Chapter 3
3
V anessa stared through the window of her living room, the late afternoon sun sinking lower in the sky. Elliot’s words from last night played on repeat in her mind.
“It’s the perfect opportunity, Vanessa. You can take back the narrative. This fake romance will be a win-win for both you and Kate.”
When Vanessa hadn’t immediately agreed to this meeting, Elliot had continued.
“It’s time to take back your power, Vanessa. And I promise, Kate will be fully on board. I understand your hesitation, but this is the best move for both your career and your personal image. Trust me, Vanessa.”
Could she do it? Could she pretend to be in love again, especially with someone so different from Lauren? Kate Monroe was vibrant, full of life, and hungry for success. A young rising star, just thirty years old, agreeing to a manufactured romance with someone nearly twenty years her senior.
The concept bordered on absurd.
The money she’d offered was substantial, more than enough to entice most actresses into such an arrangement. But something about Kate’s quick acceptance nagged at her.
Why would someone like Kate Monroe, with her whole career ahead of her, willingly let the world believe she was interested in women? The publicity angle made sense, but the personal implications...
The doorbell rang, snapping her back to the present. Vanessa froze, her gaze dropping to assess her outfit for the hundredth time. She wore dark jeans and a cream silk blouse, its top buttons undone to reveal a silver pendant resting just below her collarbone. Her hair fell in loose waves, framing her face in a way that suggested effort without trying too hard.
What exactly was the dress code for meeting your arranged girlfriend? Too casual might appear dismissive, too formal could make things awkward. She’d changed four times before settling on this ensemble, aiming for that elusive balance between sophisticated and approachable.
The doorbell rang again.
Vanessa drew in a steadying breath and opened the door. Kate Monroe stood on her doorstep, her blonde hair catching the last rays of sunlight. Elliot lingered a step behind, a smile tugging at his lips, clearly impressed with himself for orchestrating this entire charade. Vanessa felt a twinge of annoyance at his smug expression, but she maintained her composure, straightening her posture and offering a warm, confident smile to her supposed new love interest.
As Elliot stepped forward to make the introductions, Vanessa’s heart raced, and her breath hitched ever so slightly. This was it. The moment when their scheme would be set in motion, for better or for worse.
“Vanessa, I’d like you to meet Kate Monroe.” Elliot stepped into the foyer, guiding Kate forward with a light touch to her shoulder. “And Kate, the incomparable Vanessa Prescott.”
Kate extended her hand. Her palm was soft and warm against Vanessa’s skin, the contact lingering a beat longer than necessary. Up close, those blue eyes held an intensity that caught Vanessa off guard.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Prescott. I’ve admired your work for years.” Kate’s voice carried a hint of breathiness, her cheeks flushed pink.
“Please, call me Vanessa.” She released Kate’s hand and gestured toward the living room. “Come in. Make yourselves comfortable in the living room.”
“Shall we discuss the details?” Elliot asked as he took a seat, but Vanessa held up her hand.
“First, would either of you like a drink? I have an excellent Cabernet breathing.”
“That would be lovely,” Kate said.
Vanessa left them and moved to the kitchen, pulling three glasses from the cabinet. She took a steadying breath. At least the familiar routine of hosting gave her something concrete to focus on, a momentary reprieve from the surreal nature of this meeting.
“Now then,” Elliot’s voice carried from the living room. “Let’s discuss how we’re going to make this work, shall we?”
Vanessa carried the wine and glasses into the living room. She poured with steady hands, distributing the glasses before sitting across from them in the armchair.
Elliot wasted no time. “We’ll start with some low-key sightings together. Paparazzi, of course, but we’ll also need social media posts. Nothing too overt at first. Just subtle hints that you’re spending time together.”
Vanessa listened, her gaze flicking to Kate, taking in the younger woman’s reactions. Elliot continued, mapping out a series of orchestrated appearances and suggesting ways to make their relationship seem authentic to the public eye.
“And we’ll want some intimate photos, maybe a kiss...” Elliot trailed off, seemingly lost in thought, no doubt imagining the tabloid headlines that would ensue.
Vanessa took a sip of her wine, her mind elsewhere. Why was Kate really doing this? The money was a factor, no doubt. She’d offered an amount that would be hard to refuse, especially for a rising star. But there was more to it, she sensed.
Last night, after agreeing to Elliot’s scheme, she’d looked up Kate’s recent work. Kate’s talent was evident, and her profile was rising. Her last three roles would have netted her a decent paycheck, so money alone didn’t quite explain her willingness to participate in this charade.
As Elliot outlined the next steps, his phone buzzed with a call. He glanced at the screen, his eyebrows furrowing. “I need to take this. It’s one of my other clients.”
Vanessa didn’t miss the satisfied glint in his eyes. It wouldn’t surprise her if he’d staged that call to create an opportunity for her and Kate to talk alone.
“By all means,” she said. “We can continue without you.”
Elliot stood, smoothing his suit jacket. “I won’t be long.”
Vanessa watched him leave, his footsteps echoing in the hallway, before turning back to Kate. They were alone for the first time since this idea had been thrust upon them. Kate shifted in her seat, her fingers wrapped loosely around the wine glass.
Vanessa studied Kate as she swirled the wine in her glass, her fingers slender around the stem.
“I’m so sorry about what happened with Lauren,” Kate said, her voice soft, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Her words carried a trace of nervousness. “The last few weeks must have been...” She trailed off, her eyes flicking down as if searching for the right phrase, some expression to encapsulate the chaos and hurt Vanessa had endured. “Difficult,” she finished, her tone tinged with sympathy.
