“Not now, Caleb,”

Ryan said, still rubbing his eyes as he dropped his phone onto the couch.

Caleb didn’t move. He folded his arms and stared.

“Nope. You're not skipping this. You brought a girl to your house? Ryan Kane brought someone home?”

Ryan sighed.

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Bullsh*t. You never bring anyone home. I’ve known you for years and you barely even let pizza delivery guys inside.”

Ryan exhaled hard. “I met her at the club. That’s it. She was in trouble. I helped.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “And then f*cked her?”

Ryan didn’t answer.

“Jesus, man,”

Caleb muttered. “You good? Because this is not like you.”

Before Ryan could answer, the front door burst open.

“Ryan!”

Vic’s voice echoed down the hallway.Ryan barely had time to stand before Vic came rushing in, hair wild, tie half-undone, looking like he hadn’t slept.

“What is wrong with you?!” Vic shouted.

“Morning,” Ryan said, deadpan.

“Look at my hair!”

Vic pointed at his head.

“I’m twenty-nine and I’ve got gray already! Every time you trend, I die a little more!”

Caleb snorted. Vic turned to him.

“Don’t encourage him!”

Then back to Ryan:

“Get dressed. The CEO wants to see you. We need to fix this now.”

Ryan groaned. “Seriously?”

“Now!”

Vic snapped.Ryan dragged himself toward his bedroom.

—

At a small neighborhood restaurant called Pizza Square Lana was wiping down tables when Natalie walked in like she owned the place.

“Hey, Gus,”

she called to the guy behind the counter.

“Morning, Nat,”

Gus said without looking up.

“She’s by the window.”

Natalie made a beeline for Lana.

“Hey,”

Lana said, wiping a table.Natalie didn’t smile. She grabbed Lana’s arm and pulled her toward the back.

“Okay. What. The. Actual. F*ck,” she whispered.

“Explain. Now.”

“What are you talking about?” Lana asked.

Natalie shoved her phone into Lana’s hands.

Ryan Kane's Mystery GirlFling or Girlfriend? Starlet leaves Kane's house in oversized shirt

Lana's eyes went wide as she scrolled.Photos. Clear ones.Her. Hair a mess. Walking down his front steps.She covered her mouth.

“Oh my God.”

Then she walked to the back room, sat on a crate, and muttered,

“I’m so screwed.”

Natalie followed, shocked.

“Wait… you actually slept with him?”

Lana nodded slowly.

“I was drunk. I barely remember anything.”

Natalie stood there stunned.Gus finally peeked in from the door.

“Everything okay?”

“You tell me,” Natalie said, grinning now.

“Your assistant manager just slept with Hollywood’s favorite walking scandal.” Gus blinked.

“Ryan Kane?”

Lana nodded again.He scratched his head.

“Huh. I mean… that tracks. You always did have weird luck.”

Natalie was still grinning.

“Girl, you hit the jackpot. The most scandalous, hottest guy in L.A.? Damn.”

Lana stood, brushing off her apron.

“It wasn’t a jackpot. It was a mistake.”

Gus laughed.

“Mistake or not, don’t be late tomorrow.”

—

Ryan sat on a leather couch in the CEO’s office, his arms crossed, his legs stretched out like he didn’t care.Vic sat next to him, nervous, fidgeting.Across from them, Mr. Leonard Wexler, head of Gold Reel Studios, was pacing.

“I just want to know what you were thinking,” Wexler said, rubbing his temples.

Ryan stayed silent.

“You already have a reputation,” Wexler continued. “Playboy. Irresponsible. Untouchable. And now you bring a girl home? One that isn’t even a celebrity?”

Vic opened his mouth, but Wexler waved him off.

“Look. I’m not even mad. I like you, Ryan. You’re talented. You sell tickets. But this? This makes my job harder.”

Ryan finally spoke.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

Wexler froze.

“What?”

“She’s not. I met her at the club.”

“And you brought her home?”Ryan nodded once.

Wexler looked like he aged ten years in two seconds. “You brought a stranger to your house to sleep with her?”

Ryan didn’t respond.

“Oh my God,” Wexler muttered.

“Okay. Fine. Here’s what we’re gonna do. We spin it. Make her your girlfriend. The public loves romance. They love reformation arcs. If you’re settling down, maybe you’re finally growing up.”Ryan blinked.

“What?”

“We tell the press she’s your girlfriend,” Wexler said.

“We bring her in. Set some rules. Public appearances. Controlled interviews.” Vic nodded slowly.

“It could work.”

“Call her,” Wexler said.

Ryan hesitated.“I don’t have her number.”

Both men stared at him.

“Okay,” Wexler said, breathing hard.

“Fine. Then give me her name and address. I’ll have the PR team reach out.”

Ryan scratched the back of his neck.

“You don’t know that either?” Wexler asked slowly.

Ryan looked up. Guilty. Quiet.Then said,

“I just called her Little Cat.”

Wexler closed his eyes.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”