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‘Excuse me –’ I say, beyond offended now.
‘Interrupting is rude,’ Pierre says hypocritically. I gape at him, but he ignores me. ‘When you’re being interviewed in the future, never interrupt. If it looks like the interviewer is interrupting you, that is better. You look like you have been faulted, not like you are the one dishing out the rudeness. Be patient. Wait. Listen. Then speak.’
I flounder, entirely baffled and still offended by everything that’s come out of this man’s mouth.
‘Pierre –’ a new voice emerges from behind me, and I whip round to see who it is – ‘let the poor girl sit, at least.’ A woman steps forward for me to shake her hand. ‘Hi. Lacey Parker.’
She’s a short woman, with a face full of soft features. The urge to trust her is almost instantaneous, but I rein it in. These people work for Zayan, not me.
Zayan, I realize, is standing behind Lacey like a statue, hands tucked into the pockets of his grey plaid pants and shoulders pulled back, so the material of his fitted dark-blue sweater stretches across his chest. His hair looks wind-whipped in a way that can only be styled, with a wayward strand falling over his forehead. His eyes don’t meet mine, not fully at least.
The silence between the four of us lasts only a second before Lacey smiles brightly and grandly announces, ‘Well, Farah, allow us to introduce you to media training.’
‘So, let me get this straight,’ I say. ‘You don’t want us to tell people we’re dating.’
‘No,’ Pierre says, with more patience than I thought he had. ‘We want people to be speculating, reporters to be investigating. I want people asking “are they dating or not?”’
‘Why can’t we just say we are?’
‘Think of your favourite romcom,’ Pierre replies, leaning forward so his elbows sit on the glass table.
Multiple films pop into my mind. You’ve Got Mail, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 13 Going on 30, 10 Things I Hate About You – the classics.
‘Now think of the male and female leads,’ Pierre says. ‘Their chemistry leaps off the big screen and bleeds into real life. The public wants them to be together. Badly. So that couple may be seen together for six months or so until the movie releases. They’ll be holding hands walking down the street. But they won’t say anything. They won’t confirm anything. Their popularity stems from news outlets speculating about their relationship. Once they make their relationship official, the popularity morphs. It’s a new kind of interest that comes from power couples and engagements – but the initial intrigue came from the chase. The fans, the public, the entertainment sites, all of them chased that relationship, created rumours, fed into the hype that surrounded them. We need to build that hype. It will prove to directors and casting agents that we have a strong grip on Zayan’s public image. That’s what we need from you both. We need you to create a media storm and sustain it.’
‘So you want things like group dates, being spotted out together,’ I reply, piecing the plan together in my head. ‘The Tragedies would be useful for that. It would help the play, and you.’
Pierre nods in satisfaction. ‘Exactly. It will be easy – you two can be photographed together in rehearsals, picking up lunch for the cast and crew, at parties together. All while building support for your play.’
‘What about the LSDCATS?’ I ask, remembering their first reply to my post. That hadn’t gone over well online, but it showed that the LSDCATS saw us as rivals – people worthy enough for a response, for an attempt at damage control.
Lacey, who is sitting at the head of the conference table, makes a dismissive sound. ‘They’ve gone into total silence after that terrible first tweet. They’re likely going to stay that way until this blows over.’
‘But it won’t blow over,’ I point out. ‘Surely Zayan getting involved in our play will be another hit against them?’
‘Exactly,’ Lacey replies. ‘And we’re going to capitalize on the announcement of Zayan in your play. Really get some positivity thrown your way, in the face of the negativity surrounding the LSDCATS.’
I voice my worries, needing the reassurance. ‘But what if, by doing this, we provoke the LSDCATS into retaliating? What if they do something bigger?’
‘Bigger than an Oscar-nominated, Emmy Award-winning celebrity in the lead role?’ Lacey asks, a smirk touching her lips. ‘Once they know Zayan is involved, they will back down. Your play will wholeheartedly overshadow theirs, and they’ll be busy fixing their image.’
I nod, despite the knot in my stomach. Throughout this back-and-forth, Zayan has said nothing, but when I flick my gaze to him, to see if he agrees, his is laser-focused on me.
‘And when should we announce Zayan’s involvement in the play?’ I ask, turning back to Lacey, who glances between the two of us. ‘Before this relationship begins, I need assurances of my own. The start of all this needs to coincide with The Tragedies’ play announcement. If you’re right about the power of speculation, that will be even better for the play. So, I agree, no relationship confirmations yet. Just being photographed together.’
Lacey has an impressed look glinting in her eyes. ‘You sure know how to pick them, Zayan.’
Two emotions war within me: pride at being acknowledged with respect, and a hint of irritation at who I think she’s referring to. The infamous ex-girlfriend: Laiba Siddiqi. I suppose it’s something I have to get used to – the constant comparisons to the girl I don’t know.
‘That seems fine. A good plan,’ Lacey finally says, and then she takes her leave. ‘I apologize for having to duck out early, but I need to get to another meeting.’
Pierre claps his hands loudly, catching our attention. ‘Now, let’s focus on what you need to be wearing. Farah, you need bright-coloured clothes. Zayan is naturally in darker colours; that goes with the image we’ve crafted of a serious actor. But you need to be this new, exciting thing in his life.’
I ignore being referred to as a ‘thing’ and focus on the instruction instead. ‘I don’t want to look like a clown.’
‘You won’t,’ Pierre assures me. ‘Now, on to the photographs. Lacey will have paparazzi stationed in strategic places when you both are out together. They will take the shots and then leave. You two need to ensure you look your best. No arguments. Smiling is a must. Laughter is good. Farah, laugh for me.’
I feel my brows lift. ‘Pardon?’
