Spotlights. Ant & Dec | ✔️

Chapter 31: Best Fake Smile

A/N: This is a pretty long one I've been arguing with myself whether to post it and I'm not sure if this is a huge mistake or not so let me know what you think 😬❤️

"Ant's not going to be happy about it."

"He's already 'not happy'. We can't just ignore Dec's lack of presence on the show. The boy is under contract and so is Ant so I don't give two shits about his alcohol fuelled threats."

Stephen raised his eyebrows and sent Simon a guilty look, "how did you-"

"He still stinks of Whiskey of course I know you couldn't stop him drinking. We will deal with him after the show, right now we are pressed for time and you have a job to do." Simon stood up, fully ready to leave.

"With all due respect Mr Cowell you aren't my boss. Mr McPartlin is. and I can't just get up and roam the country looking for one of your contestants."

"Then who else is going to do it?! You are Donnelly's only friend Stephen and the only one who has a chance of convincing him to compete. He could win this you know."

"But I don't know where he is!!" Stephen exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

The producer rubbed a frustrated hand over his face before turning into the lanky figures personal space.

"Then fucking work it out! If he doesn't compete then this show will fail in its first season and it will be all your fault." The intimidating jab in the Londoners chest had him looking into the serious, snake-like eyes of the producer and nodding his head vigorously.

Simon smiled slyly and patted the younger man's cheek, "Good lad. Keep me updated."

Stephen sighed and sagged his shoulders as the scary millionaire left. He looked down at his phone, he had less then a week to find a needle in a hay stack and he was not looking forward to his bosses wrath when he found out what he'd been doing on his payroll.

«»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

The sun didn't come up in the concrete freezer box the Geordie singer slept in that night and his alarm came in the form of footsteps around the house that was connected to the garage.

Dec tensed before he'd even opened his eyes.

As quietly as possible the Geordie shuffled out of the sleeping bag and reached for his rucksack. He squinted in the near complete darkness, trying to locate his shoes. Dec's heart pounded on his ribcage painfully as he heard the footsteps getting closer and closer while the minuscule amount of light dwindled at the foot of the door.

Declan's eyes stayed fixed on the closed door and went wide as he slung his rucksack on his back. He crept towards the exit, holding his breath as he reached for the handle which lead to his freedom.

"Where you going so early?" Light flooded into the room and Dec's body froze and his heart stilled. He felt eyes on him and slowly turned, he couldn't breath as he looked up at the stocky stature of his landlord, of sorts.

"Uh... w-work... S-Sir."

"You don't have a spare minute? There still is that small concern of your rent." The older man sauntered towards Declan and placed a unwelcome callous hand on his slim hip.

"S-Sorry, Uh... I will get your money, I promise b-but... I-I really must be going..." Dec stuttered trying to step back, feeling small and vulnerable under the larger man's grip. He knew what was expected of him and there had been a silent deal between them but there wasn't a chance on earth he would follow through. He needed a place to stay, a roof over his head, but he would never sell himself like that. When he was young Dec had managed to survive without reducing himself to a common whore and he wouldn't lose that battle now.