Franz had walked into Bluegate Entertainment for the first time over six years ago, a young actor with a growing reputation and a guarded private life. He had signed his contract in this same building, in a conference room much like the one he was sitting in now, with Alex's voice in his ear telling him to read every line before he signed.
Alex had been the one who negotiated the terms. Alex had been the one who insisted on the privacy clauses, the creative control, the escape hatches that would let Franz walk away if the company ever tried to use him in ways he didn't want to be used. At the time, Franz had thought his brother was being overprotective. Now he understood. Alex had known exactly what kind of industry this was, and he had built Franz a cage with an open door.
Today, Franz was walking through that door.
