CHAPTER 60 Lovestruck At Sundown
“What the hell are you doing here?” I rushed toward William and embraced him, burying my face in his chest and breathing him in.
“Is this how you greet all your guests?” He laughed, and Abigail chuckled behind me. “Someone needs to teach you some manners.”
William is the high-profile movie executive flying to Munich?
“Shut up and answer my question.” I squeezed him even tighter, unable to fathom William was inside this plane with me.
I broke off the embrace to allow him to shake Abigail’s hand.
“I’m here to grant Empire Magazine an exclusive interview about some exciting updates in my career,” William revealed. “And since I’m done with the press tour, now seemed like the perfect moment to do this.”
“What updates?” I shook my head, confused. William and I talked daily, but he hadn’t told me anything about any careerupdates. “What do you mean?”
“Will you be conducting the interview today, Billie?” Abigail interrupted me, crossing her arms at her chest and raising a quizzical brow. “Or can we learn to cultivate our patience? We wouldn’t want our guest to explain himself twice.”
My face heated up, and I didn’t need to check myself in the mirror to know my cheeks were burning pink. “I’m sorry,” I said, working my lower lip. “You’re right.” William being our guest today didn’t mean I could stop being professional, and Abigail was expecting nothing less from me. She’d told me she thought I was well-mannered back in the car, and here I was, making her second-guess herself about it.
The flight attendant told us we were ready for takeoff, so we stowed away our belongings and buckled up. I sat next to William, and Abigail sat across the table in front of us in a rear-facing seat.
The captain briefly explained over the speaker what to expect for our trip to Stockholm—not Munich, Stockholm. I bit my tongue and repressed the urgent need to ask about it.
“I lied, Billie,” Abigail said in an almost comically flat tone. “If I told you we’d be flying to Stockholm, it could’ve raised suspicions, and one of William’s requirements for granting us this interview was to keep it a secret from you.”
“Ah.” I playfully nudged William’s arm with my elbow, not one bit surprised by his petition. “It’s okay. I understand.” I’m used to his surprises.
I squeezed William’s hand as the airplane took off on the runway.
Why are we going to Stockholm?
What bomb are you about to drop on us?
I had so many questions, but I knew I needed to wait patiently for the interview to begin.
After discussing the city’s horrible traffic and the possibility of a harsh winter this year, the captain announced we had reached 10,000 feet. Our flight attendant came out to offer us something to drink. We all asked for water, and Abigail clapped her hands once and said, “Should we get started?”
“Of course,” William replied in a cheery tone.
I stood and sat on a seat across the aisle to give them their space, as I always did during the interviews. I was merely a spectator, a silent witness. And it didn’t matter that the person being interviewed was my boyfriend. I knew how Abigail liked doing things and her expectations of me.
As Abigail readied herself, I noticed my hands were shaking. William turned to look at me and smiled, putting me slightly at ease. But I shook my head at him because here I was, sitting at the edge of my seat, waiting for the damn interview to start. And Abigail couldn’t have pulled out her small recording device, notepad, and pen any slower.
Once she had her things neatly organized on the table, she finally began. “It’s truly an honor to have this opportunity to chat with you, William. So please let me start by thanking you for taking the time to sit down with me today.”
“My pleasure, Abigail,” William said with a charming smile. “The honor is mine.”
“So, let’s dive right in, shall we?” Abigail rested her forearms on the table and interweaved her fingers. “There’s been quite a buzz surrounding your latest project with MC Comics, and I must say, your fans and the critics seemed pleased with the Haldor Stormbreaker franchise. But before we get into the nitty-gritty details about the updates you’ll be exclusively sharing with Empire Magazine, I’d love to start by reflecting on your journey thus far. You’ve had such a remarkable career, filled with diverse roles and memorable performances. What do you attribute your success to?”
William made a brief pause before answering. “Well, Abigail, I think it’s been a combination of hard work and a bit of luck, if I’m being honest. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with incredibly talented people along the way who have challenged me and helped me grow as an actor. And, of course, the support of my fans has been invaluable throughout it all.”
