Kim Namjoon sat on a chair across from the sofa where Anna was sobbing. He held her hand urging her to calm down.

"It-It was like I was talking to a– to a stranger," she said through her tears. "He- he kept insulting me and blaming me and..." Another loud sob escaped her.

Namjoon slid next to her on the sofa and placed his arm around her shoulders.

"Anna, breathe. Just breathe, please," he said, patting her gently. "I know you're shocked. I know you're hurt, but it's not the end of the world."

Anna sniffed loudly, and he reached for a box of tissues on the coffee table and offered them to her. She pulled a tissue and held it up to her face.

"It was so, so awful to hear him say those things to me," she hiccoughed. "Wh- Why would he say that? He's supposed to be my friend. He practically called me a whore."

Namjoon gave her a side hug. "Honestly, I don't know Kim Seokjin. I don't know why he'd say that to you. But you've told me how you've been friends since you were children, and I know you wouldn't have remained friends with a jerk all these years. Maybe things aren't as bad as they seem right now."

"I- I guess fame changed him," she said, dabbing at her eyes with the tissue.

"Yeah, people say that," he nodded, "but I think it's the people around him who changed him. I had a long talk with Abe Lewison, and it was Norma King who put all this into play. She is the one who pressured everyone to let you go. She has a lot of pull in the industry. No doubt she had people spying on you on the set. They were able to fabricate vile stories that sounded convincing to most people, I'm sure. She probably pressured Seokjin as well."

"But Jin is not most people. He was supposed to be my friend. Friends believe and support each other. I've always been on his side. I've always been in his corner from the very beginning. I was the one who encouraged him to meet with the people who scouted him," she said. "We're supposed to be friends. I know this isn't him."

"I know you think it isn't him, sweetheart," he replied softly. "But Seokjin is an actor who got his big break because of Norma King. He can't very well just go against her. I hear that she dotes on him, that she's really crazy about him. His feelings for her have clouded his judgment. I'm sure when he has had time to think about it, he'll reach out to you and apologize."

Anna shrugged, not sure whether she believed any of that. It still hurt too much. Jin's treatment of her had driven an icicle through her heart and frozen her love for him. She never thought that could happen.

"Now dry your eyes because I need to talk to you about something important," he said. He retracted his arm from her shoulders and placed his hands on his lap.

She took another tissue and blew her nose. After a few breaths, she felt more in control. She looked at Namjoon curiously, wondering why he seemed nervous.

He took several deep breaths before turning back to her with a shaky smile. "Okay. Three things. One, I already have another role for you. It's a low-budget indie, but the script is tight, and the supporting role is perfect for you. Trust me on this."

She nodded. "Okay, I do trust you. Two?"

"Two, I'm transferring your representation over to our top agent Rebecca Foley because--"

"What? Why?" she interrupted him.

He smiled indulgently. "Because her area of expertise is movie contracts. I do feel responsible for this current fiasco because my area has always been modeling contracts. Becca really knows her stuff. This'll be good for you."

Anna took a breath. "What happened wasn't your fault, but okay, I'll work with Rebecca. But what will you do now? I don't want you to leave me. I'll be lost."

Namjoon took another deep breath. "And three. I will no longer be your agent because, well, because I want to be your boyfriend."

"Namjoon, I don't know what to say." She looked at his face to see if he was perhaps kidding. Was this real?

He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. "Anna, by now you can't be oblivious to my affection for you. I'm so happy when I'm with you, and I want to make you happy, too. You deserve the world. I feel like a new man, seeing things in a different light, all because of you. You're funny and smart and so very kind. Hell, you're still defending Seokjin after what he did because you always find the good in others."

"Well, I don't know about Norma King," she quipped, and they both smiled. She sighed as the tension eased.

"So?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

"Namjoon, I do like you," she said. "Very much."

"But could you love me?" he asked and squeezed her hand. "Maybe in time?"

Anna could see the sincerity and affection in his eyes. Namjoon was a good man, a decent, caring man. She knew he would never let her down. Not like— No! She would not compare him to Jin for good or bad. She hoped Namjoon was right about Seokjin apologizing to her one day, but she had to stop dwelling on him. It was time for a new chapter in the book of her life.

"I- I need a little time," she whispered.

"Take all the time you need." He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. She let herself get lost in the kiss, which was a salve for her broken heart.