Page 7 of Beyond the Red Carpet

Kate looked away for a second. “No. I know, and when Elliot first suggested this, I said no. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.” Her eyes met Vanessa’s. “I’ve looked up to you for years, not just as an actress, but for how you handled coming out.”

Vanessa pressed her lips together, hating the way Kate’s words suddenly made her feel old.

“I don’t know, Kate.” Vanessa let out a breath, pausing to gather her thoughts. “I appreciate your honesty, and I do understand the desire to control the narrative. Believe me, I do. But are you sure this is how you want to come out? With someone so much older than you? We can’t control every headline.”

Kate’s expression shifted, determination replacing her earlier nervousness. “I don’t care about the age difference.” Her voice dropped lower, more intimate. “If anything... I’ve always been drawn to older women.”

The admission hung in the air between them. Vanessa’s chest tightened, her mind racing to process Kate’s words. She’d expected deflection, perhaps even embarrassment about their age gap. Instead, Kate’s directness caught her off guard.

“I’m not going to lie, Kate. I didn’t want to resort to these kinds of tactics.” She exhaled softly. “I know Elliot means well, but it’s easy for him to orchestrate our lives when he’s not the one in the spotlight. When he’s not the one reading the headlines about his broken relationship or waking up to his face plastered on every tabloid.”

Kate’s chin lifted, a flash of determination crossing her features. “I get it. This is not ideal. But please don’t be worried about me, about how this will affect my career. I’ve thought this through.” Her voice carried a quiet strength that made Vanessa pause. “This arrangement, while somewhat crazy, works for both of us. You get to take back some of those headlines, and I get to come out on my own terms. With someone I...” She paused, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “With someone I genuinely admire.”

The earnestness in Kate’s voice struck something in Vanessa. There was no trace of the calculated ambition she’d come to expect from younger actresses. Instead, Kate’s words rang with authenticity that was becoming increasingly rare in Hollywood.

“So.” Kate’s eyes locked with Vanessa’s. “If you’re still willing to do this, knowing everything I’ve told you... I’m in. Completely in. For however long this takes.”

Vanessa studied Kate’s face, searching for any hint of hesitation or doubt. She found none. Just that steady, unwavering gaze that seemed to see right through her carefully constructed walls.

“This is crazy.” The words escaped Vanessa’s lips before she could stop them. “This whole situation is...”

“Yes.” Kate’s smile held a hint of humor. “It’s crazy.”

Vanessa took a deep breath, hardly believing that she was agreeing to this. “But I’m in, too.”

Kate’s face lit up, a radiant smile transforming her features.

The sound of Elliot’s footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder. He strode back into the living room, phone still in hand, eyebrows raised in question.

“Well?” His gaze darted between them. “Are we doing this?”

“Yes, we’re doing this,” Vanessa said. The words felt surreal leaving her mouth.

“Excellent.” Elliot clapped his hands together. “I’ve already drafted a preliminary schedule. We’ll start with casual sightings - coffee shops, maybe a hike in Runyon Canyon. Then progress to more intimate settings.”

Vanessa’s jaw clenched. “Elliot, we just agreed to this. Can we have a moment before you turn our lives into a production schedule?”

“Time is of the essence, darling. The sooner we get ahead of Lauren’s narrative-”

“Lauren’s narrative isn’t going anywhere.” Vanessa’s voice carried an edge that made both Elliot and Kate straighten. “And I won’t be rushed into this just because you’re excited about the PR potential.”

Kate leaned forward. “What if we start small? Maybe dinner tomorrow night? Something private, just to talk and get comfortable with each other?”

The suggestion surprised Vanessa. It was sensible, measured, and exactly what she needed to hear in that moment. She studied Kate’s face, finding none of Elliot’s eager calculation, just genuine openness.

“Dinner would be perfect.” Vanessa felt some of her tension ease. “I know a place in Venice Beach. The owner’s an old friend who knows how to keep the paparazzi at bay.”

4

Kate watched Vanessa, trying not to stare as the older woman perused the menu. The candlelight danced across Vanessa’s features, accentuating the elegant lines of her face, the soft curve of her lips. She was breathtaking, her nearly black hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders, her hazel eyes studying the menu intently.

The restaurant was hushed, intimate. Exactly as Vanessa had promised. They were tucked away in a quiet corner, a discreet haven for their first “date.” The soft murmur of conversations and the clink of cutlery against plates provided a soothing backdrop, but Kate found it hard to relax.

This was a dangerous game for her. Sitting across from her long-time crush, pretending that this was just another role to play. Kate’s feelings for Vanessa went beyond admiration, and she was going to have to constantly balance trying to look like she cared about Vanessa with guarding her own feelings.

Most people would say that Vanessa was an attractive woman. Kate had certainly always thought she was, but when Vanessa came out, Kate’s attraction turned from admiration into desire. Not that Kate had ever thought that she would have a chance with Vanessa. Not then and certainly not now.

She took a sip of her wine, hoping the rich Cabernet would calm her nerves. She needed to focus.

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