Suddenly, I Am Rich

Gray stood completely frozen. He stared at her in silence as though his brain refused to process the simple reality standing in front of him.

Luna chuckled softly, tilting her head just a little.

”Are you going to let me in, or should we just stand here all night?”

That snapped him back to reality.

”Ah... right,” Gray quickly stepped aside. He cleared his throat and gestured inside his waiting room. He smiled to cover his embarrassment.

”Please, come in.”

Luna’s heels clicked lightly against the floor as she walked past him. Her presence filled the waiting room in an instant. Mara, who was still lounging in her seat, quickly stood up to give the woman a seat.

Gray shut the door carefully, trying to compose himself. His heart was hammering again on his chest, louder than it was beating on the stage.

”Thank you for waiting for me,” Luna muttered. Her tone was warm, and her voice was really soothing without that formality from the interview.

She glanced around the room briefly before turning her gaze back to Gray.

”I just wanted to speak to you without all the cameras and noise.”

Gray smiled at it. He was unsure of what to do with his hands, so he shoved them into his pockets.

”Of course, of course. Honestly, I’m surprised... I didn’t think you’d... uh, want to.”

Luna laughed when she heard the uncertainty in Gray’s voice.

”It seems like you’re underestimating yourself, Gray. The interview is really refreshing. I meet so many people every day, but you really got my attention. You spoke with honesty, and I could tell the audience felt that.”

’Gray... calm yourself. You can’t look indecent in front of your idol...” Her words left him momentarily speechless. He fought the urge to widen his smile because of it.

”I guess... I just didn’t want to waste the chance. I mean, not every day you get to talk to a person like you.”

Mara coughed into her hand, clearly trying to hide her amusement. Gray shot her a quick glance, afraid that he might have said something wrong. However, Luna only seemed to be amused by his honesty.

”I appreciate that,” she said softly, her eyes locked on him in a way that made him even more self-conscious.

”But tonight, it wasn’t about me. You really did a great job today. I hope you know that..”

Gray blinked, unsure how to respond. Compliments weren’t something he knew how to handle... especially coming from her.

”That means a lot, thank you. I don’t really know if I deserve it, though. I’m just trying to make things work. I’m not even sure if I’m doing it right.”

”And that’s exactly why I think you’re special,” Luna countered smoothly. ”People relate to your background. Trust me. You don’t realize yet how many lives you might end up touching just by being you.”

The words sank in slowly to his mind, leaving Gray with a warm feeling in his chest that was difficult to put into words. He didn’t trust himself to say much, so he nodded, grateful.

Luna’s smile softened at that.

”By the way... I could tell you were nervous at the start. But once you started speaking, you seemed completely in your element. It was admirable.”

”If I’m being honest, the only reason I got through it was because you made it easy. You... have this way of making people feel comfortable.” Gray scratched the back of his neck

For the first time that night, Luna’s composure faltered just slightly. A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she let out a light laugh.

”That’s very kind of you, Gray. Thank you.”

The room fell into a brief silence after. On the side, Mara could only watch them. She was clearly amused by how he events were unfolding right before his eyes.

She couldn’t believe that Gray could be all humble and meek like that. It almost made her laugh.

”Um, by the way,” Gray, who was getting awkward in the silence, tried to find a way to break it. ”Would it be alright if I asked for a photo? Just one. I mean, it’s not every day I get to meet someone popular.”

”Of course. I’d be offended if you didn’t.” Luna’s lips curved into a playful smile.

His heart skipped a beat at that.

As he fumbled for his phone, Mara stood up, grinning. ”Mr. Adamsn, I’ll take it for you. We wouldn’t it to be blurry because your hands are shaking.”

Gray shot her a look, but handed over the phone anyway. Mara laughed, gesturing for them to stand side by side.

Gray moved closer. He was careful not to invade Luna’s space too much, but she stepped in naturally, closing the gap between them without hesitation. He could smell the faint trace of perfume on her.

She smelled clean, elegant, but warm.

”Ready?” Mara teased.

”Yes...” Gray felt his ears burning hotter the closer Luna leaned.

