Page 27 of Collateral Damage
But it’s Cooper I can’t stop looking at. His face is hard and closed off. His hair has been recently cut into a shorter, harsher style than when I last saw him, as if to match his mood. He’s as devastatingly handsome as ever, but he’s different.
He’s unreachable.
“You ready to have your mind blown, Laurence?” Perry turns his charm in my direction, and I prepare for a pitch. “I have an incredible idea for a television show I want to co-produce with King Media and Laurence International as my backers.”
I blink rapidly.Uhhh… what?
Maybe I shouldn’t be shocked, considering he’s building a career in television production and has had success already launching and selling a hit show. Why would he want Laurence to have anything to do with his next project? Laurence got completely out of the media business when we cut ties with King. We’re in almost every other sector—especially technology—but our media holdings were so tied up with King that when the relationship imploded, Dad convinced the board to take our money and run.
“Why would you be pitching this to me?” I ask. “No offense, but I’m with the Laurence Foundation. I work in philanthropy. We have nothing to do with television production, let alone reality television. Cooper, I understand, what with all of King’s media holdings, but me?”
The men stare me down, completely unflappable.
“Hear him out,” Cooper instructs, unable to fully mask his annoyance.
Perry nods. “The show is a modern, younger, and fresher take on popular reality shows, similar to Real Housewives.”
“Okay, I know those are popular, but I hate those kinds of shows. I’m not the right person for this. I’m sorry, Perry.”
Perry smiles like I’d be a fool not to hear him out.
“Will you let the man talk?” Cooper snaps, and I shoot him a scathing look and take a long drink of my wine.
“You may hate those kinds of shows…” Perry laughs. “Hell, I don’t love them myself, but most Americans eat that shit up. Do you remember that old MTV show,The Real World?”
“Vaguely. I think it got canceled when we were little.”
“Doesn’t matter. It was incredibly popular. That cancellation was an MTV-issue, not a Real World-issue.”
Perry leans forward, his eyes not just bright with passion, but burning with it. I’m not surprised. This is how he’s always been. Perry double majored in business and film studies. We were twenty when he decided he was going to carve his own path with his career in television production instead of walking the one his parents had ready-made for him in plastics manufacturing. He’s stronger than most of my friends, considering he actually followed through on his dreams.
“All those people lived together in a house and moved to a new city for a set amount of time. That was the premise of the show. Simple, but it worked.”
“Your new show is going to be like that?”
“Kind of. We’re going to pick people who already live here in New York City, but we’re going to move them in together and follow their lives for a three-month span.”
“What makes that special?” I don’t say it, but this sounds like everything else out there already. I don’t see it landing with audiences. Been there, done that.
“It’s all in the casting.” His eyes sparkle with determination and his large hands steeple together. “With enough funding, we can get the kind of people on the show everyone in America will tune in for. Young, attractive people who are already famous. I’m talking about athletes, supermodels, and movie stars. People likethatwill have everyone watching my show.”
Cooper turns to me, his gaze holding mine. “You know the kind of people he wants to cast, Valentine. They’re the ones everyone wants to be or wants to be with.”
For a second, I imagine Cooper on the show. At least half of Americans would tune in for this man. A gorgeous billionaire and heir to a media empire? Absolutely.
“You honestly believe those people will agree to go on a reality television show?” I lean across the bar toward Perry, suddenly very aware I’m in Cooper’s personal space, the scent of coke and expensive cologne mixing with his maleness. “Look, I’m not one to nay say on my friends’ dreams. If this were possible, you’re right, people would tune in. But the high-profile cast you’re looking for won’t live together with cameras in their face all day and night.”
“How do you know?” Coop asks.
I turn on him. “Would you? We’ve lived in these types of circles our entire lives. We’re trained to avoid negative media attention.”
Perry’s grin catches my attention, his enthusiasm like that of a little kid at Christmas. “What would you say if I told you I already have agreements with several cast members?”
My spine straightens. “I’d say you’re more serious about this than I thought.”
“I’m dead serious. I want to be filthy rich and successful in myownright, and this show is how I’m going to make that happen.” He’s more certain of himself than ever. I’ll be honest, it’s pretty impressive, and he must agree, given the cocky grin on his face. “I’ve been shopping this idea for months, and King would like to partner with me, but…”
“But my father doesn’t want to invest the amount of capital that is needed to land the high-caliber cast,” Coop cuts in. “We need more money—a lot more—and that’s where Laurence comes in.”
