- 10 hours ago
- #romance
A breathtaking modern romance tracking a cold corporate tycoon who falls completely crazy for his mysterious independent partner. #Romance
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Short filmTranscript
00:01At a class reunion, he showed up, successful and powerful.
00:06Natalie!
00:08His girlfriend, Isabel, looked right at me.
00:10If you hadn't let him go, you'd be Mrs. Conti of the Conti Group now.
00:15He sat across from me.
00:17That's all in the past.
00:18The room instantly exploded with gossip.
00:21Under his gaze, I quietly covered the scar on my wrist.
00:26After my family fell from grace, I sank into depression and had no choice but to leave him.
00:35I forced out a stiff smile.
00:37Yeah, we're long over.
00:39The second Isabel slipped off to the restroom, everyone started digging.
00:45Wasn't Natalie the one who dumped him first?
00:47Andrew sat across the table, faint smile on his lips, eyes completely cold.
00:52This was our first meeting in six years since we broke up.
00:56I wasn't prepared for it.
00:57I only came because Marco, the former student council president, said he wouldn't be here.
01:02Now, Andrew had everything.
01:04A successful businessman.
01:06A rising star in the city.
01:08He looked even better than before.
01:10Me, I was a different story.
01:12It's true.
01:15She was the one who broke up with me.
01:17Everyone exchanged a knowing look.
01:20Someone suddenly laughed.
01:22Natalie, heard the guy you ran with after got locked up, right?
01:26And you took on his debts.
01:29You here tonight looking for a handout?
01:32While the table laughed, Andrew's deep eyes stayed on me.
01:36Not a word.
01:36I smiled through it.
01:38Didn't answer.
01:38My mind flashed back to the day I was screaming and shaking, being taken to a psychiatric hospital.
01:45Just then, the door opened.
01:47Isabel walked back in.
01:48She noticed the weird tension and asked with a smile.
01:51What did I miss?
01:53Andrew finally moved.
01:54He gently held her hand.
01:56Nothing.
01:57His voice softened instantly.
01:59Just catching up.
02:00She settled into her seat, eyes landing on me.
02:04Andrew mentioned you.
02:05Thank you for giving him up.
02:08Otherwise, I wouldn't be Mrs. Conti now.
02:11Several people couldn't hide their amusement anymore.
02:14Back then, my family stood at the height of its power.
02:17I was showered with admiration wherever I went.
02:20That jealousy never faded with time.
02:23Years later, it only became another reason to kick me while I was down.
02:27It's over.
02:27Stop bringing it up.
02:28The room went quiet.
02:30Anyway, thank you, Natalie.
02:32You have to come to our wedding.
02:34I quietly covered the scar on my wrist.
02:37Then said numbly,
02:40Congratulations.
02:43Why didn't you just tell him the truth?
02:47The reunion ended early.
02:49He has a girlfriend.
02:52Silence on the other end.
02:55A girl.
02:57But you finally saw him.
02:59After everything you went through to get here.
03:02Ava, nobody waits in the same place forever.
03:08Some things lose all meaning if you say them too late.
03:12At that point, the truth only makes everyone sick.
03:16I'm letting it go.
03:19Okay.
03:21We'll talk when you're home.
03:22I'd clawed my way out of the mire after years of struggle, hoping to cross paths with him in the
03:28most dignified way.
03:29But it was already too late.
03:31It was already below freezing, and cabs weren't stopping.
03:35I stood there long enough for my fingers to go away.
03:38Then I heard heels clicking behind me.
03:40A soft female voice followed.
03:42Andy, the snow's beautiful.
03:45It's cold outside.
03:46Go wait in the car.
03:48I'll be right there.
03:49Don't take long.
03:50As Isabelle passed me, she gave me a meaningful look.
03:54Then she walked toward the black car nearby.
03:57When she opened the door, the heirloom piece on her wrist slipped into view beneath the streetlight.
04:02My chest tightened instantly.
