Sheepishly, Milo nodded. “No one helps us look squeakier clean than you, babe. You’re known industry-wide for keeping your little Disney starlets purer than the driven snow.”
Well. It only made sense. Everyone in this town used everybody else, who used them right back. That was fine. It was the way the game was played.
After all, once I’d been a publicist for Leander Mavros for a year—that was all I was willing to commit to this for—my reputation would be irrefutably established as more than just an excellent publicist for child stars. I’d officially be one of the biggest names in town, and I’d finally be able to accomplish my dream of starting my own PR firm.
One day soon, I was going to take this town by storm.
I glanced back, only to find two sets of stormy gray eyes burning my way, and an icy hot shiver ran down my spine.
If I survived the day, that was.
4
GIRL TIME ON PREMIERE NIGHT
“Oh my God, you’re where?” Makayla screeched in my face over the phone screen.
“Shhh,” I hushed her, waving a hand and walking behind a large ornate column for a little bit of privacy. People were starting to arrive at the theater—the Village Theater, that is—so most of the hubbub was outside and in the large first foyer.
I whispered as I headed down the stairs into a more shadowed and deserted area. “The Village Theater,” I said to Makayla. She knew it was one of the three theaters around town where big movie premieres happened.
“For the Trapdoor premiere? Jesus, by the time I asked, not even my agent could get me tickets to that!”
I grinned, feeling a little thrill at being able to tell her, “It might have a little something to do with the fact that I now rep Leander Mavros.”
“What?” she shrieked, even louder than she had earlier. “Shut your frippin’ mouth! Oh my God, oh my God. You got the Mavros twins? Holy shit!”
I hurriedly turned down the volume on my phone because I was starting to get strange looks from the few people milling around down here. “Jesus, Makayla, calm down. Leander Mavros isn’t that big a deal.”
“Not a big deal,” she continued squealing, jumping up and down so that I had to look away from the bouncing video. But I could still hear her just fine: “Um, am I speaking to the same woman who forced me to watch seasons five through eight of Who’s Counting Now? on repeat and the extended version DVDs of the twins in the one movie they did together before Janus imploded and quit acting?”
“What’s that?” I said, making a crackling noise with my mouth. “Uh oh, hon, I think my signal’s acting up. I’m losing you.”
“Shut up, wench, I taught you that trick. Now answer the question.”
I sighed and looked at her through the screen. “We watched all that as a cautionary tale for you. I didn’t want your career to end up the same way as Janus’s. And look at you now. Our newest superhero extraordinaire.”
“Don’t try to change the subject on me. I know all your tricks. Spill.”
“Fine.” I glanced at my phone, checking the time. I still had about ten minutes. Milo had given me a security tracking app for the limo so I could see when they were arriving.
I breathed out and leaned back against a wall. After a quick check that no one was close, I whispered the truth, “Of course I’m freaked out. I totally crushed on these guys as a teenager. But I’ve been around celebrities enough now. They just want to be treated like normal people. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
Makayla pursed her lips, frowning. “Well, I mean, yeah.” Then she grinned. “Except when I want to be treated like a queen. But it doesn’t mean I don’t still get star-struck.”
I laughed at that, double checking over my shoulder our conversation was still private, but no one was lurking. Paranoia was my middle name. Had to be, in this game. “You? By whom?”
She rattled off the name of one of the biggest movie stars. Even my eyes were popping. “And? What was it like when you met him?”
She let out a disgusted noise. “He was a total dick. Tried to grab my ass within three seconds of meeting me. It’s true what they say. Never meet your heroes.”
I bit my lip, inadvertently thinking of Leander or Janus grabbing my ass. I straightened up immediately. Good Lord, I could not be thinking that kind of thing about my new bosses!
Well, I mean, they weren’t exactly my bosses. They were clients. Or co-workers. Something like that… And Lord knew I’d seen what could happen between co-workers on set. Half my job with Makayla and Destiny had been keeping them protected from shenanigans on-set and on-tour.