Page 2 of Beyond the Red Carpet

The words hit like ice water. Vanessa stared at him, mouth slightly parted. “My love life? Elliot, I can barely leave this house without having panic attacks. The thought of dating anyone right now-”

“Who said anything about real dating?” He raised an eyebrow. “What you need is a carefully orchestrated romance. Something to capture the public’s imagination, show them you’ve moved on.”

“You want me to fake a relationship?” The very idea made her stomach turn. “I’m not interested in playing games. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to date again, let alone pretend to.”

“Think of it as a role, darling. The best performance of your career. The wronged woman who found love again. You’ll be the one making headlines then.”

Vanessa shook her head. “No. Absolutely not.” The words came out sharp, defensive. “I won’t parade around town with some stranger just to sell magazines.”

“You’re thinking about this all wrong.” Elliot took a seat on the sofa and crossed his legs. “This isn’t about selling magazines. It’s about taking back your power.”

The thought of pretending to date someone made her feel a little sick, yet something in Elliot’s words caught hold. Lauren’s new relationship dominated every headline. Each photo op painted her ex-partner as the brave woman who’d followed her heart, leaving Vanessa cast as the bitter, jilted lover.

“The industry is brutal.” Elliot’s voice softened. “You disappear now, they’ll write whatever they please. But if you’re out there, living your life, finding happiness...” He spread his hands wide. “Well, that’s a story worth telling.”

The logic began to sink in. She’d spent two weeks hiding in this house, letting others control the conversation. Maybe it was time to change that.

“Even if-” Vanessa paused, hating how her voice wavered. “Even if I considered this ridiculous plan, who would agree to such an arrangement? It’s not exactly a typical acting job.”

Elliot’s lips curved into that familiar smile, the one he wore when all his careful planning aligned. “Actually, I have someone in mind. Someone perfect for this particular role.”

“Who?”

Elliot adjusted his cufflinks, his eyes fixed on some point beyond her shoulder. “Let me speak with her first. Make sure she’s interested in the arrangement.”

“You’ve already picked someone.” The idea that he’d planned this, perhaps days ago, didn’t sit well with her.

“I have a meeting with her right after I leave here. Other business to discuss.” He gathered the magazines into a neat stack. “Once I gauge her interest, we can move forward.”

“This isn’t a movie deal, Elliot. You can’t just-”

“Trust me, darling.” He rose from the couch, brushing invisible lint from his blazer. “I’ve never steered you wrong before.”

The confidence in his voice made her pause. In the last twenty-two years, he hadn’t failed her once, not with her career, not with her public image. Even during the darkest days after Lauren’s betrayal, his guidance had kept her head above water.

“I’ll call you tonight.” Elliot tucked the magazines under his arm. “Try to get some rest. You look exhausted.”

Vanessa watched Elliot’s retreating figure as he strode toward the door. Was she really going to do this?

2

Kate curled her legs beneath her on the sofa, her gaze drifting to the script on the coffee table for the third time since Elliot arrived. The bold black letters on the cover page beckoned. After a week of anticipation, Elliot finally had the script for her, and it sat right there, within reach.

Elliot sat across from her on the loveseat, his designer loafers tapping an irregular beat against her wood floors. The setting sun cast long shadows through her living room windows, painting everything in amber hues. His silence stretched on as he studied her face with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

“You’re making me nervous.” Kate tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s going on?”

“You know I always have your best interests at heart. And sometimes opportunities arise that we need to... carefully consider.”

“This isn’t about the script, is it?”

“The script can wait.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I have a proposition that could change everything for you.”

Kate’s stomach dropped. The last time Elliot had used that tone, he’d convinced her to take a role that ended up launchingher career. But something in his expression now, a calculated gleam in his eyes, told her this was different.

Kate’s pulse quickened as Elliot’s words sank in. Had he found something better than the script he’d brought with him?

“I know you’ve shown remarkable restraint these past few weeks. Months really.” Elliot’s voice softened. “Waiting to come out when you were ready to shout it from the rooftops.”

---