Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Analise’s POV

Once the photographer started, things went quickly. We got several shots done, and then we got to rest while he got everything prepped for the commercial to be shot. The photographer told us that we would get more

pictures taken after the video was filmed. He wanted to move to the video part of the shoot before I got too tired to continue. He was right. I was getting tired.

Gwen brought me a drink and mentioned that since summer was coming, she wanted to promote our wedding ring line. Which was another brilliant idea. I was all for it, never thinking anything more about it. I really should have, as Gwen was sneaky lately, but I was tired. I was still recovering, so I just went with the flow. I was just glad that the photographer was going to allow me to sit on the white blocks later on while finishing up our shoot. My head was hurting, and I just wanted to get it done.

My hair was redone, and my makeup retouched while I sat in my chair. Emily’s hair was fine, as they could use products to set it. Her blond hair had been piled up in a messy bun, with tendrils falling down, giving her a softer look. They had played up her blue eyes, and she looked stunning, just like always. I was impressed

with her. She always made this look effortless, but it turned out to be much harder than I thought. I think it’s

time for her to get a raise.

A guard entered with a locked suitcase, and I knew our jewelry had been brought in. I froze when I saw the

ring I had created back when I thought I was going to marry Holden. My eyes flew up to Gwen, who shrugged

and said, “You need a piece that you had a connection to. Don’t associate it with Holden anymore. He’s your past. That ring is stunning and needs to be showcased. It’s beautiful, and what better way to move forward

than by showing that you aren’t clinging to the past? It has always been the ring you’ve wanted to receive

your whole life. Don’t let Holden, or Roger, take that joy away from you.”

I took off the set I was wearing for my new collection and passed it to Gwen. I had chosen my birthstone,

amethyst, for my set. Emily had been wearing a ruby set, one that had flashed against her skin and was a

brilliant foil to her colored dress.

“Emily, you’re going to go first, so you can show Ana what to do here. This is the motivation, or direction, that

we’re going with this ad. You just got engaged, and you’re showing off your new ring. You’re thrilled to be

getting married. You’ll have a fake fiancé with you in the video. Just pretend you’re in love. Stare into his

eyes, use his bicep to show off your ring. Just do what comes naturally between you. You don’t have to kiss

or anything. This is just to showcase the ring,” Gwen said.

Before I could ask her what she was thinking, Drew stepped out and came over to Emily. I could see the

surprise in her eyes as she turned to look at Gwen, too. What in the hell is she doing?

“Gwen, you shouldn’t use Drew like this. He is working for me; he shouldn’t have to do this,” I started to say.

“The company is paying him for today. Not you personally. Why hire a model when we have such a handsome guy who’s already here? It’s a win/win for us both, don’t you think?” Gwen said, and nodded to the photographer.

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< The Commercial Shoot

+15 Points >

The silence was heavy in the room as Emily, who always works alone, got her bearings back. I watched her

get back into model mode, and she did what was needed. The photographer called out instructions to them,

and Drew seemed really into it. I think he might have a thing for Emily. I saw the flush on her cheeks when he

came out. He was in a jacket when he first appeared. I knew he was dressed in a sports coat earlier with a

pair of dress pants and a white shirt, but he wasn’t wearing that now. He had changed clothes, and he truly

looked like a model now.

I watched them, and they honestly looked good together, like an actual couple. They were natural together, and I approved of Gwen’s little surprise. I just didn’t want Drew to think we were using him, and I don’t mind him doing a little side work. He suddenly dipped her, and she laughed up at him. The assistant to the photographer snapped several shots as the photographer continued to film them. She clung to his arm at the unexpected dip. Her ring, a nice three–carat oval, shone brilliantly from the lighting. After about ten minutes of film, they then went back to the pictures.

One of her hugging him, his jacket now off, and his black button–down the perfect backdrop to let the ring be the star. Drew’s profile was there, but they made sure that the ring was the main focus, and it worked out

well. They were done, and as they walked towards us, Gwen clapped in excitement.

