Page 113 of Rookie Rules

His business manager had already reviewed the preliminary numbers and marked the offer serious.

"They moved quickly," Luca said.

"Your start gave them a reason. The dangerous-duo coverage helped. They like that you're visible without being overexposed yet."

"A brief window before people discover my personality."

"We are trying to outrun it."

Claire moved to the creative concept.

Luca in a dark suit crossing a hotel lobby. Luca on a rooftop after rain. Luca stepping into an elevator while a woman in an evening dress looked back over one bare shoulder. No kiss. No girlfriend. Nothing explicit enough to argue with.

Every image completed the same sentence.

Women wanted him. Men wanted to be him. The fragrance made both outcomes look inevitable.

"There it is," Luca said.

Claire stopped. "What?"

"Modern masculinity."

She followed his gaze to the model on the screen. "The current board is a draft."

"Is she contractually required to look like I ruined her judgment?"

"That is a standard fragrance expression."

Luca leaned back. Humor bought him one extra second before discomfort became visible.

Claire closed the office door. Not secretive. Private enough for an honest conversation.

"Tell me the actual objection," she said.

Luca looked at her.

Claire knew he dated privately. She did not know whom. As PR director she had never asked him to define his sexuality and had never built a formal strategy around an answer he had not offered.

"The campaign sells me as a straight fantasy," Luca said.

Claire nodded once. No surprise performed. "Yes."

The clean agreement knocked away half his prepared defenses.

"You say that very calmly."

"You asked me to name what is on the board. That is what is on the board."

"And that's fine?"

"It is common. That does not make your discomfort irrelevant."

The model's name appeared in the corner of the next page: Nadia Bell, an actor with campaigns of her own and no responsibility for the story the brand wanted their bodies to imply. A production note described her role as the woman who recognizes the front runner before the room does.

"Does she get approval too?" Luca asked.

"Her team will negotiate her likeness, wardrobe, physical contact, and edit use. You would have separate boundaries."