10. Osias #3
“Rennick wants me to focus entirely on the Best Actress campaign,” she said quietly. “He thinks pursuing both nominations will dilute the message and confuse voters. He’s already scheduled interviews and events that conflict with Bates Films promotional opportunities.”
Of course Rennick would try to undermine the one thing that gave Celina independence.
The man’s need to control every aspect of her career had become increasingly transparent this past week, each manipulation disguised as professional guidance.
Don’t solve this for her, he reminded himself firmly. Support her while she solves it herself.
“What do you want to do?” he asked instead of offering his own solutions.
“Well... the Best Picture nomination matters more to me. It’s validation for everything I’ve been trying to build. But Rennick says—“
“I didn’t ask what Rennick wants,” Osias interrupted gently. “I asked what you want.”
She stared at him for a long moment, and through their bond he felt her wrestling with decades of conditioning that told her to defer to others’ expertise. But beneath that was something stronger—her own instincts, finally being allowed to surface.
“I want to campaign for both,” Celina said, her voice growing stronger with each word. “The Best Actress nomination is incredible, but A Walk Toward Forever represents everything I believe in. I can’t just abandon it because it’s more challenging.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Osias winced internally at the presumption. “I mean, that’s what you’ll do, and I can help if you want since we’re both nominated in the same category. We’ll probably end up at a lot of the same events anyway.”
Their food arrived, interrupting the conversation, but Celina’s smile told him he’d said the right thing.
“A joint campaign could actually work,” she mused between bites. “Two different perspectives on authentic storytelling. Your film focuses on redemption, mine on healing. Complementary themes rather than competing narratives.”
Osias watched her mind work as he ate his food. This was the producer side of her personality—the part that could see connections others missed and turn challenges into opportunities. It was also the part Rennick seemed most determined to suppress.
“Plus,” she continued, warming to the idea, “it would show that this relationship isn’t some publicity stunt. We’re supporting each other’s work because we genuinely believe in it.”
Though Osias suspected their joint appearances would only fuel more speculation from the press, he didn’t care. Let them assume whatever they wanted. The truth was simpler and more powerful than any manufactured narrative. He loved her, and everything else was just noise.
“There’s just one problem,” Celina said, her fork pausing halfway to her mouth. “If we’re doing joint campaign events on top of everything else, my schedule is going to be absolutely insane. I won’t have any downtime at all.”
She looked genuinely distressed by this prospect, and Osias felt her exhaustion through their bond. The past week of increased paparazzi attention, Rennick’s escalating control attempts, and the demands of finishing Savannah’s Choice had already pushed her to her limits.
“I don’t know how we’ll find time for each other,” she continued quietly. “I don’t want to lose what we’re building here.”
She was worried about their relationship surviving the pressures of Oscar season, about losing what had become essential to both of them.
This is your moment.
“Move in with me,” he said, the words coming out more abrupt than he’d intended.
Celina’s eyes widened, her fork clattering against her plate. “What?”
“Move in with me,” he repeated, forcing himself to slow down and explain properly.
“We can have our nights together regardless of how crazy the days get. Stolen moments between events. Quiet mornings before the chaos starts.” He reached for her hand, threading their fingers together.
“I want to share space with you, Celina. Not just during crises, but every day.”
It’s too soon, his rational mind warned. You’ve known her for seven days.
But his lion didn’t care about conventional timelines.
His lion knew what it wanted: his mate, in his territory, safe and protected and permanently within reach.
And more than that, he genuinely couldn’t imagine going back to an empty mansion after having her presence fill every corner of it for the past seven days.
Celina stared at him for what felt like an eternity, and through the bond he felt her cycling through surprise, uncertainty, and something that might have been longing.
“That’s... a big step,” she said finally. But she was smiling now, her head tilted as she studied his face. “But I would like that.”
Relief flooded through him so powerfully it was almost disorienting. His mate, choosing him, choosing to build something permanent together despite every rational reason to take things slower.
He leaned in and kissed her, tasting wine and possibility on her lips. When they broke apart, her smile was radiant, and through the bond he felt her excitement mixing with his own.
Soon, his lion whispered. Soon she’ll be ready for the mate mark. Soon she’ll be truly ours.
But for now, this was enough. More than enough.