Chapter 47: The Gucci Campaign
The day of the Gucci campaign finally arrived.
And Liliana was very nervous. Not because it was her first campaign or she was working with a luxury brand. It’s also not because dozens of cameras would be pointed at her.
The true reason was because she would be working with Chris. Her husband, who looked far too happy this morning.
Inside the company vehicle, Chris sat beside her with a plastered smile on his face.
Liliana narrowed her eyes. "Why are you smiling?"
Chris looked innocent. "I always smile."
"No, you don’t."
"I do."
"You look suspicious."
Chris laughed. "You look nervous."
Liliana immediately looked away, confirming his accusation.
Chris chuckled. "Lily."
"What?"
"We’re pretending to be in love."
Liliana stared at him. "That’s exactly why I’m nervous."
Chris laughed so hard that even Robin nearly smiled.
When they arrived, the entire production team was already waiting.
The photographers, directors, stylists, makeup artists, assistants and lighting crews were all busy with the preparation.
The moment Chris stepped out of the vehicle, greetings immediately followed.
Then all eyes shifted toward Liliana. The woman who had become the industry’s newest mystery.
The creative director approached them.
"Welcome."
The woman smiled.
"We’ve been waiting for you."
After a short briefing, they were escorted toward separate dressing rooms.
Liliana’s heart raced. Because this was real. And it’s actually happening.
Inside her dressing room, several outfits were already prepared. Each one was more beautiful than the last.
The first look was a casual Gucci outfit.
A cream-colored knitted cardigan paired with a white fitted top and light beige wide-leg trousers.
The outfit was simple, elegant and sophisticated. The kind that made someone look effortlessly beautiful.
Meanwhile, Chris wore a fitted white shirt beneath a light brown Gucci jacket paired with dark trousers and white sneakers.
The combination made him look handsome without appearing overly formal.
The creative director nodded approvingly.
"Perfect."
Then came the explanation.
The campaign concept.
Love.
Liliana blinked. "What?"
The creative director smiled. "The campaign is about modern romance."
Chris immediately became interested while Liliana became worried.
The director continued. "You’ll be portraying a couple in love."
Silence.
"Any questions?" the director asked.
Chris immediately answered. "No."
Liliana glared at Chris because she felt betrayed, making him even more delighted.
The shooting began.
And from the very first photograph, something became obvious.
The chemistry was natural. And neither of them needed to act. Everything was effortless and real.
Everyone immediately noticed.
One photographer whispered, "They look like an actual couple."
Another nodded. "They’re making our job too easy."
The first location was a charming coffee shop. The scene was simple. Just a casual coffee date.
Chris sat across from Liliana. Their fingers brushed while reaching for the same coffee cup. They laughed, talked, shared desserts and exchanged glances.
The photographer lowered his camera briefly. "Are they acting?"
Nobody knew. But everyone was either happy or curious about the pair.
The second location was a city park.
This time, they rode matching bicycles beneath rows of trees. The sunlight filtered through the leaves and the atmosphere felt warm and relaxed.
Chris intentionally rode beside her while occasionally teasing her and making her laugh.
Every genuine smile became another perfect photograph.
The creative director looked emotional.
"This is exactly what we wanted."
Then came the third location. It was the beach.
The ocean stretched endlessly before them. The wind carried the scent of saltwater. Sunlight reflected beautifully across the waves.
The concept was playful.
Liliana ran barefoot across the sand, laughing and smiling. Looking happier than she had in years.
Then Chris chased after her. It wasn’t because the director asked him to. But he wanted to.
The resulting photographs looked less like a campaign and more like stolen moments from a real relationship.
By lunchtime, everyone was already convinced that the two were dangerous together.
The fourth location was a bookstore.
They sat side by side reading novels. while occasionally showing each other interesting pages, laughing and sharing recommendations.
The fifth location was a flower market.
Chris helped Liliana choose flowers. Then secretly bought the ones she liked which was not part of the script.
The photographer immediately took pictures anyway.
The sixth location was a rooftop garden overlooking the city.
The sunset painted the sky orange and gold. The scene required them to stand close together while admiring the skyline.
The seventh location was a night market.
They shared street food, walked through colorful stalls and played carnival games.
Chris intentionally lost one game. Then won another just to get Liliana a stuffed toy.
Again, it wasn’t part of the script.
The eighth location was an art gallery.
The elegant atmosphere perfectly matched Gucci’s image. The photographs appeared sophisticated. Refined. Timeless.
The ninth location was a luxury hotel lounge.
The concept focused on quiet intimacy. Just a casual conversation showing comfort and trust.
The photographer barely needed to give instructions.
And finally, the tenth location.
A private rooftop under the city lights. The skyline sparkled behind them.
The evening breeze gently moved Liliana’s hair. The atmosphere felt magical.
The final pose required them to stand closer together.
Chris looked at her and Liliana looked back.
Neither spoke.
Then the camera flashed. Again... And again.
The director slowly lowered her clipboard. "That’s the cover."
Nobody disagreed. Because after an entire day together, one thing had become obvious.
Chris and Liliana weren’t pretending.
The campaign was supposed to be about love. The directors thought the photoshoot would need another day or two to finish the campaign.
Afterall, pretending to be in love was not easy to pull off. However, Chris and Liliana did it without any problem.
"The two were born natural actors." One of the directors said. "They’re really good."
But for the others, they felt something different. Chris and Liliana didn’t look like they were pretending. It looked real.
"Maybe because Chris publicly admitted he likes her." One of the crew commented.
"I think we’re done!" One of the directors shouted after reviewing the photographs.
Then he smiled. "This would blow up." He said while staring at the cover photo.
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