“It’s clear that your dedication and talent have propelled you to great heights,” Abigail added, sipping from the glass of water our flight attendant had brought for each of us moments before. “Would you say acting is your passion?”
William’s jaw jutted out, and he steepled his finger under his chin as he considered Abigail’s question. “I’ve certainly poured my entire heart, spirit, and mind into every role I’ve been cast to play,” he answered, still unable to say acting was his passion. We had had many conversations where the subject came up in the past, and he always dodged the question or offered an ambiguous reply.
“I’ve enjoyed every second of my career in the industry,” William continued. “But as time has passed, I’ve learned to appreciate other things in life that bring me great joy—things I haven’t been allowed to explore because I’ve been fortunate enough to be booked for incredible projects back-to-back.”
What are you up to, William?
Abigail nodded thoughtfully. “It’s fascinating to hear you speak about that balance between dedication to your craft and finding joy in other aspects of life. So, William, what’s next for you? Are there any particular endeavors you’re looking forward to exploring outside of acting?”
William leaned back in his seat, rested his elbows on the armrests, and placed his hands over his belly as he contemplated Abigail’s question. “I’m excited to share that I’ve been working on something quite different from my usual projects. I don’t think I’ve shared this publicly, but I left my culinary studies on hold years ago to pursue acting. And for the past six months, I’ve been working on my final project, which consists of creating an original menu and concept for a restaurant so I can earn my degree. And now that I’m finally done, I’m ready to present it to the committee, and that’s why we’re on our way to Stockholm right now.”
“William,” I said under my breath, lifting a hand to my mouth to shut myself up. He looked at me and gave me the most beautiful smile, but he returned his attention to Abigail. I didn’t want to interrupt the interview, but how I wished I could jump from my seat to tackle him and tell him how fucking proud of him I was. I knew how important tying up that loose end was for him, and I couldn’t believe he had managed to keep it hidden from me all this time.
“Can you tell us more about this project you worked on to earn your degree?” Abigail inquired, curiosity etched in her features.
“Certainly,” William said, his eyes glowing with excitement. “Chef Jan Parker is a close friend of mine, and we’ve teamed up to create a very classic, homey, farm-to-table concept restaurant in the Hamptons. It is similar to his restaurant in Pocantico Hills, but we’re making it our own by tossing a few elements of Scandinavian cuisine into the mix. Chef Jan will keep his executive chef position at his restaurant but will remain involved in all of the seasonal adjustments that will be made to our menu to keep things fresh and exciting for our diners. And so will I.”
“That sounds like a place I’d like to visit.” Abigail chuckled. “Will you be stepping in as executive chef?”
It was as if she were reading my mind because I wanted to know that, too.
“I will not,” he declared. “I will be busy with other projects that have caught my eye. Jan and I have offered the executive chef position to Chef Moira Mae, who is not only a longtime friend of mine but a beast in the kitchen. We studied together in Sweden, so she deeply understands our cuisine.”
I gasped with excitement, but thankfully, the airplane’s noise muffled my voice because no one noticed. Moira deserved this. She was going to kill it.
“This sounds like something you’ve been thinking of doing for a while,” Abigail said. “And I have no doubts you will find a lot of success in this new venture. But can you tell us more about the other projects you mentioned that have caught your eye?”
William downed what was left of his water and settled the glass on the table. “I’ve been delving into the world of producing and financing indie films. It’s a new challenge for me, but one that I’ve found incredibly rewarding so far. I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the creative process beyond acting. Producing allows me to be involved in other aspects of bringing a story to life. I believe it’s a way for me to contribute in a different capacity and champion stories that resonate with audiences on a deeper level. There are so many talented people out there who, with the proper support, can finally bring their vision to life. I’m particularly proud of our film Savages, which we’ll present at Cannes next year.”
“That sounds like an exciting shift in your career.” Abigail seemed impressed and intrigued. “It seems like a fantastic opportunity to explore your creativity in new ways. Your fans will be eager to see what you have in store.” Abigail took a few notes on her pad before continuing. “And speaking of your fans, they’re always keen to know if there are any upcoming acting projects on the horizon. Can you give us a hint on what we might see from you next on the big screen?”
