(Book 2) The Dark Side of Fame - Scarlett Johansson x Female Reader

30

Early June 2026...

Me: Right over there guys please, thank you so much!

I direct the delivery guys through the house and into the outhouse, placing all of the gym equipment from Malibu carefully on the ground.

Scarlett comes down and hands me a coffee.

Scarlett: Just sit down, it's your birthday.
Me: This stuff isn't gonna move itself.
Scarlett: No, that's why we have those guys out there. Just relax babe. Are you excited for tonight?
Me: I wouldn't use excited, anxious as hell.

The management team agreed to host a huge party at Times Square for my 30th birthday, which by the way, is absolutely over the top. But Scarlett's excited and I guess it'll be fun.

Scarlett: It's gonna be good.
Me: Yeah, I'm gonna look brilliant in a boot.
Scarlett: You look badass with the boot, don't worry about that.
Me: So what's the plan later?
Scarlett: Ollie, plan?
Ollie: Okay, so...arrive at 5pm, teams are ready for you upstairs when you're done doing, well...whatever you're doing down here. Then meet and greet with some fans who won that competition thingy until 6:30pm, dinner, then at 8pm we have speeches and what not, which you need to say something.
Me: Really Ol?
Ollie: It's my boss's boss's boss asking for that, so make it good. Then there'll be entertainment.
Me: What entertainment?
Ollie: It just says entertainment, I'm not a genius.
Me: No, but you are my manager, you're supposed to know these things. I hate surprises, you know this.
Ollie: Listen, I just follow orders, blame her.

Scarlett tries to sneak away to avoid interrogation.

Me: Oh no, you don't get off lightly either. Get your ass over here.

I jump onto the kitchen island and she stands opposite.

Me: What entertainment?
Scarlett: I'm not telling you, you can flutter your eyelashes all you want.
Me: No sex for a month, end of.
Scarlett: Your loss, it's your birthday.
Me: You're such a jerk. Just tell me.
Scarlett: Go and get ready before makeup...what's that thing called again? Oh yeah, before makeup have a Barney.
Me: Do you even know where that comes from?
Scarlett: Obviously not, but I think you're about to tell me.
Me: Cockney rhyming slang. Barney Rubble rhymes with trouble. So if you're having a barney, that's what it means.
Scarlett: We'll be having a Barney if you don't get your ass upstairs. Go.

I jump off the island worktop and get on my way, earning a slap on the ass from Scarlett.

I head upstairs to hair and makeup and sit in the chair, texting LG.

Me: Are you going tonight? X
LG: Of course honey, I wouldn't miss it. I've missed you so much x
Me: I can't wait to see you! X
LG: Me too! How're you holding up? x
Me: Surprisingly good, being in NY is helping but it's still just processing everything. If I had the choice I wouldn't be doing anything this birthday, but Scarlett thinks it'll be good x
LG: She's trying to take your mind off everything, just relax and tonight will be fun x
Me: Wardrobe want me in 5, I'll see you there x
LG: See you soon x

Once I'm finished I head over to our dressing room, where wardrobe have a long line of suits and outfits for me to wear.

Me: What colour did you say Scarlett was wearing?
Drew (wardrobe): Like a baby blue sort of colour. So if you wanna match, I'd go with something like this.