Exposure

by Morgan

  Still, Shaunna knew the potential benefits to her client’s career if the romance rumors grew legs in the tabloids. As a seasoned publicist, she understood the exposure David and Michelle would gain if she managed the media well.

  It was now essential to Shaunna that Michelle emerge as the winner in the wake of the divorce. Shaunna believed in her client enough to know that her talents as an actor could easily propel her career forward once the divorce was finalized. She also knew she wouldn’t have to resort to destroying Kyle’s sparkling public image in the process. Even though she would have enjoyed doing it, Shaunna had every confidence that he would take care of that all by himself.

  Looking back, Shaunna knew she’d set the entire mess into motion when she lost her temper and quit in such a sensational fashion. She’d failed so many by committing that impetuous act. She’d failed the studio, the director and his cast and crew, her clients, her father and, most of all, herself.

  The time had come to get it all back under her control.

  Her mind made up, Shaunna pulled out her iPhone and walked out onto the narrow cement balcony. The night was warm and not very humid, so she leaned against the iron railing and looked down at the traffic while she waited for Michelle to pick up.

  It only took two rings.

  David had been in a daze since leaving Shaunna’s apprehensive arms. He was barely aware of his surroundings and couldn’t bring himself to care. All he could think about was how wonderful she’d felt in his arms, what a perfect fit her soft body had been when pressed against his. As soon as that had been taken away from him, he missed the connection.

  He showed up to the set the following morning and snapped out of his funk long enough to complete his takes. But as soon as the assistant director yelled, “Cut!” his thoughts went back to Shaunna.

  The only thing that kept him moving through the day was the promise of a lunch date with her. He was counting the minutes, and the clock ticked off each one with agonizing slowness.

  When his final shot of the day was complete, David strolled toward the costume trailer, only to find it locked. The obstacle should have been annoying, but David merely sighed and glanced over in the direction of Michelle’s trailer. Seeing her door open, he made a spontaneous decision and changed direction, calling out her name when he reached the doorway.

  “David?” Michelle’s surprised voice echoed from somewhere in the back. “Come in. Please.”

  If David had bothered to glance around, he would’ve spotted Kyle standing near his own trailer, his features frozen in anger, watching intently as the young man entered Michelle’s space. As soon as David disappeared inside, Kyle huffed before stalking off.

  Standing just inside the entrance with no sign of Michelle, David went to place his hands in his pockets. When he remembered his costume had no pockets, he fidgeted and ran his hand through his hair in nervous contemplation.

  “Um. Am I interrupting anything? I can go.”

  Michelle emerged looking fresh-faced and rested, but also slightly nervous.

  “No. You’re fine. Actually, I’m glad you’re here,” she announced as she reached to pull the front door closed. “I have something I need to say to you.”

  “Oh? Me? Really?”

  “Yes. Do you have a few minutes?” She gestured to a chair located just across from the door, and David sat down. She noticed his tension as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, clasp his hands together, and begin to bounce his leg slightly.

  Michelle was anxious to get him to relax. “Can I offer you something to drink? I have just about anything you could want in the fridge. Or I could make you some coffee?”

  David’s voice was appreciative. “A water would be great. Thanks.”

  She nodded and grabbed a bottle from the refrigerator, setting it down on the counter. Before she could retrieve a glass, David grabbed the bottle and quickly returned to his seat, breaking the seal on the cap loudly as he twisted it off.

  Michelle watched thoughtfully as he took a long drink, her hands tightly gripping the countertop behind her. She waited until he swallowed before speaking again.

  “David, I owe you an apology. My behavior yesterday was terrible, and it wasn’t fair of me to drag you into my argument with Kyle. I’m very sorry about that.”

  His response took her by surprise. “Can I ask you something? Something personal?”

  She nodded.

  “Kyle…” David paused as he seemed to struggle with how best to proceed. “He…he wasn’t always a prick like that, was he? I mean…not when you married him.”

  Michelle shifted uncomfortably and looked down the hallway of the trailer. She remained still and silent for several moments before blinking and walking to the back.

  David listened carefully and heard Michelle open and then close a drawer before she reappeared in front of him. She was holding a picture frame tightly against her chest as she began to speak.

  “I don’t know when it took this turn for us. When we met, he was good-looking, hard-working, maybe a little cocky, but no more so than any other actor I’ve ever known. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I keep trying to find that one moment when everything changed, but I don’t think I can point out a single incident. The transformation was slow, it was painful, and when it was complete, I didn’t even recognize him anymore.”

  Michelle pulled the picture frame back from her chest and glanced down at it with a fond, yet sad expression before holding it out to David. It was a picture of Michelle and Kyle, hugging one another. The background was unconventional for such an intimate pose. The couple was standing in a hallway next to an elevator, but they had the happy and relaxed appearance of two people enjoying each other’s company.

  As he looked at the photograph, David realized he’d never seen Kyle like this in person. Not even in the course of acting out a scene.

  It was as though a genuine smile on the face of Kyle Petersen had never existed.

  “How old is this?” David couldn’t contain his curiosity.

