Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!-Chapter 350: Title : Proposal (1)

....

June 7, 2015 | Evening.

The [HP: GOF] was released a week ago.

The red carpet had been rolled up, the press had filed their stories, the cast and crew had dispersed to their respective after-parties. Hollywood was yet again being stormed by the most famous franchise for the decades.

But Regal Seraphsail wasn’t at any after-party.

He was standing in the lobby of the Chinese Theatre at 9:47 PM, checking his watch for the third time in as many minutes.

"She will be here." Darren said from beside him, trying to be reassuring.

"Gosh... I am actually nervous."

Darren laughed. "Seriously? It’s honestly refreshing to see you pacing like someone about to pitch their first short film."

Regal opened his mouth "Actually that would have been much easier than this."

Darren glanced at his shoes. "True. You were definitely more confident on your first day as a director than you are right now."

Samantha appeared from the hallway, phone in hand. "Gwendolyn just texted, five minutes out. Traffic on Highland backed up more than expected."

"Sigh..." Regal exhaled.

Darren and Samantha exchanged glances.

"Regal." Samantha said, stepping closer, her tone soft but steady. "She loves you."

He nodded once. "Yeah. She does."

"Then you already have your answer." She replied. "Stop acting like you don’t."

Before Regal could respond, headlights swept across the lobby windows.

A car pulled up to the curb - the one Regal had sent.

His heart kicked into a higher gear.

"That’s our cue." Darren was already moving toward the back entrance. "Everything’s ready. The timing’s perfect."

"You’ve got this." Samantha added, squeezing his shoulder. "Just breathe and be yourself. That’s all she wants."

They disappeared down the hallway, leaving Regal alone in the lobby, dressed in his best suit, trying to remember how to breathe normally.

From their position in the hallway, Darren and Samantha paused, looking back.

"Honestly." Darren murmured. "This actually makes him feel more human."

Samantha nodded, her own eyes a bit misty. "She’s the only person who does this to him. The only one who can get past all those walls he puts up. I’m so glad he found her."

Darren’s expression shifted, something complicated crossing his features. "At least he’s brave enough to try. To actually fight for what he wants."

There was weight in those words, layers of meaning. "Not everyone does that."

The comment lingered a moment longer than necessary. He didn’t name anyone, but he didn’t have to.

Samantha understood who he meant, even if Simon himself had never said anything out loud. Some things didn’t need to be spoken to be obvious.

Darren let it drop. He wasn’t trying to stir anything up - just nudging reality in the right direction, as he saw it–

"Come on. We need to be in position."

....

Back in the lobby, the doors opened.

Gwendolyn stepped inside, and Regal felt the air leave his lungs.

She wore a deep blue dress that caught the lobby lights, her hair swept back, and when she saw the empty theatre, her expression shifted from confusion to amused recognition.

"Hi." she said, that smile playing at her lips - the one that always undid him. Then she looked around the deserted lobby. "Let me guess. You did it again?"

Despite his nerves, Regal smiled. "I am consistent if nothing else."

"At this point, it’s our own ritual I guess..." she said, amused.

And it was their tradition. After every [Harry Potter] film release, no matter how chaotic the night, no matter how many people wanted his attention, Regal arranged this: a private screening. Just the two of them. The way it had started.

[Harry Potter] wasn’t just a franchise to them. It was the reason they had met. The thread around which their entire lives had woven themselves.

"You know." Gwendolyn said as she reached him. "The first time you suggested this, I thought you had completely lost your sense of proportion."

"You called it ’an egregious misuse of resources,’ if I recall correctly."

"I did. And I stand by it." Her eyes sparkled with affection. "Renting out an entire theatre for two people is objectively ridiculous."

Regal held up his hands in mock surrender. "Then allow me to justify it: what else am I supposed to do with all this money?"

"That’s fine." Gwendolyn tilted her head, studying his face with that perceptive look she got when she knew something was up. "But... What’s different about tonight?"

"Nothing’s different."

Her eyebrow lifted slightly. "You don’t usually lie this badly."

"Badly?"

She smiled. "...and you look a bit distracted too?"

Regal held her gaze for a moment, then offered his arm. "We can unpack that later. The movie starts in three minutes."

Another weak attempt.

The theatre was closed to the public tonight. There was no audience, only the two of them. If the movie was starting in three minutes, it was because he had arranged it that way.

She let out a soft laugh and slipped her hand through his arm, allowing him to lead her down the silent corridor toward Theatre Seven.

Regal held her gaze, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. For a moment, he considered telling her everything right there in the lobby.

Instead, he offered his arm. "Come on. Let me show you something first, then we will watch the film."

Her eyes narrowed with curiosity, but she took his arm. "Now I know something’s different. We always watch the movie first."

"Humor me?"

"Always."

He guided her through the empty corridors, but instead of heading straight to Theatre Seven, he took a detour toward the main auditorium.

"Where are we going?" Gwendolyn asked.

"You will see."

He opened a door to one of the small VIP lounges - spaces usually reserved for special guests during premieres. This one had been transformed.

Soft lighting illuminated photographs covering the walls, photos of them and their journey.

Gwendolyn’s hand flew to her mouth.

