Chapter 13 - Deny Till You Die

Max’s POV

In my mind I was having an epic freak out. I fought against the rapid rate of my heart and tried to keep my face straight as I comprehended what this might mean.

Karly Grayson just saw me walking out of Ryan’s apartment building, in the morning. They have photos of me walking out of Ryan Connors building, not just that, but the back exit. They have to know I am hiding something, and she was sure to put two and two together.

Oh god.

I put on my best poker face and decided to try to ‘deny till I die’, one of Arias favourite pieces of wisdom to help me deal with the press.

‘Miss Grayson,’ I gave her a smirk.

‘Mr Stark,’ the brunette nodded towards me, the bright LA sun shining on us as we spoke outside the building.

‘Any reason that you’re having an early meeting with Mr Connors, this is his building, is it not?’ She said, the smug smile on her face.

I was glad that I was wearing different clothes from yesterday, but silently feared what my hair might look like. Leaving Ryan’s building sporting messy sex hair probably wouldn’t be the best for us. I casually carded my fingers through my hair, hoping to make it somewhat presentable.

‘Just having breakfast with a friend,’ I told her, taking a few steps towards where my car was parked, but she stood in front of me, blocking me. I needed to get out of here, my head still hurt and I just wished I was in my apartment.

‘Really?’ she questioned sceptically and I wished that I could just punch her and be done with it, but I just took a deep breath before answering her.

‘Yes, have a problem with that?’

‘Does this have anything to do with the television show that you and his girlfriend have been offered to do?’

WHAT? I haven’t, oh wait, yes, Steven did mention something about a project, and maybe he wants Claudia and I to work on it together?

Well that’s not happening.

‘Not at all,’ I said putting on my poker face.

‘Really?, because I think that you know more than your saying. Mind telling me more about their relationship, since you guys are so close?’

‘They are the prefect couple,’ I stated strongly and she narrowed her eyes, leaning forward.

The words burnt my mouth as they came out, but I kept the slight smile on my face and didn’t let them see how much saying those words hurt me.

‘There’s some connection between their fake relationship, you and that new show, and I will figure it out.’

‘Have a good day Miss Grayson’ I gave her a smile before stepping around her and making my way to my car.

As I drove home I was quite relieved. Karly was on the wrong track, completely, but she knew that Ryan I were friends, which could only lead to bad things. She was only going to dig deeper, and I was half scared of what she would find.

If Ryan and I come out as a couple, I want it to be on our terms. It would kill me if we were outed and Ryan wasn’t ready. I know that he needs to be the one to do it, he has to take that step.

I was halfway to my apartment when I realised that I should go to Arias, I needed to find out more about Stevens project, there was no way I would do it if that bitch was going to be there. I hadn’t heard much about the project yet, but if the director was anything to go by, it was going to be a hit.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

I walked into Arias office building and made my way to reception.

‘Mr Stark! How nice to see you!’ Ally her assistant greeted me, a smile on a face and slight blush on her cheeks. Ally had a crush on me from day one, and I always found it endearing. She was only about twenty, her blonde hair was in a braid and she wore a pink business top.

‘Hey Ally, is Aria in today?’

‘Yes, in her office now, I will call her up.’

She grabbed the desk phone to call up Aria and I looked around the room. Aria took over her parents company a few years ago and the entire office adored her, well some were scared, but most had known her since she was young so they adored her and idolized her passion and dedication. She was young but had done wonders in her career.

The office was busy, people walking in and out of the many rooms around me, most smiling or saying ‘Hi’ as they passed me.

‘Go right in,’ Ally smiled at me and I walked to Arias office.

Her office was quite big, a large black desk in the centre with high backed chairs facing her large black chair. There was a small couch in the corner and a large window facing the bustling city.

‘Honey! How nice to see you!’ The brunette exclaimed. She was sitting at her desk, wearing a black low cut top and a white skirt.

Well, at least she had gotten over our little argument.

‘Hey Aria,’ I sat down opposite her, ‘Has Steven Mathers contacted you?’

‘Yeah, he called me this morning and send this over,’ she pulled out a file and placed it on her desk.

‘What’s the project?’

‘It sounds amazing, It’s a television show called ‘The Family Business’, the plot is a young man, Duke, who goes back home after years overseas and is pulled back into his families criminal activities. The love interest, Selena, is one of the family’s associates who is tasked with working with Duke. Duke doesn’t want to do it, but when his family members start getting arrested is pulled into it. Doesn’t it sound good? And you know it had to be good, I mean its Steven Mathers!’

Wow, that actually sounded great.

‘Who plays Selena?’

‘Uhh,’ she looked in the file, ‘Right now their top choice is Claudia Grey.'

‘Claudia Grey?’

That was what I was afraid of.

‘I know you didn’t like her when you worked with her ages ago, but she has changed, I mean, she’s dating Ryan fricken Connors. She must have changed to date such a sweet kid.’

I should consider it, it would mean that Ryan would be on set sometimes and we could hang out.

‘Yeah sure, uh so it films in Hollywood?’

She didn’t answer me right away, so I gave her an expectant look. The woman gave me an obviously fake smile and said, ‘Uh, that’s the only bad thing.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘They want to shoot it in Australia.’

‘Australia?’ I shouted, I was shocked!

She rushed to calm me down and convince me to do it even though it was filming in a completely different country, ‘You were born there, and that way you can keep your accent, you don’t have to make it American like your usual roles.’

‘How long?’

‘At least four months and if it gets picked up then eight months out of the year, and there’s a pretty big chance that will happen. Don’t worry though, every three months or so you’ll get a week back in LA.’

Eight months! There was no way I was doing that!

I would be effectively moving to another country, but my life was here. Ryan was here, Aria was here.

Just thinking about being away from Ryan for that long was like torture, I couldn’t do that.

‘Don’t look like that honey! This is Steven Mathers, this would be great for your career.’

‘Aria, I can’t.’

‘Just think about it ok?’ She said, leaning forward on the desk.

‘Ar-’

‘You don’t have to do it, but this would be great for your career Max, expanding internationally like this would be a fantastic career boost, so think about it. Ok?’

‘Yeah ok, I’ll think about it.’

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

I thought about my talk with Ben as I drove home, if I left for this show it would be like leaving Ryan.

It would kill me but it would kill him too. He didn’t have that many people who he actually cared about and to think of not just me but me and Claudia leaving him for eight months, it would just leave him alone.

I couldn’t do that to him.

It may have been Steven Mathers, but even working with him was less important than my relationship with Ryan.

If I moved to Australia I would lose Ryan, I would hurt him, and just that thought was enough to hurl any other ideas out of my mind.

I couldn’t do the show.

How do I explain that to Aria?

Maybe I do have to tell her about Ryan?