From Shadows To The Spotlight

[Chapter 13: The Silver Bullet]

Last Time on Chapter 012 of From Shadows To The Spotlight —

As she stepped into the booth, she caught Alex's eye through the glass. He gave her a nod, a quiet reassurance, and she returned it with a smile.

She had learned many things about power over the years, but Alex Masters had taught her one important lesson: real power wasn't flaunted. It was held, quietly, until the right moment to unleash it.

Now Continuing —

The Hollywood rumor mill was alive with whispers, and at its center was a name that had long commanded both admiration and respect: Alex Masters. The "Silver Bullet" Langston's assistant had been insinuating to had finally been fired; it took a few weeks to bring together all the media resources Langston could call upon despite his diminished influence.

But it had been worth it, and while it had taken some time for the effects to be felt, they had expected that already as Alex was still not known to the public at large. As such, it wasn't a matter of days but rather weeks, with various misleading stories emerging out of the blue that were specifically targeted towards ruining Alex's image. 

They were curated with a lot of care to not just cast doubt over Alex's reputation as a visionary but also as a man of principle and while such rumors had been quietly murmured in the past, being treated as harmless gossip in the past.

This time, they were amplified by a shocking claim—that Alex Masters had once betrayed one of his close friends to climb the Hollywood ladder. It began with a hit piece published by the gossip powerhouse [The Hollywood Tribune], a publication notorious for its incendiary exposés and appetite for scandal.

The article was headed by a ruthless editor named Linda Carver; she was a hired gun bought over by Langston to fire his "Silver Bullet." The Tribune's article laid out the tale of betrayal: a young, ambitious Alex who had supposedly taken credit for the work of his now deceased friend, Michael Carson, a talented but tragically troubled screenwriter.

According to the Tribune, Alex's success was built on the shattered foundation of his friend's dreams—a story bolstered by vague testimonials from anonymous "industry insiders" and a single, damning interview from Carson's ex-wife, Veronica, who came out with a letter from her husband that she found recently after going through his stuff.

Veronica Carson was as notorious as she was alluring, being known in her circle to have a reputation for squeezing everything she could from those she surrounded herself with. She had at a time been married to Michael, promising to be supportive and loving, but the insiders remembered her only as a self-serving socialite.

Now, Veronica was back, cleverly casting herself as the widow of a genius whose career had been trampled on by the vicious and cold-hearted Alex Masters in his pursuit of power. She'd even gone as far as to claim that her ex-husband's brilliance had laid the foundation for the little kingdom Alex had "created" for himself. That was the price of greatness that her husband had to pay.

This scandal began to ripple through Hollywood, first among the insiders and then slowly spreading to the public, causing the people in Alex's circle to be hounded day and night, being asked to comment on the situation. Unverified or not, the allegation was spicy enough that it gripped the viewers with a sensational story: an ambitious Alex allegedly stepping over his friend's dead body to reach the top.

--------------

The press frenzy began right from the very morning the day after Veronica ran her hit piece against Alex, with cameras clicking and microphones being thrust into the faces of anyone even remotely connected to Alex Masters and Studio [MONARCH].

The entertainment world buzzed with the latest controversy surrounding the man who had become a trusted reliable face in the industry, but now he was shrouded in a scandal worse than anything he'd ever been allegedly involved in before.

Robert Downey Jr. or RDJ as he liked to be called by his friends, dressed casually in a loose overcoat, a floral shirt underneath that and jeans, he quietly was exiting a café when a swarm of paparazzies suddenly rushed towards him and surrounded him before he could reach his car.

"Mr. Downey, you've been closely with Alex Masters in the past. Your comeback in Hollywood could be attributed to him, as most of your recent films and TV shows were produced by [MONARCH]. As someone who has worked so closely with the man, do you think the accusations are true? And if yes, then are you still going to continue working for such a cruel man?" 

Robert adjusted his sunglasses, his face impassive, as he refused to rise to the taunts and baits. "No comment," he said curtly, slipping into his car and shutting the door. The paparazzi pressed their cameras against the tinted glass as the car sped away. 

--------------

Keanu Reeves was caught leaving a charity event; his demeanor remained calm and unshaken as reporters formed a blockade near his motorcycle, unwilling to let him without at least receiving one of their questions.

