[F.S.T.T.S] [015]

[Chapter 15: The Truth Cannot Be Buried (II)]

Last Time on Chapter 014 of From Shadows To The Spotlight —

But Elizabeth hadn't told Alex that she still had the letter and the tape with her, as she just couldn't bring herself to dispose of them. Maybe it was meant to be… for them to be used to prove Alex's innocence. She knew Alex wouldn't do it himself, as he really cared for and loved Michael like he was his own brother and believed that his legacy would be tarnished if the truth ever came out.

And so no matter what was being said about him in the media, he didn't say a word or come forward with the truth.

And now, as the Hollywood rumor mill spun out of control, she found herself torn between two choices: protect her brother's memory or clear Alex's name.

Now Continuing —

The sound of the phone ringing pulled her from her thoughts, and she reached for it, her hands trembling as she lifted the receiver.

"Elizabeth Carson?" The voice on the other end was warm yet firm and professional—a woman's voice.

"Yes, this is she," Elizabeth replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"My name is Margaret Ross, chief editor at The Chicago Daily. I received a message that you wanted to speak with us about the allegations surrounding Alex Masters and Michael Carson."

Elizabeth hesitated. She knew Margaret by reputation; she was one of the few in Hollywood journalism who had a reputation for integrity, a rarity among the industry's gossip-hungry tabloids. The Tribune's smear campaign would be easy enough to counter in The Chicago Daily's pages if she released the evidence. But once the truth was out, she knew she couldn't take it back.

Though, once she took another glance at the headline of the hit piece that they ran on Alex, Did Alex Masters Betray a Friend for Fame? Using her brother's dead body as support to prop up their proverbial gun to shoot the silver bullet from, she knew she had seen enough, and this is what her brother would've wanted her to do as well.

"Yes, that's correct," Elizabeth said, her voice firmer now. "I have information that will prove Alex Masters didn't betray my brother. I have a tape and a letter—Michael's final words—that will clear Alex's name entirely."

Her voicing broke as she continued speaking, "It wasn't Al-Alex who betrayed my brother, but in-instead it was my bro-" She couldn't say any further as she choked back a sob, and a tear slid down her cheek and fell on the newspaper below.

There was a pause on the other end before Margaret's voice softened. "I understand how difficult this must be. Are you sure you want to release this information?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes, her mind racing. Part of her wanted to preserve her brother's memory, to hold onto the image of him as a brilliant but flawed man whose choices were his own. But she knew the real Michael, the man who had been twisted by Veronica's ambitions and manipulated into hurting his closest friend.

"I need the world to know the truth about Alex," Elizabeth finally replied. "Michael wouldn't want this. He made his peace, and so did I. Alex has been through enough."

Margaret's voice was gentle but confident. "I'll make sure it's handled with respect. If you send me the evidence, I'll arrange for it to be released in a way that preserves Michael's memory as best as possible."

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Thank you, Margaret. I know it's the right thing to do, even if it's not the easy choice."

After they hung up, Elizabeth sat in silence, the weight of her decision settling over her. She knew the ripple effects this would have—how the Hollywood vultures would dissect her brother's life, twist his actions, and paint him in ways he never deserved. But she also knew that Alex deserved justice.

'Alex was willing to protect my brother's memory at the cost of his own reputation,' she thought. 'It's time someone stood up for him.'

With a steadying breath, she carefully placed the tape and the letter in an envelope, ready to send them to Margaret. She couldn't control the media storm that would follow, but at least she could make sure the truth was finally told.

------

Later that day on the set of The Lord of the Rings

Unaware of the storm gathering in his defense, Alex walked through the set, his usual intensity softened by an underlying tension that hadn't escaped the crew's notice. Rumors had reached even the most isolated corners of the production, and the gossip was becoming impossible to ignore.

As he checked on one of the scenes, he could feel the side glances, the whispers that quieted as he passed. The extras, especially, were quick to share their opinions in hushed voices, and more than one comment reached his ears—enough to know that his reputation was taking a brutal hit.

