Because Laurent and Serena publicly confirmed their "relationship" at the Oscars—Heinz, the Vice President of Talent Management, along with Victor, and Director Chan, called a meeting for Laurent and Serena. They chose to exclude their managers, Iso and Alen, leaving both of them on edge.
Iso paced, nervous about Serena. He couldn't understand why she'd agreed to fake a relationship with Laurent, especially in such a public setting. Sure, Iso knew it was all for show, but he never imagined Serena would take it this far. He remembered her pride—just as fierce as Laurent's—and it made him wonder if this was some sort of competition between them. He had tried to get answers from her on the plane, asking about the chaos she and Laurent had caused, but Serena stayed silent until they arrived home.
Meanwhile, in a different part of the building, Alen seethed. Laurent was once again stirring up trouble, and this time it was over something Alen never expected—a fake relationship, and with Serena, of all people. While he knew Laurent would go to great lengths for fame, this strategy was entirely unlike him. Alen couldn't shake the suspicion that Laurent might actually be interested in Serena, even if Laurent himself didn't fully realize it. But if he did have feelings, they'd be nothing but a distraction. Worse, if Serena caught on, she could easily take advantage of it.
Alen clenched his jaw, determined to intervene before things spiraled any further. He needed to find a way to protect Laurent's career, even if it meant stepping into a mess that wasn't his to fix.
Inside the meeting room, Victor let out a long, weary sigh. He looked at Laurent, frustration and helplessness etched into his face.
Laurent was his son, yet there seemed to be no controlling him. Nothing Victor said or did ever got through to him, and this latest stunt was just one more in a long list of reckless decisions.
Seeing Victor's struggle, Heinz stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Laurent," he began, his frustration barely concealed. "You're the one who announced this relationship first to the public. What were you thinking?"
Laurent leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, entirely unfazed. "I was thinking it'd help both of us," he said coolly. "We're at the top now, but we can go even further if people see us as a power couple. This will keep us in the spotlight, and you know how important that is in this industry."
Heinz clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his composure. "You think creating a lie is the answer? Do you even understand the risk? If this backfires, it could damage both your careers—and the agency's reputation."
Director Chan, sensing the conversation heating up, cut in, his voice direct. "Let's just get to the point. Laurent, Serena, I need to know: is this relationship real, or is it just another game to you both?"
Laurent didn't hesitate. "Yes, it's real," he said, looking straight at Chan, his face showing no signs of doubt.
But Serena, caught off guard, said quietly, "No, it's not."
The room fell silent.
Heinz let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples as if the weight of the situation physically pained him. "This is hopeless," he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting between the two. "You're both the agency's brightest stars, and at this rate, you might also be the reason the whole damn thing comes crashing down."
Director Chan exchanged a look with Victor and then nodded, turning his focus back to the two. "Since you're the ones who created this situation, you need to take responsibility. Live with the lie you've spread. If you're not careful, all the work you've done to get here could come undone, and it'll be no one's fault but your own."
YOU ARE READING
The Lies We Tell Ourselves
RomanceBoth at the top of their game, Serena and Laurent are two of the biggest stars in the industry-and they can't stand each other. With matching egos, sky-high pride, and a long history of looking down on one another, the tension between them is well k...