Kiss Me if You Can

"Hello, Mr. Miller. It’s been a while. How have you been?"
As soon as Chase appeared in the office, the waiting editor-in-chief approached him with a warm greeting. Chase gave a brief glance without any particular reaction and turned his head away again. It was an awkward moment anyone could have noticed, but the editor brushed it off as if it were nothing and swiftly changed the subject.

"All preparations for the shoot are complete. We'll need to get your makeup and hair done, and we’ve prepared several outfits for you to change into. The interview will take place after the shoot. The person who’ll be doing the interview with you will be here soon as well. Everyone’s waiting, so let’s get going. Anne, please guide Mr. Miller."
"Yes, this way please."
The secretary, who seemed visibly tense, quickly led the way. Behind Chase followed his manager and the rest of the staff, while Seth and Henry also started walking. As planned, Josh turned in the opposite direction with Isaac, following behind Mark. Because of the chaotic incident with fans last time, the team was already on high alert.

“We need to keep everything airtight.”
Mark had already repeated the same phrase several times. The rest of the team silently nodded, fully in agreement. The routes had already been thoroughly checked. The layout of the building and schedule were confirmed in 30-minute intervals. It was the same work they always did, yet the tension in the air was unusually thick—and all because the subject of their protection was Chase Miller.
Josh glanced briefly toward Chase. He hadn’t looked at Josh even once. From the moment he finally emerged from his room just before departure, after spending the whole day holed up, Chase had ignored him completely, as if he didn’t exist.

Acknowledging me would be even stranger.
Josh rationalized it to himself. Chase had always ignored him—and everyone else, really—so it wasn’t exactly new. Still, because of what happened the day before, it was hard not to take it personally.
That must be why Chase’s pheromone scent felt sharper than usual today. Josh tried not to read into it, brushing it off as he followed Mark toward the studio.

Not long after Chase’s group disappeared down the hall, the door suddenly opened and a man entered.
"Hey, looks like everyone's been waiting! Sorry, sorry I’m late!"
At the overly boisterous voice, all eyes turned toward the man. Everyone in the room barely managed to suppress a collective groan.

The man’s name was Duncan Conrad. He was a model-turned-actor who’d recently declared a full switch to acting. True to his modeling background, he had a tall build and striking good looks, but unfortunately, his acting skills did not match his appearance.
Even so, he was steadily building a fandom and, with his management company’s support, assembling a surprisingly decent filmography. At this rate, it was widely assumed that he would reach a respectable level of success.
That is—if he could just keep his mouth shut.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."
His manager followed behind, apologizing with a smile. Then, in a lowered voice, he added cautiously,
"Don’t provoke Chase too much, Duncan."

Despite the warning, Duncan walked off, either not hearing or pretending not to. His manager was always worried because Duncan’s desire to gain fame often pushed him over the line. And today’s counterpart was Chase Miller. Just thinking of the rumors surrounding him made it impossible to predict what might happen if Duncan pushed the wrong buttons.
But for Duncan, desperate to make a name for himself, this was a golden opportunity. Chase Miller—just being mentioned in the same breath as him would multiply his visibility tenfold. His manager could already tell that Duncan would do whatever it took to provoke Chase.
Let’s just hope nothing goes wrong.
With a worried expression, he hurried after Conrad.

"Does Miller know that I’m shooting with him?"
Duncan asked, barely managing to suppress his excitement. His manager responded awkwardly.
"Well, I mean, of course it’s been mentioned, but…"

Duncan knew exactly what that vague ending meant. Neither Chase nor the public had ever acknowledged Duncan’s existence. That fact always poked at his insecurities.
In a recent street interview, only one in twenty people recognized him—if that—and even then, it was just a hesitant “You look familiar…” On the same day that interview aired, the news exploded with reports of injuries caused by crowds trying to see Chase. The envy had eaten away at him until he could barely sleep for days. From that moment on, Duncan had come to despise Chase with every fiber of his being.
This time, I’ll make them remember.

He had been gritting his teeth, waiting for this day. He would nail the photoshoot and the interview. Chase Miller was a perfect gossip target. What’s more, Chase had just been cast in a major role for a highly anticipated movie. Duncan was also in that film, playing a major supporting role. Their schedules would inevitably overlap—which made things even better.
People would start seeing Duncan as Chase’s equal, his rival. And once his name got out there, the world would finally recognize that Chase Miller was nothing compared to Duncan Conrad.
They’ll regret not knowing who I was.

With a pounding heart, he entered the studio. And the moment he delivered his rehearsed opening line, Duncan already believed he’d won. The tense expressions of the people around him didn’t even register. Arriving late on purpose had been a calculated move. Now that all eyes were on him, his self-consciousness inflated even more.
"You’re late, Duncan. Please get ready quickly."
One of the waiting staff rushed over and guided him. As he followed the staff, Duncan looked around the room.

