Devotion

3 - Nathan Knight

“You’re on in five, Mr Knight!” The small brunette wearing a headset called breathlessly as she barrelled into the green room. “When Miss Holly say’s ‘please welcome our special guest!’ that’s your cue to enter, okay?”

I nodded once, showing her, I understood as she made a swift exit. Members of the backstage crew were rushing around when I stepped out of the green room. Marie met me side stage, her gaze was scrutinizing as she eyed my dark jeans and a leather jacket. Once she was happy, she nodded, throwing her arm out in a gesture toward the stage.

Marie had scheduled an interview with Holly Winters and I was extremely unprepared. She had only told me this morning when there was a car outside my apartment to bring me to the studio. I always have Marie avoid any interviews with Holly, she’s like a shark and if she scents even a slight weakness, she bites for it and uses it to her advantage.

I stepped out onto the stage when I hear my cue and spot the brunette’s frantic gestures for me to get on stage. The audience cheering loudly as I made my way over to the host. Armed with my practised grin that Olivia always told me made the ladies swoon, I threw my hand up in a half-wave.

“Hello, hello,” Holly’s tone was lilting as she pulled me into a hug and I dropped a kiss on both her cheeks. She had earned the name of a ‘Siren’ in the industry for that tone, the soft cadence that would make any man spill his darkest secrets.

“Hi Holly, great to see you again,” I grinned across at her, sitting down in the chair closest to her desk.

“How’ve you been Nathan? I hear you’ve signed on to a new film, why don’t you tell us about that?” Holly settled in her own chair, resting her palms on the surface in a way that emphasised her cleavage.

I knew her tactics, I’d seen them in action on my father although he never fell for them, it definitely distracted him. I kept my eyes up, my gaze fixed on hers as I smiled before turning to address the audience.

“Yeah, I’m really excited. We start filming for Beautiful Forever in a few weeks and I’m looking forward to working alongside the amazing actors that have also signed on. It’s going to be fun and I’m definitely looking forward to working alongside Shaun Robertson.”

“This is Shaun’s second film isn’t it?” Holly asked, before turning to the camera beside her. “Shaun Robertson directed award-winning film Love and Loss three years ago, now he’s back and going for a title once more.”

The interview dragged on, Holly asking questions, both personal and professional as she tried to get a story from me. I answered her questions, giving her enough information to show I wasn’t avoiding her questions but not giving her anything she could use against me.

I had been in media classes since I could pretty much talk, with dad being in the media when I was growing up, I was often targeted by the press. I had always had security, even in school which definitely made me stick out like a sore thumb but it worked. A reporter had gotten into the building once when I was fourteen, pretending to be an IT consultant. I had been locked in the computer room until Oliver broke the door down and the reporter was arrested. 

As soon as the interview was over, I stepped off the stage and Oliver met me by the back entrance to escort me to the car. Groups of people huddled outside, screaming when the door opened and rushing the barriers that separated the public and me.

I smiled, leaning over the barrier for pictures and signing phones and other random items that people handed me.

“Thank you, guys, for coming but please go home before you catch a cold!” I called to the crowd as I slipped into the back of the car with Oliver slamming the door closed behind me.

Telling the driver to take us back to my apartment, I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket. My i********: was already blowing up as people uploaded the pictures of me leaving the building. I scrolled through them, liking and commenting on some that seemed to have less interaction.

“Marie said to tell you she had your suit dropped off with your doorman this morning.” Oliver’s voice broke the silence in the vehicle. I nodded, mumbling a quiet ‘yeah okay’, before leaning my head back against the chair. Staring blankly out the window I debated on whether or not I had enough time to take a quick power nap.

*

As soon as I stepped through the door to my apartment, I released a breath. The stress of the day practically seeping out of me when I dropped face-first on the sofa. Interviews were always difficult, I could practically feel Marie’s glare as if she was waiting for me to say something I shouldn’t. Spending hours on a set, talking about myself without actually talking about myself was difficult but the constant over-analysing every word was tiring.

