Marrying My Ex for the Show

Marrying My Ex for the Show

last updateLast Updated : 2024-05-03
By:  Klaira BlainsCompleted
Language: English
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Lights, Camera, Action. Rebecca Jones is currently at the pinnacle of TV dramas. But how much longer? Everyone knows they don’t see behind the scenes. Rebecca’s private life isn’t for public consumption. What secrets are hidden there? Everett Stone, Rebecca's onetime co-star. He knows several of Rebecca’s secrets as they were once secretly married. Everett’s Gena’s current costar. Everett and Gena have had a tumultuous relationship. This man really gets around. Gena D’Or wants what Rebecca has. She’ll use any means necessary to take Rebecca’s place as the Rose of Black Dawn Productions. Gena’s close to her goal after years of trying. Crooked agents, a billionaire princess, many rumors, and dropping ratings. Rebecca is desperate to survive this cutthroat business. Everett’s interested in cutting his losses after his agent played him like a newbie for years. Everett can’t prove it yet. However, he receives an offer to reprise his original role as Dane Matthews, the male love interest of his ex-wife’s character Bella Cardinal, on the night-time drama Empire Nights. Will he leave Gena’s show, Grandview Place? To return to where he started. What about his ex-wife? Nothing’s the same on the Empire Night’s set. Rebecca isn’t the same. Everett finds he’s not as immune to his ex as he believed. Can he get his backstage pass to Rebecca’s private life back? Will he save her from whatever is destroying her? Or will he be the one to destroy her? How will they respond when the studio forces Rebecca and Everett to marry for the show's ratings? Money, misdirection, celebrity, secrets, and rumors make or break everyone in this business. What happens when the curtain falls and the lights go out?

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Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1–ONE LAST DITCH EFFORT–REBECCA

     

               Rebecca Jones sat quietly across from her agent, Ben Steins. “Rebecca, please. The producer and several studio board members have expressed their wishes. I can’t put this off. Our ratings are falling. We must reach out to Everett Stone; the show needs him. You’ve seen the trending comments. Our viewers want to see Dane return to Bella. They’ve waited five years for this love story to continue.”

            They’d eaten lunch during their meeting in the commissary of the Black Dawn Production Studios. The crowds in the commissary didn’t matter. They weren’t speaking about anything sensitive.

            Rebecca listened to Ben prattle on about Everett’s return and reprising his role as Dane Matthews, her character’s love interest. It’d been five years since she’d seen or spoken to him, not since the fateful night he’d left.

Thinking about that night was unbearable. Those thoughts always triggered a cascade of heartbreaking memories. Rebecca struggled with the memories daily still.

            “Are you saying I don’t have a choice?” This meeting was wearing on her, and Rebecca wanted it over. Her blonde hair rested in a bun at the back of her hair, but she felt it loosening and it was distracting. Her pale blue eyes watched Ben as she listened to his pitch for the coming changes. Shooting would start in a month. Four weeks of dread and worry. If she made it through another season, it would be a miracle. Rebecca didn’t have a choice. Her headache reminded her she couldn’t afford to walk away if she wanted to. Without the money, her headache would become a killer.

            “Rebecca, I’m sorry. I want to say no. But I can’t. They’ve made it clear if he agrees, then it will continue. Are you okay with that? I don’t understand your opposition. But this is your show, and everyone knows you for being extremely professional. Please, I want to see the show and you succeed. If the ratings keep dropping like this, I’m afraid the studio will cancel the show. Sadly, you’ll be working with him this time. I apologize. You knew I couldn’t maintain putting this off forever.” Rebecca could see Ben wasn’t giving her a pitch full of fluff and nonsense. They’d tap danced around this for three to four seasons now. If Everett agrees to return, it’s unavoidable. Rebecca knew a snowball’s survival at high noon on the hottest summer day was more likely than Everett agreeing to return.

