The bright studio lights cast long shadows across the floor, their warmth failing to chase away the cold shiver running down Alice’s spine.
She had followed the model’s trembling gaze, her heart pounding with an unshakable sense of unease.
And then—she saw him.
Felix Montgomery.
He stood near the equipment setup, positioned just outside the direct light. The dim glow of the overhead lamps cast sharp angles across his face, highlighting his calm, unreadable expression. He wasn’t doing anything suspicious—simply standing there, observing.
But something about it felt wrong.
Alice swallowed, her breath hitching slightly. She had been in the industry long enough to recognize when someone was just casually watching and when someone was studying. And Felix… was undoubtedly the latter.
For a moment, his gaze flickered toward her.
Alice’s muscles tensed. But before she could properly register his expression, he turned away, resuming his quiet conversation with a technician.
Still, a faint flicker of emotion had passed over his face before he looked away. Something subtle. Something unplaceable.
Alice exhaled slowly, thinking "What was that?".
Was it amusement? Annoyance? Recognition?
The model’s assistant hurried in, breaking Alice’s focus. She quickly guided the fainting model away, offering hushed reassurances.
The moment passed.
The crew resumed their work, voices overlapping as cameras were repositioned and makeup artists rushed in to fix minor details. But Alice remained still, her mind replaying that fleeting moment over and over.
Felix Montgomery.
What was that look for?
Her grip tightened around her script, as she replayed the scene again in her mind.
This place had secrets. And she was going to uncover them.
The Watchful Eyes
Alice had felt it all day. A presence—silent but unwavering. A gaze that lingered just a second too long, tracking her movements with quiet curiosity. On set, between takes, even in passing reflections. She had ignored it at first, brushed it off as coincidence, but by the time filming wrapped, her patience had worn thin.
Was he keeping an eye on her for someone else? Or was there another reason?
By the third time she spotted him, she’d had enough. "Montgomery. You''re really starting to get on my nerves."
Now, under the dim glow of the corridor lights, she turned on her heel and caught him.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Felix stood a few feet away, leaning lazily against the wall, hands in his pockets, as if he had nowhere better to be. His expression was unreadable, but the smirk curling at the edges of his mouth told her he wasn’t entirely surprised.
"You''ve been watching me," Alice said, her voice calm but laced with something sharper.
Felix''s smirk deepened. "Who wouldn’t?"
His voice carried a casual warmth, like honey drizzled over steel. He wasn’t rattled, not even slightly. Instead, he pushed off the wall, taking an easy step toward her, his boots tapping lightly against the marble floor.
Alice tilted her head, studying him. The way he held himself—relaxed but deliberate. The way his gaze met hers, steady yet teasing. He was trying to disarm her, shift the weight of the conversation before it could settle in dangerous places.
"You have a habit of avoiding real answers," she noted, her tone smooth but edged.
Felix placed a hand over his heart, mock-offended. "And here I thought we were just getting to know each other."
Alice let out a soft, almost amused breath, but her eyes remained cold. "And here I thought you were smart enough to know when to stop playing games."
For the briefest moment, his amusement flickered. A crack in the mask. Barely there, but Alice caught it.
She stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of cedar and something darker, something that reminded her of storm-drenched pavement. Then, with a voice dipped in the sweetest silk, she said, "Keep watching, Felix. But be careful. Some things stare back."
Then she turned and walked away, the sharp click of her heels slicing through the silence.
Behind her, Felix let out a low chuckle, a smirk still playing on his lips. But as he watched her disappear down the corridor, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.
---
Alice stood behind a stone pillar, her breath steady. Paul stood beside her, arms crossed, while Mia peeked over her shoulder, whispering complaints.
“This is ridiculous,” Paul muttered. “We’re hiding like criminals.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “It’s called being stealthy, Paul. You should try it sometime.”
They had seen Felix on their walk and decided to keep him under surveillance. He was speaking to an elderly woman, his demeanor composed, his attention seemingly focused on their conversation.
“Doesn’t look like he’s up to anything dangerous,” Paul grumbled, "If you want I can crack some answers out of him though".
Alice didn’t reply. She was focused on Felix, studying the subtle shifts in his expressions. He didn’t seem like a man with sinister intentions. But appearances could be deceiving.
Just as she was narrowing her eyes in thought, a sudden burst of energy disrupted their cover.
A child ran straight toward Alice, beaming with excitement.
“You’re Alice Rains!” he gasped, his small hands clinging to her sleeve. “Everyone’s talking about you! I saw you in a movie!”
Alice stiffened, her eyes darting toward Felix. He had definitely noticed them now.
Paul muttered a curse under his breath, while Mia barely held back a giggle.
Alice crouched slightly, bringing herself to the child’s height. “Shh,” she whispered, placing a finger over her lips. “It’s a secret, okay? Don’t tell anyone.”
The child’s eyes widened before he grinned mischievously, “A secret mission?”
Alice nodded, “Exactly.”
The boy’s excitement doubled, but before Alice could say anything else, she felt Felix’s gaze on her.
Felix walked towards her with deliberate ease.
He was looking directly at her now, his lips curving into something between amusement and curiosity.
The child followed her gaze and suddenly blurted out the one question she wasn’t expecting.
“Is he your boyfriend?”
Alice froze.
Paul and Mia turned into statues. They were definitely holding back laughter.
Felix, however, looked highly entertained. His head tilted ever so slightly as he arched an eyebrow. “Well?” he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Alice’s brain short-circuited for a moment before she quickly found her voice. “He’s just a colleague.”
Felix didn’t look entirely convinced, and neither did the child.
Then, as if deciding to cause maximum chaos, the child suddenly turned back toward Paul and Mia.
“Then are they together?” he asked innocently.
Alice blinked. Felix smirked. Paul and Mia stiffened.
Before anyone could respond, a voice called from the distance.
“Philip! Come here, darling!”
The boy’s mother.
The moment the child turned to look, Alice and Felix shared a look.
Some sort of challenge passing through them.
By the time his mother reached him, there was no sign of Alice, Felix, or the others.
They all vanished, faster than they ever had before.
---
Later that night, Alice sat on her bed, arms crossed as Mia paced the room.
“You won’t believe what I found out today,” Mia said, excitement lacing her voice. “Aditi Sharma got me some interesting info about Felix Montgomery.”
Alice raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
Mia grinned. “So, apparently, he’s incredibly generous. He donates large amounts to orphanages, children’s hospitals, and welfare projects. He funds programs for underprivileged kids.”
Alice’s fingers curled slightly over the sheets. That... didn’t align with what she expected.
“You remember that elderly woman Felix was talking to earlier?”
Alice glanced at her, still lost in thought. “Yeah. Why?”
“She’s Mrs. Holloway. She runs an orphanage on the outskirts of the city.” Mia paused, watching Alice’s reaction. “And… there’s been a big donation to her orphanage recently. A really big one.”
Alice exhales, "Felix..."
Her fingers tapped against the edge of the table, her mind turning over the information.
"Felix, of all people. He gave a fortune to an orphanage? No publicity, no name attached, nothing in return. Just silence."
Why?
The question settled in her chest like a weight. There was something here—something she didn’t understand yet.
Felix was watching her. Following her. But was he really someone to be feared?
Or had she misunderstood him?
She stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. For the first time since she started investigating, doubt crept in.
Could Felix Montgomery be more than what he seemed?
And if so… was she truly ready to find out?