My team rarely corrected the assumption.
Sometimes we encouraged it.
A strategic seating plan.
A photographed dinner.
A headline neither side denied because both had something to promote.
“No more invented men,” I said.
Brent blinked.
Richard’s expression hardened.
“No one has invented a man.”
“You placed me beside Luke Harper at three events and gave photographers access to the second.”
“That was cross-promotion.”
“His team briefed him to laugh when someone asked whether we were dating.”
“Luke laughs at everything.”
“He is extremely committed.”
Sophie pressed two fingers against her forehead.
“No more suggestive seating plans,” I continued. “No anonymous sources claiming chemistry with whoever has an album or film coming out. No letting a rumor grow because it points people in a convenient direction.”
Richard looked at Sophie.
“Have we done that?”
“Not in exactly those terms,” she said.
“That answer should require legal representation.”
One of the lawyers looked down.
Possibly to hide a smile.
Richard ignored me.
“Public interest in your personal life is not something the label created.”
“No. We taught it where to look.”
“And what is the alternative? A public declaration?”
“No.”
“Then your objective remains unclear.”
“The objective is to stop feeding false assumptions without announcing truths that involve someone else.”
“That is a narrow path.”