"Keanu, will this change your plans to work with Alex or Studio MONARCH in the future? What about your action film that recently finished filming? Are you still going to promote the film even though Alex Masters is the main producer?" 

Keanu strapped on his helmet, his expression unreadable. "No comment," he replied simply, revving his engine and weaving through the crowd as they hurled more questions at his retreating figure. 

--------------

River Phoenix, still in character from his latest film, was on set when journalists managed to somehow breach security. River knew at the very moment that he needed to hire better bodyguards; if even the paparazzi's could reach him, then it was better not to say anything about someone who had the intent to hurt him.

"River, do you stand by Alex Masters despite the rumors?" The question that was shouted at him while the man was being held down by security brought him out of his introspection.

Pausing only to glance at the cameras, River shook his head and shrugged as he dismissively gave his answer. "I have no comment," he said softly, walking away as his co-stars shielded him from further intrusion.

--------------

Jim Carrey was leaving the set of the film, The Truman Show; he was feeling mentally exhausted yet happy to be doing something other than comedy. He certain wasn't in his usual headspace which led to him being unusually subdued as he faced the press.

"Jim, do you think Alex Masters deserves the backlash he's facing?" A boisterous voice cut through the crowd of shouting paps; the question was a freebie as it was a neutral question instead of the questions that his colleagues had been asking that directly condemned Alex as if he were criminal.

But the man also had his ulterior motives, as he just wanted to get a response out of the actor so he could engage him in a conversation. And then maybe, in a heated moment, he could get him to say something other than the "no comment" reply these people that were affiliated with Alex Masters or [MONARCH] were giving them the last few days.

But Jim just tilted his head; his normally animated expression was now somber as he replied in a deadpan tone. "No comment." After saying that, he turned around, dismissive of the shouts and accusations, as he stepped into his studio car and disappeared from view.

--------------

Drew Barrymore, was caught leaving the film premiere of Men in Black; she tried to smile politely despite the onslaught of questions and accusations.

"Drew, you've always spoken highly of Alex Masters. Does this incident change your opinion of him?"

Drew hesitated, her bright smile faltering for a fraction of a second before she nodded towards her handler. "Time will tell," she replied cryptically before briskly walking to her waiting car.

Though the moment she got in, she couldn't help but wince, and cuss out loud, as she hadn't kept her word and maybe even tipped her friend's hand to his enemies. It hadn't been her intent, but when she heard those vultures spout such bullshit about the man she held so much respect for, she couldn't help but lash out.

She wanted to cuss them out and reveal the truth, but she recalled the request Alex had made of her, and out of her promise to him, she held back and couldn't even show her support of him.

---------------

~Flashback: A Difficult Request~

It was around a week prior to this systematic public character assassination of Alex that the man himself had called them up from the modest but spacious trailer. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a desk lamp highlighting the tension in his furrowed brow as he held the phone to his ear.

"Look," Alex began, his voice steady but laden with a heaviness he couldn't mask. "When the press comes for you—and I know they will—I need you to promise me something."

On the other end of the line, RDJ sounded incredulous, as if surprised by Alex doubting him if he wouldn't stick by him. "Promise you what, Alex? Just say the word; you know I'll always back you up. Everyone will. We know the truth."

"That's exactly why I need you to stay out of it," Alex interrupted, his tone firm. "Don't defend me. Don't make any public statements. Don't take my side."

There was a pause, and then Robert's voice softened. "Alex, you don't have to do this alone. At least defend yourself, man, say the truth."

"That's exactly what I don't want to happen; I buried that truth with my friend. Let it be." Alex's eyes were wet as he said quietly, gripping the edge of his desk.

"And if you come to my defense, it'll just make you look guilty; it has only been a few years since you got out and began to make your comeback. Don't get involved in this mess. Please. I will handle it."

--------------

A similar conversation played out with Keanu Reeves, who listened in silence before responding in his characteristic calm. "You're asking a lot, man. But if that's what you want… I'll do it."

---------------

River Phoenix, ever the empathetic soul, protested gently. "Alex, you've always had my back. And now that it's my turn to bat for you, you're benching [1] me? You don't think I'd want to do the same for you?"

{Note [1]: Benching refers to the act of removing a player from active participation in a game or match and having them sit on the bench.}

"I know you would," Alex replied, his voice softening, a fond smile stretching across his face. "But this isn't about loyalty. It's about keeping your own names clear. Let me take the hit. Please."

