Elisha didn't come over; she simply stood in place, as though waiting for something.
A moment later she lowered her head, gaze drifting back to the script, fingertips absently rubbing the corner of a page.
The next scene was her exchange with Landon, and she felt no rush—she would have plenty more chances to be with him.
Landon quietly slid his hand out of Mia's and slipped it into his coat pocket. "The shoot's not hard," he said, keeping his tone deliberately casual.
Mia seemed to sense the look, but she didn't mind; instead her smile deepened. "Drinks at the usual place after wrap?"
"We'll see," Landon answered without committing. "No telling how late we'll shoot tonight."
"All right." Mia pouted, disappointed, but brightened again at once. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "That's another refusal—remembered."
Landon felt a faint itch in his ear. When he looked up, Mia had already walked away, steps light, leaving a trace of perfume in the air.
Landon exhaled in relief; turning, he found Zoey standing just behind him, waggling her eyebrows and mouthing slowly: "Us-u-al place—"
He shot her a glare.
Truthfully, Landon still didn't understand why both girls circled him; he thought he should just tell them he already had a girlfriend.
"Boss, time for make-up," Zoey reminded, pointing toward the make-up trailer.
The trailer was livelier than usual. Several normally taciturn actors greeted Landon and half-jokingly congratulated him on "crossing over." He dealt with them one by one, sat before the mirror, and let Zoey daub his face.
The cool touch of adhesive and the familiar grit of the fake beard calmed him; the reflection slowly turned into Tony—Jack Bauer's CTU colleague, that sharp agent.
Zoey worked fast and steady. "Done," she said, adjusting the beard's edge and stepping back. "Perfect. Boss, you're in great form today."
"Slept all right last night."
"Oh? Couldn't sleep before?" Zoey lowered her voice, grinning.
Landon glanced at her through the mirror: "You talk too much."
Zoey chuckled and packed her tools.
Just then the line producer came in with the call sheet, reminding everyone that all CTU interior scenes would be finished today; tomorrow they would move to exterior chases and gunfights.
The set bustled back to life.
Huge lamp rigs were wheeled about, the camera crew adjusted positions, the sound mixer hoisted the boom for checks.
Filming was about to begin.
Landon stepped into the interior set; the lights were ready.
Elisha already stood on her mark; seeing Landon approach, she lifted her eyes and smiled.
"Ready to run yesterday's interrogation again?" she asked, voice steady.
"Anytime," Landon nodded.
The subtle feelings that had grown between them, the instant before the camera rolled, transformed into the characters' tangled emotions.
Director Hopkins sat behind the monitor and raised his walkie.
The set fell silent, only the soft hum of equipment audible.
"Scene twenty-three, A-camera, take one!"
"Action!"
Landon slipped into character at once.
Lines, blocking, every flicker of eye contact with Elisha—everything precise.
Yet in a brief gap of a close-up, from the corner of his eye he caught Mia in the crowd behind the monitor, gaze still fixed on the set's center;
beside the director, the line producer murmured to Hopkins, fragments drifting over—"commercial value," "tie-in publicity," "get a shot of him throwing something."
He knew the rescue story had brought praise, but that successful ad had also pried open colder industry rules and interests now playing out in this crew.
One step forward and the path beneath his feet had already changed.
Applause and spotlights were seductive, yet for now they had to be set aside.
The director hadn't called cut; the camera still rolled, so he had to live inside this moment of story.
He focused, met Elisha's next line, and hurled himself wholly into these twenty-four hours of crisis, lies, and adrenaline.
"Cut!"
Director Hopkins's voice came over the loud-hailer, and the taut set exhaled.
Lights dimmed, crew began to move, actors slowly climbed out of their roles.
Landon rolled his stiff neck as Hopkins announced next week's street-location schedule.
He didn't linger; after quick good-byes he left with Zoey.
He skipped the "usual place." Mia's invitation text he glimpsed once at a red light, then set aside.
Before wrap Elisha seemed about to speak, but he pleaded an errand, gave a brisk nod, and left.
A warmer, more private fire burned inside him—two people were waiting in his apartment.
The steamy, pulse-quickening memory of last night's bathroom lingered, teasing his nerves.
When he dropped Zoey at her building she leaned on the window, grinning: "Boss, you're in a real hurry tonight!"
Landon only smiled. Once she shut the door he swung the car toward his own building.
He stepped inside to warm lights and the aroma of food.
Tracy was still there, carrying a salad from the kitchen, now in a soft cotton house-dress, hair loosely up, less polished than by daylight and more lived-in.
Seeing him, a faint flush rose in her cheeks; her eyes flickered away, yet her mouth curved upward.
"Back? Perfect timing—dinner's ready." She set the salad on the table, voice light.
Rachel bounced from the sofa, barefoot, took his coat and hung it. "How was it? No one gave our star a hard time?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"Nothing new," Landon said, washing up and moving to the table.
The meal was simple but thoughtful: roast chicken breast, salad, a steaming pot of mushroom soup.
The three of them sat, the air warm and harmonious.
Oddly, no one suggested eating out; they seemed content to covet this tiny haven of peace.
"Tracy was busy today," Rachel said, cutting Landon a slice of chicken, pride and dependence in her tone. "She called a bunch of agents, brought back folders—viewings tomorrow. Not far from set, quiet neighborhoods."
Landon looked at Tracy, surprised. "So fast?"
Tracy gave a small smile, toying with her salad. "A friend's in the business, so I asked. Figured… if we're moving, best decide soon so you can focus on work."
She paused, eyes clear on his, "After all, things are different for you now."