Page 30 of Beyond the Fame

“It’ll be fine.”

If only Mylan wasn’t in rehab right now, he’d be perfect for this role.

It’s been three weeks since Rey dropped out of the project and we have to make an offer to someone today or we’ll be forced to delay production, which starts in three weeks. We’ve reached out to dozens of actors on our list and, as expected, they had other projects secured.

“We’ve got our Tyler Taylor,” Shyon says, barging into my office without knocking.

“What do you mean? No one consulted me about a new lead.”

“This is above your head, Boliver.”

“Who is it?”

“Mylan Andrews.”

“No. No fucking way. He’s still in rehab.”

“He’s getting out next week.”

“Are you kidding me? Do you think it’s a good idea to put someone on set who just went through a recovery program?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. This is coming from the head of the production company.”

“How?” I grumble.

“Mylan’s manager called in a favor. We’re told he’s doing well in recovery. We’ve been assured that Mylan will be ready, in character, and lines memorized by the time filming starts. That means we won’t need to push back production and cost us a fortune.”

“He’s an addict.”

“Who’s been rehabilitated.”

“This is a mistake.”

I’m angry they’re letting this happen. Surprised? Not so much. I’ve heard stories of celebrities going through treatment while filming. How they’d get escorted to set, film their scenes, then get carted right back off to the facility.

Eloise has been texting me updates and said the counselors at Forest Ridge want to keep him longer. But money talks, and I’m sure Mylan’s manager and lawyers got involved to convince the rehabilitation center that he didn’t need the longer treatment.

I don’t doubt Mylan would do a great job with this role. When he’s clean, he’s brilliant. But I worry it’s too soon. He’s going to relapse and this time, what if it actually kills him?

Chapter 8 – Rebecca

Present Day

Rehearsal for the ceremony takes place on the beach along the shore as the sun sets over dark blue water. The sky is painted in an array of purple, pink, red, orange, and yellow accented with brush strokes of puffy clouds.

Ginger glows in her flowing maxi dress of bright tropical flower designs. Bruno beams as he stares across at his soon-to-be wife, his long blond hair floating around his face like he’s some book cover model, ready to devour the woman in front of him.

They're so sickly in love it makes my stomach hurt with envy.

Eloise glides around, snapping photos, likely plotting out the best angles to get the perfect shots for the ceremony tomorrow.

I’m Ginger’s only bridesmaid with Lana, her maid of honor. Mylan is Bruno’s best man and Jensen is his only groomsman. Which means I’m paired with the moody man to walk down the aisle together. I tried talking to him, but he remained distant and vacant, only offering grunted responses. I even gripped his arm harder than normal, hoping to get some sort of reaction out of him, but no.

Now he’s across from me and I stare at him, tuning out the wedding planner as she blurts out instructions. He’s refused to make eye contact with me ever since he stormed out of the water earlier today following our conversation about Mylan.

Why does he do that? Why does he show an ounce of humanity only to retreat the moment he realizes he’s revealed too much?

I’m sure it has something to do with what he told me about his parents. Or how he cared for Mylan and nearly lost him.

---