Box office

A sharp knock at the door shattered the serenity, and Alex nearly jumped out of his skin.

'Who knocks like they're trying to break down the door at this hour?'

He rose and straightened his rumpled clothes.He took a deep breath and opened the door to find Sarah standing in the hallway, her crisp navy blue pantsuit that hugged her curves, and neatly coiffed bun, she looked every part the celebrity PA. It was her expression that sold the look even more, severe as ever. 'Ah, the Ice Queen cometh.'

"Good morning, Mr. Rivers," she said, her tone clipped and measured. "I trust you slept well?"

Alex nodded, managing a sheepish smile. "Uh, yeah, I did, actually. Thanks for asking." 'Smooth, real smooth. Nothing says 'I'm totally Jason Rivers' like stammering like a teenager asking someone to prom.'

Sarah's piercing gaze lingered on him for a moment, and Alex could have sworn he saw a flicker of concern, or perhaps even a hint of amusement, cross her features. 'Was that... an actual emotion?'

But it was gone in an instant, replaced by her usual stoic demeanor.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. We have a busy day ahead of us, so I suggest you get ready. The car will be here in 30 minutes to take us to the studio."

With that, she turned on her heel and strode down the hall, her polished black heels clicking against the gleaming marble floors. Alex watched her go, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as her hips swayed side to side. Something about her being mad made her all the more sexy!

"Still upset," he murmured, shaking his head as he closed the door and headed for the bathroom.

As he showered and dressed, Alex felt a sense of nervous anticipation. 'Just another day pretending to be a movie star. No pressure. None at all.' The meeting with the studio executives loomed large in his mind, a daunting challenge that threatened to upend the fragile sense of control he'd managed to gain.

'What's the worst that could happen? Oh right, total exposure, public humiliation, and probably jail time. But hey, at least I'll have a great story for my cellmate.'

Once he was ready, Alex stepped out into the suite to find Sarah waiting for him, the expression on her face was still as impassive as ever. She had clearly taken the time to ensure he was outfitted in a stylish ensemble – a tailored navy blue suit, a crisp white shirt, and a silk tie in a subtle, understated pattern.

'Matching outfits? Now we look like some corporate version of twins. All we need are identical briefcases and we can start our own law firm.'

"Shall we?" Sarah asked, her gaze sweeping over him in a quick, assessing glance.

Alex nodded, straightening his suit as he fell into step beside her. "Lead the way."

As they made their way through the hotel lobby, Alex noticed the curious stares and hushed whispers that followed in their wake. 'Oh god, they're staring'

The whole attention thing was going to take getting used to for sure. After all, Jason Rivers was a celebrity, a figure of fascination and intrigue to the other guests, their eyes trailed after him and Sarah as they navigated the grand space.

The drive to the studio was a tense affair, with Sarah maintaining a cool, professional distance. 'The temperature in here could freeze nitrogen.' He thought.

He tried to make casual conversation, asking her about the day's agenda and inquiring about any details he should be aware of, but his attempts were met with curt responses or strained silence. 'Talking to her is like playing tennis against a brick wall - lots of effort, zero return. It's no longer a guess work, she's mad about Jessica. But how do I exactly approach my PA telling her that I know she had a huge crush on me and that I can tell she's jealous over my psychotic ex?'

"So, what can I expect from this meeting with the executives?" he ventured, hoping to gauge her mood from how she spoke and know whether or not to proceed with his thoughts. It would be embarrassing if she denied any notion of being jealous and simply just being professional.

Sarah's gaze remained fixed on the passing cityscape outside the window. "They'll want to discuss your upcoming projects and commitments. I'd advise you to be prepared to address any concerns they may have."

Alex nodded, sensing the underlying tension in her words. "And... is there anything else I should know?"

Sarah's lips tightened into a thin line. "I believe you'll find out soon enough."

'Oh perfect. Cryptic warnings. Because that's exactly what my anxiety needed right now - a mystery garnish. Isn't she paid to tell me stuff?!' he thought watching her with growing anger.

The cryptic response only heightened Alex's unease, and he spent the remainder of the journey lost in his own thoughts, wondering what could possibly be in store. 'Maybe they just want to discuss my pension plan. Or maybe they've discovered I'm about as much Jason Rivers as a potato is a basketball.'

Either way, he didn't feel comfortable meeting a bunch of executives who in their own rights were rich stars of Hollywood.

When they arrived at the studio, a team of well-dressed assistants and burly security guards greeted them, ushering them inside with a sense of urgency.

'Welcome to the ant colony, where everyone looks important and moves fast, but nobody tells you why.' The building itself was an imposing structure, its sleek, modern facade concealing a hive of activity within.

As they approached the conference room, Alex felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. 'Calm down, heart. We're just going to sit in a room full of people who could destroy us with one phone call. No biggie.' The imposing wooden doors loomed before them, and he couldn't help but feel like he was about to face a tribunal of industry titans which was exactly what it was.

Sarah paused, her hand on the doorknob, and fixed him with a steady gaze. "Remember, you're Jason Rivers. Stay calm, stay confident, and let me do the talking if necessary."

'Right, because pretending to be someone else has worked out so well so far.'

