Chapter 135: The Blonde Texas Bitch

[Chapter 135: The Blonde Texas Bitch]

[Trey: Hey, has the cast for 'Caroline' been finalized? A few actresses have been reaching out to me, and Amber has called me at least five times.]

[Don't worry about it,] Ryan replied.

[Maybe I'll just have them contact you directly. It's so annoying (crazy)]

[Sure]

...

Ryan looked up to see Rod Manley, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at CK, sitting behind his desk with his assistant, Fizz, beside him, both watching him closely.

"I'm really excited about the potential collaboration with CK," Ryan said with a smile as he extended his hand.

CK had a long-standing reputation for hiring the standard "models" for their men's underwear line. Those who represented CK quickly became rising stars in the fashion world. Endorsements from major brands not only came with financial compensation but also enhanced personal branding -- truly a win-win situation.

This time around, Ryan was set to be the global ambassador for a year-long contract for their men's underwear campaign, and the pay was very generous.

"We loved your photos in GQ; that's exactly what we were looking for. Your physique aligns perfectly with what our target audience considers ideal. If your campaign performs well, we'll definitely consider renewing your contract," Rod Manley said, clasping his hands on the desk and smiling.

"As the global ambassador, you'll need to make some commitments," he continued, shifting the conversation towards some limitations outlined in the contract.

Using CK's products during the contract period was a given, but he also couldn't showcase any competing brands; otherwise, it would be considered a breach of contract. If major issues arose with his public image -- like drug scandals or criminal charges -- those too would be deemed a breach. There were even stipulations regarding Ryan's weight and body fat percentage; he had to stay within specified limits.

With higher pay came greater responsibilities.

"And about your personal clothing line, that's considered a competing brand as well," Rod pointed out.

"But the sTray line targets a younger audience," Ryan quickly replied.

"Exactly. This is just your personal clothing line; it hardly sells and is aimed only at younger consumers," Fizz chimed in.

"Since it hardly sells, then there's really no reason for you to wear it, right?" Rod Manley said calmly, putting pressure on Ryan to make a choice.

"If I can't wear sTray, then I'm walking away from this endorsement," Ryan shrugged. "But if CK can be flexible, I'm open to giving CK even more exposure -- for instance, showing off my CK wear during personal performances."

Ryan flipped the script, knowing CK was keen on visibility.

"Ah well..." Rod Manley hesitated, "Let's table this discussion for now."

His tone suggested some willingness to compromise.

Then Rod discussed a series of promotional activities, including print ads, video campaigns, and attending various CK events -- all of which Ryan had to participate in.

"We have an event tomorrow to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary and spring-summer show. Want to come?" Rod casually mentioned.

"I know Anna Wintour is going to be there. Ryan will definitely make it on time," Fizz swiftly answered before Ryan could respond.

In the world of fashion, to be a personal brand, you had to become an "icon," which required accumulating experiences by attending events. In turn, those events and the brand benefitted from Ryan's presence, keeping the brand shining bright. This kind of mutually beneficial relationship was common in the fashion industry; it resembled an ecosystem where media, brands, celebrities, designers, and consumers were all interconnected. Anna Wintour was at the top of this ecosystem.

Rod Manley nodded, "I'll add Ryan to the guest list."

...

"So, how am I doing as your manager? I've really leveraged my connections to get you sitting across from Rod Manley," Fizz bragged as they stepped into the elevator. "Even Karlie Kloss doesn't get this kind of treatment."

"With increased exposure for me, I can help boost your standing in the industry too. I'm not wrong, am I?" Ryan smiled, catching their reflections in the elevator doors.

"Wow, you really know how to keep a straight face! In the fashion world, it's best to refrain from revealing too much; it reminds me of the story The Emperor's New Clothes," Fizz laughed.

She had to admit, as Ryan's "trainee" manager, her success was intricately tied to his -- an interdependent relationship.

As they exited the elevator, Fizz resumed her phone calls. "Yes, the CK 40th anniversary event starts bright and early tomorrow. Don't be late. I found someone to keep you company... surprise, it's Ryan!"

