"He's not my boyfriend."
"Don't worry, Luna. My lips are sealed."
"No. You don't understand, Hollie. He. Is. Not. My. Boyfriend."
"I don't care if you call him Daddy, Papa, Darling, or Husband, when it's just the two of you. I'm on your side Luna. I won't let the paparazzi get wind of this."
"Y-You!"
Luna angrily stomped her foot, making Lux and Hollie hurriedly take out their phones to take a picture of her, saving the adorable moment forever.
"Is she always like this?" Lux whispered, feeling a little giddy seeing his idol act so childish.
"Only when it's just the two of us," Hollie replied. "I have over a hundred videos of her cute moments. Want to see?"
"Send me all of them," Lux said in a heartbeat.
"It will cost you an arm and leg." Hollie smirked. "Just one of these videos is enough for her fans to go wild."
Lux flashed a devilish smile on his face as he took a handful of gems from his pocket and gave them all to Hollie.
A surprised expression briefly appeared on Hollie's face before it was replaced by a business smile that would make a certain old bandit of Lont nod his head in approval.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Hollie shamelessly took the gems and stuffed it inside her bag before shaking Lux's hands. "I'll even send you her baby pictures as a freebie."
"Fufufu. You're good, Hollie."
"Fufufu. I know, right?"
Luna's face was already beet red due to anger and embarrassment after seeing the two shameless people use her embarrassing videos and photos as merchandise for their transaction.
"I hate both of you!" Luna walked up the stairs to go to her bedroom, leaving Lux and Hollie behind.
When she was certain that the young lady was really gone, Hollie heaved a deep sigh before sitting on the couch.
Peanut immediately jumped off the couch and hid under the table. Clearly, the French Bulldog was afraid of Hollie, making Lux arch an eyebrow.
"Let's talk, Lux," Hollie changed her temperament to her business tone, making Lux understand that playtime was now over.
The Half-Elf sat on a chair beside her, and looked at Luna's manager with a solemn expression on his face.
"How did you meet Luna?" Hollie asked. "Also, you're not from this world, right?"
"You don't think I'm a cosplayer?" Lux smiled.
"No," Hollie replied. "Your temperament is different from normal humans. I've met a few Hestians due to my line of works., and you're giving me the same vibe as them. This only means one thing, you are one of those Otherworlders, right?"
"Otherworlders," Lux muttered. "Sounds about right."
"Are you from Hestia?"
"No. I came from a different world, and I'm trying to find my way back home."
Hollie stared at Lux for a few seconds before nodding her head. "You're telling the truth. I am an elite in the world of showbiz and I can easily tell if someone is lying or not. So, I'm guessing that you found yourself in this world, and for some reason, the person who found you is Luna, correct?"
Lux nodded. "You're right."
"You didn't touch my Luna, right?" Hollie asked. "I don't want her to get hurt. It took her a few years to get over her sister's death, but I know that she is just keeping that memory in the deepest corner of her heart. If you hurt her in any way, I'll use all my connections to make you pay."
Lux could tell that the beautiful woman was genuinely concerned about Luna's well being, so his impression of her went up by a notch.
"Worry not, I have no intention of hurting her," Lux stated. "After I find a way to get back home, I'll leave right away. I can even leave this apartment to give you some peace of mind."
"No." Hollie shook her head. "Don't leave. I don't know what happened, but for the first time in her career, she asked for a week long leave. Even when she was suffering, she didn't take a break from work, and did her job as professionally as possible.
"Since she asked for leave without giving me any specifics, it means that she isn't in the right state of mind to do her work. I can tell that she trusts you, so stay with her and make sure that she doesn't do anything reckless, okay?
"Don't worry, if there comes a time when the two of you are unable to hold back and do the deed, I'll turn a blind eye to it. Just make sure you don't get her pregnant. There is a saying in the showbiz world that goes along the lines of.
"A career in showbiz is like a distance run. You have to have patience and pace yourself."
Hollie smiled bitterly, as she looked down on her hands, which were resting on her lap.
"Luna has been running a full sprint after her sister, Aina, died. Perhaps, it is her way of trying to forget the sad things in her life, by immersing herself with work. She has been working hard for so many years, and her effort has now borne fruit.
"But, just as she was about to reap her just rewards, she came to a full stop. The role that she has always wanted has landed on her head, but due to her current state of mind, I'm afraid I will have to cancel the project."
Hollie then took out her phone, and was about to call the producer of the show when Lux held her wrist, stopping her from making the call.
"Don't do it," Lux stated. "Give me until tomorrow. I will convince her to go ahead with the project."
"… Luna can be stubborn, you know?" Hollie said. "I'm afraid that a day is not enough for her to bounce out of her current mood."
"A day might not be enough," Lux agreed. "But, as long as she doesn't reject the project, she will recover eventually."
Hollie closed her eyes and pondered a bit. "I understand. The Producer of this project is from Hestia, and she has very high and strict standards. She also doesn't like to wait, and I can only delay the proposal until tomorrow.
"If you fail to convince Luna to sign the contract by tomorrow, I will be forced to look for someone else to take her place. At the end of the day, this is business, Lux. Stars need to stay up in the sky, so that people can look up to them.
"Those who give up or lose their way become falling stars. I hope that you can prevent that from happening. I'm not a Fairy Godmother, you know? I can't wave a wand and make all endings happy endings."
Lux's body stiffened after hearing Hollie's words. But, he managed to regain his composure after a few seconds and nodded his head.
"Don't worry, Hollie," Lux said with a determined look on his face. "Although I can't guarantee it, I'll work hard to at least get a good ending."
Hollie looked at the Half-Elf and smiled. She then took something from her bag and placed it in Lux's hand.
After doing so, she stood up and whispered something in his ears.
"Do it in moderation, Mr. Prince Charming," Hollie whispered. "Consider this as my gift."
After saying those words, she left the door without turning back.
The corner of Lux's lips twitched as he looked at the "gift" that Hollie had given him before leaving.
It was a pack of condoms, and they were the transparent and extra thin version too.
Lux was so lost in thought that he didn't notice that Luna had descended the stairs again.
The young lady then snuck up behind the Half-Elf and took a peek at what he was holding in his hand.
Her face immediately reddened after realizing what it was.
As if waiting for that moment, the Half-Elf broke out of his daze and finally noticed the young lady standing behind him.
"… Hollie gave this to me," Lux said with a sincere look on his face. "She said that I should do it in moderation."
Luna looked at Lux, and the pack of condoms in his hand before she reached out to grab it.
She then walked towards the stairs and went back to her room, leaving the Half-Elf behind, whose jeans were now being pulled on by the French Bulldog, who wanted to play with him.