Alex nodded, squaring his shoulders in a vain attempt to channel the movie star persona he was meant to embody. "Right, got it."

With a deep breath, they stepped through the door, and Alex was immediately struck by the sheer power and influence that radiated from the men seated around the table. 'Oh look, it's the Justice League of Hollywood - if the Justice League wore thousand-dollar suits and probably ate interns for breakfast.'

"Ah, Mr. Rivers, welcome," one of the men said, rising from his chair and extending his hand. This man, with his neatly trimmed silver hair and piercing blue eyes, exuded an aura of uncompromising confidence. "We're so pleased to have you here."

Alex gripped the man's hand, doing his best to project an air of casual confidence that belied the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. 'These aren't butterflies, these are pterodactyls.' "Thank you, it's good to be back."

'Good to be back? I've never been here before! Quick, someone get me a Oscar for that performance.'

As they all took their seats, Alex couldn't help but feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter. 'More like a sheep in wolf's clothing.' The executives wasted no time in launching into a discussion of his upcoming projects and commitments, their words laced with a subtle undercurrent of expectation.

Sarah remained silent, her attention focused solely on the proceedings, her expression unreadable. 'Even her poker face has a poker face.' Alex found himself glancing at her periodically, searching for some sign of reassurance, but her gaze remained fixed on the table, her fingers tapping out a barely perceptible rhythm against the polished surface. 'Is that Morse code for 'Don't screw this up'?'

One of the men, a bearded executive, cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the room. "Now, let's talk about your upcoming schedule, Mr. Rivers. As you know, we have a number of high-profile projects lined up for you."

"As you can see on the docket is the romantic comedy you're slated to start shooting in the spring." 'Oh god, not a rom-com. I can barely act like myself, let alone a charming leading man.'

He fixed Alex with a pointed stare. "I trust you're already familiarizing yourself with the script? We need to make sure there are no...surprises, this time around." 'Surprises? What surprises? What did you do, Jason? Did you try to turn the rom-com into an orgy?'

Alex felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back, but before he could respond, Sarah jumped in.

"Mr. Rivers has been reviewing the script closely, and he's very excited about the project. I can assure you he's fully committed to delivering a performance that will resonate with audiences."

'She lies better than I act. Maybe she should be the movie star.'

The executive seemed satisfied with her response, his gaze shifting to the others around the table.

"Good, good. And let's not forget the superhero franchise we've got you signed on for. The studio is counting on that to be a major tentpole film for us next summer. You are the one who asked to be less type casted and I'm sure the board and myself can agree that this would test your range,"

He fixed Alex with a stern look. "I trust there won't be any... 'hiccups', this time around? We can't afford another mishap like what happened on the last set."

'Previous mishap? Oh Jason, what did you do? Actually, maybe I don't want to know.'

Alex felt his mouth go dry, but again, Sarah was there to smooth things over. 'My guardian angel in Prada.'

"Mr. Rivers understands the importance of this project, and he's been working closely with the stunt team to ensure a seamless production. I can assure you, he's fully committed to delivering a performance that will exceed your expectations."

'Note to self: Buy Sarah the biggest Christmas present ever. Maybe a small island.'

The executive seemed satisfied, nodding slowly. "Very good, very good." He paused, shuffling the papers once more. "Now, one last thing – the press tour for your upcoming biopic. We need you to be on your best behavior, Mr. Rivers. No more public scandals. The studio's reputation is on the line, and we can't afford any more negative press."

'Scandals? Plural? Oh Jason, you beautiful disaster.' At some point he felt he was to be blamed for all the surprises. He (Alex) realized outside work at his firm, he never really did anything else. He didn't keep up with the celeb gossip or anything. No wonder everything about the entertainment industry shocked him to the core.

"Mr. Rivers is fully aware of the importance of this project, and he will be on his best behavior throughout the press tour. We've already implemented additional security measures and media training to ensure everything goes off without a hitch."

The executive regarded Sarah with a measured gaze, then turned his attention back to Alex. "See that it does, Mr. Rivers. The studio has a lot riding on your continued success. We can't afford any more...missteps."

'No pressure. Just the entire studio's future and probably Sarah's career riding on me not screwing up. Totally fine.'

Alex nodded, his throat tight. "I understand. You have my word."

The executive offered a thin smile. "Very well. We'll take your word for it."

As the meeting dragged on, Alex felt a growing sense of unease. 'This must be what it feels like to be slowly digested by a python.' The executives' demands seemed to grow increasingly complex and restrictive, and he felt that they were closing in on him, tightening the noose with each passing minute.

Finally, one of the men, a sharply dressed individual with a carefully groomed beard and piercing eyes, leaned back in his chair, a thin smile playing on his lips. "Well, Mr. Rivers, I think we've covered the essentials. Now, there's just one more matter we'd like to discuss. And perhaps the most important one,"

'Here it comes. The other shoe. The final nail. Pick your metaphor for impending doom.'

Alex felt a chill run down his spine. "And what would that be?"

'Please say it's about my coffee order.'

The man's smile widened, and Alex braced himself for whatever bombshell was about to be dropped.