To Alex, the incident didn't just feel like a problem knocking at his door, but was also an opportunity in disguise. For it allowed him to identify the ones in his camp that were actually loyal and the ones that were only there to enjoy the benefits and didn't actually have his back. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to solve this problem without the truth actually coming out.

---------------

Drew Barrymore tried to argue, her voice tinged with hurt. "It's not fair, Alex. You shouldn't have to fight this alone."

"Life isn't fair," Alex said with a small, bitter laugh. "It's not about fighting alone; it's about keeping the people I care about out of the crossfire."

---------------

Jim Carrey, was uncharacteristically serious; unlike his usual joking self, he took a deep breath to calm himself before answering. "You're a stubborn son of a gun, you know that? Fine. But I'm doing this under protest."

---------------

Each of them, despite their reluctance, respected Alex's wishes and agreed to follow his word. But the decision weighed on them. As the days passed and the media circus intensified, their silence became a shield they carried reluctantly, knowing it was what Alex wanted.

Privately, they each reflected on the man who had asked so little of them. For all his flaws and complexities, Alex Masters was more than a friend—he was someone they looked up to, someone who gave back to the industry and its people more than he ever took.

And though they couldn't speak it aloud, they all shared the same thought: It is a privilege to have his friendship, and they hoped that Alex would make the people who were behind this attack pay dearly.

---------------

In the present-day chaos, every refusal from Alex's friends and colleagues to comment only fueled the speculation. The silence, orchestrated by Alex himself, became its own story—a testament to the power he held and the respect he commanded, even while facing difficult times.

It led to the people who knew the truth of the matter, like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, to respect Alex even more, and not just as a friend but also as a human being.

The kindness and compassion he had in him was something that was rarely seen in someone of his status and power in their industry, because by the time people reach his status, they have already been corrupted and twisted by the filth of the Hollywood industry.

----------------

~On the Set of The Lord of the Rings~

On the sprawling set in the countryside of New Zealand, the effects of the scandal were slow to spread as communication was limited but it too was surely spreading and impossible to ignore. Among some of the cast and crew that were newly hired of this monumental conversations seemed to take on an uncomfortable edge, fueled by gossip that spread like wildfire.

These newer crew members and extras especially the one's who hadn't yet met or worked with Alex personally, their views were influenced by the article from Tribune that painted a disturbing picture of Alex Masters. Hushed whispers trailed Alex's footsteps on set, with murmurs that may be he wasn't the man they'd thought him to be.

From his position at the edge of the crowd, Sam Patel, the junior set coordinator turned production assistant, watched the dynamics shift among his team. Since starting on set, Sam had admired Alex's work ethic and down-to-earth approach.

But even he couldn't ignore the tension in the air as rumors slowly began to cloud people's perceptions. Alex was respected, yes—but people were apprehensive now, reluctant to look him in the eye, as though they feared they might see a flicker of the ruthless man the Tribune had described.

Sam overheard two extras in conversation, their tones were low as if afraid of being overhead yet their words were sharp as if they had seen unmasked face of their employer and now stood on moral high ground that they felt justified passing judgement from.

It was something that made him frustrated to no end but he knew that wasn't much he could do.

"Can you believe it?" one whispered, casting a wary glance over his shoulder.

"I always thought he seemed intense, but I didn't know he was capable of… you know, betraying someone that close to him and a dead guy at that... if I hadn't signed the contract already I would've been out of here already."

— To be Continued...

{2.5k words}

With this I've finished both of the 2 advanced chapters promised for the [Executive Producer] tier members. I hope you liked the reveal and the "silver bullet" and the effects it had.

{TRL: This is the new Hollywood story that has been bouncing around in my head. I really need to get this out so here's another chapter.

Also would you like to read ahead? You can do so for free up to 5 chapters ahead of the public release on my Patreon page as Free Member.

Yes, free. If you're interested you'll find the link in the Author's thoughts section or just google TheRamenLord and Patr eon.

If you like my work and would like to support me then by becoming a paid member you read from 10 to 20 chapters ahead of the public release depending on tier you purchase.

There is a 20% discount currently that I am giving for the first month to new patrons as well, if you like my work please do check out my page.

Get 20% off your first month. Ends at 2:19 AM on Dec 24, 2024. T & C apply.}