04:05The Conti family piece.
04:06The one I'd had someone return to Andrew the day we ended things.
04:10So she wasn't just his girlfriend.
04:12She was his fiancée.
04:15The crowd had cleared.
04:17Just the two of us left.
04:19My ride still hadn't come.
04:21And suddenly, my mind drifted back.
04:24The night we broke up, Andrew got into a car accident while rushing to see me.
04:29Marco called.
04:30Andrew's in the hospital.
04:32Is he in danger?
04:33If he wasn't, would you not come at all?
04:38Please look after him.
04:40Natalie, he got the overseas post.
04:43He's going to be something.
04:45Why couldn't you just wait a little longer?
04:47What, you needed money that bad?
04:48After everything he did for you, you still left him?
04:50Have you forgotten all he did for you?
04:52Marco shouted.
04:53Then suddenly, the phone was snatched away.
04:55The call disconnected.
04:57I was the one who abandoned him first.
04:59So it made sense that he hated me.
05:02How much do you owe?
05:05Not your problem.
05:08The alcohol turning in my stomach.
05:10Eyes watering from the force of it.
05:13Andrew stood beside me and watched coldly.
05:16A cab pulled up.
05:17Heading to the Harwick complex?
05:20Yeah.
05:21I pushed myself upright and reached for the car door.
05:25Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
05:27I stumbled straight into Andrew's chest.
05:33What are you going to that place for?
05:35I tried to push his hand off.
05:37He caught my wrist instead.
05:39I pulled twice but didn't get free.
05:41Then I looked up at his dark and unreadable face.
05:45What exactly are you trying to say, Mr. Conti?
05:48He didn't answer.
05:51You think the same thing everyone else does, right?
05:53You think my money comes from dirty work.
05:57Five grand a month.
05:58Was that enough?
05:59What?
06:00You're short on cash, aren't you?
06:01Five, ten, name it.
06:02I slapped him and my handprint instantly appeared on his face.
06:07I stared at him coldly.
06:09Stay in your lane.
06:13I left him with that and got in the cab.
06:21You hit him?
06:24Yeah.
06:24He tried to keep me as his mistress.
06:27I was curled into the corner of the couch.
06:31A minute later, I was up and running for the bathroom.
06:34Ava rubbed my back.
06:36You know you can't drink with a bad stomach.
06:39After rinsing my mouth, my throat still burned painfully.
06:44All those years.
06:46Was it worth it?
06:48If you hadn't been the one to end it, none of his today would even exist.
06:53I thought of Isabel again.
06:55She had something I used to have.
06:57That brightness.
06:58That ease.
06:59I remembered being like that once.
07:01A long time ago.
07:02After Ava finished her shift at the Harwick, we walked home together.
07:06Marco called me out of nowhere.
07:09Natalie, if things are rough right now, I can set you up with something.
07:13I stayed silent, waiting for the real point.
07:18Isabel is a decent person.
07:20Good family.
07:21I'm not going near him again.
07:22You don't have to worry.
07:24We just want Andrew to be okay.
07:27I know.
07:31The call ended.
07:32Ava's eyes were red.
07:34They don't know anything!
07:37I forced a bitter smile.
07:40It doesn't matter.
07:44I had to stay in the city a while longer, so I found a job nearby.
07:48During the interview, HR frowned at my file.
07:52You have a history of depression.
07:54In the past.
07:55Stable now.
07:56I have documentation from my doctor.
07:58Several companies before this one had run background checks and quietly dropped me after that.
08:03This one was small.
08:04That same night, I got the offer.
08:09I figured the reunion was the last time I'd have anything to do with Andrew.
08:14I was wrong.
08:16Three days later, he suddenly became the new boss of our company.
08:21And my desk got moved directly outside his office door.
08:27I refuse.
08:28I stormed into his office.
08:29Fine.
08:30Submit your resignation to HR.
08:32I almost laughed.
08:35You're firing me just because I won't move my desk?