I could see my suit for tomorrow hanging by the full-length mirror by the door to the apartment. The long black cover hiding the suit itself but I knew, even if I hated it that I’d be wearing it the following evening.

Rising from my splayed position of the sofa, I made my way into the kitchen area. It was now six-thirty in the evening and I hadn’t eaten since midday, the food provided on set had been the basic buffet styled food but I wasn’t allowed to eat once we began filming.

I riffled through the fridge, pulling out the ingredients I needed to make a Bolognese sauce. I placed everything on the island and was getting the pasta from inside the cupboard when my phone rang. The sound of The Killers, my ringtone, cut through the air in my once quiet apartment. I wiped my hands quickly, shuffling back to the living room to answer the phone.

“Hello?” I said, tucking the device between my ear and shoulder on my way back to the kitchen. I hadn’t bothered checking the caller ID, the only people who have my number as friends and family.

“Hi Nathan, how are you?” Olivia’s cheery voice greeted me through the phone.

I’m good thanks, how are you? How are your family?”

“They’re okay, doing good. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve organised for Tian to be there at six.”

“Okay, she has a dress and everything, yes? You know what Marie is like and I’ve really had to argue to make my own choice here, I don’t want to hear any ‘I told you so’ s.”

There was no response from Olivia, something which never happened. Olivia always had something to say.

“Olivia, if you don’t think this is going to work, or that Tian isn’t right for this then you need to tell me. I can’t have any scandals or bad press, I’m so close for this award.”

Sure, I had been invited to the ceremony but there was no guarantee I’d got it. If I can win a BFA then I was one step closer to my goal. If I got bad publicity now, not only would it lessen my chances of winning an award but Marie would literally string me up by my balls. She was just as invested in this as I was. Marie wanted me to win every award my father has, apparently no other agent has done that before. That’s what she’s told me since I was thirteen anyway.

“I can’t promise you no bad press Nathan, there’s always bad press. I just want you to trust me, okay? Tian may not be exactly what you’re thinking of but just keep an open mind okay? I suggested Tian for a reason, I think you’ll get on really well if you try, okay?”

I sighed, I had a feeling Olivia knew exactly what she was doing, and all I could do is pray that it didn’t blow up in my face. If this went wrong, I knew it would be me in the firing line, not just of Marie but the public too. The press would be at this gala, scattered either side of the red carpet like tigers waiting to pounce, armed with large cameras and personal questions.

“I’ll be open, of course, I will. I like to think of myself as an open-minded man, Olivia but this is really important. The press will be on my ass as soon as I’m in camera view because of the whole ‘first nomination’ thing. They’re literal sharks and they’ll tear me apart for any little thing, even my choice of date.”

“I think Tian is going to cause a stir for sure but overall, I think this is a good idea, Nathan. It’ll be good for you. Tian will be good for you.”

We spoke for a few hours, discussing her family and what she’s doing during the upcoming holiday period. It was late November so Christmas was quite literally around the corner. Eventually, Olivia had to go, claiming her little brother was about to burn the house down.

I rinsed the dishes and pots I’d used to make dinner before putting everything in the dishwasher. I double-checked the door was locked before heading to my room to change into some sweats. Pulling a pair out of the drawers, I hit the button to close the window blinds. It was ten o’clock, I’d been on the phone to Olivia for four hours and I was about ready to drop.

I sent a text to Marie, asking her to check the car was booked for the right time tomorrow. I knew she would probably have already done so herself but I always double-checked, it would be unprofessional of me to assume everything had been thought of for me.

I continued my usual nightly routine, checking social media and replying to some people who have mentioned or tagged me in posts. I loved engaging with my followers, they were the nicest people, always supportive and kind. It was nice to be a part of a community that respected people for who they are, respected me for who I am. They spoke to me as if I were a friend they made at the local shop and it made me feel less of a big deal, I like to think it kept me humble.

Eventually, I put my phone on charge before sticking a random movie on the television to watch until I could fall asleep. My phone vibrated, signalling an incoming text but I didn’t bother to check it. It was probably Marie confirming the car for tomorrow anyway.