The No-Romance Rule

After a week spent photographing customers for Valentine’s Day, Michelle wants an evening with no romantic expectations attached. An Anti-Valentine’s party with a strict no-romance rule seems perfectly suited to the mood. Then an intriguing blonde arrives, and the boundary that made the event appealing becomes much harder to respect. This short prequel to Departure from the Script introduces a connection at the moment a night off begins turning into something else. Set within Jae’s Hollywood series, it can also be read on its own, offering a brief encounter shaped by attraction, curiosity, and the inconvenience of meeting someone interesting precisely when romance is supposed to be off the table.