            Rebecca stared at the coffee in front of her. She sighed heavily as her slim fingers brought the cup to her mouth. She took a sip and set it down before she responded to Ben. “Yes, Ben, I know you don’t understand. You weren’t there, and it’s in the past. It doesn’t mean I forgive him. No, I won’t speak of what happened or why I feel this way. But I have one stipulation if he agrees to come back. I don’t want to see any of his hangers on lurking on set. He will not bring up the past with me or anyone else. He knows what I’m talking about if it gets that far. I doubt he’ll want to return.” She pushed her half-eaten salad away. It left her with a hollow feeling in her stomach, a potential warning sign of lurking troubles. Rebecca struggled to accept what happened, but five years flew by, and the memories remained etched in her mind. That confrontation marked the end of her life.

Food and happiness were now a bane to her future and her existence. She wouldn’t tell anyone what she experienced. Her career lived and died on her skills to act, not her fans’ pity. They had sufficient time to marvel and pity her while she was gone. At least, then she wouldn’t need to bear listening to it.

            Ben’s sweet nature and honest disposition deterred Rebecca from telling him. She couldn’t bear his pity. How could she go on if everyone excused her failings out of pity? Rebecca’s pride wouldn’t allow that. Not then or now.

            Rebecca must keep Empire Nights and her acting career going. Gena D’Or still tried to slither her way into Rebecca’s career and hijack it for herself. Everyone in the business knew she used her family’s money to get where she was. In recent years, it benefitted Gena’s career. While Rebecca struggled on her acting skills alone. Gena never denied the rumours she used her family’s money and didn’t get her what she wanted. When money didn’t work, she’d use slash and burn techniques. Rebecca had seen a list of people whose personal lives became dumpster fires like her own. The number of relationships and marriages having fallen apart around her was too high to be coincidental. The woman was toxic, wrapped in a false shell of beauty. Everyone knew they were bitter rivals, not from Rebecca, but from Gena’s desperate attempts to ruin Rebecca’s career to pave the way for her to be the Crowning Rose of Black Dawn Productions’ list of actors.

            “Do you want me to scout a new project, Rebecca? In case Empire Nights ends.” Ben hesitated before he asked with great trepidation. He’d asked many times, and Rebecca always declined. Rebecca knew he worried for her career by declining everything else. Rebecca struggled she’d spread herself too thin. She feared declining the way would lose Ben as her agent. If she didn’t accept something or explain why she declined the offers, he brought to her.

            “Let me think on it. I’ll get back to you.”

It’s the first time she didn’t outright say no to Ben. Looking for a new project terrified her. She could see herself being stretched too thin before she failed. The walls felt suffocatingly close. Even closing in on her. Like it trapped her hand in a closing vise.

            “Just think about gaining some weight. Get your energy back. No one will hire you like this. It’ll be less of a hard sell on my part. That’s another thing John mentioned. He’s noticed how you’ve lost weight. He’s worried the viewers will notice.” Ben set the plate that once held his cheesecake dessert further onto the table, signalling the meal was over and he’d eaten his fill.

            “I couldn’t care less what the viewers think. I’ve been trying to deal with it.” Rebecca knew she’d said too much. When Ben looked up from finishing his coffee with his hazel eyes widening because her words were so uncharacteristically opposite to her usual demeanour. Rebecca only flinched apologetically, with a slight shrug of her shoulders. What she said was how she felt.

            “If it weren’t you saying this to me, I’d accuse them of lying. I know you’re working to fix whatever it is, and I’ve done everything I can to keep the media away as you’ve asked. But it would be easier to help you if I knew what’s wrong.” In every meeting, Ben attempted to get Rebecca to confide in him. She knew he looked at her and speculated about the issue. Rebecca knew there was no way he’d figure it out.

            Rebecca shook her head slowly before she spoke. “You know I don’t talk about my private life, and this is part of my private life. So, I’m sorry. No, I won’t explain my private business to you or make excuses for how I choose to live my life. The way I choose to spend my money and my personal time is my business. The public can judge me however, they like. I’ll accept whatever comes my way. Fighting it would end only in useless endeavours of frustration. They will believe whatever entertains them and remind them they aren’t so badly off.”

