Chapter 12 - Scandal

"Yeah, look this way! Great! Just perfect! No, wait, don't move! Yes, I got it! Perfect! You're perfect Bryan! That smile is a killer!" The photographer called out excitedly as he took different photos of Bryan as he kept switching postures.

"We can wrap it up for today and call it a day!" The director called, but before he could finish speaking Bryan stood up, picked up his fur coat and threw it at his assistant, Mia, as he started heading for the door.

"Bryan you have to be here very early tom..." He stopped when he realized Bryan had walked out already, "That damned brat! He's lucky he's so talented." The director swore as he glared at the door.

"You must be very exhausted." Bryan's manager observed as he looked at him. He had been busy all day working on commercial shoots for two different companies at two separate locations.

"I just want to get out of here as soon as possible." He confessed. At age twenty-seven, Bryan Hanks was a multitalented actor and model. He had made up his mind to work in the entertainment industry from a very early age, and although his parents hadn't exactly understood his passion, they had done their best to encourage his dreams and aspirations.

"We will be traveling back after the shoot tomorrow and you'll have enough time to rest, so just try to keep your feet up for the rest of the evening. I still need to go over the rest of the details with the director so I'll see you in the morning." His manager said, before turning around to leave.

"Sure. Goodnight Jeff." Bryan called after him as he continued outside with Mia. Immediately they got into the car he took off his tie and took the bottle of water which his assistant was handing him from the front seat. After taking a very long sip, he sighed, "So who called?" He asked Mia.

"Your mom, Sophia and your brother called too." Mia said as she looked through the journal where she had written down the details of each call.

"My brother? Tom?" He asked in confusion as he held out his hand for his phone. Tom rarely called since they both were very busy people, so it surprised him that Tom had called.

"Yes. He called just thirty minutes ago. I told him you were in the middle of something and would return his call when you were done." Mia explained as she handed the phone to him.

"I wonder why he's calling." Bryan murmured to himself, "And my mom? What did she want?"

"She wanted to know if the scandal about you and Sophia is true, and also to find out when you would be available for a little family trip."

"Family trip? So what did you tell her?" Bryan asked before turning to look at the driver, "Is there someone you're waiting for?"

"Sorry." He said apologetically as he quickly turned on the car's ignition and drove in the direction of the hotel Bryan was lodged.

"I told her I'll check with your manager and get back to her."

"Good." Bryan said with a satisfied smile as he closed his eyes and rested his head.

It had been quite a while since he last visited his parents or even saw his siblings, due to his busy schedule which was as a result of his career, and he knew he needed to see them before the end of the year, especially his parents. He was just going to return his mother's call later... Maybe when he was ready to listen to her scold him about his reckless lifestyle. But first he would have to return Tom's call.

He was about dialing Tom's number when he remembered that Mia had mentioned something about Sophia, so he dialed her line instead. Sophia was his young friend who also happened to be in the entertainment industry and their friendship had started after they both starred in a romantic movie as the main leads.

"What's up?" He asked the moment she accepted his call.

"Have you seen the news circulating all over the place? What are you doing about the scandal?" Sophia asked in an agitated tone.

"Don't worry about it, soon they will stop talking and everything will return to normal." Bryan said dismissively.

"I can't do that! You can afford to let them say such dirty things about you because you're a casanova and you're used to such scandals, but I'm not like that. And my boyfriend is already very angry about this. He thinks I lied to him about having a shoot down here just so I could meet with you." She said in a shaky voice which told him she had probably been crying.

Bryan sighed as he massaged his temple. This was the issue with getting involved with teenagers. She was nineteen and was an adult quite alright, but he had only taken her out to grab a bite when he found out she was shooting a movie somewhere around the studio where he had been doing his commercial shoot earlier that day. Not like he had even slept with her or anything. He hadn't expected anyone to make a big deal out of it and even take photos.

If this had happened between himself and a more experienced and mature actress he knew the actress wouldn't have been as upset as Sophia was, but he could understand her. Even while they had been shooting their movie together, she had told him how jealous and insecure her boyfriend had been over her taking on such a role with a casanova like Bryan.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." He promised, and hung up before she could say anything else.

From his experience, Bryan knew the best way to put an end to one scandal was to cause another scandal, and he was going to do just that. As long as he diverted the attention away from the poor girl to himself, then everything would be okay.

"Do you still have that ring? The one the manager of Gem Jewelers gifted me earlier today?" Bryan asked Mia who looked at him in confusion.

"Yes. Why?"

"Give it to me." He said and extended his hand until she placed the box in his hand. The plan he had just come up with was a very reckless one, but he had always been known to be reckless so it wasn't much of a big deal.

So Immediately the driver stopped the car in front of his hotel, he got out of the car and walked into the hotel lobby. He looked around like he was trying to find someone until his eyes stopped on a very pretty young lady with long curly blonde hair, who was seated as though she was waiting for someone. She was dressed in a red playsuit which showed just how long and slender her legs were, and she was wearing black high-heeled sandals. He looked at her fingers and the moment he noticed she wasn't wearing a wedding band he headed in her direction.

He stopped in front of her, making her look up at him with a frown, and then her eyes widened in surprise when she recognized him. This was Bryan Hanks the famous actor and model! What was he doing in front of her? Sonia who had been waiting for her editor asked herself.

Before she could finish processing what she was thinking, Bryan went on one knee, "Will you marry me?" He asked as he opened the ring box.