Elara lay on her back on the edge, her legs immersed in the warm water, her feet dangling slowly, her wet hair falling in waves around her face. Her eyes fixed on the horizon, thoughtful, as she adjusted the focus on the camera at her side, ready to capture any detail or moment that might capture that moment of peace. Daniel, lying beside her, also with his legs in the water, had a cigarette in his hand, and his posture was relaxed, as if he knew every detail of that space, every sigh of the wind, every subtle sound around him. His brown eyes, a deep honey hue, shone with a calm, almost meditative light.
He turned to face her, unhurriedly, holding the cigarette in one hand, and spoke in a low voice that only she could hear clearly. The sun reflected off his fair skin, highlighting the strength of his features and the serenity of his gaze. "After the vacation, what do you think you'll do? Will you continue posting on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook? How do these channels help you showcase your art, your worldview, what you want to convey to the public?" The silence lasted for a moment, broken only by the sound of the water and the breeze that passed between them, allowing the conversation to flow unhurriedly.
The sun was already beginning to rise higher in the sky, casting an intense white light that reflected off the water of the infinity pool where they were. The pool, always heated to37 degrees Celsius, looked like a liquid mirror that spread to the edge of the horizon, where the blue sky blended with the glass sea, making the pool and sky seem like a single expanse of serenity. Around it, the pool cover was an open space, with a modern glass and steel structure that filtered the sunlight, creating an atmosphere of tranquility, but also of intensity. A few lounge chairsdesignMinimalist, with neutral-toned cushions and light fabrics scattered along the edge, a glass table with a centerpiece of green plants, perhaps a few small cacti, completed the scene. A light breeze blew through the air, gently swaying the glass curtains, while the waves carried the scent of the sea and garden flowers, mingling with the smell of chlorinated water and warm sun on the skin.
Elara lay on her back on the edge, her legs immersed in the warm water, her feet dangling slowly, her wet hair falling in waves around her face. Her eyes fixed on the horizon, thoughtful, as she adjusted the focus on the camera at her side, ready to capture any detail or moment that might capture that moment of peace. Daniel, lying beside her, also with his legs in the water, had a cigarette in his hand, and his posture was relaxed, as if he knew every detail of that space, every sigh of the wind, every subtle sound around him. His brown eyes, a deep honey hue, shone with a calm, almost meditative light.
He turned his face to her, unhurriedly, holding the cigarette in one hand, and spoke in a low voice that only she could hear clearly. The sun reflected off his fair skin, highlighting the strength of his features and the serenity of his gaze.After the holidays, what do you think you'll do? Will you continue acting in films, advertising for big brands? Or can these digital channels—TikTok, Instagram, Facebook—help you showcase something deeper, something that truly changes the public's perception of your art and your worldview?"The silence lasted for a moment, only interrupted by the sound of the water and the breeze that passed between them, letting the conversation flow, without rushing.
Elara moved her head to nestle more snugly into his shoulder, Daniel's scent—that woody sandalwood and a hint of something wilder—filling her senses.Yes," she replied, her voice choked but firm. "Addicted to how you make me feel. Addicted to the surprise, the adventure. To how you see the world. It's like I've lived in black and white my whole life, and now, with you, everything has color."She wasn't just referring to the physical passion, but to the intensity of every moment she spent with him, to the way he had awakened a part of her soul she hadn't even known existed.
Daniel slid his hand through her hair, a slightly possessive touch that Elara loved.Colorido, huh?" he murmured, a slight amusement in his voice. "Do you think you can handle all the colors, Elara? The light ones and the dark ones? My world isn't just a rainbow of ease."
She lifted her head again, her green eyes fixed on his, a quiet determination shining in them.I've seen many shadows, Daniel. In the industry, in life. I know your world is dangerous. But the darkness with you feels more honest than the false light I used to know. And if you show me your colors, I promise I'll embrace them all.The firmness in his voice surprised her, but she knew he was telling the truth. She no longer wanted the facade of life. She wanted authenticity, even if it came with risks.
Daniel studied her face for a long moment, his green eyes scanning every feature, every exposed emotion. There was a sincerity in Elara that disarmed him, a purity of intention he rarely encountered. He, who lived by strategy and manipulation, saw in her a vulnerability that was not weakness, but strength.