Vanessa met Kate’s gaze. “The hardest of my life,” she said. It was a simple statement, but it held the weight of her world, the wreckage of a decade-long partnership, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
“I was surprised when Elliot approached me with this idea,” Kate said, “but I understand why you’re doing it. Taking control of the narrative or whatever Elliot calls it.”
“Why are you doing this?” The question escaped Vanessa’s lips before she could overthink it.
Kate’s eyes widened, caught off-guard. “I...”
“For the money, I assume?” Vanessa pressed, her gaze sharpening. “It’s a substantial sum. No one would blame you.”
Kate shook her head, her cheeks flushing. “I can’t take your money, Vanessa. I agreed to this for another reason entirely.”
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. “Oh?”
Kate set her glass down on the coffee table, her movements deliberate. “I want to be honest with you, Vanessa. This fake relationship... It’s a chance for me to come out.”
Vanessa baulked, the wine glass freezing halfway to her lips. “Come out?”
Kate leaned forward. “I’ve wanted to come out for weeks now. Elliot advised me to wait—to find the right opportunity, not just blurt it out on some red carpet.”
Kate took a breath, her eyes never leaving Vanessa’s. “I knew I was gay since I was seventeen, but I made a conscious decision to come to L.A. and try to make a name for myself first.” Her voice wavered. “Time just got away from me. One role led to another, and I kept thinking that after the next one, then it would be the right time to come out. But the truth is, I’ve been feeling so guilty about hiding who I am.”
Vanessa stared at Kate. That was probably the last thing that she could have imagined Kate saying. Clearly, her gaydar was rusty, but then again, Vanessa hadn’t used it in ten years.
“Kate.” Vanessa set her wine glass down. “Are you sure this is how you want to do it?” She leaned forward, searching Kate’s face. “I know how persuasive Elliot can be. Look at me,” she said with a hint of a smile. “I’m actually entertaining this whole scheme.” A soft laugh escaped her lips. “But this is your story to tell. It should be on your terms.”
Kate looked away for a second. “No. I know, and when Elliot first suggested this, I said no. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.” Her eyes met Vanessa’s. “I’ve looked up to you for years, not just as an actress, but for how you handled coming out.”
Vanessa pressed her lips together, hating the way Kate’s words suddenly made her feel old.
“I don’t know, Kate.” Vanessa let out a breath, pausing to gather her thoughts. “I appreciate your honesty, and I do understand the desire to control the narrative. Believe me, I do. But are you sure this is how you want to come out? With someone so much older than you? We can’t control every headline.”
Kate’s expression shifted, determination replacing her earlier nervousness. “I don’t care about the age difference.” Her voice dropped lower, more intimate. “If anything... I’ve always been drawn to older women.”
The admission hung in the air between them. Vanessa’s chest tightened, her mind racing to process Kate’s words. She’d expected deflection, perhaps even embarrassment about their age gap. Instead, Kate’s directness caught her off guard.
“I’m not going to lie, Kate. I didn’t want to resort to these kinds of tactics.” She exhaled softly. “I know Elliot means well, but it’s easy for him to orchestrate our lives when he’s not the one in the spotlight. When he’s not the one reading the headlines about his broken relationship or waking up to his face plastered on every tabloid.”
Kate’s chin lifted, a flash of determination crossing her features. “I get it. This is not ideal. But please don’t be worried about me, about how this will affect my career. I’ve thought this through.” Her voice carried a quiet strength that made Vanessa pause. “This arrangement, while somewhat crazy, works for both of us. You get to take back some of those headlines, and I get to come out on my own terms. With someone I...” She paused, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “With someone I genuinely admire.”
The earnestness in Kate’s voice struck something in Vanessa. There was no trace of the calculated ambition she’d come to expect from younger actresses. Instead, Kate’s words rang with authenticity that was becoming increasingly rare in Hollywood.
“So.” Kate’s eyes locked with Vanessa’s. “If you’re still willing to do this, knowing everything I’ve told you... I’m in. Completely in. For however long this takes.”
Vanessa studied Kate’s face, searching for any hint of hesitation or doubt. She found none. Just that steady, unwavering gaze that seemed to see right through her carefully constructed walls.
“This is crazy.” The words escaped Vanessa’s lips before she could stop them. “This whole situation is...”
“Yes.” Kate’s smile held a hint of humor. “It’s crazy.”
Vanessa took a deep breath, hardly believing that she was agreeing to this. “But I’m in, too.”
Kate’s face lit up, a radiant smile transforming her features.
The sound of Elliot’s footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder. He strode back into the living room, phone still in hand, eyebrows raised in question.
“Well?” His gaze darted between them. “Are we doing this?”
“Yes, we’re doing this,” Vanessa said. The words felt surreal leaving her mouth.
“Excellent.” Elliot clapped his hands together. “I’ve already drafted a preliminary schedule. We’ll start with casual sightings - coffee shops, maybe a hike in Runyon Canyon. Then progress to more intimate settings.”
Vanessa’s jaw clenched. “Elliot, we just agreed to this. Can we have a moment before you turn our lives into a production schedule?”
“Time is of the essence, darling. The sooner we get ahead of Lauren’s narrative-”
“Lauren’s narrative isn’t going anywhere.” Vanessa’s voice carried an edge that made both Elliot and Kate straighten. “And I won’t be rushed into this just because you’re excited about the PR potential.”
Kate leaned forward. “What if we start small? Maybe dinner tomorrow night? Something private, just to talk and get comfortable with each other?”
The suggestion surprised Vanessa. It was sensible, measured, and exactly what she needed to hear in that moment. She studied Kate’s face, finding none of Elliot’s eager calculation, just genuine openness.
“Dinner would be perfect.” Vanessa felt some of her tension ease. “I know a place in Venice Beach. The owner’s an old friend who knows how to keep the paparazzi at bay.”