You Were Never That Important Chapter 02
“Vivien is perfect for the lead, and she passed on several other scripts just to do this show.”
Raiden’s expression instantly hardened, his tone impatient. “Konner, I’m not discussing this with you. I’m telling you.”
He slowed his words down, making the threat perfectly clear. “If I shoot this right now, my girlfriend is going to break up with me.
“If I lose her, are you taking responsibility for that? You know exactly how long this show will last without me as the male lead.”
Standing beside Konner, I’d heard enough.
“Let me talk to him,” I said.
Konner looked up at me, hesitated for a second, then handed over the phone.
I took it.
On the screen, Raiden raised an eyebrow, staring at me with obvious disdain.
Ignoring his attitude, I kept my voice steady. “How about this? You both join the cast, and Cierra can be my stand-in.
“You two can shoot the intimate scenes for the second season. I promise I won’t lay a finger on you.
“That way, she can keep an eye on you the whole time, and you won’t have to worry about a breakup.”
Behind me, Konner shot me a grateful look.
It was the most practical compromise we could offer right now. It secured my role while giving Raiden and Cierra exactly what they wanted.
But Raiden just let out a short laugh, clearly amused by my proposal.
He looked me up and down with open contempt. “You want my girlfriend to be your stand-in?”
Leaning forward mockingly, he added, “Vivien, you aren’t worthy of that.”
He leaned back against the couch and pulled Cierra closer, his voice dripping with condescension. “You aren’t as pretty as she is, and you don’t have her presence. There’s zero reason she should be your stand-in.
“I’m telling you, it’s not happening. Cierra is going to be the female lead, period. She absolutely won’t play a supporting role, let alone a stand-in.”
I gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white, fighting to keep my anger in check.
Raiden shifted his gaze back to Konner. His voice rose, hard and unyielding. “Mr. Gorney, I’ve made my position clear. Either replace the female lead or shut down production. Pick one.
“If you don’t recast her, I’m walking away, and you can find yourself a new male lead.
“When the second season gets canceled, you’ll be the one dealing with the platform’s breach-of-contract penalties and the fan backlash.”
Konner jumped up, snatched the phone right out of my hand, and yelled, “Raiden! Don’t push it! We signed a formal contract. If you breach it, I’ll sue you!”
“That contract doesn’t mean a thing.”
Raiden smiled, arrogant and entirely secure in his leverage. “Don’t forget I’m a top actor with millions of fans online. I brought in half the audience for this show.
“Without me, your series is worthless, and the platform will pull its funding.
“You want to sue me? Do you even have the time and energy to waste on that?”
The screen went black. He had hung up.
Konner tried calling back, but an automated voice stated the phone was turned off.
Furious, Konner slammed the phone down onto the desk, the impact cracking the screen.
“He just got a taste of fame, and he’s already this arrogant? He really thinks he’s an A-lister.”
He paced back and forth across the office, trembling with rage.
Jaw clenched and breathing heavily, he snapped, “Fine, Raiden. If you don’t want this opportunity, I’ll give you exactly what you asked for! We can make this show without you.”
Konner shouted at the empty room before slumping back into his chair. He buried his face in his hands, looking completely tapped out.
The office went dead silent, except for the sound of his heavy breathing.
About ten minutes later, he finally looked up at me. His eyes were bloodshot, but the manic energy was gone, and he’d pulled himself together.
“Vivien,” he said, his voice raspy.
“With Raiden officially out, we need a new male lead for part two.
“You’ve been around the block. You got anyone in mind?”
I hesitated for a second, but one name instantly jumped to mind.
“Mr. Gorney,” I said, taking a slow, steady breath.
“I know a guy. He keeps a low profile and takes the craft dead seriously, but he’s undeniably talented.”
A flicker of hope crossed Konner’s face. He grabbed onto the idea like a lifeline, leaning in fast. “Who? What’s his name?”