“Okay, your turn, Ana,” Gwen pulled me up. “I gave Emily an oval–shaped ring to wear, just to showcase that it

had my nails done now. This could have ended up even worse if I hadn’t. I watched as a shadow walked towards me from the doorway, and as he appeared, he gave me a wink. I really tried to stop the smile, but I couldn’t. Charlie walked up and stood right next to me, but didn’t touch me yet. He was waiting too. He had the same outfit on, a black jacket, a black button–down shirt, and black dress pants. He still managed to look dangerous in the very best way.

“You two need to relax, you’re friends, aren’t you. This isn’t an actual engagement, so just calm down,” Gwen’s words broke the silence. Charlie gave that low chuckle that made me feel tingly in the pit of my stomach. I tried to push them down, but the moment he slid his arm around my waist, I couldn’t tamp them down

00

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< The Commercial Shoot

anymore.

“I’ve got you, Ana,” he told me, and I relaxed.

+15 Pants >

Things went smoothly, as I just listened to what the photographer called out. We took pictures with his jacket on, and then he followed Drew’s example and took the jacket off. My mouth went dry. The shirt fit him well, too well. I hated that he might wear this to take another woman out. It couldn’t hide the fact that he was extremely fit. He had left the first two buttons undone on his shirt. But he kept the sleeves rolled down. He

knew this was for an ad, but I wanted to see his arms.

I knew he had tattoos, and I suddenly wanted to see them so badly. I couldn’t stop thinking about him taking that shirt off and getting to touch him. I could feel his muscles through the shirt. Pressed against my back as we worked through similar poses that Emily and Drew had done earlier. I was starting to get tired, but I

hated that it was about to end. I liked being held by Charlie..

The photographer then called out, “Try dipping her, or something like that. It worked out well in the first shoot. You can decide what you want to do. Sometimes the unplanned moments work out the best.”

“Trust me?” Charlie asked. His voice was so soft I barely heard it. I nodded, and he said, “Use your words,

Ana.”

“I do,” I replied. Before I could blink, Charlie held me tighter in his arms, his head lowering to kiss me. My mind froze. Is he about to kiss me for the commercial? If you are reading this anywhere other than Dreame or StaryNovel, it has been stolen. Please message me if you find it anywhere else.

I wasn’t very good at kissing. I had never kissed Holden, and with Roger, our kisses were really just pecks on the lips. Not the kind of passionate kisses you see in movies where they French kiss. I didn’t know what to do. I had to force myself to relax and enjoy the moment. Charlie ended up nuzzling my neck. His nose was running up until I felt his breath on my ear. His teeth suddenly nipped my earlobe, and I swear I had to hold back a moan from the s****I tension. The photographer kept encouraging us to continue, and I raised my left hand to cup his cheek. I wanted him to know I liked what he was doing, oh, and to promote the ring on my

finger.

He nuzzled into it, my touch like he craved it. I could feel my panties getting wet. How is he able to do this to me? I forgot about everyone here; as far as I was concerned, it was only us in the room. I gripped his shoulder as he dipped me down before his lips touched mine. I rubbed my hands through his day–old scruff and felt a thrill run through me as the short hairs teased my palms.

He nipped my bottom lip, and when I gasped at his actions, his tongue suddenly plunged into my mouth. Probing, stroking my tongue, waiting for me to respond. I gripped his hair in my hands and pulled him even closer. I never wanted this moment to stop. When he broke the kiss, we both looked at each other, desire evident in our eyes. We stared at each other in surprise as we caught our breath.

“Perfect, that’s enough for several ads. Now we need to get a few more pictures taken, and then we’re done,” The photographer’s voice broke us both out of our trance. I can’t believe I just kissed Charlie. He seemed almost as stunned as I was. He was stiffening up just like I had, and the moment was lost. Was he suddenly

ashamed of kissing me?