Chapter 4 You Are Really A Hidden Gem

On her way back to school, Kelsey felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

She took it out and saw a message from the manager of Devotion Jewels. "Ms. Lawson, the jewelry you designed has been completed by our factory and delivered to the studio. Would you prefer to collect it yourself, or should I arrange for it to be delivered to you?"

Jewelry?

Kelsey then recalled that she had recently designed a piece and asked Devotion Jewels to craft it.

She had intended it as a birthday gift for Louise next month, but now she reconsidered.

She replied via text, "You can just sell it."

"Understood, Ms. Lawson," came the prompt response.

As Kelsey was about to put her phone away, it rang again.

It was Abby Yates, her best friend.

Swiping the screen, she answered.

Before Kelsey could utter a word, Abby's sweet voice filled her ear.

"My dear Kelsey, I'm in a bit of a bind! I hurt my hand on a door and can't play the piano for now. The crew is struggling to find a replacement. Could you step in for me?"

"Okay," Kelsey replied.

Playing the piano was no daunting task for her so she agreed right away.

"Wow, Kelsey, you're a lifesaver! I love you! Let me give you a big virtual kiss!" Abby's voice bubbled with excitement over the phone, followed by an exaggerated kissing sound.

Kelsey, with a soft smile, responded, "See you later."

-

The filming was taking place at Eleslens Hospital.

Upon Kelsey's arrival at the location, Abby greeted her with a warm embrace.

"It's been so long, Kelsey."

"Indeed, it has, Abby."

Kelsey made friends with Abby upon her return to Eleslens.

At that time, Abby found herself in a scuffle with several rough individuals, and it was Kelsey who came to her aid.

They hit it off immediately and forged a strong friendship.

Abby, now a traveling actress, was rarely in one place for long. Meeting her required Kelsey to make an appointment.

Abby's recent return to Eleslens was a unique opportunity, and she had hoped to invite Kelsey for dinner.

However, an unexpected emergency shifted her plans, necessitating a favor from Kelsey.

Observing Kelsey, Abby expressed her concern. "My dear, have you lost more weight?"

Kelsey didn't perceive any change in her weight; her slender frame was a constant.

Their lengthy separation led her to think Abby's comment was more a polite gesture than a real concern.

With a smile, Kelsey steered the conversation elsewhere. "Shouldn't we be getting ready to film? Let's head over."

Kelsey, naturally slender, chose not to mention it. Discussing her physique might come off as boastful, especially in the company of an actress like Abby.

"You'll need to slip into my costume for the scene," Abby informed her as they walked towards the set.

"Understood," Kelsey replied, paying attention to her instructions.

-

The piano sat prominently in the outpatient hall of the hospital.

They were capturing a scene where a wealthy girl, serenading her boyfriend battling cancer, proposed through her music.

Kelsey changed out of her casual white T-shirt and jeans, slipping into Abby's costume – a white dress. The stylist replicated Abby's hairstyle on Kelsey.

Emerging from the dressing room, she transformed into the image of an elegant, affluent young lady.

Seating herself gracefully at the black piano, Kelsey poised her delicate fingers above the keys, immersing herself in the character's emotions.

As the filming commenced, her fingers glided across the piano, breathing life into a tender love song that echoed through the otherwise quiet outpatient hall.

The melody of the piano wafted through the hospital, drawing curious glances from people above who peered down into the hall, while those on the ground floor paused to listen.

Julien was there too, descending the stairs to settle Eileen Holt's hospital bills.

Catching sight of Kelsey in her white dress, playing the piano with such elegance, his eyes registered surprise and awe. Her posture was impeccable, her neck graceful, and as her fingers danced over the piano keys, she resembled nothing less than a regal princess.

In the three months Julien had been with Kelsey, his knowledge of her remained superficial.

He knew she was twenty, a junior at Eleslens University, and that her parents were alive.

Beyond that, her life was a mystery to him.

Julien hadn't taken the time to delve deeper into her life.

His initial encounter with her had been impulsive, a one-time indulgence that unexpectedly evolved into a more prolonged relationship.

In the eyes of others, Kelsey was his girlfriend, but to Julien, she was more a favored companion than a romantic partner.

She held the title of girlfriend, yet the privileges that typically accompanied such a role were sparse.

Julien wasn't unkind to Kelsey.

He was lavish in his gifts, bestowing upon her various luxury items.

His generosity extended as far as her behavior allowed; as long as Kelsey didn't irk him or act capriciously, Julien was more than willing to indulge her.

He had been involved with numerous women, but Kelsey's tenure as his companion was the longest.

Perhaps it was her beauty, her compliance, her lack of drama that kept his interest alive for so long.

Until this moment, Julien had pegged Kelsey as just another college student, unremarkable beyond her physical appeal.

In the gentle illumination, the girl seated at the piano shone with a luminance that rivaled a pearl. This newfound radiance in Kelsey stirred something in Julien, igniting a sense of excitement akin to a hunter spotting his prey.

Before this revelation, Kelsey's compliant nature had rendered her somewhat uninteresting to Julien.

Her obedience had eventually contributed to a sense of monotony.

However, her physical attraction to him remained intense and unwavering.

Now, Julien contemplated the possibility that he might have misjudged Kelsey.

Perhaps she wasn't inherently dull; maybe she just lacked the opportunity to reveal her more intriguing facets.

-

After the shoot, Abby approached Kelsey with a look of gratitude. "My dear, you were incredible! You really saved me today. I would've been in so much trouble otherwise. I've got a few more scenes to shoot. Why don't you hang around here? I'll take you out for dinner once we're done."

Kelsey was about to decline, but Abby had already hurried off at the director's summons.

Left with little choice, Kelsey decided to stay and watch the filming process.

As she idly watched, her chin resting in her hand, a figure suddenly appeared before her.

Blinking, Kelsey looked up and was surprised to see Julien standing there.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Julien swiftly led her out of the outpatient hall and into a men's restroom on the first floor, which was currently under renovation.

Caught off guard, Kelsey found herself being ushered into a cubicle, still trying to process the sudden turn of events.

She suddenly found herself engulfed in a passionate, almost fierce kiss.

It was so intense that she found herself struggling to resist.

In the confined space of the cubicle, the sounds of their kissing echoed.

Never before had Julien kissed her with such fervor.

She could sense an unusual level of excitement in him, akin to someone under the influence of a powerful stimulant.

His hands roamed her body with an eagerness she hadn't experienced from him before.

When Julien finally released her, Kelsey's lips felt swollen from the intensity of the kiss.

Julien held her face gently, pressing his forehead against hers. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breathing erratic. "I had no idea you could play the piano. You really are a hidden gem, huh?"