You all just spoil him already!
"Do you think I'd buy that!!!"
Ollie gave himself a hard pinch until a few tears forced their way out. He was just too cute—so obedient-looking and handsome—that even after being fooled so many times, Caleb still lost his composure.
The moment Caleb stopped thinking, the image of Jenna opening the door kept popping into his head: the once-promising music prodigy in a perfectly fitted apron, fussing over Ollie like she was taking care of a kid and setting his breakfast out.
Opening the door had only taken a second, but Caleb's professional instincts had already scanned the room in that short time.
The food on the table wasn't fancy, but it looked appetizing. Jenna had set out milk and orange juice—orange juice because Ollie liked it, milk likely for any unexpected guest who might drop by.
No one knew what Ollie and his crew had been up to, but aside from lacking a shadow Jenna seemed almost entirely normal.
She didn't act like the monsters from those old stories that couldn't touch real things. If she'd been one of those, maybe it would've been tolerable…
Wait—no!
Jenna was taller than him. Would a regular apron even fit her?
And Ollie couldn't cook to save his life—so why were there ingredients and an apron in his apartment?!
Caleb forgot to be scared. He grabbed Ollie and hauled him home at top speed. At that moment Jenna came out of the kitchen carrying the last little plate of ketchup to go with the savory flatbread.
"Can other people see him like this?" Caleb was losing his mind. Suddenly, the supernatural didn't seem so terrifying—this was worse.
Please, no!
If someone else had snapped a photo of him with Ollie it would have just been a silly tabloid rumor. Ollie's image-management team would handle it. But if Ollie was caught on camera with Jenna… then that would really make people think there was a ghost!
Next thing you know, it wouldn't be a legal-news headline anymore…
It would be science.
Caleb's PR brain was exhausted. In a flash he ran through a dozen crisis plans. Was anyone going to save him—
Ollie couldn't feel Caleb's meltdown. He was already halfway through a flatbread, chewing as he answered, "Normal people can't see him. My uncle put a ward on him—if he doesn't want to be seen, even people from The Order can't normally notice him. As long as he's holding something and nobody sees that, we're fine."
Caleb let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and—before he realized it—sat down. Jenna pushed a bowl and a glass of milk toward him. "Caleb, you should try some."
Jenna was awkward in a gentle way. He'd always been reserved—bordering on reclusive—and that had made him easy for Rowan Tate to manipulate.
Like some fans guessed, in the beginning he'd willingly been Rowan's frontman, because Rowan painted a perfect, almost unreal future for him: fame, family, success. He wasn't stupid; when reason kicked in he knew Rowan's kindness was calculated—Rowan wanted to use his talent to climb. But Jenna had wanted a home so badly that he let Rowan's manipulations slide. "It's just a few more songs," he told himself. "I can write again." He'd never expected to lose his life for it—losing everything, hurting himself and others.
"Thanks."
After sprinting up several flights and getting a fright, Caleb was starving. The savory flatbread wasn't complicated, but Caleb had seen plenty of "talent" who couldn't do anything useful—so seeing someone who could actually handle something real intrigued him.
While he ate, his PR brain couldn't help inventing career paths for Jenna: build a "homey cook" persona, get some interactive variety show appearances to boost the image, then release a couple of singles—he could do that easily. If the budget allowed, buy a few astroturfers to pull Rowan's skeletons out and bury him publicly—ride his downfall to the top. The next music sensation would be Jenna Carter.
Too bad it was only fantasy.
The food finished, and reality came back like a cold splash.
Jenna was dead.
Caleb let himself mourn that loss for a moment, then dragged the conversation back to work. "Julian had a last-minute job. He was supposed to go this morning with you two, but he's going alone now. He'll get in tonight—most of the day's on a plane. Ollie, be good while he's gone. If you cause trouble, you're not getting snacks or extras for a month!"
Ollie protested with a brave little voice, "I know! I wouldn't do anything wrong—I promise!"
"You said that last few times," Caleb said.
"Mr. Carter," he added, turning to Jenna, "are you going with him? Please keep an eye on him. Our people will be there this afternoon—make sure Ollie doesn't act up."
Caleb had two brand meetings today to negotiate work for Ollie and Julian. If Julian hadn't been confirmed on the variety show, he would've insisted both of his artists go together. The producers were clearly stirring up conflict between the only two artists Caleb still had to work with—an obvious ploy for ratings.
He'd thought about postponing the brand talks, but Julian said if he was going, it was a done deal—there was nothing Caleb could do to stop the producers' behind-the-scenes scheming. Best to let things run their course; if anything happened he'd be the first to know.
Caleb's nagging about "don't act out" wasn't really because he feared legal fallout. He was worried Ollie might get targeted by Shane Keane.
