by Matt Cain
‘You’d better get in,’ she said to Leo, ‘and shut the door.’
The door snapped shut and he sat next to her. Through the windows she could hear the confused chatter of the paparazzi. Inside the limo there was a tense silence. Mia could feel her heart begin to flutter but she told herself she had to focus on the job ahead; after everything that had happened, she couldn’t be late for the premiere.
‘OK,’ she called to the driver. ‘You can carry on now.’
As he pulled forward, Mia and Leo sat looking at each other. She could almost feel the nervous energy bouncing between them. He loves me, she thought. He really does love me.
‘Did you mean what you said?’ she asked eventually. ‘On the card just then?’
‘Yeah, I promise, Mia – it wasn’t me who sold the story.’
He’d misunderstood her question but she wasn’t able to stop him.
‘I’ve no idea who it was,’ he rattled on. ‘Honestly, it’s been driving me mad. I even accused Ronnie earlier. And now I owe him a huge apology. I reckon I owe you one too.’
‘Oh yeah, and what’s that for?’
‘For everything I said to you yesterday.’
She looked down at her purse.
‘I was wrong, Mia,’ he went on, ‘and from now on I don’t care what I have to do but I can’t live without you.’
Just tell me you love me, she thought. Please tell me you love me. She was too nervous to say the words out loud.
‘Well I came out with some pretty horrible things as well,’ she said instead, ‘so I’m sorry too. But you really hurt me, Leo. And I just need a little time to think.’
He nodded sombrely.
‘Look, today’s insane,’ she went on. ‘How about I get this premiere out of the way and then we see how we feel? How we both feel. When we’re not being distracted by this crazy circus.’ She gestured out of the window at the paps surrounding them on all sides.
‘OK,’ Leo nodded. ‘I can wait, Mia. I can wait as long as it takes.’
As he flashed her another wonky grin, she knew that he wouldn’t have to wait very long. He wouldn’t have to wait very long at all.
*
At the bottom of the red carpet, Billy was sitting waiting in the back of his limo. He’d only been there for a couple of minutes but it had felt like an eternity. He was biting at the skin around his nails so fiercely that he actually drew blood and he told himself he needed to stop. He stretched out his hands on his knees but could see that they were still shaking.
Mia’s limo pulled up at the back of his and he knew that it was time to get out. His heart was thumping so fast that he felt dizzy and he was so gripped by panic that he felt frozen rigid, stuck to his seat. But he had to go through with this – there was no backing out now. He reached for the handle and opened the door.
As he and Mia stepped out onto the red carpet just a few yards apart, they were met by a pair of burly security guards. But nothing could protect them from the loud chorus of boos from the waiting fans. And there were thousands of them. It looked like all of Billy’s worst fears were coming true.
‘Liars!’ somebody shouted from behind the crash barriers.
Another threw an egg, which narrowly missed Billy and hit the back of his limo.
He felt more alone and exposed than he ever had in his life. And it was truly terrifying.
He stumbled towards Mia and took hold of her hand. He gave it a little squeeze and the two of them shot each other tense, steely smiles.
This was going to be horrendous.
He only hoped he could bear it.
*
Man, this looks awful.
In Mia’s office, Hector was sitting at his desk watching live TV coverage of the premiere. And things didn’t look good. He’d never seen so many fans outside a cinema and all of them seemed to be jeering and hissing. He felt sick with guilt. Poor Mia. And poor Billy.
All morning he’d been trying to reach Scott Lamont to find out if it was in fact him who’d sold the story. It was the only way to put his mind at rest. But he’d dialled the number Scott had given him and been met by a tinny voice telling him the number he’d dialled wasn’t recognized; Scott had obviously given him a decoy. He’d tried messaging him on Grindr but still there was no reply. All of which convinced Hector he must be guilty. Which meant, by extension, that the blame traced right back to him.
