Page 114 of Seeking Stars
"We will meet with Mr. McMillan to discuss the situation," Diana finally added. Ana's stomach flipped. "As your manager, Ana, you have to know I want the best for you. My advice is always based on the experience I have in the business, which you don't have, and the connections we have as TCA, which you also lack. I know you signed with us because you understood what we can do for you. What I can do for you. I can only do that if you trust and follow my guidance."
"What are you really saying?" Ana's attention narrowed to the threats clouding the room. She'd have to prepare for that meeting— for seeing Liam— later.
"Prove that you can do your part to follow TCA's representation of your work by following our guidance," Diana further explained. "Do as we ask."
"What do you want me to do?"
"If you care about your and Liam's career," Coulton said, "then you won't mind helping us convince him that we know what's best for both of you."
"Don't break up with Mr. McMillan yet." Diana glanced at Coulton once more. "Use your connection to him for a little while— help him see reason. Once things calm down, I'll help you slowly create distance from Mr. McMillan. If we can, we'll end it before the premiere… but we can wait until after. Mr. Coulton believes it can serve as good publicity for the film. To… support you, Mr. Coulton has graciously offered to help us use his connections to plant positive articles in your name, helping you come victorious out of everything, as well as to help you film your next project— whatever you can dream of, he'll help us."
"Anything," Coulton added. "I'll help Diana make it happen, if you do as we say. But if you feel you know better than we do, despite our experience… then perhaps TCA is not the best place for you."
Ana's eyes jumped back and forth between the two people in front of her, unbelieving. She would have laughed in her disdain, but the door opened behind her.
"Mr. Coulton, Mr. McMillan," Magda announced.
Ana's laughter died in her throat, surprise squeezing her vocal cords. She turned in her seat to stare at him, her hands trembling as they fell to the arms of her chair. When their eyes locked, he startled; it seemed Ana wasn't the only one in shock at this encounter.
Ana never imagined that the meeting Diana mentioned would happen within the next ten minutes. She didn't have time to prepare! To coach her heart to be calm, to show him with her eyes that she was on his side, to push her feelings to her skin so he would see it all, and understand. Instead, she got lost in him, in the sudden tension in the line of his shoulders, in his tight lips, and her want to kiss him hard. To soothe him— to soothe them both.
She opened her mouth to talk but no words came out. While on the plane, she'd imagined something completely different, an intimate moment in his home. She had imagined that she would be at his place when he made it home from meetings— his calendar had one big block scheduled until 5:00pm— and that when he looked at her, he would know: she'd chosen him. She would confirm everything with her words, telling him that she was ready, she knew how to make it work. That she was in LA to be with him, despite all the noise.
Instead, they were meeting in Coulton's office and their witnesses wanted to play them like marionettes.
Liam slowed down upon seeing her, but took the final steps to the empty chair next to Ana with casual aplomb. He glanced around the room, going from Ana, to Diana, and finally to Coulton.
"Thanks for coming, Liam," the man said in a much more conciliatory voice than he had used for Ana.
"I didn't know we'd have company," Liam replied, his eyes stealing another glance at Ana.
"We thought we could all help you think things through," Coulton said. "I invited Diana because she represents Ana, and Ana because, well, because I think she might get through to you."
"You mean you staged an intervention." Liam crossed his fingers over his navel, elbows on the chair's arms.
Coulton laughed but there wasn't a lot of mirth in it. "Do I have to?"
Liam shrugged. "I don't think so, no."
"I need to be honest, Liam. I'm worried." Coulton frowned, and Ana wondered if maybe he'd missed his calling as an actor himself.
Liam's mouth turned down at the corner in a dismissive gesture. "I'm not."
"You don't understand. If you start getting choosy then you won't be the top choice anymore."
"I don't need to be at the top of the a-list. I only need to work on things I personally like. Do fewer projects a year."
"That's not as easy as you think. You still are at a place where you work to be chosen. Only after you've reached the point of having more offers than you can handle, can you pick and choose."
"I think I'm there. I already have more offers than I can possibly take. I think I can start choosing what I want to work on and still remain relevant."
"You're nowhere near as big as you could get!"
"And what is that going to get me?"
"Freedom! Money, power. Anything you want."
Liam stole another peek at Ana. "I don't think I want much more than I already have."
