Chapter 3 - Show Your Face

Leo 

I’m sitting at my local coffee shop having a quick coffee before I meet with my agent, Angelo DeLuca, who is also my best friend.

We met when he randomly walked into my room, all flustered and sweaty with boxes, and saw me lying on the bed. We were both confused as shit at first, because we both requested no roommates. We later found out that the admin made a mistake.

After talking to get to know each other, we decided to give it a shot and have been close ever since. We realized we have quite a bit in common because he’s Italian and I’m Greek, meaning we have a similar background.

We do, however, still get into arguments over who makes the best food. To this day, we have that argument, but we stop it now because it always ends in a stalemate.

I do, however, find it fucking hilarious that he now has a Greek girlfriend and that his favourite food is a gyros.

Anyway, I'm dreading this meeting because even though he's a friend and I know he has my back no matter what, which is why he is my agent, it's going to be more business than friendly.

I let out a loud sigh as I scroll through my emails.

Even though I haven’t filmed anything in recent years, I still keep busy with my businesses away from the film industry.

At least those are profiting because with the way things are going, I might as well fucking retire as an actor with the amount of bullshit scripts that I’ve seen. 

I pocket my phone to take a sip from my coffee when I see from the corner of my eye that some women are looking with curious, narrowed eyes in my direction as if they are trying to figure something out.

Oh, crap.

Yup, it’s time for me to move before they recognise me and it turns into a shit show.

In addition to not starring in anything, I've also stayed out of the spotlight and off social media for some semblance of a private life, which, when you're in the industry, there's almost no such thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I like and I’m grateful to my fans, but sometimes, like now, I just want to be left alone. 

I quickly finish my coffee and stand from my table to head out the door when I feel a hand touch my forearm.

"Excuse me, but are you Leo Andre?" A woman asks.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who that is," I say in an overly exaggerated accent so they don't recognise my voice.

Looking at the woman, I can tell she’s the type to cause a ruckus.

"Seriously?! How can you not know who that is? I find that very surprising since you look awfully like him." She says, jerking my arm, trying to make me turn round to face her, which doesn’t work.

"Well, I don't, so goodbye."

And with that, I swiftly walk out the door.

Unfortunately, she follows me out just as I take off my hat and glasses and sees me.

Thankfully, my car is parked right on the curb, so I walk faster to jump in before realization sets in.

I hear her excited shriek just as my hand reaches the door handle.

"Go, Dan, go!" I yell, closing the door without looking back. 

Dan puts the car in gear and peels out before they can reach it.

"Thank God for that and you. That was close." I say, breathing a sigh of relief, leaning my head back on the headrest, and smiling at my driver.

"Yes, it was, otherwise it would have been a nightmare like last time." Dan answered with a chuckle, looking through his mirror.

"So, going to Mr. DeLuca's office?" Dan asks after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah, please. Might as well, and then I am going home so you can have the rest of the day off. I'm sure the missus will appreciate that." I say, winking at my driver, knowing that his wife will be thrilled to have him home early.

Dan sometimes works long hours and travels with me whenever I go abroad, serving as both my chauffeur and bodyguard, which makes his wife unhappy.

"Thank you, and yes, Ali will be happy about that, although she doesn't complain as much as she used to since you've been on your break. So much so that we've recently found out she's expecting. So, I take that back. She still complains, but for different reasons." Dan laughs without looking back, keeping his eyes on the road.

"That's great, congrats, man, I wish you both all the best. But why is she complaining?" I ask him, tilting my head to the side in curiosity.

This is supposed to be a good thing.

Or so I assume.

"Thank you. We are very excited.” He says with a big, proud smile. “Because morning sickness is a fake name, it needs to be called an all-day sickness. It's been a little rough on her. Hopefully, it will ease off once she hits her second trimester." Dan explains to me as we enter the underground garage of the building, looking for a parking space.

"Oh, I see. Well, I can somewhat sympathise. It does sound like it must be quite miserable. The things that women have to go through for babies, and that’s before they are even born." I say with a slight chuckle.

Dan chuckles, nodding his head in agreement.

“Oh yeah. She says this is worse than the first one.”  He says as he finds a parking spot near the elevators and parks up, turning off the ignition. 

"Right, hopefully I won't be long, I’ll text you on the way out. Thanks, Dan." I tell him from the window after getting out of the car.

I head towards the elevator, and soon enough, I’m standing outside of Angelo's office door.

Once I hear ‘come in,’ I walk in.

As per usual, I see him sitting behind his desk, on the phone, most likely to one of his other clients. I take a seat on the other side of his desk and wait for him to finish.

He is, after all, very good at his job and has worked with quite a few well-known names in the industry, while also serving as the de facto boss since his mother is semi-retired.

