Page 5 of Angel

Many of my peers accept them for business reasons. If you fall out of the spotlight both on the screen and off it, it’s career suicide. Ride the wave, they say, and enjoy it while it lasts because in Hollywood, when your looks fade, the phone stops ringing. At least that’s what they tell me.

I’m not convinced. There are many super stars that scratched their names on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in their older years. It’s only vanity that prevents them from taking on older roles, like mothers or grandmothers, instead of the main part.

It doesn’t bother me. I will age gracefully and take it as a gift that I survived that long. Every line on my face well earned, despite my hobby that is liable to get me killed.

Giovanni is already boring the panties off me. He is costarring in my latest movie. A rom-com about a woman who falls for her neighbor. An Italian heartthrob firefighter. Giovanni is incredibly good-looking. He has the following on his socials to prove it. In demand both in acting and modeling. His latest aftershave campaign is raking in millions for him.

I work for the same agency, and we have just shot a campaign for his and hers matching fragrances. When the casting for the movie was announced, the socials went into overdrive, hoping we are a couple. Whole accounts were created that focused on our ‘relationship’ mapping out our lives and romance.

It’s all smoke and mirrors, and coming here tonight has only poured gasoline on the fire, and I resign myself to more conjecture and more scrutiny as we play the game in the spotlight.

“Sophie.”

He offers me his arm, and his gaze smolders as he tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“You are beautiful tonight.”

“Thanks.”

I don’t return the compliment and merely scan the room for the one person I attend all of these events to find.

I am looking for a man. A specific one, and he is the sole reason I put myself through this chaos every single time.

Giovanni flashes his smile at the passing waitress who hands us a flute of champagne as she passes. The girl blushes prettily; I’m guessing she is an actress and is waiting on the side. They all are. It’s what LA is all about. The city of dreams.

Or nightmares if you walk on the darker side of town.

“Please excuse me for a second.”

I roll my eyes toward the restroom, and Giovanni nods, his smile crooked, his eyes burning with intensity as he watches me go.

I move slowly, scanning the faces in the crowd for one man in particular. Never really believing I’ll be successful, but I’m hopeful at least.

The restroom isn’t far, and as I head inside, I take a deep breath because space is something I don’t get a lot of in my occupation. There is always somebody nearby. Make-up, wardrobe, directors, my agent. I get no breathing space at all as I flit between interviews and television shows, always promoting, always acting.

My phone is snug inside my purse, and as I enter the cubicle, I lock the door with relief. Staring at the screen, wondering if I should go through with this.

It’s been several months since I fell into my new hobby, and I did it for a very good reason. To earn favors so I’m entitled to call them in when the time is right.

It turns out that the time is right.

My heart flutters as I enter the number and start typing.

I want to meet.

My finger hovers over the ‘send’ button, and before I can second-guess my decision, I press it and breathe a sigh of relief.

There’s no going back now. The deed is done, and now I’m nervous, and have every reason to be.

These men don’t move in society. They never show their faces, and one meeting with them is considered the last resort. The final act, and I just set the code sequence in place.

My breathing is fast; my fingers tremble as I stare at the screen, wondering if I did the right thing.

Anxiety causes pressure to build, and I take several deep breaths.

There’s no going back now.

I won’t wait too long. They will find me. They always reach me wherever I am in the world. A favor for a gift. That’s all this is, all it will ever be until now. This time I’m the one asking for the favor.