            “Alright. If public opinion gets too rough for you, please inform me and I’ll have someone deal with the issues. I’ll take this back to John. He can explain to the executives your terms. I’ll ensure he knows it’s not negotiable. But don’t let it surprise you when Everett comes back with his own conditions.” Ben could be so logical and cold. He cared about the wellbeing of his clients, which gave her a little warmth into Rebecca’s life. She had a cast meeting coming up where they’d review the storyline for the upcoming season and discuss the direction of their characters.

            “Thank you, Ben. Just make sure the producer understands I’ll work with Everett under these conditions. I won’t interact with him in any fashion when it doesn’t involve the production or advertising of the show itself. His girlfriends need to stay off the set. I won’t deal with their jealousy.” Rebecca looked flatly at Ben and spoke.

Rebecca didn’t want to tell Ben she didn’t have the energy to fight anymore. She wouldn’t deal with his latest tryst’s insecurities. Everett would understand immediately. Even if no one else did.

            “It’s all here, Rebecca. I’ll impress this upon John for you. He’ll relay everything to the board of executives. As you’ve said, nothing may result from this. He may decline the offer. Though I’m unsure how they’ll keep his girlfriends off the set. But when I’m done, John will understand it’s not optional.” Ben placed a document in before Rebecca with a pen. He pointed to where she must sign. Rebecca nodded and accepted the pen. With a quick flourish, she signed her name to the document, all while silently praying she didn’t need these demands. Rebecca didn’t know if she could deal with everything. Nor did she want to deal with Everett. Not after their last conversation.

            “Thank you. I’m sure the company’s security department can solve that. If that’s everything, I have another appointment.”

Rebecca set down the pen and slowly stood. Every joint felt like she’d done her own stunts, but she’d not practiced reading, let alone any stunts.

            “Of course, it’s nice as ever to spend time with you Rebecca and we’ll talk soon again.” Ben held out his hand, which dwarfed hers by a considerable amount. He didn’t look pleased by what he felt. Rebecca secretly agreed with Ben.

“Oh, and Rebecca, please keep in mind if you don’t gain some weight back, I may not represent you anymore. The market is changing, and heroin sheik is no longer a sought-after look. Please fix it. Just eat something. I don’t want to see the likes of Gena D’Or stealing the spotlight from someone as talented as you.”

           