"Is Chase Miller not here yet?"
For a moment, he panicked, wondering if his grand entrance had been mistimed. The staffer responded,
"No, he arrived earlier and is getting ready. You’ll do the shoot separately, and then both of you will be interviewed together afterward. We’re short on time, so please hurry."

At her anxious tone, Duncan gave her a dazzling smile.
"Of course."
The shoot was going smoothly. Though the atmosphere remained stiff and tense, only the photographer’s voice and the occasional shutter clicks echoed through the studio. So far, everything had been uneventful. Most importantly, Chase had quietly followed directions—changing outfits, striking poses without incident.

If he could just get through the day without any mishaps, they’d be able to wrap up peacefully. And that was what everyone desperately hoped for.
"All done. That was incredible, Mr. Miller. Truly amazing."
The photographer declared the shoot over, her voice brimming with admiration. After snapping the final shot, she seemed completely taken with him. Understandable—so long as he didn’t cause trouble, Chase Miller was the most magnificent subject in the world. Unable to contain her enthusiasm, she quickly rushed over to shower him with praise.

"These are the best photos I’ve ever taken. I can’t believe I’ve captured something like this in my career. Mr. Miller, there’s not a single bad shot. I can only choose four, but… I could send you all the photos after post-processing, if you'd like. Honestly, I wish I could release all of them. It’s such a shame that people won’t get to see them—it makes me feel both frustrated and oddly superior…"
But Chase’s reaction was icy. Without even glancing at his admirer, he simply walked away. Though any other person might’ve felt embarrassed, the photographer just smiled brightly, as if she’d expected it. She immediately chased after him.
"I hope we get to do this again. There wasn’t nearly enough time. I wanted to take so many more."

As she let out a sigh and stared down at her camera, Chase’s manager quickly escorted him to the next room for the scheduled interview.
"Mr. Conrad will begin his shoot now. In the meantime, Mr. Miller’s interview will proceed. By the time that’s finished, Mr. Conrad should be done too. Then the two of you will answer a few questions together, and that’ll conclude the schedule."
Duncan would then remain for a solo interview afterward. The manager was worried—afraid Duncan would say something that would provoke Chase. It was practically a given, and everyone expected it, but they had no choice but to go through with this interview. Duncan had been cast in the same movie as Chase, which Chase had already signed on to.

Neither the production company nor the magazine could resist such an enticing combination. So long as it generated buzz, these people wouldn’t hesitate to toss their actors straight into the jaws of a shark.
Even so, if Chase had said he wouldn’t do it, they could have held it off somehow—but he didn’t. Of course, this was partly due to a small trick by his manager. Knowing that Chase had no interest in anyone but himself, the manager hadn’t properly explained who Duncan was.
It was, in a way, expected. Chase didn’t even know Duncan’s name, and only the bare minimum of information had been relayed. Just that he’d be doing a joint interview with another actor from the same film.

The manager nervously watched Chase’s expressionless face as he answered the interview questions. As the moment drew closer, his mouth felt parched. He could only hope that, at most, Chase would give Duncan a mild response—just enough to create buzz.
Finally, Duncan finished his shoot and entered the studio.
***

So this is it—finally seeing that oh-so-glorious face for myself.
Duncan sneered inwardly. All that talk about “Extreme Alpha,” but wasn’t it just a weird eye color and a slightly better-than-average face?
He’d seen Chase Miller’s face countless times in photos, but Duncan was confident he wouldn’t lose to him. He had been a top model, closing runways all over the world, and all his life, he’d never stopped receiving praise.

If that bastard weren’t an Extreme Alpha, people wouldn’t worship him like this.
Duncan was certain: Chase Miller was nothing compared to him.
With that confidence, he flung open the door without even knocking.

…What?
He froze for a second at the scent he’d never encountered before. It was sweet, so intoxicating it felt like it could melt his brain if he let himself go. He’d never smelled anything in his life that made his heart pound like this. If a perfume maker ever caught a whiff of it, they’d probably sell their soul to learn the formula.
But this wasn’t some meticulously crafted designer fragrance. The moment Duncan laid eyes on Chase Miller, he realized what the scent was.

Chase was wearing a gray suit, draped in an even darker gray coat. He was perched on a backless round chair, holding an unlit cigarette between his fingers, staring off into the distance with a hollow gaze.
Duncan forgot to breathe.
Holy shit.

His throat went dry. The face he’d seen in pictures had been a lie. No one could capture Chase’s unique aura—that overwhelming presence coexisting with a strange sense of emptiness. As Chase blinked slowly, his purple eyes flickered into view again and again, making his void-like expression stand out even more.
Is that… really Chase Miller?
Duncan stared in a daze. The fire and ambition that had been burning inside him seemed to wear down and vanish into nothing. His mind blanked out, but that scent still lingered around his nose.

