Lacy, a singer, model and actress, sparks a turbulent romance with actor Drew Starkey, while on the set of Outer Banks, despite their age gap. Their toxic relationship ends after two years, Lacy moving on to Brady Noon, who's her same age. Drew harb...
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In the brightly lit conference room, the air buzzed with the hum of conversations and the shuffling of papers. The PR managers were meticulously reviewing notes, preparing for the meeting that was about to start. Drew and Lacy sat side by side at the long mahogany table, their hands almost touching but not quite.
"Alright, everyone, let's get started," the lead PR manager, Karen, said, clapping her hands together to draw the room's attention. She was a no-nonsense woman in her early forties, with sharp eyes and a keen sense of perception. "First on the agenda is Drew and Lacy. The media has been buzzing with speculation about your relationship. We need to address this head-on. So, are you guys officially in a relationship now?"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Drew and Lacy. Drew glanced at Lacy, his expression calm yet questioning. Lacy, on the other hand, looked visibly confused. She bit her lip, her mind racing. They had talked about this, hadn't they? But now, with the question out in the open, she felt a wave of uncertainty.
Drew, sensing her hesitation, gently reached over and took her hand in his. The warmth of his touch was reassuring. He gave her a small, encouraging smile before turning back to Karen and the rest of the room.
"Yes, Lacy is my girlfriend," Drew said, his voice steady and confident. "Lacy and I are together."
A murmur of approval and understanding rippled through the room. However, Karen's face remained serious. She sighed deeply before addressing them.
"I appreciate your honesty, Drew, but we need to consider the implications of announcing this publicly," Karen said, her tone cautious. "The age gap between you two is significant, and while we understand and support your relationship, the public might not be so understanding."
Drew's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Karen exchanged a look with the other PR managers before continuing. "We're concerned that Lacy might face backlash, especially on social media. The internet can be ruthless, and we're worried she might get bullied because of the age difference."
Lacy's confusion deepened. She had anticipated many reactions to their relationship, but the fear of public bullying hadn't crossed her mind so starkly. She squeezed Drew's hand tighter, seeking reassurance.
"Are you saying we can't announce our relationship?" Lacy asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Karen nodded slowly. "At least, not in the way we might have initially planned. We need to be strategic about this. We can't just release a statement and hope for the best. We have to build a narrative that will help people understand and accept your relationship without focusing on the age gap."
Drew looked into Lacy's eyes, seeing the worry there. He turned back to Karen, determination in his gaze. "Lacy is my girlfriend, and I'm not ashamed of that. We need to find a way to make this work without hiding the truth."