He turned back to the TV screen and watched as Mia and Billy walked down the red carpet and past the waiting photographers and TV crews to a deafening roar of disapproval. How could people be so cruel? And how could Mia and Billy subject themselves to this? Even as the thought entered his head he knew the answer. They had to put themselves through this – if they didn’t they stood to lose too much.
Just then his phone gave a little ping and he looked to find a message flashing up on the screen. It was from lookingforlove69.
He was in such a panic to read it that he almost hit Delete. As it opened up in front of him he stared at it so closely that the letters seemed to bounce out from the screen. He blinked repeatedly as he tried to focus and stop the words swirling around in front of him.
‘Hey, Hector,’ he finally read. ‘No, I didn’t sell the story. I wouldn’t do that to Billy. I don’t like him, but he doesn’t deserve any of this. I hope you’re good. No hard feelings. Scott.’
Hector was so relieved he thought he’d faint. He held onto the desk to pull himself up and went over to the water cooler to pour himself a drink. He didn’t think he’d ever been so relieved in all his life.
As he sipped his water he looked back at the TV screen. He watched in horror as the fans began to chant an endless chorus of, ‘Liars! Liars!’ Mia and Billy looked terrified.
His guilt may have been lifted but none of this changed anything for them. And they still had to face the big TV interview. If they got it right they might just be able to start winning people round. But if they got it wrong their careers would be over.
*
Mia and Billy stood facing Violet, flanked by their agents Serena and James. Mia couldn’t help feeling like a soldier being drilled before going into battle.
‘OK,’ Violet began, ‘so just to confirm – we’re ditching the line-up and we’re not posing for pictures. Which just leaves the big interview with Preston and Kerry.’
Mia tried to gulp but her Adam’s apple stuck in her throat.
‘Now remember what I said this morning,’ she went on. ‘We’re thinking a whole lot of repentance – just apologize and say you’re sorry for leading everyone on.’
‘That won’t be difficult,’ Mia muttered, ‘I am sorry. I genuinely regret the whole thing.’
‘Yeah, well don’t hold back and make sure you turn on the tears. Come to think of it, a full breakdown would really knock it out of the park.’
‘Wait a second,’ Serena burst in. ‘After all the trouble you’ve caused with your lying and faking, shouldn’t you stand back now and let these guys be themselves? Don’t you think they should just tell the truth out there?’
‘Well the way I feel right now,’ Billy bleated, ‘a full breakdown wouldn’t be too far from the truth.’
‘Good.’ Violet nodded. ‘Good.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Mia interrupted. ‘Did you just say “good”?’
‘My apologies,’ Violet breezed. ‘An unfortunate choice of words.’
Mia could contain herself no longer. The way Violet was talking was insulting to both of them – and especially to Billy. ‘This isn’t a game, Violet,’ she erupted. ‘We’re not play-acting here. This is our lives we’re talking about. And me and Billy are really suffering because of this.’
‘Oh stop over-reacting,’ Violet barked. ‘Everything’s going according to plan. If you’d relaxed and trusted me from the start then neither of you would be suffering at all.’
Mia froze – suddenly it all made sense. ‘Hold on a second. Did you plan this whole thing? Was it you who leaked the story?’
<
br /> Violet threw her arms up in the air as if the answer were obvious. ‘Of course it was me! What took you so long to work it out? There’s not a story in Hollywood I don’t control, Mia. Surely you know that by now?’
All four of them were dumbstruck and looked at each other in disbelief. In the background they could still hear the fans’ angry chants. ‘Liars! Liars!’
‘But Violet,’ Mia stammered, ‘do you have any idea what you’ve put us through?’
She tossed her hair dismissively. ‘And it will all be worth it in the end. All you have to do is follow my instructions and go up there and nail the TV show.’ She gestured to the fans around her. ‘You can win these guys round, you’ll see. And then the whole world will be talking about you – and the film.’
‘But you outed me, Violet,’ Billy said, grim-faced. ‘Don’t you understand what that means?’
