Chapter 73:

3rd May 2011.

The movie [17 Again] was ready to be launched, and the distribution company decided that it would be released on 10th May. The promotions were going on in full swing, and most of the general audience already had heard about the movie or watched its trailer on various social media platforms and MeTube.

They had even done an OTT deal already.

The marketing team had made the main cast, attended various talk shows and reality shows, went as far as to use Will’s name on every promotion and had even asked Will to do an interview as they were trying to squeeze out every bit of Will’s popularity for the movie.

Will had agreed to all this as this would have a win-win effect for both his image and the movie. And he himself wanted the movie to do well. The box office estimate was $40 million for the first week only, which meant that they would be able to break even and recover the cost of the movie.

The final box office estimate was around $120 million, and Will felt that the movie would easily get that much, but the amount after that wasn’t predictable. As Edward just wanted to make some profit, every single penny after the break-even would be considered a win for him.

The hype about [17 Again] from the audience was rather one-sided. People who liked Rom-com were eagerly waiting for it to come out, while many people criticized it as a nonsensical and wish fulfilment movie. To which Will couldn’t deny, as it was a wish fulfilment movie, but a well made one.

Today, after waking up and freshening up, Will didn’t go to Dream Vision Studios and instead went somewhere else. He had taken a break from work today and had a different plan for the day.

He headed towards a theatre that was booked for the audition of a small budget movie by some B grade director.

Ever since he came back to Los Angeles, June hadn’t been picking up his phone, and there was no contact for a few days. She was clearly trying to avoid him. Will had gotten her current location by using his connection in MCA as they informed him that June had gone for some audition with her agent.

After coming near the theatre, Will parked his car outside and got out of the car. As he headed towards the theatre, the crowd around him started to increase as people recognised him. Most of them were actors and staff members from the director’s team, and they started whispering amongst themselves.

As the ruckus started to increase, Will decided to ignore it and head inside, but he heard a familiar voice calling out to him that made him stop in his tracks.

“Will?”

Will turned around and saw John, June’s agent. He was surprised to see Will on here, but soon, his expression shifted from surprise to that of knowingness when he saw Will’s worried expression.

“John? Where is June?”

Will asked immediately, to which John responded.

“She’s currently in the middle of an audition.”

“Then I’ll wait for her.” Will frowned and said. He had decided to meet June today at any cost, and he would do it.

“I don’t think you should wait here. The paparazzi would be here any moment if you keep standing here.”

After the news of Will’s second movie already being shot came out, the paparazzi and media had been paying extra attention to him and his every move. So it would be a bad idea to wait for June here; there would be all sorts of rumours and speculation just related to his relationship with June, forget about the relationship with the director who was doing the auditions.

“If you would still like to wait for her. We can go to the cafe nearby, and you could talk it out with June when she is done. I understand that you’re uncomfortable since she has been ignoring you recently.”

John suggested. He was not against Will’s and June’s relationship anymore and considered Will as someone who could bring changes to Hollywood; for that particular reason, he was extra cautious with June and every matter related to Will.

“How do you know that June has been ignoring me? As far as I know her, she wouldn’t tell this to anyone.”

Will asked curiously and raised an eye, to which John just smiled and said.

“It’s my job to take care of my artists, and I would fail at my job if I couldn’t even notice that the artist under me is troubled.”

***

At a nearby cafeteria, Will and John were sitting opposite each other as John ordered a cappuccino for the both of them.

“What’s going on with June? She hasn’t been picking up my call at all, so I couldn’t know even if I wanted to.”

Will asked, his chin lying on both his hands.

*Sigh*

John sighed and started narrating everything to Will.

“June has been a lot depressed lately.”

“What?” Will paused for a moment, “Why? Did something happen?”

“Well, how should I put it…um, let me be straightforward on this. I think she has an inferiority complex.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Will frowned at that, and although he got the context, he still asked.

“What do you mean? Inferiority complex? From what?”

“From what I’ve heard, you’re directing a big movie and have already gotten a company. Even though [The Blair Witch Project] helped June in her career, it really wasn’t too big of a boost. Apart from that, the only good role she got in a movie was [17 Again], which was also possible due to your help. So…”

‘So she is feeling left behind…’

Will completed John’s sentence in his mind. It was true. Will wasn’t paying much attention to June due to having work and being abroad, but that just made her feel the gap between them even more, and now she was in a phase where she was doubting her own capabilities and was conflicted about the question that did she deserve Will with how she was currently?

Although Will himself would never say anything, it couldn’t be said about people and the media. Sooner or later, questions would arise regarding whether she was just leeching on Will and was being a gold-digger even though she knew Will from the time when he barely had anything.

“Have you read what the tabloids are writing about you and her these days?”

John asked suddenly, and Will shook his head. From his pockets, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

He passed it on to Will, and he was shocked after looking at it.

‘Will Evans and June Roberts – How much longer will the relationship go for?’

Will read the article in his mind and couldn’t stop himself from feeling infuriated.

The article had compared their relationship to the other famous relationship in Hollywood that had mostly ended in a breakup after engagement or marriage.

It also pointed out how June was not even a B grade actress. Rather than an article, it felt like an attack.

As Will threw the magazine away, John frowned again.

“June is a proud person. She’s happy for your success, and I had even seen her praying for it, but it’s inevitable that she would feel left behind. Her career is moving slowly, and yours is just moving like a bullet train. You can surely understand how she’s feeling, right?”

Will slowly nodded his head, hearing those words.

It was not like there was a problem with her. He was the anomaly here.

“This is my fault. Purely mine. I should have tried to focus on her a little more.” He muttered, almost in a tone that said he was angry with himself. “Is this the reason why she’s looking so weak these days?”

“Yeah, she’s been going from one audition after another. She’s been preparing for different roles every day, hoping to at least get a better role. Because of that, her health has been really bad, and she’s not even eating much.”

Another frown formed on Will’s face. But John was still not finished.

“Yesterday, a producer asked her if she could get some investment from you. They are not outright saying it, but they are basically saying that if you get investments from your boyfriend, we will give you a role. It’s the worst behaviour, but this is like it in the B and C grade film circle.”

In Hollywood, there were circles for everyone, and June had still not broken into the A grade circle, and as John didn’t have that many resources, he could only get her auditions in these types of movies.

It was not like the movies were bad. Many of them would be a sleeper hit sometimes, but the atmosphere was certainly not very good.

“Thanks for telling me all this, John. It’s a huge help.”

“No problem. I just feel like you should have a talk with her.”

“I will.”

As Will said that, he suddenly saw June entering the cafe. He stood up as she noticed him.

“June, how did you know I was here?” John was a bit surprised.

“I heard a commotion, and some actors were saying that they saw you here, so I was looking around.”

She said with her eyes glancing at John, asking what he had told Will. But he was deliberately not looking at her.

Seeing this, Will sighed before grabbing her arm and walking to the door.

“Will, what are you doing?”

“Let’s get out of here.”

“But I need to wait for the audition–”

June stopped talking as Will turned back suddenly. He smiled towards her before sighing.

“John will handle all that. It’s been so long since I have seen you, and I want to spend some time with you.”