“Okay,” Sasha Keller said, motioning everyone to calm down. “It was just a kiss. And you didn’t pay for her plastic surgery. But what we need to know is—are youwiththat girl? Will photographers see you together again?”
“He doesn’t have to answer that,” Esther said. “If you didn’t want him to be photographed with anyone, then you should have put it in the contract. And you should have paid him more accordingly.”
There was no answer to that. This is why he adored Esther—she had his back.
“Now,” Esther said, “let’s get back on track here. Our first question is why Serena Vox posted on her Instagram that she’s dating Nik after he explicitly stated that he was not interested in an arrangement like that.”
“We’ve spoken to Serena’s team, and the post will be removed,” Kaelyn said. “We have some suggestions for how to mitigate the damage from thePop Hollywoodpiece.”
“That still doesn’t answer the question,” Esther said almost to herself. “But let’s hear your suggestions.”
Kaelyn picked up her iPad and started reading. “Okay, first, would the stylist be willing to post on her Instagram about her breast surgery? She could imply it’s something she’s been wanting/planning for a long time and that it has nothing to do with Nik. She’ll no doubt get comments and questions on the post—I can assign a publicity intern to moderate. We’ll delete anything insensitive immediately. Any questions about Nik will be responded to, stating he is an old friend she’d recently reconnected with. This is all true, so anyone who knows Nik personally will be able to confirm. I even have his prom picture—we can use it if necessary.”
“I am not asking Marley to do that. She’s not even my stylist anymore. And where the hell did you get my prom picture?” Nikhil asked.
No one answered that question, unsurprisingly.
Kaelyn continued. “If the stylist won’t post to her social media, we can arrange an interview with her where she can talk about turning Nik into a style icon, and she can deny they are anything other than friends. Then we’ll book a talk show appearance for Serena and Nik together. To talk about the movie, of course, but they will slyly confirm together that the two of themarein a relationship. We’re willing to use a Toronto-based outlet for this. We’ll do this right before filming since we’ll be locked tight after, and there shouldn’t be any more leaks.”
“Can this ‘relationship’ end before filming is done?” Esther asked.
“Of course. So long as Nik and Serena stay on good terms.”
Esther nodded. “Nik, this work for you?”
Nikhil blinked. Maybe he should just agree. Marley brokeup with him, so what difference did it make if he was in a fake relationship with Serena now?
When he hesitated, one of the LA executives on the screen spoke. “We are prepared to compensate you further for agreeing to this. And of course, the studio would be very grateful.”
Nikhil sighed. He doubted the money they were willing to throw at him would be enough to make a difference. What was really at stake here was thisgratitude. If he didn’t agree, then he could kiss more Ironis movies goodbye.
He sighed. “Okay. I’ll do the talk show, but Marley won’t be involved. If anyone asks me, I’ll say she’s an old friend. I will not ask her to do any press for me, and she will not post anything about me or her medical information on her social media.”
Kaelyn frowned. “This would be good for her reputation, too. Her connection to you could open doors for her as a stylist.”
“And the studio could send business her way,” Lydia added.
Nikhil shook his head. “No. I’ll say whatever you want, but Marley stays out of this.”
Lydia snorted. “She shouldn’t be so precious about her boob job. Everyone has them. Tell her she’ll get thousands more Instagram followers.”
Nik glared at Lydia. “You are a very unpleasant person. Why are you here, anyway? Didn’t we fire you?”
Lydia smiled. “That was your first mistake. If I were still your handler, I could have prevented this whole mess.”
One of the executives put her hands out to silence them all. “Enough. Fine. The stylist stays out of it. If anyone asks you about her, you say she’s just a friend, okay? You don’t have to lie.”
It was still a lie, though, wasn’t it? They weren’tjust friends. Nikhil was in love with her. She’d been perfection in his eyes for years. Perfect and unattainable. But now, Marley was something beyond perfection. She wasrealbut still unattainable. And this time it wasn’t because she was out of his league. She was unattainable because of the life he had chosen for himself.
He nodded. “If you or any of your people go digging into Marley’s personal, medical, or professional life, then I will be extremely open to all the gossip sites about Serena’s little Instagram lie. I don’t give a fuck about what my contract says. I am more than willing to blow all this up, including my career, to protect Marley’s privacy.”
Esther nodded. “It wouldn’t even destroy his career,” she said. “Not with me on his side. It would destroy your movie, though.”
Everyone was silent for several moments. Nikhil was pretty sure Esther was bluffing there. Going after Serenawoulddestroy his career. And his income. His ability to pay for Nalini’s medical school. His ability to bail his parents out if Arjun did something stupid again.
But he knew it would be terrible for the movie, too. For Serena’s reputation. And as the face behind the franchise, Serena was leaps and bounds more important to them than Nikhil.
Lydia looked at Nikhil. “You would really throw everything away for a girlfriend? Relationships between stars and civilians never work.”
