I don't do hugs!

**Zoe's POV**

Arman's lips were undeniably kissable. It was almost hard to believe I had had those lips on mine almost three times, but they were just for the camera. It was only now I understood that the kisses we watch in movies aren't real. The reality of those sex scenes actually sucked. But this—having him so close that I could smell him, that I could see the light in those jade eyes—was alluring.

It would be so easy. Just a little skip and my lips would meet his.

"Okay, you can lean back now," someone voiced.

Relief flooded through me as I moved away from Arman. How could I be thinking of kissing a man so hung up on himself? There would be no end to his taunting. It was unbelievable; I would have thought it to be an exaggeration if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes: Arman, screening through his comment section and every word of adoration in his DMs. Wow.

During the last few scenes we shot, in the drama, Zain and Brenda were going through a breakup and she had to leave the company. Arman showed up with bloodshot eyes and droopy shoulders; I wondered what he had put himself through at night to summon that look. It was amazing and also scary.

The things people do for fame.

Everyone began exchanging hugs. It was really our last day together like this. Because it was a norm for me, my mind was already wondering what I would work on next. As a doctor, it was either one patient or another. If you're done with this patient, you move on to the next. So this hugging spree really would not work for me. I was still wondering how I'd escape when someone walked up to me with open arms. It was the cinematographer. What was his name again? John? No, it wasn't John. It was a Bible character, though. I remember that because I had once thought he looked as ancient as the Bible with that mustache. Jude! It was Jude!

"It was nice working with you," he said with a big smile. Jude was a smiler; he was always smiling whenever I saw him. I extended a hand gracefully. He didn’t take it, nor did he bring his arms down. He wanted a hug. Well, he wasn't going to get it.

"I don't do hugs, Jude."

It kind of came off harsher than I expected.

*Ouch.* That was the look on everyone's faces. I hadn't even realized they were watching.

I scanned through the small crowd for M.J., but he was nowhere to be found. I was so bad at this socializing thing, and months without my phone just made me worse.

"It's time to pop the champagne!!!!" Arman screamed at the top of his voice before a loud *pop* scraped through the air and everyone was showered with champagne bubbles.

These people must have the attention span of fish, because they turned away from me immediately—except Jude, though. But Arman came to him with two champagne glasses in hand and dragged him away from me.

It was then I realized Arman had opened the classy drink to save me. I owed him one—whether he knew that or not—because one more second with Jude and I would have made an enemy. I could see it in his eyes; Jude wasn't really as friendly as his smile let on.

"What happened?" M.J. asked as soon as he reappeared.

"Is there a way you can let everyone know I don't do hugs?" I asked. I'd rather the scene that almost played out never reoccurred.

"There's a better way to handle it, and it's that you begin to do hugs. You're popular as it is, Zo. You're going to have fan meetings; you're going to give millions of hugs in a matter of hours. You should begin to practice. Now, go out there and socialize."

Okay, M.J. wouldn't let me play the spoilt princess.

I went to Eloise first. "I heard you took a big risk in allowing me to play the lead role in your movie." I gave a small smile. She returned it. "I figured out that you'd be worth it. And you were."

I really needed to hear that.

I opened my arms to her. "Thank you so much. Can I?" She pulled me into a soft hug and whispered in my ear, "I wish you the best in your new career path. I want you to know that many things aren't as they seem, or what they seem. Always look at things twice or even thrice before you make conclusions. As much as you can, don't trust anyone." Then she let go of me. "And lately, take it easy on Arman. I know he can be a pain sometimes, but I assure you that he means no harm. He's one of the purest souls in this industry."

Her words seemed like parables in my ears. But I knew she had a very huge soft spot for Arman. I heard that she knew his parents very well.

"Thank you," I said politely.

Dr. Eloise nodded. "Come to me if you need anything."

"Thank you, ma'am," I saluted jokingly. I was moving away when she called my name. "Zoe?"

"Ma?"

"Get your phone back from M.J. You can't hide forever. Pick up the calls and tell your demons to fuck off."

It was at the top of my tongue to ask: *What if that demon was your own mother?*