08:40I simply gave you a choice.
08:43Or did you think I wanted something from you?
08:47I choked on my words.
08:50I thought of Ava arguing with the landlord over $50 the night before.
08:55I forced a smile.
08:58Of course not, Mr. Conti.
09:00You're a man of principle.
09:02I'm not worried.
09:04Good.
09:05Close the door on your way out.
09:08And turn your chair around.
09:09I don't want to see your face.
09:11After that, we barely exchanged a word.
09:14A week in, the company had a team dinner.
09:17Since I was the new face, they wouldn't let my glass stay empty.
09:21Come on, Natalie.
09:22Skip one and we're docking your pay.
09:24The manager kept the glasses coming.
09:26Relax, you get too drunk, we'll take you home.
09:29It's just us girls, nothing to worry about.
09:32Everyone cheered.
09:36I swallowed the last one and went down.
09:45The next morning, I woke up in a huge bed.
09:49I slowly sat up.
09:51The blanket slipped from my body, revealing a soft hotel bathrobe.
09:55I stared at it for a second, then got up and walked out.
09:59In the main room, Andrew was sitting with one leg crossed.
10:04You're up.
10:05Breakfast is on the table.
10:06Eat something, then go back to sleep.
10:08A chill ran through me.
10:10Did we?
10:10He tossed the paper on the coffee table, then pulled his collar open just enough.
10:16Bite marks on his neck.
10:21Well, you started it last night.
10:24My mind exploded blank.
10:27That's impossible.
10:28Andrew set a contract in front of me.
10:30My fingerprint on it.
10:31The contents were simple.
10:32I would become his mistress, and he'd pay me $10,000 a month.
10:36There's no way I sign this.
10:41You sure about that?
10:42I opened my mouth.
10:44I couldn't say a single word.
10:48Caught your confession last night by accident.
10:51Want to hear all your little thoughts you tried so hard to hide?
10:55Everything in me went cold.
10:57Humiliation crashed over me instantly.
11:00Hiding those feelings already felt shameful enough, but now they had been exposed.
11:04Chasing an engaged man, Natalie.
11:08What do you think happens when people hear this?
11:11Are you taking revenge on me?
11:13Yes.
11:14You made sure I didn't have it easy back then.
11:17Why should I make it easy for you now?
11:18Two options.
11:19Honor the contract, or I release the recording.
11:23Release it?
11:26Andrew.
11:27I'm not being your other wormhole.
11:31Natalie.
11:33Who do you think you are?
11:34You think you still have a choice?
11:38He left.
11:40My clothes were in a heap on the bathroom floor.
11:43Andrews were folded neatly over the chair by the door.
11:46Not a wrinkle.
11:48The sharp contrast hurt more than I expected.
11:51I exhaled, changed, and walked out of the hotel.
11:57Ava called.
11:58Her voice was strained.
12:00Natalie, they want $500,000.
12:02The sky was gray.
12:04They said if you don't pay, they'll put everything out there.
12:07Your mom's ashes, her belongings.
12:10They won't tell you where any of it is.
12:12Ava almost cried.
12:15I'll try to pull in advance on my paycheck, borrow the rest.
12:19Should have it together by next month.
12:21Okay.
12:22After a long moment, I pressed a number.
12:24It rang for a while before he picked up.
12:28Something wrong?
12:29Elin, I'm sorry to bother you.
12:31I...
12:31He sounded busy on the other end.
12:35You're in some kind of trouble.
12:37I pulled in a slow breath.
12:40Could you lend me $400,000?
12:44The moment I said it, my whole body felt like it was on fire.
12:50Then noise on his end.
12:51Elin, emergency surgery.
12:53On my way.
12:54I hadn't expected much.
12:56I'd already prepared myself for a deadline.
12:59At the last second...
13:00Send me your account number.
13:01I'll transfer it before end of day.
13:03The call ended.
13:05The sky was still gray, but I felt warm inside.