‘Of course I understand, Billy. But I also understand Hollywood better than you. And right now I think it’s ready for this.’ She gestured to the fans around her. ‘Have you heard what these guys are saying? They might be calling you a liar but not a single one of them is calling you a fag.’
Mia was just about to protest that coming out of the closet should have been Billy’s decision when a runner appeared to say the cameras were ready for them. Mia and Billy took hold of each other’s hands and gave them another squeeze.
‘OK, guys, good luck,’ Violet said, ‘and remember, think of the Box Office!’
Mia was outraged and she could see that Billy was too. How could Violet be so cold about the whole thing? How could she have done this to them?
As they walked towards the set Mia felt consumed by anger. But she could still think clearly enough to realize that there was one important thing she had to do before starting the interview. She called over Serena to put her plan into action.
*
Serena gave Mia a wink and stood to one side as she and Billy climbed up the steps and onto the set. It was a huge covered set, an almost exact replica of the show’s studio version, complete with its own lighting rig and raked audience seating. The hosts Preston and Kerry, a middle-aged couple with identical Botoxed foreheads and collagen-filled pouts, were sitting on a bright orange sofa that matched their fake tans. They were chatting nervously and waiting for the two seats opposite to be filled. As Serena looked at the empty seats her heart began thumping at the thought of what lay ahead.
She spotted the production team huddled around a cluster of monitors and made her way over to join them. She watched as Mia and Billy were briefed by a floor manager and within seconds a production assistant began counting down their entrance.
‘Ten, nine, eight . . .’
As the numbers went lower and lower, Serena’s heart rate soared higher and higher.
‘Seven, six, five . . .’
Come on guys, she thought, tensing every muscle in her body, you can do this . . .
‘Four, three, two . . .’
And then the wait was over.
‘One.’
This was it.
The show’s theme music came to an end as the floor manager directed the audience to break into applause. Unfortunately, most of them ignored him and continued booing.
Uh-oh, thought Serena. This isn’t a good start.
As Mia and Billy took their seats to a chorus of even louder boos, she could tell from the looks on their faces that they were nothing short of petrified.
Preston and Kerry warmed things up with a harmless preamble, explaining where they were broadcasting from and why. And then they introduced Mia and Billy to rumbles of disapproval from the audience.
‘Liars!’ somebody shouted again, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
On set the hosts pretended not to notice. Though the guests weren’t able to hide their recognition.
‘So,’ Preston carried on regardless, ‘let’s start by saying that we’ve seen the movie and it’s absolutely incredible – by far the best picture either of you has ever made.’
‘Thanks,’ they mumbled sheepishly.
‘But let’s cut straight to the chase,’ Kerry continued. ‘Everybody’s been talking about the drama off camera . . .’
Mia and Billy nodded guiltily.
‘So we’d like to hear your side of the story. How do you feel about it all now?’
‘Liars!’ came another voice from the audience.
During what felt like an interminable pause, Serena watched the monitors as several cameras zoomed in for close-ups. As she looked at Mia on screen she was sure she could spot her Adam’s apple lodging in her throat.
Mia gave a little cough before she finally began to speak. ‘Well, first of all,’ she ventured, ‘Billy and I would like to apologize for lying to everyone and for misleading the public and our fans.’
Billy nodded in agreement. ‘There’s no excuse,’ he said, ‘and we fully accept the blame.’
‘But we’d like to explain why we got into this mess in the first place,’ Mia went on, ‘and then if the public will let us, we can promise to be honest with them from now on.’
Although she was saying all the right things, Serena still felt decidedly on edge. She could sense the hostility continuing to emanate from the audience.
As a little girl back home in Cleveland,’ Mia explained, ‘I used to dream of growing up to be a movie star. I’d look up to the actresses in my favourite movies as if they were goddesses and I wanted them to be perfect and not to make mistakes like normal people. I used to think fantasy was more important than reality. But now I’ve realized I was wrong.’
