Page 3 of Beyond the Red Carpet

She pressed her lips together as she slowly nodded. She’d spent countless nights drafting social media posts, only to delete them by morning. Each time, Elliot’s voice echoed in her head:Wait for the right moment.Don’t do something like this on a whim.

“The universe has handed us the perfect opportunity.” He straightened his tie. “An A-list actress needs a girlfriend. Well, a pretend one. For the press.”

Kate’s mouth fell open. “What?” This was not the kind of opportunity she needed.

“Think about it. You’d make headlines, but on your terms. Protected. Strategic.” His eyes lit up with the same enthusiasm he showed when pitching her breakthrough role. “This could be your moment.”

The California sun beat through the windows, too bright, too harsh. Kate stood, needing to move, to process. Her bare feet pressed against the cool floor as she paced.

“I don’t-” She shook her head. “Coming out isn’t a publicity stunt, Elliot. It’s my life.”

“Of course it is. But why not make it work for your career too?”

“By pretending to date someone?” She couldn’t even believe she was having this conversation. This was not why she waited to come out. “That’s not how I want to do this. I want it to be real. Honest.”

Elliot’s expression shifted. “Kate-”

“No.” She crossed her arms. “I won’t start my truth with a lie.”

Elliot pushed himself up from the loveseat. “Would it help if I told you who it was?”

The question hung in the air. Kate’s fingers stilled their nervous dance along her forearm. Her mind raced through the possibilities. Which A-list actress would be desperate enough to want a fake girlfriend?

“Maybe.”

“Kate.” His voice dropped lower, serious in a way she rarely heard. “What I’m about to tell you - the mere possibility that this person is considering a fake relationship - it absolutely cannot leave this room. Not a word to anyone.”

She turned then, studying his face. The usual playful glint in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an intensity that made her realize just how serious this was.

“Of course.” Kate wrapped her arms tighter around herself. “I won’t say anything.”

“Okay.” Elliot inhaled a deep breath. “It’s Vanessa Prescott.

“Vanessa Prescott?” Her voice came out as a whisper.

“The one and only.”

Kate sank onto the sofa arm. The same Vanessa Prescott whose performances had inspired her to pursue acting. The woman whose coming out story had given her hope during sleepless nights.

“That’s-” She shook her head. “No. That can’t be right.”

“And why not?”

“Because she’s-” Kate’s throat tightened. “She’s Vanessa Prescott.”

The name alone carried weight, decades of acclaimed performances and industry respect. Kate pictured Vanessa at award shows, commanding red carpets with an effortless sophistication that Kate could only dream of matching.

“She wouldn’t want someone like me.” The words slipped out before Kate could stop them. “I mean, there must be dozens of more established actresses who’d jump at the chance.”

“You underestimate yourself. And you underestimate what Vanessa needs right now.”

Kate’s mind raced with images of Vanessa: her graceful presence at premieres, that infectious laugh during interviews, the way she’d thanked her longtime partner Lauren in acceptance speeches. Lauren, who’d just thrown it all away.

“But why me?” Kate’s voice cracked. “There has to be someone else. Someone more... suitable.”

Elliot’s eyebrows arched. “Have you seen the headlines? Lauren’s writing her own fairytale with Ruby. She’s so famous, she doesn’t need a last name.”

Kate doubted that there wasn’t a person in the world who didn’t know her name or her music. And for the past two weeks, the singer’s face had been splashed across every entertainment site, always with Lauren by her side.

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