Declan pulled up outside his manager’s apartment the next day. Mark lived in one of the flashiest neighborhoods. He could have had a huge place out in the suburbs for what he paid for his small pad but he insisted it was all about location, location, location. Donning his sunglasses, Declan stepped out of the car. Thankfully, Mark had private security and a gated entrance. The paparazzi weren’t allowed onto the property. That didn’t stop them from trying to take photos with long lenses though.

He couldn’t believe they were running the story of him and Zoe. He hadn’t read a lot, but he’d seen enough to know the comments about her were not all complimentary. The female reporters seemed worse than the male, pulling apart her hair, makeup and her clothes. He couldn’t see Zoe putting up with it for long. He grinned at the thought of any reporter getting too close to her, he might find himself eating his lens.

“Dump her, Declan. Enough with the poor chick from the up and coming neighborhood. You need someone like Beyoncé on your arm.” Mark greeted him at the door.

“Beyoncé, apart from being married and a mother, wouldn’t look twice at me. I happen to like Zoe.”

“So what? Take her out and get her out of your system.”

Declan’s fists clenched at the vulgar implications. He always hated it when men referred to women like that, but this time it was more personal. Zoe deserved more respect.

“Don’t speak about her like that again Mark, or I’m out of here.”

“Jeez, you got it bad. Okay don’t give me that look.” Mark slurped his coffee as he handed Declan a load of papers. “New scripts came in. We need to talk about the premier for Action Men Five as well. I got us both tickets to the Cancer Charity Ball, the one all the hottest people in the industry will be at. I checked, Susie Marr is still available to go as your date.”

“I don’t want Susie Marr on my arm.”

“Are you serious? She can do a lot for your career.”

Declan moved to look out at the view. Mark rambled on about this job and that event but all he could think about was Zoe. He hoped she had the sense not to read the papers. Even the most confident person would be wounded by some of the comments.

“You listening to me?”

“Sorry, no. You stopped listening to me about Susie so I guessed you didn’t need my input.”

“Jeez, will you chill? I’m doing all of this for you. Where would you be without me?”

Declan shrugged. Mark had helped his career and for that he was thankful. But he wasn’t naïve. If Mark hadn’t done well from it, Declan would have been dropped in an instant, just like all the other would-be actors Mark came across.

“I am grateful Mark. But I’m not going to be your puppet anymore. Or anyone else’s puppet. I want to live life on my own terms.”

“Oh, here we go. Mr. Hot Shot thinks he can go it alone.” Mark sneered. “If I had a dime for every Hollywood actor who stood in front of me saying the same thing, I would be rich enough to live in a pad a hundred times bigger than this one. Don’t be a chump, kid. I like you, I like you a lot, but there are always other Irish kids willing to jump into your spot. Just as talented and with even better looks. Ever thought of that?”

Declan had, probably more often than Mark realized. He knew he was only as big as his latest movie. He might survive one flop but that would be it. One thing Hollywood wasn’t short of was actors.

“So, you going to behave now?”

“Stop talking to me like I’m a kid. I told you Mark, I’m not putting on a show for the media. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t bed Susie Marr if she were the last girl in LA. She has the personality of a drainpipe.”

“Who cares? Nobody wants to know her views on world peace. She looks the part.”

“So does Zoe.”

“Who?’

“The woman I’m dating. The one you seem to be in a flap about.”

“The broad from the tabloid pictures? Don’t make me laugh. She’s cute enough, for a normal sort of person. But she’s nothing compared to Susie.”

Declan gave Mark a look warning him he was crossing the line.

“Okay, okay. If you don’t want to go with Susie, what about Mel? She is your co-star after all.”

“I doubt Liam would like that, do you? He’s rather infatuated with the mother of his child.” Declan paused. “I’m asking Zoe. If she doesn’t want to go, I will go alone.”

“Go alone. This isn’t up for discussion. I won’t have you put everything I’ve worked, we’ve worked, hard for on the line because of your hormones.” Mark paced a bit before changing his tone. “Look I get it, you think you’re in love, and maybe you are, but face it, you don’t know her very well. Is it fair to the girl to put her up in front of the world’s press like that? You know they’ll pull her apart, piece by piece. If you think today’s coverage is bad, it’s nothing compared to what they’ll do if you make her official.”

Despite not wanting to, Declan could see Mark had a point. It was early days and who knew whether he and Zoe would last. It wouldn’t be fair to expose her to the press wolves.

“If she says no, I’ll go alone.”

“Fine,” Mark said, throwing his hands in the air. “Now scripts. Please don’t tell me we’re going to argue all day about that, too. I’ve got other people to see.”

“No, we won’t.”

Mark looked relieved

“So long as you did your job.”

Mark had that look on his face again. Declan swore silently.

“No.”

“You haven’t even heard what I was going to say, Declan.”

“I know that look. I’m not doing a nude film. Not for any amount of money. Mam watches all my movies. She isn’t going to enjoy that.” She had told him often enough in the past that she didn’t want to see any pink bits. Thinking about it now, he missed her.

“Your mother doesn’t make those choices.”

“No, but I do. I told you before, Mark. Shirtless is fine. The illusion I’m naked in bed is fine. But I’m not exposing my butt to the world for anything.”

“You’ll change your mind when you read the script.”

“I won’t. If they want me to play that part, they’ll change the scene. Surely the movie isn’t so bad it can’t succeed without my bare backside in it?”