"Regal..."

There was a photo from their first meeting - Gwendolyn stepping into the room in attire that was far from formal. A crisp white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, paired with a black mini skirt that ended high on her mid-thigh.

She wore no shoes, only sheer black pantyhose, her toes pressing lightly against the tiled floor.

Regal still remembered exactly why she had been dressed like that. Yet, in that moment, his mind had managed to register only one simple fact: she was beautiful.

"Why is this here? I feel embarrassed just looking at it..."

"No. It’s cute and sexy too." He gave her a thumbs-up.

Next to it, a candid shot from the Philosopher’s Stone set, both of them reviewing a scene, her hand on his shoulder as she pointed at something in the script.

Chamber of Secrets premiere - them on the red carpet, him whispering something that made her laugh so hard she had to grab his arm for support.

Prisoner of Azkaban - a stolen moment backstage, her adjusting his tie before an interview, the intimacy of the gesture captured perfectly.

Goblet of Fire - on the premiere night, just a few days ago, both of them holding hands while watching the audience reactions.

And scattered between these official photos were personal ones.

Her asleep in his office chair, his jacket draped over her shoulders.

Him teaching her about camera lenses while she pretended to be interested. Both of them on his couch, her feet in his lap, completely at ease.

"I have been collecting these for years." Regal said softly. "Waiting for the right moment."

Gwendolyn walked along the wall, touching each frame gently. "This is... Our whole story."

"Not the whole story. Just the beginning."

She turned to him, tears already gathering. "Regal, what—"

"Come here." He took her hand, leading her to a small screen set up at the end of the lounge. "I want you to see something."

He pressed play.

The screen came to life with a simple title card: Our Story

What followed was a video montage - not the polished, professional cut he would show her later, but something more intimate. Home videos, behind-the-scenes footage, moments captured on phone cameras.

Young Gwendolyn, barely in her twenties, passionately defended his manuscript in a publishing meeting.

Regal’s first day on set, looking completely overwhelmed until Gwendolyn appeared with coffee and that grounding smile.

Quiet moments between film shoots - walking through London together, arguing good-naturedly about character motivations, stealing glances when they thought no one was watching.

The video was only five minutes long, but it encompassed seven years of their lives.

When it ended, Gwendolyn was openly crying.

"You made this?"

"With some help from Samantha and Maggie." Regal admitted. "Both PA of ours have been collecting footage for months."

"It’s beautiful." Gwendolyn wiped her eyes. "But I don’t understand. Why show me this now? We’re supposed to watch the movie—"

"We will." Regal said. "But first, I need to tell you something."

He took both her hands in his.

"Five years ago, you took a chance on a story about a boy wizard. You didn’t just publish it - you fought for it. You believed in it when you had no reason to, when I was just another aspiring author with big dreams and no credentials."

"The story was good—"

"Let me finish." he said gently. "Please."

She nodded, squeezing his hands.

"That decision changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. It isn’t about success, films, fame or any of that. But because it brought me to you."

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

"You’ve called Harry Potter ’our baby’ for years, and you are right. It is ours. We built it together - you with your editorial insight, me with my vision, both of us learning how to translate magic from page to screen. But somewhere along the way, this partnership became something more."

"Regal—"

"I love you, Gwendolyn. I love how you call me out when I am being impossible. I love how you fall asleep in my office because you refuse to leave until I do. I love how you understand what I am trying to say even when I can’t find the words. I love that you’ve been patient with my obsessions, that you have made me better without ever asking me to be different."

He paused, searching her face.

"We have sat through four private screenings in Theatre Seven, in the same seats every time, watching our story grow. And I don’t want to watch any more of them - or anything else - without you beside me."

Gwendolyn’s breath caught.

"So before we go watch the movie." Regal continued. "I have one question."

He released one of her hands to reach into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small velvet box.

Her free hand flew to her mouth.

"Gwendolyn Oulworth." Regal said, his voice shaking slightly as he opened the box, "Will you marry me?"

The ring inside was perfect - elegant and understated, a single stone that caught the soft lighting like starlight.

For a moment, she couldn’t speak and even breathe.

Then she laughed - that wonderful, joyful sound - and pulled him into a crushing hug.

"Yes." She said against his shoulder. "Yes, you absolute romantic fool. Yes. Obviously yes."

Regal wrapped his arms around her, relief and joy flooding through him in equal measure.

She held out her left hand, and with trembling fingers, Regal slipped the ring onto her finger.

It fit perfectly.

"I had it sized three times." he said. "Seren helped."

"Of course she did." Gwendolyn admired the ring, then looked back at him with shining eyes. "I love you. So much."

"I love you too."

She kissed him then - soft and sweet and full of promise.

When they finally broke apart, Gwendolyn glanced at the door. "So... are we actually watching the movie now, or was that just a clever ruse?"

Regal smiled. "Oh, we’re watching the movie. But there might be a few more surprises."

Her eyes widened. "More? What else could you possibly–"

"Come on." He offered his arm again. "Trust me?"

"Always."

....

From the projection booth, a small group watched through the narrow glass window.

"Well." Darren said quietly. "He didn’t faint. I consider that a win."

.

....

[To be continued...]

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