Page 68 of Love on the Byline

“I can’t understand how a company with a reputation liketheirs is still able to get these families to turn their child’s career over tothem. No one in the community has raised concerns?”

He handed her one of the salads, taking the other forhimself. “It’s risk versus reward, and the latter is too tempting a prospectfor many.”

“They have options. Legitimate agencies and labels.”

“Sure, they have options,” he agreed. “The option to spendmoney on headshots, demos, and reels that will sit in a slush pile on someone’sdesk. The option to spend money on transportation to an audition where they’llbe one of hundreds up for the same opportunity,” he said, pausing to take abite. “Companies like Diamond Moon know how desperate the talent is to riseabove the rest. They know how hard it is for people from marginalized areas toget their foot in the door. Any door.”

“They’re using the we’re just like you schtick togain trust.”

“Exactly,” he agreed. “And these kids...they think they’retoo smart to be taken advantage of, which makes them the easiest targets.”

“And the parents?”

“I’ve met a few, and they’re supportive. Hard-working. Butfew look further than the surface, even with Play L.A.”

“That’s a terrifying recipe for disaster.”

“Which,” he said, offering her a slice of freshly bakedbread, “is why you need to expose Diamond Moon. Anything I can do to help, Imean it, I’ll do.”

Smiling, Blake ripped off a piece of the bread and chewed asshe went over what she knew so far.

Ollie listened closely, reminding her of the late nightsthey spent studying. Only, instead of being surrounded by dark wood and books,it was sand, sea, and sunshine.

“Any idea who’s behind Diamond Moon?” he asked.

She swallowed a sip of wine. “Whoever set them up was alegal genius. It’s a total shell game. I’m hoping the story, if I ever get itpublished, will smoke out the people behind it.”

“You could publish it online. There are dozens of respectedportals.”

“I want the weight of a legacy paper behind it. It’ll givethe piece the gravitas it needs to be picked up nationally,” she explained. “Itwouldn’t be as easy to dismiss as a conspiracy theory.”

“I’m not so sure about that. Respect for traditionaljournalism has to be at an all-time low,” he said with a sad smile. “You pickeda hell of a time to go on a crusade.”

“You think I’m in over my head.” Just like Gideon and Sonja.Just like her parents. Maybe they were all right, and she was deluding herself.

To her surprise, Ollie shook his head. “I think those kidsare lucky to have you on the case.”

She smiled. “I think they’re lucky to have youteaching them.”

Laughing softly, he leaned back on hands and turned his facetowards the ocean. “I’m still figuring out my place in the world. It’sprobably not the best idea to have me teaching anyone, but I do enjoy it. Theyget so excited when an idea moves from a thought in their heads to somethingtangible on the page.”

“When are we supposed to have life figured out?”

“Given what I’ve seen from people two, three times our age,I’m not sure that’s a thing.”

They both laughed then, falling into a companionablesilence. Being with him was easy. Too easy.

“I missed this,” he said quietly, and her pulse ticked up afew beats per minute.

When his gaze met hers, Blake was shocked at the emotion init.

“I don’t want to lose it again, so, let’s make a pact.”

“A pact,” she echoed.

“I’m here. You’re here. Let’s be here...together.” The panicshe felt must have shown on her face because he sat up, holding up a hand. “Ihaven’t forgotten what you said the other night, at the restaurant. Friends.”

“Yes, friends.”

---