Nicole Kidman, who had been observing him from afar, couldn't stand by any longer. She made her way over, a determined expression on her face as she caught his attention.

"Alex," she said quietly, falling into step beside him. "I know what's going on. You don't have to deal with this alone."

He gave her a small smile, appreciative of her concern but determined to bear the weight himself. "It's fine, Nicole. I've dealt with worse."

She shook her head, crossing her arms as she looked at him. "Maybe, but that doesn't mean you should let them drag you down. I know what it's like to be at the center of the rumor mill, and trust me, it can ruin more than just your image."

Alex sighed, pausing to look out at the sprawling set. "I won't let it affect this production. The Lord of the Rings is too important to be derailed by gossip."

Nicole's expression softened, her voice gentle. "It's more than just the film, Alex. People need to know the truth. You can't keep protecting others at the expense of yourself."

Their conversation hung in the air, the weight of his silence making her realize just how deeply this had impacted him. Nicole couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for the man standing beside her—a man willing to shield even the memory of a friend who had probably wronged him—from what she could tell reading between the lines.

------

Hours later, Alex stood in his office trailer on set, phone in hand, a barely audible hum from the film crew outside punctuating the silence. He had just finished his last scene review of the day when the news reached him.

He had heard news about The Chicago Daily, a newspaper that had long been a close ally of his in an industry where favors often came at a cost. They had plans to release evidence that would reveal the truth and finally lay to rest the rumors of his so-called betrayal of Michael Carson.

But instead of relief, all Alex felt was a sense of dread and defeat.

Elizabeth Carson was like family to him—she had been a quiet, steady presence during the years following Michael's death, a friend who had never questioned his integrity. He knew that if she had gone to The Chicago Daily, she had her reasons. Still, the thought of his friend's legacy being dissected and tarnished, even in the name of his own redemption, unsettled him deeply.

With a measured breath, he dialed the number Margaret Ross had given him years ago when they had first become friends. She had assured him that he could reach out to her directly if he ever needed a voice of honesty in the media or to even ask a favor. He never had any reason to call in that favor, but tonight, he needed that more than ever.

The line clicked, and after a brief moment, he heard her familiar, steady voice on the other end. "Margaret Ross speaking."

"Margaret, it's Alex," he said, his tone softer than usual. There was a pause, and then he heard her exhale, a warm laugh in her voice.

"Alex! I was wondering when I'd hear from you," she replied, her tone familiar and gently teasing. But she sensed the seriousness in his silence. "I'm guessing this call is about Elizabeth Carson."

"Yes. I heard about the… evidence she's handed over to you," he replied, careful not to reveal too much of the emotion behind his words. "I wanted to ask if you could reconsider running it."

Margaret's voice softened. "Alex, she brought us the proof herself. I've listened to the tape and read the letter. The truth is clear—you didn't betray Michael; it was the other way—and yet, here you are, asking me to bury it? Why?"

Alex took a steadying breath, his fingers curling around the edge of the desk. "Because… because it's not about me, Margaret. Michael has a legacy, and if this comes out, everything will change. I'm not saying he was innocent—he made mistakes—but he was more than that."

"He was a brilliant screenwriter and one of the best friends I ever had, he wa—is like a brother to me; I don't want the last thing people remember about him to be this."

Margaret was silent for a moment, as though weighing his words. Finally, she spoke, her tone careful but resolute. "Alex, you and I both know that the industry is going to keep hammering away at this story until they've milked every last bit of scandal out of it."

"The Hollywood Tribune has already set the wheels in motion, and they'll go as far as they can to tear you down. If we don't put the truth out there, they'll keep pushing their version until no one believes you're innocent. Is that really what you want?"

He closed his eyes, the weight of her words sinking in. "You know I'm willing to take the hits, Margaret. I just… I don't want to drag his memory through the mud."

There was a pause on the other end, and he could imagine her sitting there, her expression compassionate but firm. Margaret had always been a woman who believed in truth above all else, a rare quality in Hollywood journalism. She had spent years fighting for transparency, and he respected her for it.

