Dave rubs the back of his neck. “Like I said. The negative press is turning potential viewers away.”
Gray shrugs. “Wasn’t thinking about the film’s publicity when it was leaked.”
“Bullshit,” Reynolds says, but he’s still looking at his phone and doesn’t seem mad. I wonder how many meetings like this he deals with daily. “Video like that? Had to be released on purpose.”
“It doesn’t matter either way,” Dave says, tapping the table. “The consequences are the same. Write Anything is becoming a joke. Online, in the news.”
“That’s what we get for hiring him, I suppose,” Reynolds mutters. I have the sense that he was never really on board with Logan Gray being the film’s star. “Can’t hire the bad boy archetype and not expect him to act like the bad boy archetype. Would’ve been better with Phillip Desmond.” Phillip Desmond: another up-and-coming actor, but he’s always felt a little expected to me, with his blonde hair and blue eyes and empty smile. My biggest insecurity is that I’m not much different from Phillip. If he’d been hired instead of Gray, the film would’ve been boring. Phillip and I wouldn’t have had any sort of chemistry.
Not that Gray and I have any sort of chemistry.
But, well—I have to admit, he is attractive. And feeling attraction isn’t always the sort of thing that’s easy to act out on-screen.
“Sorry,” Paola says, hands gripped in her lap so tightly I can see her biceps clenching. “I’m not sure what the purpose of this meeting is, exactly.”
We—the four of us—look at Dave and Reynolds. Dave looks at Reynolds. Reynolds finally slips his phone into his jacket’s inner pocket.
“We need to get the publicity of this film back on track. After that interview Gray did, calling golden boy here a shitty actor, everyone’s decided that Gray hates Matthew. Not great, when they’re supposed to be in love on-screen.”
“Get to the point,” Gray says under his breath.
Reynolds glares at him. “We need you two to start up a public relationship.”
The silence that follows might just last a full minute.
It takes me a second to process what he’s saying. As an actor, I’ve been trained to figure out emotions quickly—to pinpoint them, figure out where I feel them in my body, make sure they’re being expressed organically. But now? My mouth opens and closes silently.
Gray’s snort interrupts the quiet. “Seriously?”
“We’ve been having meetings with publicity to figure this out. We agreed you’d help each other,” Dave says. His tone is more delicate. “Matthew has a softness to him. He’s got that Southern charm thing going on. All manners, politeness. If you start to date each other, that could affect your image, too,” he tells Gray. “People will likely start to feel you’re being—er—saved. Evangelized in a way. That you’re starting to change, and that Matt’s helping you.”
Audrey is thoughtful. “That might not be a bad idea.”
Paola might be nervous, coming into a big meeting like this, but I hired her for a reason. “But why should Mattie—sorry, Matthew—agree to something like that?” she asks. Her voice only quivers a little. “I mean, the opposite is possible too, isn’t it? His image might…” She hesitates, probably not wanting to offend Gray.
“We thought about that, too,” Dave says. He shrugs a little. “No offense, kid, but some early response to you has suggested you might be a little boring. You’re just…too good, you know what I mean?”
I know exactly what he means. I’ve seen that response also—and I can’t blame anyone for thinking it. I am boring in comparison to someone like Gray. I’ve wished I could figure out how to break out of my shell more. Be more spontaneous, not care so much about what people think of me. If I could be more exciting, then I might be able to break out into different roles also. I’m honestly a little jealous of people like Gray, who give zero fucks—just a little. “No offense taken,” I say.
Gray rolls his eyes. “So, what? I’m supposed to make him edgy? Interesting, exciting? One of us has the harder job here.”
“Fucking hell, Gray,” Dave snaps. “Just stop being an asshole for one minute and listen. This is the only compromise we could come to, all right?”
His meaning is clear.
Audrey’s face is pinched. She leans into Gray and whispers—actually whispers this time. I only hear a word here and there. “One shot…last chance…your father.”
Gray’s expression doesn’t change. He looks more like a sullen teenager than he ever has. I’ve read articles about the lives of former child stars—how most of them never actually got much of a chance to grow up. “Fine,” he says.
Dave’s satisfied. He looks at me, waiting for my response now.
I wish I had more of a chance to think it over and talk about it with Paola. I’ve heard about celebrities who do this, sometimes: engage in these fake relationships, tricking the public for mutual benefits in fame or success. I heard a rumor that Pete Davidson was a favorite fake boyfriend for a few years. I just never thought I would be someone to consider this. It’d be the role of a century, pretending to be in love with a jackass like Gray. We’d probably have our own publicity for this particular off-screen film: going on dates, talking about how we fell for each other in interviews…
“Can I think about it?”
“No,” Reynolds says. “Here and now. I need to give Vanessa an answer.” Vanessa Stone, the boss of the EPs and owner of the production company. I’ve met her once, from across the room. She’s terrifying.
“What if I say no?”
“Then this fucker is out,” Reynolds says, not bothering to look at Gray. “We’ll find a replacement before the week is done.”
Gray doesn’t meet my eye. I have the power to get him fired, and after the way he’s treated me? I’m tempted. But…there’s another part of me. The part that, despite it all, still admires Logan Gray the actor, even if I can’t stand him as a person. I know I’m not at the skill level I want to be. There’s so much I could learn from him, being his co-star. And, honestly, without Logan as one of the leads, this film might just be lost. They could hire a Phillip Desmond--–type, someone who acts just as well as me. Even with the best writing and directing in the world, the film could fall flat. That’d ultimately affect me, too, and my own dream.
I’ve got to put my feelings aside for this one. “All right,” I say with a nod. “I agree. Gray and I will…go out.”
“More than go out,” Reynolds says gruffly, grabbing his phone again. He stands up, pushing out his chair, and leaves without another word. Wow. LA, huh?
I can see the relief in Audrey’s gaze. She’s trying to radiate gratitude to me silently. Thank you, she mouths. Gray still won’t look at me. I don’t think he likes that I had so much power over his role and his future.
Paola watches me closely. “Are you sure?” she whispers.