Yeah, I guess both of us have done well for ourselves despite being, well, party fuck boys in our younger days, as one would say.

Finally, he's off the phone after what seems like forever.

"Remind me to never take another reality star as a client." He says with a groan of frustration while rubbing his temples. "And I thought the actors were bad." He says with a teasing smirk, and I just roll my eyes at him.

"Malaka (dick)." I smirk, giving him the finger. He knows what that means.

"Stronzo (asshole)." He retorts, with a smirk, also giving me the finger.

"Anyway, want a drink? I desperately need a coffee and 20 fucking cigarettes after that fucking phone call. I honestly cannot stand her, and what’s worse is that I have to see her face at home cause Amalia likes her damn show." He says, reaching for the phone.

"Yeah, sure, I'll have one since my earlier one got interrupted," I say, shaking my head with a small smile.

"Really? Why? Hey, can you bring two coffees into my office and hold my business calls for the next 45 minutes, please and thank you, Mona."

He puts the phone down and gestures for me to come over and sit on one of his couches on the other side of his office, overlooking the city.

"The same old thing. Some woman sees me in the coffee shop, and I had to get out fast," I say with a shrug, following him to the other side of the couch, sitting down in the corner.

"Was she hot? Could have had a little fun." He teases, with a smirk, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

Again, I roll my eyes and sigh.

"No thanks. I had fun the other night, while this one would have probably run her fucking mouth to the tabloids before I even got my pants on. I don't need the entire world being reminded of my dick size or how I am in the sack, and I don't think you want to revisit that any more than I do." I shudder remembering that time.

Another reason why I stopped random one-night stands with chicks I hardly know. That shit was so fucking embarrassing and took a long time for people to stop talking about it.

He hums in agreement. "That was not pleasant. I know we share shit, but I draw the line at seeing what your dick looks like." He says, with a fake gag.

He was the one who had to do damage control when that happened. Pictures were included and all.

I still don’t know how or when she managed to do that.

"Why? It’s a nice dick. I get loads of compliments over it. Doesn’t your girl do that? Is little Angelo jealous?" I teasingly say with a mischievous grin.

He rolls his eyes as I’ve just said the most absurd thing.

"Oh, please. Who do you think makes Amalia fucking scream the house down? Don't believe me? Ask her." He says with a casual shrug and a smirk on his lips. "You know as well as I do that woman has no fucking filter. It must be the Greek in her." He chuckles.

The door opens, interrupting us, and his assistant comes in with a tray, politely says hello, and sets it on the little coffee table between us.

Angelo tells her about some papers on his desk that need filling without looking up, as he makes his coffee how he wants it.

We both say thank you as she walks out with them, leaving us alone again.

"Right, on with what I need to say," Angelo says, going into his business tone as he sits back with his coffee in his hand while the other is resting on the armrest.

I take mine and sit back, ready to listen to what I think is another lecture about my so-called vacation from the industry.

"You need to do something to appear like you're fucking alive. You've gone almost radio-silent, and your fans aren't liking it, Leo. You haven't done any interviews, movies, or appearances during award season, and you’re barely active on your social media. I don't think I need to tell you how that looks." He says, taking a sip from his coffee.

I sigh, looking down.

I was right, but the thing is, I don't care about social media. My team uses it more than I do. I haven't come across a script I like, so no point in doing interviews when I have nothing to promote, and I hate it when reporters ask personal questions like if I'm dating and all that b.s. It's no one's business what I do in my personal time and life.

I tell Angelo this, and this time, he sighs, shaking his head.

"Look, I get it, as your friend. But as your agent? Eh, can you make yourself a little bit more visible? Just go to a few events, or like when you go on your actual holiday to Greece, take some photos and post them on your socials. Now, that would be good for your image and the country. I'm sure they could use the tourism." He says with a slight chuckle.

His phone beeps before I can respond.

"Sorry, it's Amalia reminding me about the charity event tonight.” He clicks his fingers like he has the answer. “Hey, come with us. That can be a good opportunity to get yourself seen a little, plus it will be with us tonight, so that it won't be totally boring."

I sigh in resignation. "Fine, text me the details.” Taking a sip while he texts.

“Now, when you say us, who exactly?" I ask, watching him silently snicker at the phone.

And just like that, Angelo’s grin grows even wider, making me think I've just agreed to a deal with the devil.

Scratch that, two devils cause Amalia is no better than him, which is why they are the perfect couple.

Fuck...

“Alright, now you’re freaking me the fuck out, so if that’s all, I’m gonna head out,” I say, getting up from the chair and putting my cup down.

We say our ‘see you later’ to each other, and I leave his office.