Serena spotted a few members of the audience nodding thoughtfully.
‘I’ve come to the same conclusion,’ offered Billy. ‘Like Mia, I’d spent years thinking that what people wanted from me was a good show, to live up to their expectations. When I was eighteen I was honest and truthful about myself but I was rejected by my parents, the people I loved the most. And I guess that ever since then I’ve been worried that if I was honest with anyone else I’d be rejected all over again.’
Kerry nodded at him pensively.
‘But I’ve realized now that lying isn’t the answer,’ he went on, ‘because once you start lying you just can’t stop. And that’s how I wound up in a fake relationship with Mia and let everyone down so badly.’
‘So what exactly happened between you two?’ asked Preston. ‘Who came up with the idea of staging a show-mance?’
‘Our publicist Violet Vaughn,’ Mia answered. ‘She bullied us into agreeing to the whole thing while at the same time planning to tell the press that it was fake and out Billy in the process.’
There were gasps of amazement from the audience.
That’s my girl, thought Serena. Standing next to Violet she could sense the tension start to rise. It looked as if she was visibly giving off steam.
‘This sounds like quite a story,’ interjected Kerry. ‘I think you need to rewind a little and start at the beginning.’
Serena watched as Mia took a deep breath and launched into the performance of her life. Only this time she was playing herself.
*
How dare they denounce me live on television?
Violet was furious. Millions of people would be watching this show – and that was before it hit YouTube. She couldn’t think of anything more humiliating.
And this was supposed to be her moment of glory. Her plan had worked brilliantly, as she’d always known it would. But she’d also known that if she’d told people about it beforehand then they wouldn’t have had the balls to see it through. As usual she’d been right – and as usual everyone else had let their judgment be clouded by sentimentality. Well that wasn’t her fault. And it was crushingly unfair for her to be publicly branded as some kind of hate figure.
Not that everyone didn’t hate her anyway. The truth was that everyone always had. And however hard she tried, she always ended up back in this same position. Maybe it was what she deserved. She felt just as wretc
hed as she had when she’d caught Cooper Kelly cheating on her – only this time the whole world could see the spider crawling over her soul.
She wouldn’t care but all she’d been trying to do was excel at her job. And in the process prove to everyone that she was one of the most powerful women in Hollywood. Well it didn’t look like anyone would be thinking that now.
She winced as she thought of everyone watching the show back home in Portland. All having a good old laugh at Vile Violet.
*
So it was Violet who leaked the story . . .
Standing on his tiptoes and peering over the audience from the back row, Leo reached for his phone and began texting Ronnie.
‘Looks like I owe you an apology,’ he tapped. ‘Am so sorry, mate. Fancy the Dodgers game this weekend? My treat?’
He knew that it would take more than a Dodgers’ game to make things up between them. But he really wanted to repair their friendship and was desperate to make a start as soon as possible. He thought back to everything he’d said on Ronnie’s porch and felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He’d flown off the handle and made a hurtful accusation that he knew now was totally out of order. He’d been so blinded by his feelings for Mia and his terror of losing her that he wondered whether he’d even been going through some kind of temporary madness. But however he looked at it, there was no excuse.
He only hoped that Ronnie could forgive him.
*
Lounging on the sofa with Rosie, Ronnie could feel his phone vibrate in his jeans’ pocket. He wriggled around to fish it out while Rosie’s eyes remained glued to the TV screen.
‘That publicist sounds like a total bitch,’ she breathed. ‘How could she do that to them?’
Without answering, Ronnie opened up a text message from Leo and read it. He immediately felt his mood begin to lift. All afternoon he’d felt terrible about what Leo had said to him. But Leo was apologizing and wanted to make amends. Maybe now the two of them could start working things out and one day they’d be just as close as ever.
‘Don’t worry, bud,’ he texted back. ‘Love can do funny things to a guy. See you at Dodger Stadium. Your partner, Ronnie.’