After hanging up, Fizz explained to Ryan, "Karlie Kloss was also invited, but she's way down the list. You'll need to babysit her tomorrow."

"Guess I'll need a favor in return for that," Ryan replied.

"What do you want?" Fizz leaned in closer.

"Old woman," Ryan muttered, noticing the crow's feet around her eyes and smirking.

"What's wrong with older women? We can be better than the young girls; we know how to treat our partners right," she retorted, unfazed.

"Alright, alright, at worst I can arrange for you to train some newcomers in the industry," Ryan laughed.

"And don't ever call me an old woman again!"

...

Back at his hotel room, Ryan hadn't even settled in before Amber called him. He thought it over and let it go to voicemail.

Moments later, another actress called. This time, Ryan picked up and tactfully expressed that the actress didn't quite fit the role; however, he'd be open to collaborating in the future.

Then he got a call from Teresa Palmer.

"You don't have any issues, but there's a fatal flaw: you look too much like Kristen Stewart, and that'll confuse the audience," Ryan pointed out subtly, having already made his choice regarding the casting.

"I can't exactly get plastic surgery because of that, right?" Teresa sighed on the other end, likely having heard similar advice before.

"If there's ever a parody film of Twilight, you'd fit perfectly."

"You should fund that!" Teresa laughed.

"Not in the cards right now, but I suggest you take a break and lay low for a while."

"Yeah, maybe getting back to university for some classes would be helpful, but time and money don't allow for it."

Teresa debuted at 19 and had signed with William Morris. After moving to Hollywood two years ago, she had seen little success and was nearly unknown. She was already conflicted about whether to keep trying, and after Ryan's rejection, her last glimmer of hope faded.

Ryan could hear her disappointment through the phone.

"Maybe you could come work with me? I can't fund you, but I can offer you a position," Ryan suggested.

"That proposition... I didn't see that coming," she hesitated, needing time to process.

"Staying by my side isn't a bad idea; it could open doors for more opportunities later," Ryan tried.

Ryan was a steady force, but he needed at least three assistants to handle the workload. Even with Teresa on board, he still needed one more.

"But you can't make any promises about the future," Teresa continued.

"Right."

"I'll think about it. Thanks for the offer," she said, a bit overwhelmed.

"I'll call you again."

"Ryan... are you interested in me?" Teresa took a beat before asking slowly.

"I just need an assistant, and you seem like a good fit. Don't read into it too much," Ryan replied flatly.

"I understand." Teresa ended the call.

...

After wrapping up his conversation with Teresa, Ryan habitually opened a fan forum. Recently, the discussions there had calmed down. Users 5854, 22222, and 167, due to their previous strong performances, were promoted to forum moderators. Because of 5854's intentional leadership and the female-focused nature of the forum, the discussions began to trend toward more intimate topics. The photo-sharing section turned into a free-for-all, with users constantly posting pictures of themselves in revealing clothing, and late-night "flash" moments where risky photos appeared for only about ten minutes before being deleted.

Little did they know, Ryan had access to the backend and could see all logs, including those deleted posts. He had been enjoying the view lately and had marked several profiles of influencers.

As he routinely checked the logs for any "good finds," he suddenly received a private message.

[7777 (9.5, in the Top 30): {photo}]

There were no words, just a photo that looked like it was taken in a home setting. In it, a woman was posed, her bare skin slightly bent towards the camera, exuding an aura of seduction. She held a white piece of paper in front of her, covering most of her body, on which was written:

"Good evening, my beloved Ryan, this blonde Texas bitch wants you..."

Certain words like "Ryan," "beloved," and "want" were notably highlighted.

Ryan chuckled; modern actors really pulled out all the stops to land roles.

Years later, this woman would use a similar tactic to declare her feelings for Depp. Unfortunately for him, it seemed Depp had taken the bait.

Considering she was a confirmed candidate, Ryan decided to give this "blonde Texas bitch" a lesson to prevent her from causing trouble for him in the future.

He saved the photo, blacked out his name on the paper, and then uploaded it to Reddit...

*****

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