Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Banner

I watch as the car I sent for her pulls up to the front of the building. A crowd is already gathering at the front gate and as soon as the car stops, they swarm around. I wade through them and open the door. I let the agent get out first before I hold my hand out and wait for Wisteria to place hers in mine.

It takes her a minute but eventually, she lays her hand in mine, and I help her stand. She's in a brightly colored dress that ties in the back and hits her mid-thigh. I imagine for her all of this is… scary. There are a lot of people, all of them shouting and yelling at us. She's tiny so I can see how everyone crowding around might cause some anxiety that I personally don't have, given the fact I can look over everyone's head and wade through them if need be.

Once I have her out of the car, I don't let her hand go, but instead tuck her into my side. Her hand squeezes mine like it might be her lifeline and I feel it tremble every now and then. We are ushered right to the director's office. As soon as we hit his door, he is all smiles and fake concern.

"My stars! My sweet, sweet moneymakers! How are you two? Did you get to the car okay this morning, Wisteria?"

Like he sent the damned car for her instead of me. Bastard.

"Everything alright when you got here?"

Wisteria doesn't say a word and instead plops down in one of the chairs in front of his desk with a heaviness that should tell him every fucking thing is not alright. Fucker couldn't read subtext if it crawled up on his desk and bit him in the ass.

"Smile, Wisteria! This is an amazing time for you. For you both. There is nothing to be so glum about today!"

He gives her a big fake grin and leans forward like he might rush her if she doesn't give him a smile in return.

"I didn't…," her voice is soft and thin.

"Expect to be this famous? Get used to it, babe. It's not going away…not with headlines like these."

He flings some magazines up on his desk causing her to jump in her seat. One of the books slides all the way across the table so we can read the headline, "New movie, new love… new last name: Rising star head over heels in love with Banner."

"Oh my God! I…this…," she sits forward and starts looking around at everyone in the room, "It's wrong. I didn't do any of this. I'm not…"

She looks at me, but I make sure to keep my gaze on the director. He laughs like it's the best day of his life.

"Who cares who did it? Let's ride the wave and use it for the good of this movie. This kind of publicity is priceless!"

She starts shaking her head but the fucking insensitive shit just keeps going.

"Priceless! How do you feel about nudity? Maybe we can grab a cover shoot if you all are found making out on a beach…with you topless."

"What?!"

"Oh, don't look like it's certain death, baby. It's just your tits. It's how things are done in this town. You want to get ahead you flash the camera your tits. I'm not asking you to fuck him live on primetime. I just want you all caught in a compromising position a time or two."

All the color drains from her face and she starts shaking her head as she looks over to her agent who isn't even looking at her but down at her phone.

"I…," she stands and tries to take a step back, but she's not cleared the chairs just yet and ends up nearly falling. I have to take her by the arm to keep her from winding up in a heap on the floor. "I can't…"

"Can you step out for a moment and let me speak to the director for just a moment?"

Instead of letting her go, I help her over to the door, still holding onto her elbow. I notice George is doing the same thing to her agent. I make sure she's sitting in one of the small chairs outside the office before I quietly shut the door and turn to the man sitting behind the desk grinning like an idiot… until he finally takes a good look at my face and then the smile melts off his smug face. He's just realized he's about to meet the man they all whisper about but not a lot of people have seen.