-Lights, Camera, Lex

Lex's phone buzzed mid-bite. Rose still sitting across from him, scrolling through the paparazzi photos with mild irritation.

Benny C.

Lex didn't bother finishing his scramble eggs. He answered, smirking faintly.

"Tell me you've at least had coffee, Benny."

Benny's voice burst through the speaker, fired up and moving at a mile a minute.

"Forget coffee. I've got a director."

Lex's brow lifted. "Already? You barely had the script in your hands."

"That's because I called Mikey. He had someone lined up before I even finished pitching." Benny's excitement practically radiated through the phone. "New kid. Name's Noah Ellis. Won three indie awards before he even graduated college. Cannes is watching him already."

Lex leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Three awards? Before finishing school?"

"I'm telling you, Lex, this guy's got something."

Rose looked up from her phone, catching the shift in Lex's posture.

"He's got his own camera guy," Benny continued, "does everything old-school. One camera. No big flashy setups. Stripped down. Intimate."

Lex smirked faintly. "Sounds cheap."

"Exactly. Budget's capped at 300K—tops."

Lex arched a brow at that. "300K for a feature?"

Benny laughed. "Lex, Elle Rose doesn't need explosions. It's real. That's why it works. One actor for most of it. That's Rose."

Rose's head shot up. "Wait. I'm starring in this?"

Lex chuckled, barely looking at her. "Of course you are. Who else would it be?"

Rose blinked, clearly caught between disbelief and curiosity.

"Hold on," Lex said, setting his fork down. "Benny, you said one actor. But there's more to this. What aren't you telling me?"

Benny hesitated just long enough for Lex to catch it.

"Alright, fine. There's one thing," Benny admitted. "Noah wants you in it."

Lex froze for half a second.

Rose's eyes widened with sudden amusement. "Wait, what?"

Benny laughed. "Ten scenes. That's all. Small role. Noah thinks it adds authenticity—Lex Latham in front of the camera instead of just pulling strings behind it."

Lex rubbed his temple. "Benny, I'm not an actor."

"Yeah, that's the point. It's not about acting. It's about you. Noah wants to lean into the reality of it all. Lex Latham, playing Lex Latham.**"

Lex exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair.

Rose, grinning now, leaned closer. "I don't know, Lex. You're already in the tabloids. Might as well make it official."

Lex gave her a dry look. "Funny."

Benny wasn't letting up. "Lex, this isn't just a project. Noah's got Cannes written all over this. He's not making some indie that gets lost on streaming. This is the kind of film that premieres at festivals, builds traction, and makes waves."

Lex stayed quiet for a moment, weighing it.

Cannes.

Rose shifted in her seat, watching him carefully.

"Fine." Lex finally said, sighing. "I'll do it. But if I'm on screen for ten scenes, you better make sure it's worth it."

Benny laughed loudly. "It will be. I'll have Noah send over the details. We're shooting in two week."

Lex's eyes flicked to Rose, who was still trying not to grin.

"Great. Let me guess—Rose gets to say 'I told you so' for the rest of the day?"

Rose leaned back, smug. "Oh, absolutely."

Lex shook his head with a faint smirk.

"Benny, call me when the contracts are ready."

"You got it. Oh, and Lex? Better practice looking broody. Noah says you'll have at least two emotional monologues."

Lex hung up before Benny could start laughing again.

Rose crossed her arms, tilting her head. "So, Lex Latham… starring as himself in Elle Rose. This is going to be fun."

Lex arched a brow. "If I have to suffer through it, you're making me breakfast every day of the shoot."

Rose grinned and held out her hand. Lex took it and wondered if he was making the right choice. It look right on paper but how it play out was always different in real life. There were somethings that weren't all games.