The email basically says that they are monitoring the situation online and would like to know our next steps. The message was technically sent to Simone—something I should probably fix—and also cc’d Luke.
What are our next steps? I have no idea. Which is why I do what I do next: I call Jerkwad.
“Archie,” he says, answering after one ring.
“We need a plan.” I get right to the point.
“Right,” he draws out the word. “Should we have them post something simultaneously on social media about how they are both focused on the show?”
“I think that’s too obvious. It’ll look like coordinated damage control,” I say.
“True,” he replies.
There’s silence on the line while we both think.
“What about leaking something positive to a friendly gossip account,” I say when I finally think of something. “Like a source close to both parties confirming the evening was amicable and that they spoke briefly and there was no drama.”
“But they didn’t speak,” Luke says. “If anyone who was there contradicts it, then that’s a whole new problem. We can’t lie about something a bunch of people might have witnessed.”
I let out a frustrated breath because he’s right, and I find that annoying for many reasons. “That makes sense,” I acquiesce.
I chew on a thumbnail, my mind spinning.
“Maybe we shouldn’t do anything and just let it die,” Luke says.
“Victoria Chen just emailed,” I remind him. “We can’t do nothing. Besides, it’s Wednesday. Things die on Friday night, not midweek.”
“Yeah. That’s true,” he says.
“I think we just have to go the boring route,” I say.
“A statement,” he says flatly, knowing exactly where I was going. “But it can’t be from them—otherwise it’s too coordinated.”
“Which is why it will come from us,” I say.
“From us?” he asks, teasing in his tone, and I brace myself for whatever he’s going to say next. “Are we coming out as a couple? You could just ask, you know. You don’t have to be so sneaky.”
“Please shut up,” I say, grateful he can’t see me fighting a smile, because I still hate him, obviously.
“What do we say, exactly?” he asks, back to business.
“I’ll draft it. Something about how they both remain committed to season four and to the fans who have supported this show from the beginning.”
“It’s not going to satisfy the fans,” Luke says.
“It’s not supposed to,” I tell him. “It’s supposed to satisfy the studio. The fans will move on when something more interesting comes along.”
“That’s some very impressive thinking on your toes, Arch.”
I feel heat bloom in my belly at his words, and I tamp it down because I don’t want to feel good about anything Luke Wilder—the client-stealing backstabber—says to me. And yet . . . I do.
We hang up, and I get to work on the statement and hope it will be enough.
Chapter 9
PR Tip #48:When Plan A fails, you don’t panic. You go to Plan B. And C. And D if you have to.
Sometimes you can do everything as planned, and it works. And sometimes really annoying, stupid people with way too much time on their hands can ruin all of it.
