Red Marine Restaurant, Beverly Hills.

After their little moment in Ian’s office, they agreed to talk about the movie, plot, and the role that Ian had in mind for her.

Although it had already been thirty minutes since they both walked in from the main entrance, there was no awkward pause or silence after everything they did during the daytime.

"...As I was saying, I'll explain and go through the movie… the basic idea of what it is going to be, and then let's focus on your role."

"Yeah, sure." Scarlett agreed while sipping the glass of water that was in front of her.

“Excuse me, sir,” A waiter interrupted them as soon as they were ready to talk about the movie script.

“Thanks.” “Thank you.” Both of them thanked him politely, while he kept the dishes they had ordered for the dinner.

The entire restaurant was silent. Although there were talks, chit-chats, and different whispers spreading among people who sat in different places, the environment wasn’t too noisy or loud. It was perfect to talk about a movie—something Ian always looks forward to.

“Enjoy,” He said politely while walking away.

"Hmm… Yes, so, the movie genre is a romantic drama—” Ian said while he served her food first, and while talking he kept serving himself food too. What could possibly go wrong with seafood—allergies? Scarlett said she had none. “I would not be the one who is directing. Yet to decide that. And, the story is basically about an incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking up--and a family staying together.”

“Hmm… Interesting,” She said while nodding.

“Charlie, a New York-based director and his actress wife Nicole, which is the role I have planned for you… are getting divorced. She takes their son Henry and goes to her hometown of Los Angeles to shoot a TV pilot, and despite their agreement to not use lawyers, hires high-powered divorce attorney Nora. The most contentious point is living in LA or New York - Charlie believes they are. New York family and Nicole had always wanted to go back to LA and Charlie never listened to her. When his back gets up against the wall and unable to win New York residency for Henry, Charlie hires an aggressive attorney Jay leading to the fight getting extremely vicious and personal. Eventually, the two settle, Charlie takes some directing jobs in LA, Nicole becomes successful and Emmy-nominated for her own directing and the two are able to balance their new arrangement wistfully.” Ian explained to her.

“That is… Realistic. With proper production, I bet it can turn out to be wholesome.”

“Yeah, and the main questions of the movie revolve around…. Why are love's wounds so deep, and cruelly painful? In the end, is love always forever?”

“That is smart to ask. How about the character Nicole? What is she like?”

“Yep, I was getting right to it,” Ian said while sipping from his glass of water. “Nicole is… As you have already guessed, independent. But there’s more to her. Her character is portrayed to be very caring, but not particularly strong-willed. When she's not focused on raising Henry or on honing her acting in Charlie's plays to perfection, she mostly abides by Charlie's decisions. In the process of the divorce, Nicole is beginning to find her voice as an actress, mother, and independent woman.”

“Wow… I feel her,” Scarlett said after chewing on her food—mouth closed.

-

“Did you get the shot?”

“No, her back is turned towards us… Ah, can we move to the other side?!”

“OH… FUCK! LIFT ME UP!” The reporter with the camera fell into the bush outside the restaurant.

“Watch where you’re going, dude. We can’t risk our story. This is going to be groundbreaking.”

*Camera clicks* *Camera clicks x 2*

“Ah, perfect. She is pretty close. I mean, Ian always goes for the prettiest ones… Did you see them kissing? Maybe when I was looking away?”

“N-no, I don’t think so. They’d make cute babies–”

The glare of the other guy made this dude shut up in an instant.

“Ah, Ian held her hand… Take it, take it, take it!”

*Camera clicks*

“Fucking perfect—”

“Excuse me, sir, what are you both doing here? Are you a reporter? Let me call security. This is a private area,”

A waiter came running towards them while the reporters ran backward to where their car was parked.

Nevertheless, the waiter who took a few steps forward to watch what he was watching, saw that they were looking at Ian and Scarlett. ‘Oh Shit!’ he thought and made a quick mind task to let them know before they leave.

No matter who comes in and out of the restaurant, it was partially their duty to not let them have a bad moment of any sort. And the waiter knew that if he didn’t let Ian know about what just happened, there was a high possibility things could get worse for Scarlett—he was a Hollywood fan himself.

-

“...Ahaha, I can’t believe there are still rumors flying around everywhere about me and Ryan. I mean, they did the same about Christian and me after Batman. But I wonder how long it’ll take for it to die down,” Scarlett said while taking a sip from the wine that Ian had just ordered and brought.

“Well, the thing is… Those are pretty normal.”

“I know, but imagine every interview you face… ‘Are you dating this person?’ ‘How is it going with the name of the person they assume?’. It gets really annoying after a point, not that I complain—”

“It’s no fun either, I get you.”

After saying that to Scarlett, Ian saw a waiter standing a few feet away, looking at them—his body expressions showed that the waiter was waiting to say something. Since their food was over, he was standing afar, and Ian frowned.

“Uh- excuse me. Give me a second.” He stood and walked towards the sink. The man stood a few feet away. “Hey?” Ian asked, taking him totally off-guard.

“Y-yes, sir. Mr. Renner right? Sir, I’m a huge fan of yours. This behavior is not allowed while I’m on duty, but there’s something I gotta say to you.” He said while looking here and there yet was talking in just above a whisper.

“Thank you, and it’s alright. I’ll take care of something like your manager comes up. What is it that you wanted to tell?”

“There were reporters outside the restaurant. They had cameras and everything, also I’m pretty sure this would go viral tonight or tomorrow. And, when I was getting closer to them, I think it was already late and they had taken plenty of pictures of you and Ms. Scarlett. So—”

“Ah I see, thank you so much for letting me know,” Ian said while digging into his pocket and tipping the waiter.

“Oh no no-”

Ian smiled in return and placed it on his hand.

‘And well, I’ve got to say to her’ He thought while scratching the back of his neck in uneasiness while walking towards her.

“I’ve got to tell you something—”

“Reporters were here, weren’t they?” Scarlett asked with a smirk. Ian wasn’t shocked or surprised. Scarlett. Was. Smart. He knew it.

She was also aware of how the rumors of Ryan and Scarlett would die down after the public became aware of the dinner with Ian.

-

The next day, it was no coincidence but the day of voting.

After months worth of campaign, it was finally the day when a lot of things for Christopher Grey would be revealed.

The man was not bad at all. Unpopular opinion, not all politicians are bad. On the good side, there was Christopher. He had done lots of good things for many people including kids, college students, and then for the public in general.

Yet again, what he lacked was people to back him up.

For his luck, and Ian’s fortune, he found Ian. As this was mentioned quite a few times, the deal they had was two ways.

“It’s the polling day, isn’t it?” Ian asked cheerily as he walked inside the office where Mason, Raelynn, and Niko were seated.

“Sir, you have a few emails you need to attend to. Also, Mr. Grey called twice. He said it wasn’t something urgent, yet wanted to talk to you,” Murphy said for which Ian nodded.

Murphy walked out with his tablet.

“Ah, the dude must be nervous. This is his first proper election.” Ian said. In his mind, he thought about what possibly would be Ian’s future if Christopher won the election.

He had his own plans—nothing evil, for your information. Yet something that could possibly help Ian to come to the top of Hollywood.

“Yeah, try giving him a call. We can all go to the election stations together. Everyone has registered right?” Mason asked while the two nodded.

Ian walked outside the office to attend his call.

“It is going to be an interesting day, I feel it,” Raelynn said while taking her phone from her pocket.

“Hmm… Elections are always fun until someone fuck the state over. But yeah, Christopher is a nice man, I was not paid for this advertisement.”

“He should’ve. You were good.”