Page 130 of You and Me, For Real
“Thank you for coming, Gwen.”
“How about we get straight to the point.”
“I’d like that.” I sip my coffee, confident in knowing exactly where this conversation will go and prepared for how to respond.
“Scarlet and you broke up?”
I dip my chin. “Yes, in a manner of speaking.”
“You two were dating, weren’t you?”
I set my mug on the table next to the couch and shift my position, keeping Roxy’s head on my lap. “We were never really dating.”
She laughs. “But you came on my show a little over a month ago claiming to be in a relationship.”
“Yes, per what our mutual contract required of us.”
“Okay, I’m lost.”
“Scarlet and I were in what Hollywood calls a PR stunt—a fake relationship.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “It’s a common PR tactic to benefit the show and our popularity with the public.”
“But why reveal the secret now? Especially so close to airing your final season ofMalibu Shores?”
“I got tired of playing the game.”
“Game? What game?”
“The Hollywood puppet game, where you’re told what to do, when to do it, and for how long. I don’t want a career in this industry anymore if that’s how it has to be.”
Gwen leans back in her chair, rubbing her finger back and forth across her lips, silent for a moment.
She possesses a similar measure of fame. I’m sure she knows exactly what I’m referring to. It’s the same song and dance we all play in order to get where we are in our careers.
“Why the change of heart?”
“It came at too heavy a cost.”
“I assume you’re referring to Ashton Reid? Or should I say Ashton Blake, former reality TV star ofBeing the Blakes?”
“Yes.”
“So, it’s true? You left Scarlet for her?”
I hold up a finger. “No, remember, a publicity stunt. There was never a legitimate relationship between Scarlet and me. We pretended to have a relationship for mutually beneficial reasons.”
She uncrosses and recrosses her legs. “Why have this meeting? Why broadcast this for the world?”
“Because I’m tired. I’m tired of working so hard to have my personal life separate from my career. If people want to judge my work as an actor, then fine, that’s fair. But as a person, I’m entitled to have my own private life. Ashton deserves that, too. She’s nothing like the tabloids portray her as. Social media has got it all wrong. She’s the most kind, caring, genuine woman I’ve ever met.”
“You’re saying she never came between you and Scarlet?”
I lean forward, my elbows resting on my knees, and look directly into the camera. “What I’m saying is, there never was a real relationship with Scarlet Rhodes. Ashton Reid was never theother woman. She isthewoman. And I love her. And that means I’ll do anything to keep her protected. That means making sure the public gets it right. Even if you don’t believe me about my relationship with Scarlet—fine. Make me the bad guy here, not her. Never her.”
“My, you sound quite passionate about Ashton.” She looks down at her notecards. “Says here she hosted a gala last night to fund a rescue center called The Rescue Ranch. Is that correct?”
