OUT (Girl X Girl)

Chapter Fifteen: The Violation

I love Hollywood. The film industry as a whole created a basis to my childhood and (hopefully) my future career. The only downside to this magical shit show is that everything is entirely fake.

That girl’s hair? Fake. Most of it is extensions and blonde hair dye.

That guy’s eyes? Also fake. They’re custom made contacts because his agent thought he would be more marketable with good old fashion baby blues.

And for me, I wear a wig in half of the roles I play because some people just can’t handle seeing a big head fo curly hair.

Most of these image changes begin with a meeting with a publicist, an agent, and some producer who thinks they know better than the director.

I’m sitting in the exact same boardroom where I signed the Melody Jones contract but there are are only three other people instead of a full house. Dominic Summers is giving me a bright smile along with a women I recognize from the first meeting but I don’t remember her name, and my agent Amelia who looks annoyed beyond measure.

Amelia gives Dominic a hard stare, “Do you want to tell her or should I?”

Dominic’s smile weakens slightly, “You know this is all business, Amelia. If I had a better solution you know I would have used it.”

“Okay this sounds serious,” I say, “What is going on because if I drove three hours to be fired I would like some one to break the news sooner rather than later.”

The unknown woman clears her throat, “Elizabeth you are not being fired. We just have a request to insure the stability of the movie.”

She stops her thought. Dominic and the women look between one another like they’re sharing some mental connection. Neither of them talk for a while and I feel the tension in the room escalate.

I attempt to relax, “And the request is…”

Dominic pushies a plate of cookies towards me, “Would you like a cookie?”

Amelia shoves the plate towards Dominic, “Cut the crap Summers and tell her what’s going on.”

The woman sets a manila folder in front of me, “Some of the producers are concerned about your current relationship and have requested that you terminate the relationship until the movie is released.”

“You can still date your girlfriend in private but you need to have a different partner for public appearances,” Dominic says.

“So let me get this straight, you want me to break up with my girlfriend even though we have been dating for three months and I have followed the contract agreement by alerting you of said relationship when it started.”

The women gives me a nod, “They would prefer for you to terminate that relationship as a whole but, you can continue the relationship in private.”

I look Dominic in the eye, “Was this your idea?”

“I wasn’t just my idea. After examining the feedback from your scene in the Harold Sharp movie and the series you just did on Netflix being released soon, your likeability is at an all time high and we do not want to risk it sinking after everything that has happened over the past few months.”

“What does any of that have to do with Heather?”

The unknown woman steps in, “Considering that she is the director’s daughter, the relationship may give off the wrong impression to critics for why you were casted.”

“Who are you?” Amelia asks coldly.

“I’m Sydney Carter, the publicist for the movie. Now Elizabeth, honey, we’re on your side-”