The camera clicked once, twice, then a third time as Mara took her sweet time taking shots.

”There we go,” she said before glancing at Gray to give him a quick teasing smile.

Gray rolled his eyes, reaching to take his phone back, but Luna chuckled softly, stealing a quick glance at the screen.

”Not bad at all. You look good in these, Gray.”

That comment nearly made him choke on his own breath. He coughed lightly and scratched the back of his neck.

”Thanks. You, too, of course. You always look good.”

Mara muffled her laugh behind her hand, clearly entertained by his awkwardness. It was her first time laughing like this when talking to people whom she just met for the first time.

Gray was really interested in her eyes.

”Gray, do you mind if I ask for your number?” After a moment, she tilted her head slightly.

The words hit him harder than the applause earlier. His brain lagged, the world going momentarily blank.

”My number?”

”Yes.” She smiled, completely casual, as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on him.

”It’d be nice to stay in touch. Of course, if that’s alright with you.”

Gray forced himself not to show how shocked he was by that question. He could practically feel Mara’s gaze on the side of him, waiting to see how he’d react.

He quickly unlocked his phone, handing it to Luna.

”Of course. I... don’t mind.”

Luna’s fingers tapped lightly across his screen as she saved her own number. She then called herself to lock him in.

”There. Now we won’t lose it.”

Gray peeked at the contact name on his phone when it buzzed.

[Luna M.]

’This has to be some kind of dream.’ His chest tightened.

”One more thing,” Luna said as she handed back his phone. ”Would you mind if I posted one of these photos? Just a little thank-you note for tonight. It might give you a bit more visibility too.”

Gray blinked, still halfway between disbelief and shock.

”Yeah, sure. I don’t mind at all.”

”Good.” Her smile widened slightly, ”I’ll choose the one where you don’t look like you’re about to faint.”

Mara snorted out loud. Gray sighed, shaking his head at both of them.

”You two are enjoying this way too much.”

”Maybe,” Luna teased. Then, her expression softened again, more personal this time. ”Gray... you really were wonderful tonight. If you’re free sometime soon, maybe we could grab lunch? Just the two of us. I’d like to continue our conversation, and get to know you more without camera.”

Gray’s heart skipped several beats at once. He tried to play it cool, tried not to let the stunned expression take over his face.

”Lunch... yeah, I’d like that. Just tell me when you’re free.”

”Perfect.” Luna gave a final, gentle smile, and for a moment, the room felt smaller, like she’d drawn the entire atmosphere around her.

”I’ll text you soon, then.”

Gray nodded, still gripping his phone a little too tightly, his voice coming out softer than he intended.

”Alright... I’ll be waiting.”

Luna’s eyes softened when she heard of Gray’s answer. Before he could register it, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.

For half a second, Gray just froze. His body locked up, his mind screaming ’don’t screw this up’. Then, almost instinctively, his arms moved, returning the embrace that she gave him.

She felt warm, softer than he’d imagined. The hug didn’t feel professional. Instead, it felt personal, genuine, as though she really meant it.

”Thank you again, Gray,” Luna murmured before pulling back. Her smile stayed on her face.

”I’ll see you soon.”

And just like that, she turned around gracefully toward the door. Mara, for once, stayed quiet too, watching the scene with raised brows.

Luna opened the door, gave them both a parting wave, and slipped out into the hallway. The faint sound of her heels clicking faded little by little until silence returned in the waiting room.

Gray remained standing where she’d left him, staring at the door as if it had just swallowed her whole. Even if she was already gone, he could still feel her hug and smell her scent.

”Well... damn.” Mara finally broke the silence with a quiet whistle.

Gray blinked, his mouth opening, but no words came out. His chest rose and fell unevenly. He rubbed his face with both hands, still unable to believe what had just happened.

===

A/N:

It has been long overdue, but thank you to all the readers who have been continuously dropping Golden Tickets in the novel!

I will try my best to mention all your names in tomorrow’s Chapter. Maybe I’ll split it into parts so the Author’s Note won’t be that long.