William rested his arms on the table and leaned forward, a spark of anticipation igniting his blue eyes. And without further ado, he said, “I will be taking a step back from acting.”
What!
I took my folded index finger to my mouth and sunk my teeth into it.
Abigail was usually great at controlling her reactions, but her eyes widened, and her lips parted with shock. She took more notes and said, “Before I delve into the reasons behind making this pivotal and unexpected move in your thriving career, I have to ask when can we expect this decision to become effective? Considering your five-movie deal with MC Comics. If I’m not mistaken, the second Haldor Stormbreaker movie is set to start filming soon.”
“You are correct, Abigail.” William paused and ran his tongue over his lower lip before he drew a deep breath. “I can confirm that I’ve made the decision to step away from acting, effective immediately and for an indefinite period. The role of Haldor Stormbreaker has been recast, but I’ll continue my involvement as a producer and investor for the upcoming films in the franchise.”
Abigail cleared her throat and took more notes. “Are you at liberty to discuss who will be taking your place as Haldor Stormbreaker?”
“Not yet,” William responded quickly. “But it will be announced very soon. I believe the public will be delighted with the actor taking my place, as the focus groups have already delivered more than favorable results.”
“I cannot wait to hear more about this, so I can assure you I will remain on the lookout for any updates on this announcement,” Abigail said, signaling the flight attendant to approach. “I think we need wine.” She chuckled. “Would you like some wine?” She looked at me, too, and I wasn’t going to reject the offer. I had needed a glass from the moment I first stepped inside the aircraft.
The flight attendant brought three glasses of cabernet, and after we all took a sip or two, Abigail carried on with the interview.
“Could you go off the record and tell me who will take your place?” Abigail asked, tossing her pen over her notepad.
“Off the record,” William confirmed. “It’s my brother Joel.”
I almost spit out the wine. “Joel?!” I shrieked, unable to care anymore about keeping it together for Abigail. She knew William and I had been in a relationship for a little over two years and that all these revelations were novel and shocking to me.
William looked at me and nodded a few times. “If we were never to announce the change, I’m sure most people wouldn’t even notice it wasn’t me.” He let out a soft laugh. “Once in full character, you truly cannot tell the difference between us.”
I remembered Joel going blond for a role a while back and how creepy the resemblance between them was. I was thrilled for Joel. He had a solid trajectory, but William was by far the most famous of the three brothers and was usually offered better and more high-paying roles. This would be a huge stepping stone in Joel’s career that would, without a doubt, catapult him to the next level. I hoped this decision made Lily happy, too.
“Congratulations to your brother, William,” Abigail offered with a genuine smile.
“Thank you. Joel’s thrilled to take on this project, and I think he’ll do great.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Abigail took a small sip and settled the wineglass back on the table. “And picking back up where we left off, could you share any insights as to what led you to make this monumental decision? Do you think your most loyal fans will feel disappointed in this decision?”
William nodded in a contemplative way. “It’s been a culmination of several personal and professional factors that have led me to this point. Acting has been an incredible journey—one that I’ve enjoyed immensely. I’m so thankful for the support I’ve received through the years, mostly from the fans. And as I mentioned before, there’s been a growing desire within me to explore new avenues of creativity and expression through supporting indie films and projects. But beyond that, I’ve been reflecting on several aspects of my personal life that I’ve neglected or put on hold while fully immersed in my career. Stepping back allows me the opportunity to explore those facets of life that bring me joy and fulfillment outside of the spotlight. And I hope my fans will be supportive of this decision.”
“That is completely understandable, and I’m sure the public will support you no matter what,” Abigail said reassuringly. “It’s always a good idea to look at our lives and ask ourselves if we can do anything to improve them. And if there is, exploring the options will always be reasonable and almost compulsory. It’s essential to take notice of when we’ve outgrown a particular situation, job, relationship, friendship—anything really, and take charge.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Abigail. I was getting too comfortable,” William admitted. “It was time to shake things up. Comfort can be paralyzing.”
