Liam Hayes leaned back against the plush leather seat of his sports car, one hand on the steering wheel, the other holding his phone. A smirk played on his lips as he scrolled through the messages flooding in from last night's party.
Taylor: You left too soon, babe. I had plans for us.
Jasmine: Still thinking about that dance. Call me?
Danielle: So, when are we having that private after-party?
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. Same routine, different women. It never failed. They were drawn to him like moths to a flame, whether it was the fame, the money, or just the thrill of being with Liam Hayes, Hollywood's golden boy.
He tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and revved the engine, the deep purr of the car echoing through the empty street. It was nearly noon, but he had just rolled out of bed after a wild night at the city's most exclusive club. His head still buzzed from the alcohol, but a good coffee and maybe a new distraction would fix that.
He pulled into the café's private parking lot and slipped on a pair of designer sunglasses before stepping out.
The moment he walked in, heads turned.
Women whispered. Some bold enough to catch his eye, others pretending not to look but failing miserably.
It was always like this. He was used to it.
"Liam Hayes," a sultry voice greeted as he approached the counter. The barista, a brunette with bright red lipstick, leaned forward slightly, giving him a generous view of her cleavage. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"Been busy," he said with an easy grin. "Miss me?"
Her smile widened. "Always."
Liam drummed his fingers on the counter. "How about making my usual extra special today, sweetheart?"
She giggled, biting her lip. "Anything for you, Liam."
As she prepared his drink, he glanced at his phone. A new text from his manager, Ethan.
Ethan: We need to talk. Call me ASAP.
Liam groaned. That could only mean one thing, damage control. Again.
Grabbing his coffee, he flashed the barista one last wink before heading back to his car. He took a sip and winced. Too much sugar.
He called Ethan.
"You took your sweet time," Ethan answered. "Where the hell were you last night?"
"Enjoying life," Liam said lazily.
"Yeah? Well, your version of enjoying life is on every damn tabloid this morning."
Liam sighed, rubbing his temple. "What now?"
"You tell me," Ethan shot back. "Because according to the headlines, you were caught sneaking out of a hotel at 4 a.m. with two women and a bottle of champagne. And that's not even the worst part."
Liam frowned. "Alright, lay it on me."
"You also got into it with a paparazzi. There's a video of you flipping him off and calling him a 'bottom-feeding leech.' It's all over social media."
Liam laughed. "Well, he was a bottom-feeding leech."
Ethan groaned. "Jesus, Liam. Do you even care about your career?"
Liam rolled his eyes. "Relax, man. It's not like I haven't bounced back from worse."
"This time, it's different," Ethan snapped. "Your reputation is spiraling. You're a liability. Studios are watching, and they don't like what they see."
Liam's jaw tensed. He hated the word liability.
"So what's your grand solution?" he asked.
"You need to clean up your image," Ethan said. "No more parties. No more scandals. You need to be seen as stable. Responsible. Someone the industry can trust again."
Liam leaned back in his seat, already bored. "And how exactly do you suggest I do that?"
There was a pause. Then Ethan said, "You need a girlfriend."
Liam nearly choked on his coffee. "What?"
"A serious relationship. Something stable. No more random flings, no more morning-after tabloid stories. You need someone by your side who makes you look good."
Liam laughed. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm not exactly the settling down type."
"You're not listening," Ethan said, voice firm. "This isn't about what you want. It's about what you need. If you want to keep your career from crashing and burning, you have to play the game. And right now? A girlfriend is the best PR move you could make."
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. He hated this part of Hollywood. The calculated moves, the fake smiles, the staged relationships. But Ethan had a point. His image was tanking, and in this industry, reputation was everything.
Still, the idea of pretending to be in a relationship made his skin crawl.
"Fine," he said finally. "Find me someone. But make it quick. I don't have the patience for this crap."
"Already working on it," Ethan said. "I'll set up a meeting."
Liam sighed. This was going to be a headache.
But if playing the good boyfriend for a few months kept him on top, then so be it.
Hollywood was all about illusion, after all.
And Liam Hayes? He was the master of faking it.