"You know, Alex," she said quietly. "I don't think Michael would want you to keep protecting him like this. He'd want people to know the truth, even if it hurts a little. You've shouldered enough guilt for his actions. Maybe it's time to let go."

He felt his resolve begin to crack, and he pressed his fingers to his temples, his voice low.. desperate even. "Margaret, please… I'll offer you anything you want in return. I'll give you exclusive stories and access to news about upcoming MONARCH's projects—even funding if that's what you need. Just… please, don't publish it."

She sighed, and he could hear a trace of sadness in her tone when she spoke. "Alex, I don't need your money, nor do I need favors. I've been your friend for years because I respect you, not because I want something from you. But this time, the truth is too important to hide. I can't let The Hollywood Tribune get away with framing you for a crime you didn't commit."

Alex was silent, feeling the raw, helpless frustration settle deep within him. He didn't doubt that Margaret would follow through with her decision, and the rational part of him knew she was right. But a part of him—the part that clung fiercely to his friend's memory—couldn't shake the feeling that he was giving up on Michael by letting the truth come to light.

A truth that he had tried so hard to bury, in the sands of time, maybe there was some truth in the old adage—the truth cannot be buried forever.

As though sensing his turmoil, Margaret's voice softened. "I know this is difficult, Alex. But think of the toll it's taking on you—this guilt, this constant need to shield others at your own expense. Let me tell the story."

"I'll make sure it's done with respect. I'll frame it as Michael's apology, his acknowledgment of the mistakes he made. This isn't about hurting him; it's about protecting you and setting the record straight."

He exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of years lift ever so slightly. Margaret's words resonated with a painful truth—he had been carrying this burden for too long. Now, even going so far as to allow the world to think the worst of him to protect someone else-Michael would never want or ask this of him. It had already gone too far, so much so that his self-imposed responsibility was threatening to destroy everything he had built.

But maybe that was the intent; even if it wasn't intended at first by whoever orchestrated this, they had truly hit him where it hurt the most. He swore that he'd find out who was behind this, and regardless of who, they were going to pay with their blood and tears.

He was going to destroy their reputation and ruin their life, just like they had tried to do with his, but he wouldn't do it quickly; after all, revenge was a dish best served cold.

"I suppose you're right," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe it's time to let go."

Margaret's tone grew gentle, a kindness in her voice that he hadn't heard in a long time. "You know, Alex, letting go doesn't mean forgetting. It just means you're giving yourself the chance to move forward without being shackled to the past."

He managed a small, wry smile, though she couldn't see it. "You always did have a way with words, Margaret."

They shared a quiet laugh, the tension between them easing for a brief moment. But as the silence settled once more, Margaret's voice grew serious again. "One more thing, Alex. I think you need to ask yourself who's behind this. Someone out there is digging into your past, trying to pull you down. Whoever it is—they're using your friend's memory as a weapon."

The reminder brought a familiar spark of anger to his eyes, his fingers curling into fists. "I know. I don't have all the answers yet, but I'm close.. a plan in the works to find out who was behind this attack. And when I do… well, let's just say that I don't plan on letting them get away with it."

Margaret's tone was approving, but there was a warning laced in her words. "Be careful, Alex. Whoever it is, they're playing for keeps."

"I will," he replied, his voice quiet but laced with resolve. "Thank you, Margaret. For everything."

She chuckled softly. "Always, Alex. Now, go focus on that movie of yours. The world is waiting to see what you'll create as a Director. This scandal was a really messed up way of you getting into the public eye. I hope your film with change that."

As he hung up, he felt a surge of gratitude toward her, tempered by a simmering anger. Regardless of what it might cost, him, he was going to find out who had stirred up this storm and dared to weaponize Michael's memory against him. And when he did, he'd make sure they regretted it.

But for now, he turned his gaze toward the set, his mind clearing as he prepared to face the day's challenges with renewed determination. He would see this film through, no matter what. And when the time was right, he would confront his enemies and show them just what it meant to cross Alex Masters.

— To be Continued...

{2.5k words}

{TRL: This is the new Hollywood story that has been bouncing around in my head. I really need to get this out so here's another chapter.

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