5
Gage
Sartre was wrong.Hell is not other people; it’s Los Angeles traffic.
The drive is interminable.Parking takes several lifetimes.The three blocks I walk from the parking garage to the building are noisy, bright, and redolent with the stench of the city.I’m twenty-five minutes late when I walk into Francesca Sterling’s office building.
I give my name at the reception desk.The male receptionist is what Jessica and Todd would dub a “Hollywood hopeful”—a wannabe actor with too-white teeth and too-tanned skin working a day job in between auditions.He directs me to an elevator.Once inside, I close my eyes and breathe deeply.The last time I needed Francesca’s expertise, I was a broken young man.Things feel dire right now, but I must trust what Francesca told me on the phone:We will figure this out, and we will fix it.
Her office door is open.I knock on the edge, next to the silver sign bearing the wordsFrancesca Sterling, Sterling Celebrities, President.“It’s me, Francesca.”
“Gage, come in.It’s good to see you again.”Francesca’s voice is warm.She stands behind her desk.The years have been kind to her—her sharp nose and the fine lines around her eyes give her a queenly appearance.She wears her hair in loose, auburn waves over her shoulders.As usual, she has on slacks and a silk button-down shirt.“Although of course I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“I apologize for being late.”I glance around the room.The decor is earthy—beige and white, with brown accents.She stands next to a desk with chairs in front of it, but the other half of the room could be a TV set for a therapist’s office.Arranged around a square coffee table are a loveseat and several comfortable chairs.A ficus plant soaks in the sunlight streaming through a large picture window.Tiny, potted succulents line the sill.“I like your new space.”
“Thanks.”She smiles.“The company has come far since we last worked with you.I have a team now, and I’ve had them review your issue.May I invite them in?”
“Please do.”
She strikes a few keys on her keyboard.
A moment later, two women and a man come into the room.Each of them wears an outfit similar to Francesca’s—slacks, button-down shirts.Francesca gestures to the blond woman on the right, and the dark-haired man standing next to her.“This is Heta Allaway and Parminder Singh, our communications manager and public affairs manager.”
“It’s a pleasure,” I say, shaking their hands.
Francesca nods at the tall, black-haired woman.“And this is Dove Longshadow, our crisis communication specialist.”
I shake her hand as well.All three invite me to call them by their first names, so I do the same.
“Shall we sit?”Francesca gestures toward the cozy sitting area.
Once we’re settled, Dove holds up her tablet and taps the screen.“Let’s get started, shall we?First, an overview.We’re currently in the midst of a crisis with Nicola Johnson.She’s Gage’s former co-star onAcademy of Ghosts, and his ex-girlfriend.”
“Gage.”Francesca’s voice is kind.“In your own words, would you tell us what’s going on?”
She doesn’t need to talk to me like a therapist, but there is something very calming about this room and her demeanor.Her background in psychology and crisis counseling is what originally drew me to her as a public relations specialist.When I first hired her, all those years ago, I needed someone who understands people.Francesca didn’t disappoint.
“You’ve reviewed her short videos?”I ask.
Everyone nods.
“She’s using her platform to lie.”I tamp down my anger.This scene doesn’t require it.Instead, I must be calm and collected.“She and I haven’t had a relationship of any kind—romantic or friendly—since we were in our early twenties.It ended badly.I was, however, able to get her on the phone last night.I asked her to take down the videos slandering Leah.”
“She’s slandering you as well.”Heta raises a blond eyebrow.
“You’re right.”I close my eyes, searching for a solution.It’s futile, though.I can’t do this on my own.That’s why I’m here.“I don’t care what she says about me—she’s already said the worst.”
Parminder speaks for the first time.His voice is soft and melodic.“What outcome are you looking for?”
I face the four of them.“This is for Leah.I want her kept out of this.The important thing is to get Nicola to stop talking about Leah.”
Dove’s dark eyes are thoughtful.“Let’s get to thewhyof Nicola’s allegations.Do you know what she hopes to gain?”
“She says she wants me.”I’m embarrassed to say it out loud, but honesty is the best chance of resolving this scandal.“I don’t believe for a second that she actually cares about me.There’s an ulterior motive—I’m certain of it.Unfortunately, I don’t know what that motive is.”
“All right.”Francesca clasps her hands together and faces her team.“You’ve reviewed Nicola’s footage.You’ve heard Gage’s side of things.What are our initial thoughts?”
Heta flips her long blond hair behind her shoulder.“Gage fights fire with fire—he creates and posts his own video to share the truth with the public.”
