Milo leaned against the doorway of his Beverly Shores villa, cigarette in between his fingers as he gazed out at the vast landscape that was soon going to be replaced by something wild. Well, that “wild” was not what Milo’s “wild” standards are… Instead of having a wild night he was about to embark on a glamping trip. The idea of connecting with nature felt more like a bad joke than a genuine escape, but he couldn’t deny the appeal of escaping the city even for a little while. Do you want to know why?
Because as he packed his bag, he carefully slid his camera into its case. That was the one thing about this trip that intrigued him. The scenery, the sunsets, the candid shots he could capture of his colleagues pretending to have the time of their lives - all of it was Instagram gold. And it was brazil - win win. He could already picture the perfectly framed photos that would make it seem like he was enjoying himself just as much as everyone else. Maybe he’d even post something with one of those cheesy captions like “finding peace in nature”. The truth? Milo wasn’t much of a nature guy. The closest he usually got to trees was the occasional stroll through a park. But this trip was an opportunity for publicity, and Milo was never one to turn down an opportunity. Besides, this wasn’t some rugged wilderness adventure, it was all five-star tents and gourmet meals… Right?
As the sleek, black SUV pulled up to the airport terminal, Milo glanced out the tinted window. The usual chaos of departing passengers and luggage carts cluttered the entrance, but to him, it was just another stop in his routine. Milo sighed, half amused, half relieved when he opened the door and got out of the vehicle, his sunglasses coming up to rest on top of his head as he leaned against that same door.
His driver had already started unloading the bags from the trunk, but Milo’s attention immediately zeroed in on one particular bag. Inside were bottles of Hastingston (Archie’s) scotch and whiskey - his personal stash for the long flight ahead. Losing those to a careless drop was not an option. Milo straightened up, his voice firm, ”Careful with that,“ he warned, his tone carrying an edge of authority, his eyes locking onto the driver’s movements. For a brief moment, there was no trace of the easy going charm he usually wore in public. The driver nodded quickly, handling the bag with extra caution now. Once Milo was satisfied that everything was intact, the strictness in his expression softened. ”Thank you,“ he added, his voice sweeter, almost disarming, as he flashed the driver a charming smile. The kind that made people forget the sharpness from a moment before. With everything in place, Milo grabbed his bags and made his way toward the entrance, ready to settle in and wait for his flight.
Settled into one of the plush leather chairs in the VIP lounge his drink of choice rested on the table in front of him. He was used to the chaos and not the quiet hum of the airport, but for a moment he allowed himself to relax, letting the smooth burn of the whiskey melt away the stress. He scrolled through his phone aimlessly, alternating between taking small sips of his drink and glancing at the other travelers scattered around the lounge. It was only when he leaned back, eyes lazily drifting across the room, that he spotted her - Cameron. His newest coworker. Coproduer. Coactor. Co… A woman he started working on a tv show with and it has been nothing but successful.
She sat in the far corner, completely absorbed in what appeared to be a script. A slight frown of concentration furrowed her brow as she flipped through the pages. But it wasn’t their script. Not the one they’d been working on together for Parallel Lives. No, this was something else entirely, as it seemed like. He squinted, trying to make out the title from where he sat, but it was too far so for a moment he simply observed her. She looked as focused and driven as ever, and a pang of curiosity flickered inside him. Without much thought, he picked up his glass and took one last sip before setting it down gently. He stood, smoothing the front of his shirt with that familiar nonchalance.
As he crossed the lounge, his footsteps slow and deliberate, Milo kept his expression neutral, though his mind was racing. When he reached her, he paused just beside her chair, hovering for a moment before speaking. ”Ames,“ he simply greeted her, his eyes quickly flicked down to the pages in her lap, scanning the text at the top of the script. Not Parallel Lives, he confirmed internally, a slight wave of relief washing over him. He’d saved himself from looking foolish. ”Shouldn’t you be doing something else?“ He flashed her a casual smile.
@novella - hi Cameron