Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You-Chapter 147: Chemistry

Hailey

I adjust the lens on her camera and glance at the studio lights being set up. This is our last photoshoot together. After today, I will be moving on to my next project.

Josh stands nearby, fixing his collar in the mirror. He catches my eye and smiles.

"You ready for this?" I ask, walking over to him.

Josh nods. "Yeah. Feels weird, though. Last one."

"I know." I pause, then ask, "So... have you thought about sticking with modeling? Doing it permanently?"

Josh looks thoughtful for a moment. "I’m not sure yet," he admits. "It’s been fun, but I still have a whole other career."

I smile softly. "Fair enough. Whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll be great at it."

He chuckles. "Maybe. But I will miss being photographed by you."

I grin mischievously. "Oh? Well, just because you may not model for Luxe, doesn’t mean I won’t photograph you for...uh...other reasons."

Josh raises an eyebrow. "Other reasons, huh?" he says, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Are you saying I get a private shoot now?"

I laugh, tilting my head. "Maybe. Depends on how well you behave during this one."

He chuckles, the sound low and warm. "Guess I better bring my A-game then."

"Places everyone!" Marcus calls out, clapping his hands. "Let’s make this final shoot count."

The crew scatters into position. I busy myself with camera settings.

As Josh takes his position against the backdrop, I find my center. Through my viewfinder, the world narrows to light and shadow, angles and expressions. This is what I’m good at. This is where I belong.

"Beautiful," I murmur as Josh tilts his chin exactly how I need him to. "Now look past the camera like you’re seeing something unexpected."

He does, and it’s perfect—vulnerability and strength captured in a single frame.

For the next hour, we work seamlessly together, the chemistry between us translating into something magical on camera. I barely notice when Marcus approaches until he’s standing right beside me.

"Impressive work," he says, his voice low enough that only I can hear. "You’ve exceeded expectations, Hailey."

"Thank you," I reply, not looking away from my viewfinder.

"I’d like to discuss your future at Luxe when we wrap," he continues. "I think you’re ready for more... responsibility."

Now I do look at him, searching his face for any hint of his usual game. But his expression is professional, almost distant.

"I’d like that," I say cautiously.

He nods once, then moves away to speak with the lighting director. I exhale slowly.

Rebecca appears at my elbow, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Hey!" she chirps.

"Hey," I say, smiling. "I see you are back. Planning to harass Marcus some more?"

"You know I am," she says straight away.

"If only there were someone here to distract Riley, too," I say, looking around. I don’t see her anywhere. Is she really going to come in late again?

Rebecca makes a face like she swallowed a whole lemon. "She is still here?"

"Yup. This first set is without her, but in the second one, she is to be with Josh," I say, frowning, too.

Rebecca’s face darkens. "Oh, hell no. That manipulative little—"

"Not so loud," I warn, though I’m not exactly thrilled about Riley’s presence either.

"Maybe she is not interested in Josh anymore," Rebecca says thoughtfully. "That girl has always been full of herself. She is just hyped for this for clout."

"Maybe," I say quietly. "But she was definitely flirting with him the other day."

"That witch," Rebecca hissed.

As if summoned by her words, the studio doors swing open. Riley Meeks walks in like she’s on a runway. "Sorry, I am late," she coos.

Marcus looks irritated. "Punctuality is important in this studio," he says sharply.

Riley shrugs off her coat, not the least bit apologetic. "Traffic," she says breezily, handing her latte to a poor assistant who clearly didn’t sign up to be her personal barista.

I exchange a look with Rebecca, who silently mouths, Unbelievable.

Marcus grunts. "Fine. Wardrobe and makeup, now. We start the second set in fifteen."

Riley tosses her hair and struts toward the dressing room, but not before sending a wink in Josh’s direction. I don’t miss it. Unfortunately, neither does Rebecca.

"Oh, she did not just do that," she mutters.

Josh, to his credit, doesn’t react, at least, not obviously. He scratches the back of his neck and glances toward me. For a brief second, our eyes meet. There’s something there. Something quiet. Something that makes my heart stutter.

After twenty minutes or so, Riley is back in the room, now in full glam. She saunters up to Josh, placing a hand lightly on his arm.

"Ready, partner?" she asks, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

Josh steps slightly to the side. "Yeah. Let’s just keep it professional, alright?"

It’s subtle, but it’s there. The polite pushback.

I bite back a smile and lift my camera again as Marcus gives the go-ahead to start. Rebecca squeezes my shoulder as she passes by, murmuring, "You’ve got this."

The lights flare to life once more, and I zone in. Riley poses like she always does—flashy, calculated, a little too aware of where the camera is. But Josh? Josh is as natural as he can be.

And yet, when I ask them to move closer, to pose as if they’re a couple mid-laughter, something shifts in him. He looks past Riley...right at me.

Click.

It’s not the perfect shot Marcus asked for.

But it’s the one I’ll keep.

I lower my camera for a split second to adjust the lens, already planning the next set of angles in my head. Josh and Riley are positioned close together—closer than I asked for, but still within the frame. Riley’s hand rests lightly on Josh’s chest, her expression soft and flirty.

"Let’s try that again," I say. "Josh, maybe lean in a little, like you’re listening to something she just whispered."

He does exactly that, and the moment feels genuine until Riley suddenly tilts her chin up and kisses him.

Right there.

Right in front of me.

It’s brief, but unmistakable. Her lips press against his like it’s part of the scene, but I know it’s not. I didn’t call for it. No one did. She improvised—and I hate her for it.

I feel the heat rise in my chest so fast it makes my fingers tremble around the camera. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out Marcus’s surprised, "Whoa—okay, hold on!"

Josh quickly steps back, his expression stunned and visibly uncomfortable. "Riley, what was that?"

She blinks, all innocent smiles. "I thought it added to the chemistry. You said to make it look natural, right?" Her eyes flick briefly toward me, and I swear there’s a smirk buried in that polished facade.

I clench my jaw. "We’re here to take photos, not film a soap opera," I say coolly, but my voice is tight. Too tight.

Josh looks at me. "Hailey—"

"Reset," I interrupt, unable to look at him. "Ten minutes. Everyone take five."

I lower my camera and step away from the set, ignoring Rebecca’s wide-eyed glance as she follows me.

"You okay?" she whispers. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"No," I mutter. "That wasn’t part of the shoot. She did that on purpose."

"Obviously. She’s always been desperate for attention, but this? That was calculated."

I nod, my jaw still tense as I take a deep breath. I should be professional. I have to be professional.

But seeing her kiss him. Seeing him let her...

It’s not something I can just shrug off.

"Do you think he wanted that?" I ask quietly, surprising even myself.

Rebecca blinks. "Are you kidding? Did you not see his face? He looked like she just sneezed on him."

I huff a bitter laugh, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. Across the room, Riley is already gushing to Marcus about "improvisation" and "natural chemistry," while Josh stands a few feet away, rubbing the back of his neck like he wants to disappear.

I don’t blame him.

I lift my camera again, not to shoot but to hide my face. If anyone asks, I’m reviewing frames.

But really, I’m just trying not to feel everything I am feeling.

Anger.