Page 36 of The Love Raffle

Ms. Carmichael groaned and said, “Oh God, please don’t call me that. Sarah is fine.”

The director, Sarah Carmichael, was one of the best in the industry, which meant a lot as the industry was so male-dominated. When Amber heard she was directing, she was over the moon. For a split second anyway. Then she felt nauseous at the pressure to perform well.

I wonder what she thinks of me.

Amber couldn’t dwell on it too much. She had a job to do. Her time on set went by in a blur as she tried her best to keep up and soak everything in.

The day wrapped up late and she was exhausted. When she got home, she took a quick shower before flopping down on her sofa bed.It still smells like Levi,Amber thought, and her heart stuttered.

If it wasn’t for the nightmare she had woken up from, she would have thought that Levi coming over was a dream. And in a way it still was. She could never have imagined being involved with such a hot-shot celebrity. Especially one that was so interesting and thoughtful. She couldn’t wait to get to know him more.

* * *

Is this what hell feels like?Levi thought, grimacing internally. Fake dating Fiona wouldn’t be so bad if she could just have one normal conversation. Was that too much to ask for?

Apparently, it was, because whenever Levi tried to change the subject to something other than Fiona or acting or Hollywood, it was no use. Levi had thought his perspective on reality had been diminished by fame, but Fiona was on another planet.

Was she ever quiet? He was sure Amber was at times. He hadn’t seen her in almost a week, and it was driving him crazy. She had sent him a text that her time on set for her new TV showwas going well. Otherwise, it had been quiet. He knew that she would be doing her waitressing shift this weekend. He was still debating whether or not to really visit her at the restaurant.I doubt I can even disguise myself that well…but I could try to see her.

“Are you even listening to me?” Fiona asked, then rolled her eyes at Levi when he was startled.

“I’m sorry. I kind of got lost in thought there. What were you saying?”

Fiona opened her mouth to speak again before pausing. “Nothing. I was just saying that we should probably go now. We’ve been sitting by this window long enough for the paps to get plenty of photos.”

“Right.” Levi motioned to the waiter for the check, and after paying, they walked arm and arm out of the restaurant. They parted ways on the sidewalk with big, dazzling smiles for the cameras.

As Levi watched Fiona walk away, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. It was exhausting constantly being surrounded by people who were either in awe of him or wanted something from him. Fiona was no exception. Although she was his fake girlfriend, the conversations weren’t much better. He felt like he was stuck in a never-ending cycle of meaningless conversations and fake relationships.

The thought of Amber and her normal conversations filled his mind. He missed her simple, honest presence in his life. As he walked to his car, he made a decision. He was going to visit Amber at the restaurant and see if he could get a taste of that normal life again.

* * *

The next evening, Levi stood outside the restaurant, taking deepbreaths to calm his nerves. He had dressed up in disguise, wearing a hat pulled low over his face and sunglasses to cover his eyes. He wasn’t sure if it would be enough to keep him from being recognized, but he had to try.

He walked inside and was greeted by the sound of clanging plates and the smell of sizzling burgers. He scanned the room for Amber but didn’t see her at first. Then he spotted her walking out of the kitchen, a tray of food in her hands.

Levi’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She was just as beautiful even at work. He made his way over to her and she looked up, a smile spreading across her face as she recognized him.

“Levi! What are you doing here?” she asked, setting the tray down on the counter. Levi put his finger to his mouth and playfully shushed her with a smile.

“I just wanted to come see you,” he replied, trying to keep his voice low. “I missed you.”

Amber blushed and Levi felt a surge of happiness in his chest. Just being near her made him feel better. They talked for a few minutes before Amber sat him at a table in the back.

“I’ll be back for you,” she whispered and scurried off with the food she had brought in from the kitchen.

Levi’s eyes followed Amber as she moved throughout the restaurant. She was absolutely mesmerizing. And he was sure that she would be even more so on screen.

Everything was fine until a fan passed by his table and recognized him.

“Oh my God, it’s Levi Marks!” the fan exclaimed.

The restaurant suddenly went crazy. People started crowding around the table, taking photos, and asking for autographs. Amber looked at Levi, her eyes wide with shock.

Levi felt a moment of panic. He had wanted to see Amber and spend some time with her, but he hadn’t expected this kindof attention. He grabbed Amber’s hand, trying to guide them through the crowd and out of the restaurant.

The crowd followed them, shouting questions and taking photos. He didn’t want to put Amber in the middle of this chaos. He was about to pull out his phone and call for his security team when Amber squeezed his hand and looked up at him.

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