Almost Everything - (WLW)

1: This is my Superstar

Ellis woke in her bed with a familiar headache and 6 missed calls on her phone. That's how it started.

She picked up the phone and saw that her manager, Ben, had been trying to reach her all morning and well, after her antics last night, it was now well into the afternoon as she rubbed her eyes trying to keep them open long enough to put in her password and click on Bens contact.

"Hi Benny, I purposely didn't make any plans until the evening today so I could sleep away the hangover so someone better have died for you to be calling me so much." She started, trying to sound annoyed but mostly sounding raspy and exhausted.

"It's important, can you come to my office please? Have you even slept off the alcohol? Legally could you even drive right now? If so get up and get in here. I've been here 2 damn hours waiting for you to come back to life." Ben hung up the phone with those words, leaving Ellis with no chance to reply something smart.

She got up and in record time showered and got completely ready to go minus breakfast which she decided to skip since Ben's news sounded so important on the phone, and as much as she didn't care most of the time, when she was curious about something she simply had to find out.

It's not like she actually had anything else to do.

Ellis had been filming a new movie, London Nights, and they'd just wrapped up production. No one even knew the movie existed yet as they hadn't even released a trailer.

The payout was great, but the downside was that the reason why it was so great was because the director made the main actors in the movie sign an agreement that they wouldn't star in any other roles big or small until after the movies release, so as not to take away from any excitement surrounding it. The payout would essentially cover any opportunities the actors would have to turn down in the meantime.

So for the next year or so, after 4 years of constant movies and success, Ellis Hardy had nothing to do.

She arrived at Ben's office and before entering she could see the figures through the glass, three of them.

Who the fuck is this, she thought.

"There she is, my superstar. Ellis I want you to meet these lovely ladies," Ben spoke while shooting her his 'warning look' that only Ellis knows, which means 'Don't be a smartass, sit and listen'.

The older woman spoke first.

"Ellis Hardy, in the flesh. It's so good to meet you, dear. My name is Lindsay Ray, and this is my client, Violet James."

Ellis looked at the blonde girl she was referring to, with a face that screamed 'I don't want to be here'. Ellis could tell the girl was hoping she wouldn't show up.

Ellis and Violet didn't share any hello's, and Ellis sat down and faced Ben waiting for an explanation. Was this a fan that managed to get a meeting with her? No, this Violet girl didn't even look at her or acknowledge her existence. Oh my god, was this the girl she drunkenly married in Las Vegas a few months back and then never saw again? No, she'd still be wearing the ring, no one marries Ellis Hardy and throws away the ring.

"Ellis, I'm gonna make this as short and simple as possible. Me and Ms. Ray have been talking and we've decided it would be.. advantageous.. for both of you to form a public relationship with each other," Ben started.

Ellis audibly scoffed.

"Let me finish, kid. Look, this contract for the movie, it's a great payday but what's a year of no work gonna do for your career? The movie ain't even being announced until next year, until then the press ain't gonna hear anything about you. Let's give them a story-"

"Sorry Benny, but in case you've forgot, or lost your fucking mind in the 48 hours since I saw you last, I don't do relationships, the public know that! I'm always in the news, whether I'm working or not!" Ellis raised her voice slightly.

"Yep you're always in the news for your hookups, your one night stands, rumours about you and whatever Hollywood bitch you had a 2 day long situation with then moved on to the next one. It's boring, the public are bored. Your fans love you, they're always interested in you, they'd pay to know what you have for breakfast, but I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the general public. People who aren't actively searching for your name in the news everyday. If they see Hollywoods little player turns loved up in her first public relationship, they'll be crazy to read about it. That will buy you a year of relevancy until you can get back out there." Ben was surprised he managed to get that far into his rant without Ellis interrupting.

Ellis was frustrated and speechless, because she knew Ben had a good point.

"Well aren't you going to say something about this? Or are you mute? Have they set me up with a fucking mute person?" Ellis yelled towards Violet.

"You think I want this? I have a boyfriend, and you're the last person I'd go anywhere near. God, I'm gonna need some of your acting lessons to even act civil with you. You're actually worse in person than they say you are in the news." Violet finally speaks.

Ellis' face turns a shade of red and she storms out of the office, slamming the door and making the plaques and framed photos on Ben's wall shake.

"That went better than I expected. Violet, Ellis has an apartment in the city. Better for you to live there rather than travelling from... wherever it is you're from, to here every time we need you guys photographed together. Lindsay's already sent some of your things over, but trust me when that first photo of you two drops, you'll have so much money for new outfits, you won't know what to do with it." Ben smirks as he ushers Violet and her manager out of his office.