Page 16 of Act Like You Don't Care
The old security guy, Mr. Astra, raised a hand. "If you're okay with a little acting, we think we have a solution that will keep everyone happy."
I caught some flash of emotion on Security Guy's face, but it was gone almost immediately. "I'm listening."
Mr. Astra nodded. "We set you up with a fake boyfriend who will act as close security, with a perimeter a little farther out than we generally use. Your home will be wired up with the latest in security measures and will be live-monitored by someone in the building. We'll also need to know your schedule, even for personal time, places you're going and when, so we can cover you with plain-clothes security at those places. No more impulsive changes of plan. This protects your reputation in the business, but gives the studio the security of knowing that you've got enough protection to keep you safe at all times."
I found my eyes wandering over to Security Guy, who nodded gravely at me.
It was him. Security Guy was the one behind this idea. I owed him an apology. "Who's playing the boyfriend?"
"We'll have to work that out," Mr. Astra said. "We need someone less well-known than Rick or Jim, but trust me, we won't set you up with a second-stringer. You will absolutely have the best."
I chewed at the corner of my mouth and thought about that. My eyes skated over to Security Guy again. Who were they thinking about to play my boyfriend? I wondered if it might be Security Guy. Hoped, a little. He was handsome, and he understood me, which was even more important. Plus, there was a low hum of interest in my body when I looked at him. That would make it easier. But it would be a tease if he turned out to be someone I could actually like, or a disappointment if he turned out to be a jerk in disguise. I was managing enough emotions right now, what with the shoot and with these stupid threats—I didn’t need to be managing my own illusions.
On the other hand, I knew it wasn’t real. And I had years of Hollywood experience in how to keep idle appreciation from becoming real interest. "So, he'd have to stay with me, right?"
Elijah nodded. "It's only to be expected."
I needed to be realistic about this.I hate this entire situation.The room smelled of alpha and testosterone and, as I glanced at each of them in turn, I wondered what it would be like to be a little more traditional, to let an alpha look after some of the things in my life.What was that song Mom used to listen to whenever things got bad?Que sera, sera...The words drifted through my brain, trailing music behind them. "All right. But I want to meet my 'boyfriend' before we start this all up."
Mr. Astra and Elijah shared a glance, then they both looked toward me. "Agreed," said Astra. "We can bring you his file by the end of filming today, then arrange a meet-up to make sure this will all work."
I nodded. For some reason, I felt depressed now, and I just wanted to go back to my trailer and nap. Last night was catching up with me. "You still need me? 'Cause if we're not filming right now, I'm going to go grab some sleep."
Elijah stood up. "I'll send Will to wake you up in an hour."
I got to my feet, feeling a hundred pounds heavier than I had walking into the room.
A hand touched my arm and I looked up to find Security Guy there. "It'll be okay. And it probably won’t be for long. They've got the police involved and I'll be talking to them about who they should be looking at. Don't worry, we've got you."
And so stupid that Security Guy's words should make me feel warm and cared for. This was Hollywood—nothing was real. Including me, I sometimes felt. “Thanks," I said. "I'll keep that in mind." But as I stepped around the other man, I wondered if I was right—it had felt like real emotion. And Security Guy wasn't really Hollywood.
Fuck it, I'm too tired to figure this out right now.I waved at Will and we walked off toward my trailer while Will filled me in on the changes to the rest of the schedule.
Miles
We piled back into the SUV and headed for the office. Everyone was quiet for the first few minutes, then Rick said in a dry tone, "At least he didn't throw the boyfriend idea in our faces."
"No," Dad said. "That was a good idea. The question is, who?"
"It'll have to be someone convincing," Jim put in. "And not married, which leaves me out." He chuckled. "We can send Rick.”
"Not a chance. Emma would have my hide for a rug."
Dad tapped his fingers on the wheel in time to the music coming from the speakers. "You boys are too well known for that to work. The point of this is to keep people from thinking the boyfriend is the bodyguard." He made the turn onto the freeway and headed north. "It's a pretty short list of guys, though, that have that low a profile and that I'd trust to do this job. We're going to have a hard time finding the right staff."
"Donnie? We'd have to pull him off that investment guy, but he could do it."
"He's not Tam's type," I blurted, then cringed. No way was I living that down.
"Oh ho, and who is Tam's type, eh?" Jim grinned widely and leaned into the corner of the back seat, waiting for me to put my foot in a trap of my own making.
Luckily for me, Dad beat me to the punch. “You boys leave him alone. It's his job to know this stuff, or he can't analyze the risk for us. Who does he date, Miles?"
Thank you, Dad."Party boys, mostly. Guys in the business who understand that the relationship comes second." That wasn’t going to work; it needed too much backstory. "He had a boyfriend, back when he first came to LA, a lapsed Vinist. Mom sent the info over to the cops to look into, but maybe we could try something like that."
"Hook him up with a Vinist?" Jim shuddered. "I wouldn't wish them on a dog I didn't like."
"No, like..." How to explain this? "Maybe make it look like he's settling down. Like, Nico could pass for someone Tam might go for, if he started going back to the kinds of people he used to date. Someone quieter."