  “About five years old, I guess. It was when Kyle was promoting the first movie of the PI saga. His big break. He was in a hotel, giving one interview after another, and I stopped by to say hello while he was on a short break. The picture was taken by Shaunna, actually.”

  Hearing this information made the photograph even more intriguing to David. He studied it for a few more moments, trying to find some glimpse of Shaunna. He looked for her shadow on the wall and even looked at the reflections in the eyes of the celebrity couple, but there was no sign of her to be found. Michelle noticed the tight, pained appearance on David’s face as he rose and carefully handed the picture frame back to her.

  Michelle set it down on the counter, flat but face up, before returning her attention to David.

  “Have you talked to Shaunna today?”

  He shook his head and tried not to let his sour mood overtake his features.

  “She told me a little bit about what happened when Nathan called last night. I feel responsible for that.”

  “Don’t.” David’s tone was firm. “We talked it over last night. Shaunna understood what happened.”

  Michelle shook her head. “I acted like an idiot yesterday. I hurt you both, when all I really wanted to do was hurt Kyle. And I’m not especially proud of that, either. It was a weak moment for me. And then you were so sweet to me during that damn harness shoot.”

  David fidgeted, but didn’t interrupt her.

  “I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through yesterday without your help. I want you to know I appreciate it. It won’t surprise me when we get called in for re-shoots. I was a wreck.”

  David searched Michelle’s eyes. “You were brilliant yesterday. If there are re-shoots, it will be because of Kyle. And I doubt Nathan is going to risk losing such great footage of you. You were incredible.”

  Michelle blushed slightly at the compliment. “Do you really think so?”

  David nodded emphatical
ly, his voice tinged with praise. “We were all impressed. Kyle was the only one who seemed to be clueless, and if I’m being honest, I don’t think he totally was. I think he saw it too, and I think he was threatened by it. You’re so much better than he is. In every way possible.”

  Michelle’s eyes grew wide and took on a glassy sheen. She was rendered speechless for a few moments as a large lump formed in her throat.

  “Thank you for saying that, David. You have no idea how much I needed to hear it.”

  “It’s the truth. I think you’re wonderful, and even though I’m glad you’re away from Kyle now, I think he’s a fool for giving you up.”

  Michelle nodded, a tear escaping her eye. Without thinking, David reached out and wiped it away with his thumb. “Please don’t cry,” he whispered.

  She blinked rapidly at David’s touch, and although she didn’t pull away, Michelle glanced aside. Her eyes settled on the clock on the microwave oven.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting Shaunna for lunch?” She turned her attention back to David’s attire and giggled. “You better make yourself presentable and go, or you’ll be late.”

  “Are you all right?”

  Michelle nodded and straightened to her full height. “Yes. I’m fine. Take my advice and don’t keep that girl waiting. She can’t stand it when people are late for their appointments.”

  He stepped back from her before making his way toward the door. “If you ever need anything, Michelle, let me know. Anything at all.”

  A look of solid consideration flashed across her face before her expression softened back into a smile that nearly matched the one in the photograph resting on the counter.

  “I will, David. Thank you.”

  An hour later, David was sitting in the elegant main dining room of Masraff’s. He was feeling slightly underdressed amid a sea of business suits. He was increasingly worried that Shaunna’s intentions for their meeting were strictly professional. He wanted so much more than that.

  He was alone at the table, trying to blend into the crowd. In particular, the eyes of the women in the restaurant kept resting appreciatively on the young actor’s face. He pretended not to notice any of them, his own eyes traveling from one wall painting to the next, as though he were enjoying an afternoon at the museum.

  He didn’t see her entrance into the dining room as much as he felt it. The air thickened somehow, and his attention was pulled away from his artful distractions. When his eyes locked onto her, he momentarily forgot how to breathe the pulsing, heavy air.

  The woman striding toward his table was not the Shaunna he’d met and become acquainted with at the Radisson Hotel. Her face was determined, showing no sign of playfulness. This woman was dressed in a black knee-length pencil skirt and a royal blue V-neck blouse. David had seen her look this way before, the morning she’d appeared in a courtroom. This time, her eyes showed no fear.

  As she drew close to the table, David rose to greet her. He was unsure about whether or not to hug her. His instincts told him to hold out his hand, so he did. Shaunna grasped it and leaned forward to allow him to kiss her cheek, which he did gratefully, yet carefully. He was scared of pushing his luck.

  He began to pull out her chair for her, but she beat him to the task. He waited awkwardly until she was fully seated before settling back into his own chair.

  “Hello, David.” She greeted him with warmth, and his tight posture relaxed.

  “Hello, Shaunna,” he returned. “You look perfect.”

  “Thank you. You too.” She winked, and he grinned in relief.

  “I feel like I should be dressed up a bit more.”

  “You’re fine,” she answered simply.

  The waiter swooped in to take their drink orders, and Shaunna asked David if he would share a bottle of wine with her. He readily agreed. Once their waiter departed, Shaunna rested her arms on the table and leaned forward.

  “So. I bet you’re wondering why I picked this place.”

  “Kind of,” he admitted, his gaze full of unanswered questions.