13:11That evening, the manager knocked on my desk.
13:14Client dinner tonight.
13:16You're coming.
13:17A few hours earlier, I'd gone to him to ask for an advance on my paycheck.
13:21Between the advance, what I'd borrowed, I'd just barely reached $500,000.
13:26I walked into the private room and saw Andrew.
13:29The chandelier caught the line of his jaw.
13:32The manager gave me a small push forward.
13:35Every head turned.
13:37Mr. Conti, is she one of yours?
13:40Yeah, new hire.
13:43What kind of new hire needs you babysitting her personally?
13:46Not bad looking, either.
13:51The manager put me next to Andrew.
13:54Stay sharp tonight.
13:55You drink so he doesn't have to.
13:57Mr. Conti, can your new girl hold her liquor or not?
14:01She can.
14:03The manager jumped in.
14:05Absolutely she can.
14:06Andrew said nothing.
14:07He tapped the table lightly with two fingers.
14:09I picked up the glass, held my breath, and drank it down.
14:14The table cheated.
14:18Where were we?
14:19Let's keep going.
14:20The night ran hot.
14:22Every toast meant for Andrew?
14:24The manager put it in my glass.
14:26Eventually, I couldn't hold it anymore.
14:28I slipped out to the restroom.
14:30I turned the tap on and dry heaved over the sink.
14:34My hair came loose and fell into the basin, soaked through in minutes.
14:38I texted Ava.
14:40Then, I had nothing left.
14:41I dropped my head onto the edge of the sink, eyes shut, breathing hard.
14:46Unhurried footsteps outside.
14:48The door opened.
14:49I thought it was one of the women from the table.
14:51It was Andrew's calm voice.
14:54Already tapping out?
14:56I pulled together what I had left, pushed off the sink, and moved unsteadily toward the door.
15:02Andrew grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
15:04Let go of me!
15:06Andrew dragged me in front of the mirror without effort, turned me to face it.
15:11Take a good look at yourself.
15:13You walk out like this, aren't you afraid someone will take advantage of you?
15:17The girl in the mirror had wet eyes, flushed cheeks.
15:21Who could possibly have worse intentions than you?
15:25Andrew laughed softly.
15:28Come back with me tonight.
15:30Yeah.
15:33Get off me.
15:35Before I could finish, he kissed me hard.
15:37The alcohol was still moving through me.
15:40My vision started to blur.
15:42Cold sweat covered my skin.
15:44It felt like I was being dragged back into those dark days again.
15:49Andrew, please let me go.
15:52The darkness completely swallowed me.
15:55I couldn't feel anything anymore.
15:57Natalie.
15:58Andrew was shouting my name.
16:00His eyes were no longer filled with hatred.
16:02So panicked that I suddenly couldn't tell anymore.
16:06Andrew.
16:08I never want to see you again.
16:13The fever came in hard.
16:15My head was gone.
16:16My whole body ached.
16:18I lay curled under the blankets, shaking and shaking.
16:22Wind outside.
16:23In and out of sleep.
16:24I dreamed about back then.
16:26I was on Andrew's back, and I asked,
16:29Andrew, what would you do if I died?
16:31Don't say that.
16:32It's just a fever.
16:33The shot will take care of it.
16:35Hey, do you have enough money?
16:37Shots are expensive.
16:38It's fine.
16:39How is it fine?
16:40How many jobs are you working right now?
16:42Andrew didn't answer.
16:44He set me down at the nurse's station,
16:46crouched in front of me.
16:47As long as you're okay, nothing else matters.
16:50Once my parents stop fighting,
16:51I'll ask them for my allowance and pay you back.
16:54Trust me.
16:55We're gonna have money someday.
16:57But I didn't turn out the way he hoped.
16:59The night Andrew went out of town for the competition,
17:02I came home and pushed open my parents' bedroom door.
17:05My father had another woman in his arms.
17:08My clean, easy life cracked apart right there.