All his senses felt dulled, but his heart pounded wildly. He wanted to turn away—but he couldn’t. Helpless, Duncan just stared at him.
Somewhere in the room, a camera shutter clicked. Whether the photographer had planned to shoot during the interview or just instinctively pressed the shutter without thinking, it was unclear. But when Chase ran a hand through his soft blond hair with the hand holding the cigarette, everyone in the room stopped breathing.
And in that moment, Duncan thought—if a war broke out just to claim this man, he’d understand.

At the same time, he realized the feeling gnawing at him was defeat—and clenched his teeth in rising fury.
***
I wonder if they’re done yet.

Josh walked into the studio without hesitation. He had just finished inspecting the office and the rest of the building for any suspicious items or persons. Honestly, it had been a good opportunity to escape Chase’s pheromones for a while.
As he opened the door, hoping to catch the end, the interviewer was already speaking.
"…Thank you for joining us today. Do you have any final words for your fans?"

Josh kept his steps silent, walking along the wall. He was already fully prepared to move in at a moment’s notice.
"Let’s see."
Chase Miller’s voice suddenly tickled his ear.

"I hope a lot of people come to see my new movie."
"Of course! If it’s a Chase Miller film, it’s a must-see. I’m really looking forward to it myself."
The interviewer’s enthusiastic tone contrasted with Chase’s weary, almost annoyed delivery. It sounded like things were wrapping up—but there was still one more part.

"There’s a joint interview coming up."
A manager whispered from the side. Josh nodded slightly. Should I take one more sweep around? He was about to quietly slip away, but the door had already closed. Left with no choice, he leaned against the wall and waited for the interview to end.
"So, what do you each think about your roles…?"

The interviewer asked in a casual tone. Mark stood close to Chase, ready to act at the slightest sign of danger. Isaac and Henry were guarding the vehicle outside, and Seth had the hallway. If anything happened, Seth would join in, but at this point, it was mostly down to Mark and Josh.
It was enough personnel—as long as Chase didn’t start a rampage.
It’ll be over soon. Just hang in there. Josh popped a candy into his mouth and slowly rolled it on his tongue, hoping the sweetness would dull the lingering scent of Chase. That was when Duncan opened his mouth.

"…Isn’t it kind of cliché to play a character who ruins his life out of boredom and dies in the end? It’s impactful, sure, but it’s always a supporting role. I don’t know if you remember—it’s been a while—but Mr. Miller played a similar role before, didn’t you?"
"Yes, that’s right. It was his debut film."
The interviewer chimed in, and Duncan smirked at Chase like he was mocking him.

"It was really something. I learned a lot from it, thanks to you."
"Is that so? What exactly did you learn?"
Since Chase didn’t respond, the interviewer followed up. But Duncan kept his eyes fixed on Chase as he spoke.

"Ah—I thought, ‘That’s how I should never act.’ That was the lesson."
The air in the room instantly froze. Chase still showed no change in expression. Like a doll, he stared at Duncan blankly. Duncan kept going.
"If you're shooting a movie, you should act. But Mr. Miller didn’t act at all—he just showed himself. I thought, is this a hidden-camera prank starring Chase Miller?"

There it is.
As expected, Duncan went straight for the provocation. That was the very reason the magazine had insisted on this ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) joint interview—to stir something up and get attention using Chase’s fame.
The interviewer stole a glance at Chase. Now that things were playing out as hoped, a strange fear began to creep in. They waited, anxiously, but there wasn’t a flicker of emotion in Chase’s face. He just kept staring at Duncan in silence.

Not enough of a reaction?
Both Duncan and the interviewer had the same thought. Duncan grew more irritated, while the interviewer was slightly relieved. Duncan pushed on.
"Honestly, I thought my role might suit you better. You don’t have to act, just breathe and you’re good to go, right? It’d be an easy job for you, and who would complain? You just showed your everyday self. Oh—but there was one moment that did feel like acting. You didn’t take your clothes off."

"Yes, I heard all those scenes were removed from the script before filming began."
The interviewer added. Duncan nodded with a smile.
"Such a shame. Any other newcomer wouldn’t have even imagined asking for that kind of change. But of course, the great Miller family makes it happen. Or is it because you’re an Extreme Alpha? Or because you’re an Extreme Alpha and a Miller?"

He insulted Chase with calculated precision. Every word was a jab at the idea that Chase hadn’t earned his place through talent or effort.
If you weren’t a Miller and an Extreme Alpha, you’d never have made it this far.
Duncan was shouting it with his entire body. And then he added one more twist.

"Oh—but I’m just joking, of course. I mean, surely Mr. Miller didn’t get this far just by breathing without any ability or hard work, right? Right?"
He let out a loud, hearty laugh. But Josh, watching from the wall, had gone pale.
Chase’s scent had intensified. His face hadn’t changed at all—but Josh could tell. Chase was annoyed. Josh quickly pulled out two more candies, shoved them both in his mouth, and crunched down hard with an audible crack.

Please let this end now, Josh thought.
But Duncan just kept provoking.