‘I spoke to Sebastian this morning.’
‘Which Sebastian? There are a surprising number of Sebastians.’ Rowan slipped the braces from his shoulders and unbuttoned the fly on the old-fashioned trousers of his costume.
How many weeks early was the baby coming? Two? That was normal, wasn’t it? Nothing to worry about there?
‘The Sebastian who matters most to you at this moment in time.’
Rowan laid the trousers over the back of the chair and sorted through the clothes rack behind him to find his own clothes, willing his brain to focus. ‘Sebastian Hayward? The producer?’ Rowan closed his hands around the pair of dark jeans he recognised and slid them off the hanger.
‘Bingo.’
‘And?’ Seriously, for someone who’d blown into the room like it was a matter of life and death, Gerrard was taking some leisurely detours while on his way to making-the-bloody-point. Rowan thrust his legs into his jeans while bracing for the bad news. It had to be bad news.
‘That video of you that went viral has reached his attention. It’s cooled his enthusiasm for you dramatically.’
Rowan swore and looked up at the ceiling before yanking his jumper over his head. ‘Those were isolated incidents over five years of press junkets. I betanyactor could have a reel put together making them look…’ He trailed off, trying to think of the right word to describe the compilation of moments some random stranger had decided to edit together of him responding to deliberately provocative questions from the press. Maybe it was a matter of opinion, buthethought it was damn rude to ask a stranger about their personal relationships and sex life. He’d never been willing to smile and accept their attempts to nose into his private life.
‘Like a “sassy bitch”,’ Gerrard supplied the video’s title, arms crossed over his chest. ‘And no, notanyactor could have a reel put together like that, because most of your counterparts know how to hold their tongues. Theypaid attentionto their media training. Image is very important to the studio – this franchise is going to be family friendly – so it’s going to be a no-brainer for Sebastian to putthoseactors on the audition list for his new franchise. You can’t keep being rude to the press, sleeping around and expecting it not to damaging to your prospects.’
‘I don’t sleep around.’ Rowan faced his agent with his hands on his hips. ‘And even if I did, I fail to see what that has to do with me playing the part in a film. It’s acting. Clearly, I don’t have superpowers in real life but that didn’t stop me playing that part for the last five years.’ If he did have superpowers, he’d use them to grab his stuff and fly out the window over to the hospital – or turn invisible whenever the paparazzi took to following him around.
‘No, that’s the problem. You don’t see it, do you? No matter how many times we have this conversation.’ Gerrard threw up his hands, paced away and turned back. ‘If you don’t do something about this, I don’t see how I’m going to be able to help you anymore.’
Rowan stared at the man who had guided his career for the last decade, something finally penetrating the red fuzz of his exhaustion and desperation to leave, in a way that made him feel sixteen-cups-of-coffee sober, his heart galloping. He’d fallen into this career, and Gerrard had helped him get to where he was now. He wasn’t exactly a classically trained actor and he’d spent years waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe it was happening now. If Gerrard decided he was too much hassle, why would anyone else want to take him on? ‘Are you threatening to drop me?’
Gerrard looked away. ‘I don’t want to, Rowan. You’re so close to making that step into therealHollywood set, if only you could figure out how not to be so—’ He waved his hand in Rowan’s general direction.
Rowan took a turn at supplying the words Gerrard was struggling to find: ‘Myself?’
‘Yes. In a way. Learn to court the press. Show them what they want. Then the producers will see whattheywant, and the world will be your oyster. You’re your own worst enemy at the moment.’ Gerrard sighed, like a long-suffering parent. ‘Rowan, show business is a game of influence and popularity. There are only so many tools at your disposal to make a name for yourself – and you’ve been determined to undermine every step up the ladder you’ve made by destroying your position with the media. I pulled out all the stops to get you the audition for Helios when you were nobody and I’m prepared to do it again to get you this next big role – a proper role, not this small-budget project.’ He waved his hand around dismissively. ‘You know I only agreed to this because Stan Gillian’s cameo is going to boost its credibility. But if you want to make that leap to solid A-lister, you have to meet me halfway. I’m not going to waste my time on a lost cause.’
Rowan wiped a hand down his face. ‘Isit a lost cause? Have I been struck off the possibles list?’
‘…Not yet. They’re still working on the script, and I’ve convinced him not to make any final decisions until autumn when it’s ready. We might be able to salvage it if you make a concerted effort to change your image with the press. At the moment, you’re all working-class hunk with a chip on your shoulder and a revolving bedroom door.’ He held up his hand as Rowan went to object again. ‘It doesn’tmatterwhether that’s true or not. It’s what people think. We need to show them a different side of you.’
Rowan took a deep breath. He knew exactly where this conversation was heading. ‘Is this your fake relationship idea again?’ he said, his voice low, so no one lingering in the hall might overhear.
‘It’s ideal. Cassandra is the quintessential all-American sweetheart.’ Gerrard smiled as he referred to his other client, an internationally famous supermodel who obviously gave him far less trouble than Rowan. ‘Have them believing you’ve settled down into something long term with her and you’ll make enormous strides repairing your image and become half of a Hollywood power couple in one fell swoop. Give the press something positive to print about you for a change. The reformed rogue. A fairy-tale love story of opposites attract.’
Rowan bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to stop himself reacting to the steaming pile of BS Gerrard was proposing. He didn’t want to throw his career away because he couldn’t control his mouth or his temper or whatever it was that got the better of him all the time. Especially when he was going through a spell of insomnia and his irritation level was in the red zone.
‘How do we make them think it’s something long term when I’m going to be away all summer? I won’t have the time.’
‘That’s the reason I had to come here to talk to you. I’m flying out to Rome this evening and I want you to join me. Cassandra’s doing a fashion show there. You can make a public appearance together at the charity gala tomorrow night and then spend the rest of the week with us at a villa on the coast before you move on to Sicily. A few snaps of you at a candlelit dinner or cosying up on the beach and the news will write itself.’
Rowan failed to stifle his groan this time.
‘What?’ Gerrard bit out.
‘I just…physically hate the idea of pretending like that.’
‘Jesus Christ, Rowan, you’re an actor and like it or not, this is part of the job. I’m not asking you to shag her on a balcony – just hold her hand or smile at her over a glass of wine. And then all you need to do is make this little movie, keep your dick in your pants and your lips zipped for the summer. It shouldn’t really be so hard when there is so much at stake here.’
Rowan squeezed the back of his neck and glanced at his phone as it buzzed with another message. He needed this conversation to be over so he could find out how Siobhan was. Also, because it was making him want to set fire to something.
But therewasa lot at stake. Hehadto prioritise his career. It was what had finally given his family security; gradually he’d paid off the debts, bought them all homes in quiet, safe neighbourhoods. If he landed this other big job – another high-profile commercial franchise like Helios but with him as the lead, coming in with a name already – they’d never have to worry about bills or decent clothes or whether they could afford his nephew Jordan’s school trips ever again. And he would be able to give his new niece or nephew whatever they would need too.
‘Fine. Fine. I’ll do it. But I’ll fly out tomorrow in time for the event. I have somewhere I need to be now.’