17:13What followed?
17:15My parents screaming at each other.
17:17My father disappearing without a word.
17:20The family drowning in debt.
17:24One night, deep into the dark,
17:26the collectors came to the door.
17:28The swinging light overhead.
17:30The men's voices, excited and ugly.
17:34All of it ran together in my head.
17:36A thick, boiling mess.
17:40Then my mother was gone.
17:41The collectors had pushed her to it.
17:43Ava found me.
17:45She got me out of there and took me south to Miami.
17:49A rainy afternoon.
17:50I was folded into a corner of the hospital.
17:56She has hereditary depression.
17:59Is there any family?
18:00She has a boyfriend.
18:01He's out of town for a competition.
18:04Notify him.
18:05The doctor spoke in clinical terms.
18:07She's showing strong suicidal ideation.
18:10Treatment will be difficult.
18:11The family should prepare for a long road.
18:18I wasn't in any state to go to the police.
18:21To build a case.
18:22To fight back.
18:23Ava and I were like two people with nowhere left to go.
18:27We ran.
18:28We left the only place we'd ever called home.
18:31That same day, the competition results came out.
18:34Andrew's name at the top.
18:35He'd gotten the overseas post.
18:37He called.
18:38I picked up.
18:41Natalie.
18:42I did it.
18:43Three years, then I'm coming home to marry you.
18:45I looked at the gate as it slowly closed behind me.
18:48I couldn't find my way back.
18:49Andrew, I...
18:50I don't think I can be with you anymore.
18:52I held back the sound in my throat.
18:55The tears came anyway.
18:56He went still.
18:57Why?
18:58I opened my mouth.
18:59But at that moment, I hesitated.
19:02His whole future was ahead of him.
19:03Did I really have the right to drag the rest of his life into the endless rain and darkness with
19:09me?
19:09A girl stood at a fence, sobbing out loud.
19:12The boy on the other side had gone numb and cold, disgusted.
19:17I watched love leave his eyes.
19:20It was the most hopeless thing I'd ever seen.
19:22Andrew?
19:23You take care of yourself.
19:25Let's call it.
19:29The sound of machines ticking nearby.
19:32Late sun came through the blinds in thin strips, falling across the sofa.
19:36I blinked.
19:37The nightmare pulled back.
19:39I sat up.
19:41Andrew was on the sofa, head down, peeling an apple in silence.
19:45His fingers were steady and careful.
19:47He heard me move.
19:51He looked up, met my eyes, and got up without a word to press the call button.
19:58The doctor came quickly, checked my pupils, confirmed I was fine, then turned to Andrew.
20:03Her nutrition is low.
20:04Going forward, she should focus on getting more protein.
20:08The door closed.
20:10Don't think about anything.
20:12Just get better first.
20:13I didn't take it.
20:14I got out of bed and went straight to the cabinet.
20:17My phone was gone.
20:19There were no street clothes either, without stopping me.
20:26Andrew, what do you want?
20:28You don't know what I want.
20:30Andrew set the apple on the nightstand, pulled out a tissue, and wiped his hands at his own pace.
20:37I want you.
20:40He was sitting right in the light.
20:44Andrew, you can't do this to me.
20:47Andrew stood up, looked down at me, and smoothed my hair back.
20:51Why not?
20:52I have someone I care about.
20:53Please, leave me alone.
20:56Is that right?
20:57There was no smile on Andrew's face at all.
21:00He cupped my face, leaned in close, and stopped with his lips just short of mine.
21:06Andrew laughed.
21:08Natalie, you're lying.
21:12The private clinic was out past the edge of the city.
21:15Nothing outside the window, but miles of trees.
21:18I couldn't leave and reach anyone.
21:20I tried asking the staff for help.
21:22They said there was nothing they could do.
21:24Andrew came every day, usually in the evening.
21:28He'd come in tired from whatever the day had been, sit with me, talk for a while.
21:33I wanted nothing to do with him touching me.