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Klaira Blains
Dear Readers The surgery went well and I am back to writing by using dictation. I do hope you will enjoy another unique story.
2024-02-10 03:59:44
7
user avatar
Klaira Blains
Dear Readers: As of Jan 25/2024 I will be recovering from hand surgery. I promise to return to writing the 2nd or 3rd week of Feb. I apologize for interrupting your reading like this.
2024-01-25 05:07:26
4
106 Chapters
CHAPTER 1–ONE LAST DITCH EFFORT–REBECCA
Rebecca Jones sat quietly across from her agent, Ben Steins. “Rebecca, please. The producer and several studio board members have expressed their wishes. I can’t put this off. Our ratings are falling. We must reach out to Everett Stone; the show needs him. You’ve seen the trending comments. Our viewers want to see Dane return to Bella. They’ve waited five years for this love story to continue.” They’d eaten lunch during their meeting in the commissary of the Black Dawn Production Studios. The crowds in the commissary didn’t matter. They weren’t speaking about anything sensitive. Rebecca listened to Ben prattle on about Everett’s return and reprising his role as Dane Matthews, her character’s love interest. It’d been five years since she’d seen or spoken to him, not since the fateful night he’d left. Thinking about that night was unbearable. Those thoughts always triggered a cascade of heartbreaking memories. Rebecca struggled with the memories daily still.
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-15
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CHAPTER 2–FACING THE PAST & FUTURE BEFORE THE FANS - REBECCA
Three days later, Rebecca made it to the press conference set. Really, it’s a televised commercial announcing a special to introduce the lineup of shows for the coming season on the studio’s many channels. Of course, with Empire Nights, a long-standing favourite even though the ratings were slowly dipping had a prime spot. Rebecca would be the voice announcing the channel’s new lineup. Viewers will fawn over her beautiful, familiar face between sneak peeks and show explanations. They’d filmed interviews with producers and actors alike to round everything out. Rebecca was already dragging herself along. As she passed the craft table and all the foods, she saw she wouldn’t be eating there soon. It was a world of hurt waiting for her. Rebecca knew she couldn’t afford to lose even a single pound, but eating that would not help her gain anything. “Rebecca, there you are. Good news, Everett is here already. He’s agreed to your requests. However, he passed on the message that he could do n
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-15
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CHAPTER 3–GIVING TO THE FANS–EVERETT
Everett bumped into his ex-wife, of all people, while he looked for her. She was never this late for work. He’d concede that she wasn’t late in the actual sense. But she was late for her habits. Initially, Everett intended not to speak to Rebecca. He’d been curious about the offer he’d received to reprise his role as Dane on Empire Nights. Everett felt tempted, but he planned to turn down the offer. But they did not prepare him to encounter her as she was now. Everett wasn’t sure what happened. This was not what he expected. Did no one look out for her? He thought she was the rose of the studio. Wouldn’t they protect their investment? He hadn’t expected to see how far downhill she’d gone. Everett had heard the rumours she’d become an addict. Gena ensured he saw the photos of Rebecca at several rehab facilities when the photos appeared in the media. Everett never discovered what her favourite vice was, even though the media speculated about it regularly.
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-15
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CHAPTER 4–THE RETURN OF THE GREAT DANE–EVERETT
Everett Stone walked onto the set of Empire Nights as if he owned the place. He fulfilled his promise and dropped off a woman at the studio gates, within the paparazzi’s view. She was his latest fling to make Gena jealous. It appeared to be a common occurrence, and he was growing weary of it. His thoughts didn’t last long on Gena. In fact, they barely focused on her or the fluff and nonsense he left at the gates. Rebecca stood out in his mind lately after seeing her again. He’d avoided thinking about her for years and how they broke up. Now he’d seen her. His nerves jangled with anxiety. Why hadn’t anyone stepped in and made her clean up her act? Everett dreamt last night that he’d hunted down Rebecca’s latest boyfriend and strangled him for screwing up with her so much. He hadn’t seen a face in his dream, but he suspected his mind played tricks on him and that boyfriend was him. So, he’d gone through the early morning hours moody and wanting to b
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-19
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CHAPTER 5–THE LIES BY OMISSION CAN KILL–EVERETT
“I just feel you’re taking a lot of liberties coming back here and demanding things change because you’re back.” Rebecca expressed her feelings directly.Everett smiled at Rebecca. She was jealous and upset he was here. His mere presence got to her. But it bothered him she hadn’t touched the muffin.“If you don’t feel there’s anything wrong with the script, then we’re at an impasse. Let’s run through both scenes and decide which one to remove.“I don’t believe we need to. Mr. Stone had a keen eye for what’s wrong with the writing and I think his solution was flawless. After Dane kisses Bella, Blane follows her to see the end of the kiss. We could write an entire love triangle story arch from this. With the two men competing for Bella.”Everett saw Rebecca’s eyes close as she tried to keep her temper quiet. She was good with that in public. In private, it was a different situation. She let it blow spectacularly.“No, I won’t kiss him. That idea is off the table. I can’t stand the idea