"I think so," he said finally, a soft smile forming on his lips. "I think you can handle the colors, and maybe... even show me some new ones.He tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer again. The intimacy of that space, the luxury of the pool water, and the morning silence created the perfect setting for that mutual declaration of acceptance. That space in the pool, with its panoramic view of the city stretching to the horizon, was now the silent testament to a connection that transcended the material. The air in the pool remained charged with a latent electricity, the promise of a future that unfolded with every word. Daniel leaned in and kissed her again, a kiss softer this time, but no less deep, a seal on that promise. It was a kiss of possession, of complicity, and of a desire that would continue to grow between them. As the kiss deepened, Elara felt Daniel's hand slide gently up her leg, brushing her thigh beneath the water. She shivered slightly, but didn't pull away. Her own fingers entwined in the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer, wanting more of this connection, more of the intensity he brought to her life. The pool water, With its soft lighting and stunning view, it felt like an extension of that moment, a sanctuary for the passion that bound them together. Eventually, Daniel pulled back a little, the smile still on his lips, his green eyes shining with satisfaction. The sun was already high, and the day promised much more than just the stillness of this moment. Daniel's world, complex and full of dangers, awaited. And now, Elara was part of it.
She considered Daniel's question, the warmth of the sun on her skin and the salty scent of the breeze mingling with the smell of ozone and chloroform wafting from the heated water. He watched her, waiting, his honey eyes fixed on hers. She knew he wasn't simply asking about her strategies.marketingfor films and brands, but about her soul, about how she intended to navigate the world now that it had revealed itself to her.
"Social media... it's a double-edged sword, isn't it?" Elara began, her voice soft but gaining strength as the words formed. "They're platforms for showcasing the beautiful, the aspirational, the unattainable, for promoting a film or a fashion campaign. But they can also be a megaphone for what's real, for what's painful. And that's what I've been missing: the raw, unvarnished truth."
She turned to him, sliding a little further into the water, feeling his warm body beside her.I've showcased art, luxury, and dreams on the big screen, on magazine covers, in global campaigns. And yes, this is part of who I am and what made me. But there's a chasm between what I show and what the world really is. The news... it barely scratches the surface.soundbites, loopsof misfortune, a filtered spectacle that anesthetizes us. You see this up close, Daniel. You know what real war is."
Elara's green eyes darkened for an instant, reflecting images Daniel knew all too well. "**I see theflashesof war helicopters on the news, the distant explosions, the graphs of deaths and injuries. But I don't see the eyes of a child who saw his mother blown to pieces by a bomb. I don't see the hands of a father who buries his son in a plastic bag because he has no coffin. I don't see thehunger that eats away at the bones of refugees, a thirst that burns the throat of someone who ran away from everything with the clothes on their back. I don't see theoppressive silence of cities where life was ripped away. I don't see theterror in the eyes of those who were forced to leave their home, their memories, their history, without knowing if they will ever return."
She paused, taking a deep breath, and the water dripped from her bare shoulders.War is not abriefing of teleprompterThese are shattered lives, incinerated dreams, stolen childhoods. These are children who lose their parents, or worse, both, left alone, with no one, in a world that has suddenly become a field of ruins. Children who don't know the feeling of a father's embrace or a mother's warmth. Children who grow up with the sound of gunshots and screams as their soundtrack, not lullabies. They have nowhere to go, no one to hold them when the nightmare returns."
"And what do we do about it?" she continued, her voice an urgent whisper. "We watch. We eat our popcorn and change the channel. But there are those who don't turn their backs. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the International Red Cross... they're there. In the field hospitals under bombardment, in the refugee camps where disease spreads faster than hope. They don't choose sides, they don't play politics. They simply treat the wounded, ease the pain, deliver water and food, offer a glimpse of humanity in the midst of hell. They are the last ray of hope for millions, and their stories, the real ones, aren't shown in the news. Because the truth is inconvenient, it's ugly. It doesn't sell toothpaste commercials."
Elara looked at Daniel, a light of determination lighting in her green eyes.What if I used these platforms not just to promote films and brands, but to tell the truth? To amplify these silenced voices? To show what MSF and the Red Cross really do, not with a cold headline, but with emotion, with the reality they face every day? My art wouldn't just be aesthetic; it would be a tool. A cry."
She slid further forward, feeling Daniel's closeness, the security he radiated.I can continue with my usual content—travel, fashion, beauty, the glamour of cinema. But what if, within that, I started to weave the narrative of these realities? Videos with astorytellingimmersive, photographs that capture the essence of human resilience amid barbarity. And then comes the part where I thought of you."
Elara took a deep breath, adrenaline starting to course through her veins. "**I have companies sponsoring me—luxury, technology, fashion brands—that want my face, my image to sell their products. They pay millions for apost, for a video. What if I challenged them? What if I said, 'Okay, you want my reach, my audience? So let's use this for something bigger.'
She looked at him intensely.What if I proposed that, instead of all the money going to me, 80% of the sponsorship amount would go directly to these institutions—MSF, the Red Cross, or others Daniel approved, that you know truly make a difference and have integrity. And the other 20% would go to me, to support production, the crew, travel costs, everything necessary to create high-quality content that can truly impact."