21:36He didn't push it.
21:40Lately, I kept dreaming about before.
21:42Back then, I had his name in my mouth constantly.
21:46I told him,
21:47Andrew, you're going to be rich someday.
21:49I know it.
21:51What flavor milk do you want today?
21:53He'd gone and bought me banana milk.
21:55Straight-A student Andrew,
21:57cutting class for the first time in his life.
21:59Caught by a teacher.
22:00Then college.
22:01Rumors started about him and some girl from his program.
22:04I took three trains across the city and sat outside his dorm and cried.
22:10Andrew got dressed in the middle of the night and came down fast.
22:14He wiped my face gently.
22:16Don't cry.
22:18As long as you want me, I'll always be yours.
22:22Now and after.
22:23Only you.
22:25That's not how a confession is supposed to sound.
22:27He paused.
22:29Then he held me tight.
22:30I love you.
22:31Back then, neither of us could have guessed we'd end up here.
22:34Tomorrow, I'm getting married.
22:36The sun outside hadn't gone down yet.
22:38The last of its warmth still in the air.
22:40Anything you want to say to me?
22:43Andrew's voice brought me back from wherever I'd gone.
22:47Staring at his face.
22:49I understood suddenly why I'd been dreaming so much lately.
22:52I was saying goodbye.
22:54To the Natalie and Andrew we used to be.
22:56The news had been running their story every day.
22:59Him and Isabel.
23:01The perfect pair.
23:02Everything we used to imagine for ourselves.
23:05But me?
23:05I was nothing but damage now.
23:08What right did I have to any of it?
23:10Congratulations.
23:14Andrew's hand stopped mid-peel.
23:16The blade caught his finger.
23:18Blood came up slowly.
23:19He looked at it for a second, pressed a tissue to it, and smiled down at the floor.
23:25It's nothing.
23:26She and I are just going through the motions.
23:28Do you want kids?
23:29I'm open to it.
23:30Andrew, can we just let this go?
23:33Let's both walk away with some dignity.
23:35I was suddenly exhausted.
23:37Andrew set everything back in the bowl.
23:40Then he stared at me.
23:42Just let it go.
23:43Why should I?
23:45You're the one who started it.
23:47Then you decided you were done, walked away without looking back.
23:50What does that make me?
23:53Your lap dog?
23:55Then I'm giving you back.
23:57Andrew went still.
23:59What did you just say?
24:00I looked at the sun about to drop below the horizon.
24:04You don't want me to be okay.
24:06Fine.
24:07I can go ahead and die.
24:09He grabbed my jaw and turned my head.
24:11I was looking straight into Andrew's eyes, and they were full of fury.
24:17Natalie, are you out of your mind?
24:19If you wanted to die so badly, why didn't you just do it back then?
24:26I couldn't remember when he left.
24:29That same night, Marco showed up and shoved the door open.
24:32Natalie, what did you promise me?
24:36Do you know what it's going to cost Andrew to break this engagement?
24:42Can you stop acting like you did back then, making a mess and letting Andrew clean it up?
24:46Can you think about him for once?
24:48I was confused.
24:49What's going on?
24:51Andrew is breaking off his engagement because of you.
24:54And you still have the nerve to ask?
24:56I sat there, ears ringing.
24:59He was doing this publicly.
25:01Where did that leave me?
25:02As the other woman who broke up someone's family?
25:07Come with me.
25:09You were so good at it once, weren't you?
25:11Bored with him?
25:12Found someone new?
25:14Marco.
25:16Natalie!
25:17If you hadn't come back, would any of this be happening?
25:20His voice rang out through the wind and the snow outside.
25:24It froze everything in me.
25:26My ears went full of noise.
25:28I couldn't hear anything.
25:29His eyes held more hatred than I'd ever seen from him.
25:33Like someone like me deserved to be dead.
25:36Marco.
25:37He won't let me go.
25:41Once this is handled,
25:44I'll get you.
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