich for her anyway.
#golddigger
Troll #2 : Chef McGood Lookin’ and Krisa just fit better.
My stomach turns.
The vileness of it all makes me sick.
People are picking sides, tearing me apart, dragging my name through the mud like I don’t belong in this story.
Like I’m just some random extra in his world.
And then, I make the mistake of clicking on a video of Krista.
That bitch .
She’s in full performance mode with her crocodile tears glistening under the bright ring light.
Her loyal minions are in the comment are eating it up.
Are you and Chef Grimes secretly in love?
She gasps, “Oh gosh, no! He’s in a ‘relationship’ and so am I. I’m dating a local. So, no, we’re not in love. Or at least I’m not.”
She giggles, sowing seeds of deceit.
I grip my wine glass so tight I swear it might crack.
Women should support women.
Why try to steal someone’s man?
Krista shrugs.
“I don’t have to steal anything.”
She lets it linger, lets it fester, lets the audience fill in the blanks.
“Victor Grimes has got it made. He has the best of both worlds. A cute little girlfriend at home waiting on him hand and foot because last I heard, she isn’t even a teacher anymore.” She pauses, letting the words cut deep.
“But that’s none of my business. And he has a hot, bombshell work wife—me! Actually… I think he’s enjoying this, especially since we used to have more than just a work relationship. So, stay tuned! We’ll be on your TV screens soon.”
Her comments go wild, and her eyes glimmer as she teases the world with lies, spinning her narrative with that vindictive little smirk.
I lift my glass to take another sip, but halfway through, I stop, set it down, and down the whole damn bottle instead.
An hour later, a warm hand nudges me awake, followed by a quiet whisper against my ear.
“Kerry, wake up, please. I’m so sorry.”
My eyes flutter open, still heavy with exhaustion.
And then I see Vic kneeling in front of me, looking devastatingly handsome and visibly wracked with guilt.
I sit up, heart pounding, mind spinning, and trying to make sense of the moment.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” My voice is groggy, thick with sleep.
He shakes his head.
“No. I left the moment I saw all that bullshit online.” He says, clenching his jaw.
“I’m sorry, Kerry. I should’ve protected you from this mess. I had no idea Krista would do something like that.”
I exhale, rubbing my temples as the sting of the day settles in.
“I can handle that woman, what I can’t handle is how she made Ari feel today. ”
His expression darkens, and protective instincts roar back to the surface.
“I already told the showrunner one more strike, and I’m done. I don’t care how many followers she has or what kind of buzz she brings. She’s not the type of person I want in my life. I don’t like her, and I want you to know that.”
His voice is firm and absolute.
But it’s not just what he says—it’s the way his hand drifts up to cup my cheek, the way his fingers, strong yet gentle, anchor me.
Even through the wine fogging my brain, it feels like he’s pulling me back from the chaos, reminding me I’m always safe with him.
My eyes flutter shut, and before I can stop myself, the truth slips out.
“I missed you, Vic.” My voice is softer now, quieter.
“I was about to cry reading all those god-awful things.”
He doesn’t hesitate.
He moves in, close enough that I can feel his breath against my lips, close enough that if I leaned just a little, we’d be kissing.
But we don’t.
Instead, he presses his forehead to mine, exhaling like he’s been holding something in all day.
“I missed you too, Kerry. I always do. Every moment I’m away from you.”
His words send a slow, sweet ache through me.
I smile, too tipsy to think about the implications and too content to care.
I wrap my arms around his neck and then pull our bodies torturously close.
“Good. Now carry me to my chambers, Mr. Grimes.”
He lets out a deep laugh, shaking his head.
“My pleasure, lightweight.”
Effortlessly, he lifts me into his arms, cradling me against his chest like I weigh nothing.
His warmth, his strength, the way I feel so wanted—it’s almost too much.
But just as my heart starts betraying me, he leans in, brushing a kiss against my cheek before whispering the final blow.
“Let Krista talk. She’ll never be you. And you are all I want.”
And with that, he carries me down the hall, laying me gently in bed before slipping away to the kitchen to cook dinner for his three beautiful ladies.