“From what you’ve shared with me, it sounds like you’ve reached a point of clarity and purpose in your decision-making process,” Abigail remarked thoughtfully. “How hard was it to get to that point of certainty that led you to make this choice?”
“It was by far one of the easiest choices I’ve made in my entire life,” William said with conviction. “It took me a while to realize what I wanted, but once I did, the gears were set into motion, and I’ve never once doubted my decision to step away from the spotlight.”
“I’m glad to see the certainty and assuredness in your decision.” Abigail pushed her frames up the bridge of her nose. “But before we conclude, is there anything else you’d like to add or share with our audience?”
William shrugged, rubbing the palms of his hands together. “Just a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my career and everyone who continues to do so as I embark on this new chapter. Your encouragement means the world to me.”
“Thank you so much for sharing these exciting updates with us, William. It’s been truly insightful to hear about your journey and the changes ahead. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for all your future endeavors. And I’m sure your fans will be eager to learn more as your new projects unfold.”
“It’s been my pleasure, Abigail.” William smiled warmly. “Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these developments with you.”
Abigail pressed the stop button on the recording machine. “Go ahead, Billie,” she said with a laugh. “He’s all yours.” She pulled out her laptop from her backpack and got to work on what I supposed was transcribing her interview notes.
William and I stood, and he reached out to pull me in for a hug, picking me up from the floor and leveling his gaze with mine. That’s when I realized tears were streaming down my face.
Wordlessly, William carried me down the aisle until we reached the door to the plane’s small private bedroom. He put me back on my feet, grabbed the doorknob, and pushed the door open, waving me to step inside. We needed privacy to discuss and sort out everything that had just happened.
He sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed my hand to draw me closer to him.
“You can’t give everything up just like that,” I said between gasping pants as he brushed away the endless tears with his thumb the moment I sat beside him. “You’ve worked so hard to get where you are, and you love acting.” My voice was slightly tinged with panic. I was happy to know his decisions meant we would have more time together, and he wouldn’t have to leave for months straight, even if he still had to travel for work. But I was overwhelmed with all the changes, fearing he’d done it as an act of love to make me happy, and I didn’t want to carry that burden. I would much rather suffer from his absence than see him not entirely fulfilled in his career.
“I love you more,” he said softly, his gaze unwavering as I stared at him in silence. “Come on, talk to me.”
“You knew I’d try to talk you out of it if you came to me about this first, didn’t you?” I pressed a hand on his chest and felt the strong beat of his heart against my palm.
William nodded. “I needed you to know how serious I was about this.” He ran his warm fingers through my hair and gripped the back of my neck. “I needed to show you that my decision wasn’t up for discussion. Nothing you could tell me would’ve made me change my mind.”
“I’m terrified you’re doing this to please me,” I confessed between tears, cupping his face with my hands. “I want you to do what makes you happy, no matter what.”
“I was trying to be polite during the interview, so there was only so much I could say, but the truth is, I’m tired of all the fake bullshit surrounding the Hollywood scene. You’ve seen firsthand how fucked up it can be. How fame-hungry people are and how far they’re willing to go to get what they want.”
Arabella’s texts were hard to forget, and I knew that was just the tip of the iceberg. There must’ve been so many things William didn’t share with me to protect my mental health. I trusted that he always handled things in the best way possible, but even if I was proud of his accomplishments as an actor, I hated that he was part of such a toxic environment.
“It was fun for a while—the fame, the parties, the attention, the money,” William continued. “I won’t lie to you and say I didn’t enjoy all of it. But I’m done. You’re the one real thing I have besides my family, and the thought of losing you to my acting career is ridiculous and unbearable.” His eyes and words conveyed the sincerity I needed to grasp the depth of his feelings.
Aside from being entertaining, films can be inspiring, poetic, and artistic; they can change people’s lives, but at what cost? The duality of that world was mortifying.
“Besides, I can’t let you run the winery on your own, can I?” William added with a hint of playfulness.
“What winery?” I laughed between the tears, feeling a mixture of disbelief and joy.
“Remember the two sets of documents I made you sign on my birthday?”
I nodded.