  “Well, it’s very simple, David. You need representation, and I need a new client. Whether you’re ready or not, you’re about to become the most famous new celebrity on the planet.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  DAVID WAS MESMERIZED by Shaunna’s professional confidence. Her eyes sparkled with resolve, and her posture was self-assured without the presence of arrogance.

  He sat up straight in the hopes of projecting a certain level of composure. In the process, David’s mouth went dry, and he sipped his water as he watched her lips move in slow motion.

  “Those photos of you and Michelle set something into motion, something I spent the better part of yesterday trying to side-step. But the truth is…the press, and more importantly, the fans, love the idea of you two together.” She sipped her water and let a tiny ice cube nest on her tongue while it melted.

  “They do?”

  “You’ve been trending on Twitter since yesterday.”

  “That’s good. Right?”

  Shaunna flashed him the same smile he’d fallen in love with in the hotel pool.

  “It’s educational,” she answered. “Yesterday morning, the paps got pictures of you going into, and then coming right back out of Michelle’s hotel. But they only published the ones of you leaving. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, those images are the follow up to the photos taken of you two at the club. The paps know which story will make them more money, so they are very eager to paint this particular picture of you two together.”

  David sat back in his chair, stunned. “Are you suggesting we encourage that story to further my career?”

  “No,” Shaunna answered him quickly. “But you can’t publicly deny it, either.”

  “Why not?”

  “If you deny it, if you tell the truth, not only will they not believe you, they’ll resent the perceived lie.”

  “Who are they?” he asked.

  Shaunna understood his reaction. “The media. The fans. The studio. Everyone that matters to your success.”

  “Do we just lie, then, and say we’re dating? Maybe pose for a few pictures?”

  Shaunna laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “You don’t want to misdirect the press, either. If you’re caught, you’ll both be crucified.”

  “So what, then?” David’s head was already swimming in semantics. “Start dating for real?”

  “Hell no!” Shaunna’s controlled demeanor finally slipped at the mere thought, and David was instantly relieved at her reaction. It meant there was still hope for them.

  “Kyle has already used this story to set himself up as the jilted husband. The paps just did him a huge favor.”

  “But he filed for divorce before I knew either of them,” David said, disgusted.

  “Exactly,” Shaunna said, pointing at him. “Kyle is spinning this his way, and we don’t want him to get the upper hand now.”

  David looked up through the skylight in exasperation. He thrived in simplicity, and there was nothing simple about what Shaunna was presenting to him.

  When David spoke again, his voice was filled with resignation. “Please. Just tell me what to do.”

  “Don’t confirm or deny anything about you and Michelle to anyone. We’re going to run with a ‘no comment’ strategy for now.”

  “But won’t they just assume we’re dating if we do that?”

  “David, as far as the outside world is concerned, you and Michelle are a couple now. Whether you realize it or not, you’re in a spotlight much brighter than you’re used to.”

  He squinted at her statement.

  “I can handle it.” He uttered the words without knowing if he actually believed them.

  “I know you can. That’s why I’m speaking to you about this. But I need you to understand, they’ll also hold a magnifying glass in front of the spotlight until they’ve burned you like an ant.”

  “Hmm,” David pondered, in an atte
mpt to lighten the mood. “Cockroaches burning ants.”

  Shaunna allowed herself to laugh momentarily in relief.

  He leaned forward. “I need to know. Personally, what do you think about this strategy?”

  Shaunna closed her eyes and decided to answer him honestly. “I hate it…but, it’s brilliant.” She opened her eyes. “And it’s also our only option right now.”

  They were briefly interrupted by the waiter delivering their wine, and they ordered their meals, opting for the same thing: oven-roasted Nova Scotia halibut.

  They sat in silence for a while after the server left, each processing the newest obstacle to their budding romance. Shaunna regarded the way his meandering hair hooded his ears, which were on the smallish side. David watched as a slight and mysterious grin began to form on her pretty face.

  “Just out of curiosity,” David mused while he was toying with his napkin. “How long do you think this will last?”

  “It’s hard to say.” She shrugged. “Since everyone already believes you two are an item, it’s just a matter of not correcting the media’s assumption.”

  “Well then, if we’re so popular together, aren’t they all going to hate it when we break up?”

  Shaunna thought once again how keen his mind was. “David, in this business, you can only afford to worry about one week at a time.”

  David crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair. “There is one way to show everyone that Michelle and I aren’t dating.”

  Shaunna’s eyes betrayed nothing, but she knew what he was thinking. Frankly, it was about damn time he made the suggestion.

  “If they saw us together,” David continued, “the way I want to be with you, then they’d have to believe it.”

  She nodded her head. “True, but it could be solving one problem by creating an even bigger one for you.”

  “Why? Because it would involve you?” he asked pointedly.

  “Exactly. I have a reputation of my own to repair. Having you seen in public with me right now wouldn’t be good for you. My meltdown and arrest isn’t exactly front page news anymore, but it’s by no means buried. I’m still in damage control mode, and media outlets would pounce at any little thing I do if it helps resurrect a cash cow for them.”