Script Reading

“Good morning! I’m Sabine’s manager, Aurora Kendrick but Au will do,” Aurora reached out her hand to Lewis as she said so. The man gladly accepted her hand, introducing himself as well.

“Lewis Orion, Soren’s manager. Nice to meet you, Ms. Au.”

The issue took the number one spot on the trending list in a day, a week after, it still remained in the top 10. Online newspapers, tabloids, and non-professional critics alike take their turns creating click-baity headlines. If their goal was to ensure that the issue wouldn’t die down, they were undoubtedly successful.

According to the gentleman in front of her, Soren’s father strictly reprimanded his public relations team, demanding an urgent action that would put down all the nasty third-party allegations. And, the best solution they came up with? The classic fake-dating trope of the romance genres. 

Hence, they are now in pursuit of her agreement.

Sabine supposed the issue would die down. There wasn’t even anything remotely interesting about the incident, at least in her perspective. She didn’t imagine a drastic escalation like this. Her manager simply called last night, informing her about an offer. There was an edge in her voice which she didn’t mind, she should have been suspicious when the call was abruptly stopped. And she even slept so soundly unaware of the upcoming doom.

“This… is too much, Au.” The folder containing the contract clacked against the table as she pushed it away. “I am an actress, but I’m inside a filming site–this? This is entirely different, you’re dragging my life into a world of deception which I am not a part of.”

She was five years old when she started, it has now been two decades. That was how long she worked in order to get where she is right now. However, she knows the power of such a move, it can make or break her career. It was not an uncommon experience to hear of actors getting the limelight in a day and actors who disappear from the face of the show business in also just a span of a day.

Oh, that man just spells trouble. Sabine released a long sigh.

“That is true, Miss Sabine. I understand why you think that way, but I reassure you this unexpected crossroad will be beneficial for both parties,” Lewis took the contract she put down, pointing at a particular clause, “if you read through the contract carefully, there are also some benefits so that we can compensate you as much as possible.”

Sabine leaned forward and placed her arms on the table, looking at the contract once more.

“In my perspective as your Manager, Sabine, we are simply going to use this publicity to push your name in an actual helpful manner. You have already signed for a movie, the shooting is about to wrap up. It will be our leverage. Use this as a momentum to have your name on the mainstream—think of this as just a part-time job of some sort.”

The cold air inside the room penetrated her body. She slid her palms up and down her arms. Her mind was close to drifting away.

Okay, so looking at this situation as a form of leverage to advance her career isn’t so bad. It's just that she still hasn't settled on whether the risk that comes with this is actually worth it. but she promised herself that she won’t let go of this dream so easily. If she can’t even handle one such trouble, how does she expect to remain in the industry for another decade or two? Or three if she becomes successful.

“The only thing we ask of you is to be an exemplary model of a girlfriend. For at least a week we will be doing some photo shoots, a sort of precursor for your relationship- then it’ll be down to at least once a month to show the people that you’re still together. There would also be some occasional events which you must attend with the senator. That’s about it.”

The chills she was recalling from her memories dissipated with the sun’s warm embrace against her skin. She found herself back in the middle of Italy, shopping at a flea market with cameras following her every step. The breeze let her hair wave past her shoulders, the locals and tourists were buzzing, the beautiful man conversing with a street vendor standing beside her; everything was seemingly unreal.

 Out of all her roles–this surely takes the cake.