“One of the folders contained the documentation to formally establish Nemorino’s Wine, where we share equal partnership,” William explained. “I’ve wanted to do this from the moment you told me Adina and Nemorino’s story on the rooftop four years ago. And I remember thinking how fucking epic and fun it would be to make this wine in The Hamptons and market it as a love potion. That’s why I started playing around with a label design on your 21st birthday.” He swiped his thumb up and down my cheek. “But it only made sense if we did it together.”
“So we’re business partners?”
He nodded, excitement taking over his features.
“But I don’t know shit about how to run a winery.” I laughed, looping my arms around his neck.
“I don’t either,” he said, even though I knew he’d probably already investigated everything we needed to know about running a winery. “But we’ll figure it out together.”
I liked the sound of William and I working together on something that was ours and that we could make into whatever we wanted it to be.
“And what about the other papers I signed that day?” I asked.
“Oh, that was to open a savings account in your name where I deposited the rent money you paid every month,” he explained, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. “Including Nina’s portion when she lived with you.” He kissed me again. “There must be over seventeen grand in there.”
My jaw dropped. William’s stubbornness was going to be the death of me. There was no way I would ever win against him, even when I thought I already had.
“What?” He chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “You didn’t think I’d actually take your money, did you? You said you wanted to learn to be financially responsible, and I think I was a great teacher. I should even be rewarded for my excellent performance.”
I pushed William back on the bed, and the sky was painted in multiple shades of orange, yellow, and pink, the subtle brightness of it filtering through the round window beside us, gifting us with the most impressive sundown. William’s face glowed with the golden light hitting his face in all the right angles, making him look unfairly unreal.
I straddled his hips with my legs. “But I’m a millionaire now,” I revealed. “My dad wrote me a check for the amount he sold you the apartment for, claiming my mother would’ve wanted me to have it.”
I didn’t doubt my dad knew my mother well enough to know that’s what she would’ve wanted, but I knew it was his way of supporting me while finally granting me the freedom I’d always wanted—with no strings attached.
“You are a what now?” He grabbed my waist and flipped me in a quick single movement that had me on my back before I could even draw in a breath. “It comes at perfect timing now that I’m retiring from acting. We can now live off of your savings.” He tickled me, and I let out a scream before I started laughing and trying to make him stop.
“It won’t last much with your lifestyle,” I said between laughs, taking a half-breath and begging him to stop tickling me.
“My lifestyle?” he scoffed but stopped tickling me. “You’re the one with the twenty-thousand-dollar cameras, tailor-made designer gowns and jewelry to match, fancy private jet trips to exclusive sporting events, a personal chef, and private security,” he teased, and it made me laugh.
“The personal chef is free,” I reminded him, playing along to his game. He’d always been the one to spoil me with gifts, even when I kept insisting none of it was necessary.
I grabbed his face between my hands and brought it closer to mine. The last rays of sunlight were sinking rapidly into the ocean on the horizon.
“No, it won’t be for too long,” he warned, lifting an eyebrow. “Now that I’m earning my chef degree, my services will come with a cost proportional to my title and expertise. So I’m sorry to inform you that I’m not in the business of giving away my work for free anymore.”
“I thought you might be interested in settling the cost of your services with an alternate method of payment,” I whispered in his ear, sticking my hand inside his t-shirt and sliding down from his chest to his abs, running a finger along the waistline of his joggers. William let out a delicious groan and fisted my hair in his hand, slightly pulling at it, enough to make me writhe against him with overflowing desire.
“Very interested,” he replied, pressing himself against me in slow, circular motions.
“Why?” I asked, my gaze wide with lovestruck fascination, looking at how his eyes stared down at me, penetrating my soul with a familiar but powerful intensity. He’d know what I meant with that simple but layered question.
Why do you keep surprising me with your endless kindness and generosity?
Why are you willing to make all these sudden life changes?
Why are you so fucking perfect for me in every possible way?
“Because a wise, gorgeous, but infuriatingly stubborn woman once told me we should never haggle away our dreams for the sake of comfort,” he said, leaving a trail of kisses down my neck. “And I might have many dreams, ?lskling, but you’re my biggest one.”
the END