Ollie and Shane's conflict wasn't a petty resource fight; it had nearly turned deadly. If Ollie had been a normal person, he wouldn't have lived through it. But Ollie wasn't normal—he was a little supernatural creature—so somehow he'd survived and even found success. There was no proof tying Shane to that old incident, but since then Ollie's disfavor toward Shane had been obvious.
After suffering that much, Caleb had stopped defending Ollie. The two camps had become openly hostile. Ollie's rise had outpaced Shane's, and chances of them being at the same event were slim. Caleb didn't know who had gotten Ollie this spot on the show.
On the drive Caleb walked Ollie through the day's schedule and kept warning him not to act up before Julian arrived. If Shane showed up, stay far away. People who would risk someone's life over a little resource were dangerous; avoid them where you can.
"Relax, Caleb. I've got enough life-preserving tricks on me to last a while. And it's a live show—if Shane wants to stay in the business, he won't do anything on camera."
"Let's hope," Caleb said. "My phone will be on. Mr. Carter has your number, right? Call me if anything happens."
Jenna nodded seriously. It was the first time anyone had needed him like this, and Ollie mattered to him. He promised to protect the little hamster.
By the time they reached the airport a crowd of fans had gathered. To keep order the producers had chartered a private jet—who knew what sponsor coughed up that much money? The live chat and the guests at the terminal were equally stunned.
[Citrus is rolling in money now? Did Old Lee strike it rich??? Is this real??? Used to be they'd haul guests in on a rickety old bus and now they've chartered a private jet?]
[Zach Monroe says: I guess we misjudged them. We never had the budget for this back in the day.jpg]
[HAHAHAHA remember when they only completed part of the challenge and got "6 and a half" positions? The other guests were all women and half-Zach had to get off and walk 6.2 miles and swore he'd never do the show again]
["6 and a half" WHAT even is that??? This production is cursed I swear]
[Citrus, you're finished. You said we'd all be broke together!]
[They've got cash this time—maybe they won't put guests through hell? Right?]
[Wasn't Julian supposed to come back on this show? Is that real?]
[Fake. Julian wouldn't come back on a messy variety show at the height of his fame. He didn't do variety before he retired—if he's really back he must have actual acting offers. Why would he waste time on this?]
[Isn't literally every variety show a waste of time though? Julian's being high and mighty. Who knows what he was doing during his time off—maybe he landed a rich backer who ditched him so now he has to come back to make money~]
[?]
[?]
[Where are all these haters coming from? That last comment was mean but fair—if a show pays like this it's because it's struggling. If Julian's famous, he doesn't need to do this kind of show. And the rumor he's a permanent guest? Come on.]
[Chill. That one's from Mason Yu's side—his fans love to stir. This show may be crazy but it's not open to just anyone; some people getting triggered is normal.]
[Lol our Cub has been retired a year and some people still haven't reached his level. You can't talk big if you're not there yet.]
[Yep yep, Julian's people are always doing PR. The entertainment cycle is ruthless; what does an actor even do during retirement? If he won awards, who cares—after a year away, he could be out of options and have to take trash gigs to get back in.]
[Hey, isn't Julian signed with Starline? Cub's signed to Starline too—so they'd be colleagues. Cub's mom did so much for him; can someone get her an autograph?]
[Right! Mom-fans have invested so much—Cub should do a little to give back, a signed photo would be nice.]
[?]
[Who are these fans? Are they allowed to be so clingy?]
[Back up: Ollie's mom-fans are like this all the time. Last year Ollie went to a Zane West concert and his mom-fans flooded his alt account asking for Zane's signed pic. After the concert that little grey one really posted ten postcards and held a giveaway on Instagram… Zane West really spoils him.]
[I'm converting. From now on I'm an Ollie mom-fan. Does Cub need to give new moms any meet-and-greet gifts? I don't ask for much—I just want Hannah Chen's new album, I missed the presale sob sob]
[We will fight for you, Ollie. We didn't get Zane's autograph either—why did he get it?! Ugh!!!]
The live chat buzzed on.
Caleb ignored the noise. Jenna, the shy guy who'd once been used and ruined, had quietly made Ollie's kitchen into a haven for him. Caleb's feelings were complicated, but right now he only felt gratitude: for keeping Ollie safe, and for promising to watch over him.
The airport security moved the guests through smoothly. The private jet waited at the tarmac like a small, gleaming island in the rainy morning.
"Ollie," Caleb said again as he stepped aboard, "be good. I've got eyes on you."
Ollie waved a flatbread-crumbed hand and popped another piece into his mouth like he hadn't a care in the world. Jenna followed quietly, carrying an extra milk carton like it was the most natural thing to do.
Inside, the live stream's cameras set up as if nothing had happened—only the live chat and a few anxious producers knew how fragile the next few hours could be.
— End of Chapter —