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-19
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CHAPTER 6- THE MORE THAT CHANGES, THE MORE THAT STAYS THE SAME–REBECCA
Rebecca’s first conscious thought was she should be alone.Why was she so comfortable? She should be in her dressing room bathroom. She’d gone in there because her head hurt, and her stomach went with it. Her stomach hurt so much she needed to relieve it of what she’d eaten.Who was making so much noise? She recognized the voice but couldn’t recall the name. She loved the sound of it and knew she always had. Her mind slowly came online, and she realized Everett was there in her dressing room. Why was he there? He shouldn’t be there. Rebecca didn’t remember him entering her dressing room.Everett had left years ago. She lay there still and listened as her mind tried valiantly to piece together what happened and what currently happened around her. Her memories surfaced about the conference and the plans for his character Dane to return.However, why was he in her dressing room now? The meeting for the read through. Oh god, she’d embarrassed herself. She’d lost her temper at the way he b
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-21
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CHAPTER 7-SECRET FINDING MISSION -EVERETT
Everett protested as he left Rebecca’s dressing room, feeling lost as he stared at the closed door. What had he walked into? Or found? It could have been anything. He sensed something was amiss, and everyone seemed to hide it. Whatever it was. Everett paced back and forth in the corridor outside of Rebecca’s dressing room, trying to make sense of it all. He hadn’t believed the rumours of her abusing drugs or alcohol. But she had prescription medication there and a lot. Had she taken his wish to separate from her that hard? Everett thought she regretted marrying him because she insisted on keeping their marriage secret. What in the world was going on? He was now aware of a baby. Regardless of a miscarriage, can there be a connection to Rebecca’s medical state and her losing a baby? Was she abusing something because she regretted the baby’s loss? Or regretted losing him? He dismissed the last idea as soon as he thought about it. She’d h
last updateLast Updated : 2023-12-24
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CHAPTER 8-IN SEARCH OF FOOD-REBECCA
Rebecca finally felt well enough to leave her dressing room, but she still couldn’t come up with an acceptable reason for her horribly unprofessional behaviour. But the show must go on. The saying consumed her life and became her sole motivation. The walk down the corridor to the reading room filled her with dread. She felt like she was about to learn her sentence for an imaginary crime. The urge to walk away tugged at her. Not back to her dressing room. No, she’d walked out of the production studio lot and keep going. Where would she go? Rebecca didn’t know anywhere but here. Seeing Everett again hurt too much. He looked so good. It wasn’t fair. In the reading room, everyone was returning slowly from lunch. The director, David Keyes, waved Rebecca over to a corner. She made her way to him. Everett wasn’t in the room yet. For that, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks. “Look, before you dress me down for unacceptable behaviour. I’d like to say, I
last updateLast Updated : 2024-01-01
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CHAPTER 9-TIME TO TALK-REBECCA
Everett stood in the doorway, exuding the aura of a leading man. Even his eyes exuded playful dominance. It wasn’t fair that he looked so good. Every cell in Rebecca’s body regretted letting him go and not fighting for their marriage, as she should have done. She didn’t want him to blame her when his expectations for the future did not manifest. Rebecca now knew it was unlikely that she’d ever have children unless she went through various procedures to correct the damage she’d suffered before she finally received a diagnosis. Then she’d have to be vigilant to the extreme about her care. The uncertain flickering of her hope for success resembled a failing ghost light. “It’s fine. I didn’t scrape it off the floor or anything.” Rebecca tried to be flippant as she swallowed the last bite of the chewy bar. She gave him a cavalier smile and cocked her head at a jaunty angle. Anything to annoy him and change the subject. “Rebecca.” Everett’s voice held a w
last updateLast Updated : 2024-01-02
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CHAPTER 10-EVERETT’S EVENING OUT-EVERETT
Everett entered the restaurant unusually early. He’d left everything he usually did unfinished because he’d struggled with the entire encounter with Rebecca. The feelings Everett felt as he saw her again and the utter shock at seeing what had become of her in his absence. It became too much for him to handle. Confident in his actions, he left her years ago, doing what he believed was best for himself. Everett never questioned how Rebecca would be once he’d left. She had many people to rely on. Now, as he thought about that, he couldn't see Rebecca doing that. As a private person, Rebecca didn’t fall back on anyone. She didn’t tell her secrets or vulnerabilities to anyone. Everett only knew a few things because Rebecca, his wife, told him. Now he saw what became of Rebecca, and it killed him to see it. The pain and how she acted like a cornered feral cat. Everett couldn’t talk to his agent about this. He didn’t like the idea of Everett sharing his ti
last updateLast Updated : 2024-01-03
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