Chapter 32

Sasha

“Hey, does anyone want anything else?” Stefan asks the group, his elbows propped on the granite kitchen counter. He has three beers in his hands and, when we tell him we’re good, he simply joins us on the large couch in the living room and hands out the beers.

“Alright, then,” Kane announces, clapping his hands together. “It’s time,” he continues, checking his wristwatch and reaching for the remote. As he chooses the right channel, Manhattan Reign's opening song comes up, the velvety shapes and long distance shots of New York City's skyline taking over the screen. When the song finally dies out and the title appears on the screen, everyone just remains silent.

Tonight, one month after we wrapped up shooting, the finale of Manhattan Reign is airing on TV, and Kane decided to have a small gathering of friends at his place. Aside from me and him, there’s also Laurel, Stefan, Jasmine, and the show’s director.

We all know that our fate is hanging in the balance, since the executive producers still haven’t decided on the show’s future, so the atmosphere right now is kinda heavy. Aside from Laurel, who seems unusually happy today, everyone seems to be as excited as they’re nervous about watching the season’s final episode.

Thirty minutes go by without nothing surprising happening; it seems that, for the most part, the producers had the editing crew stick to the script. But then a few scenes start veering off what we expected to happen.

“What the…?” Jasmine asks, but no one answers. Our eyes are glued to the screen, watching as a horrified expression takes over Alberta’s face. Her character was a backstabbing manipulative bitch (much like her, really), and now she’s face-to-face with someone whose face is kept in the shadows.

“Fuck,” I mutter as the gun fires and Alberta collapses, grabbing her stomach as violent red starts taking over the front of her dress. “Did this really happen?”

“Damn right it happened,” Laurel cries out, waving one fist in the air. “I actually got Ryan to listen to me during one of our pitches. He didn’t like my movie idea, which is a shame, but he asked for my input on the show. And so I suggested a few things...Like killing Alberta off.” With that, she throws her arms over the headrest of the couch and smiles triumphantly, basking in the glory of what she did.

“You’re the best fucking PA I’ve ever seen, that much is for sure,” Kane says, whistling as he looks at Laurel with an impressed expression.

“Of course she’s the best PA ever,” I agree, turning to Laurel. I lay one kiss on her cheek and smile at her, knowing that words can’t really start to describe how thankful I am for everything she has done.

“I also suggested we make the next season a sexy whodunit,” Laurel laughs, and we all join in. If there’s a next season, which is almost impossible after all the scandal surround me and Kane, I guess I could see Manhattan Reign changing gears.

“Alright, alright ...let’s focus,” Laurel laughs, waving one hand at the screen. We all turn our attention toward the TV, and we watch in silence as the episode leads to the big moment: a sex scene between Kane and I.

Even though it’s definitely embarrassing to have all these people watch you go at it, there’s also something very enticing about it. I take deep breaths throughout the scene, trying to calm myself; it drives me completely crazy to see it happening on the screen, and I feel my pussy growing wet with each passing second.

Knowing the state I’m in, Kane just rests his hand on top of mine and squeezes it, a move I can only translate as ‘I’ll take care of you once everyone leaves’. Well, that works for me.

“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Laurel whistles, clapping her hands as the endings credits start rolling. “What an episode!” Everyone starts following Laurel’s lead and, in a matter of seconds, thunderous applause is filling Kane’s living room.

“Jesus, this was probably our best episode yet,” Stefan adds as the applause finally dies out. “Too bad Manhattan Reign is done.”

“It’s a shame,” Laurel agrees, distractedly scrolling through the newsfeed in her phone." And everyone seems to agree with you, Stefan. The Internet is really going crazy with the way the episode wrapped up...They loved your scene,” she continues, looking at me and winking. You slut, she seems to be telling me telepathically, and I just smile at her.

“Yeah...I’m sorry, guys,” I start, going up to my feet and turning around so that I’m facing the whole group. “This is really my fault...If I hadn’t locked horns with Alberta, and if that tape wasn’t around, I —”

“Ah, forget about the tape,” Laurel cuts me short. “You guys broke the Internet. Viewership for this episode was through the roof, it seems, and that in part because of the sextape. People actually dig the fact that you and Kane are a thing, you know?”

“Too bad the higher ups don’t see it like that,” I sigh, sinking down onto the couch again. It’s heartbreaking to see one of the best shows on TV go down like this, but we all did the best we could in our roles. At least we’ll all be able to keep our chins up after this.

“Screw that,” Stefan and Jasmine say in one voice. They look at each other and then burst out laughing. “Really, Sasha,” Jasmine continues, “we’ll survive without Manhattan Reign. It was good while it lasted, but we all have stable careers as actors...We’ll get more roles.”

“Hold on, everyone,” Kane says all of a sudden, taking his phone out of his pocket. At the same time, I hear my phone ringing from inside my purse. Taking it out, I unlock the screen and see a text from Ryan in there. I look at Kane, and then we just nod at each other.

Meeting tomorrow, the text reads, we must discuss the future.