"The fans want you two to date," Hugh said, legs crossed, flashing that playboy smirk he'd perfected years ago.
Joey was sitting next to him, watching Emma's eyes go comically wide. "Exactly," she added. "The box office is starting to flatten out a little. If you guys suddenly become a real couple right now? Instant adrenaline shot straight to the movie's heart."
Emma and Henry stared at each other, both blushing hard enough to glow in the dark.
"You're… asking us to turn the on-screen romance into a real one?" Emma finally squeaked.
Hugh looked at them like a shark sizing up lunch. "Yep. It'd be nuclear for the franchise—and for your careers."
Joey softened it a little. "Contract couples are super common in this business; you've both heard the stories. You can say no. Totally up to you. But if you want the kind of fame most people only dream of… this is the fast lane."
Henry spoke first, shrugging like the chill big-bro he was. "I'm fine with it if Emma is. At the end of the day, girls care more about stuff like dating history and rumors."
Joey had watched them on set for months. Henry treated Emma like his little sister: protective, respectful, zero creep factor. If they did this, he'd never cross a line.
Emma chewed on her lip for a solid minute, then looked up. "If I say yes… what exactly would we have to do?"
Hugh rubbed his temple like he already had a headache. "Emma's still underage, so no moving in together. But you're both British, so we'd relocate you both to London. You'd be seen on cute dates, let the paps snap hand-holding pics, do lovey-dovey interviews. The contract runs six years; you can't 'break up' until the last movie's out. Everything's spelled out in black and white."
Joey gave Emma an apologetic smile. "It's harsh, especially for a girl your age. You wouldn't get normal teenage relationships or privacy. BUT," she leaned forward, voice full of fire, "the payoff could be insane. We're talking opportunities most actresses wait decades for—or never get."
Emma took a deep breath,itated, then nodded. "Personally? I'm in. I'm young, but I'm not naive. Nothing in Hollywood is free. All the 'wholesome' images you see are manufactured. I get it."
Hugh grinned like he'd just closed a billion-dollar deal. "I like you, kid. You're smart. You know what you want and you're not clinging to fairy tales."
Emma gave a tiny, tired laugh. "I still have to talk to my guardian, though. Give me a few days?"
"Of course. Call us when you're ready."
After Henry and Emma left, Joey flopped backward into the couch with a groan. "God, I hate this fake crap."
Hugh lit a cigar and exhaled a perfect smoke ring. "You think the American Dream is real? You think all those 'inspirational' stars actually clawed their way up with nothing but hard work and purity? Come on."
Joey blinked at him, genuinely confused. "Wait… it's not?"
"Nope." Another smoke ring. "That fairy tale is for sweet, dreamy girls like you. In reality, every single one of them lied, schemed, and backstabbed their way to the top while smiling for the cameras."
Joey stared for a second, then burst out laughing. "Okay, that backstory is actually kind of hot."
Hugh smirked. "You're only surprised because I've always kept you in a bubble."
She went quiet. He was right. From day one he'd shielded her from the ugliest parts of the industry.
She tilted her head. "Why did you protect me so much back then? I thought you only respected people who'd been through the wringer."
He tapped ash into the tray, expression unreadable. "Some people grow tougher in the storm because they have no choice. Others… never need to grow up at all."
He'd never wanted her to pay the price that "growing up" demanded.
But then he'd been the one to shove her into the storm anyway.
Joey suddenly asked the question she'd wondered for years: "Hugh… what the hell did you even see in me back then? I was so average. So broken. Why stick around for seven years?"
He didn't answer right away. Just stared at the glowing tip of his cigar.
She pushed. "Was it my 'talent'? Because I sure wasn't showing any back then."
He let out a cold little laugh. "You too, huh? Everyone thinks I'm insane; even you."
Then he looked out the window and said, very simply, "It wasn't your talent. At the beginning… it was that ridiculous, pure, chasing-a-dream heart of yours. That's what got me."
Her dreamer's heart hadn't lasted long after the real world kicked in, but by then it was too late; he'd already fallen.
Joey repeated softly, "A dreamer's heart…"
So that was it. He'd loved the girl who still believed in impossible dreams. The second she stopped believing, he walked.
A decades-old knot in her chest finally loosened. Suddenly none of it felt like a debt anymore.
A week later, Emma said yes.
Hugh's machine went into motion immediately.
One perfectly staged "candid" photo of them holding hands in London, and the internet detonated.
Headlines everywhere:
- TWILIGHT COUPLE MAKES IT REAL!
- YOUR FAVES BELLA & EDWARD ARE ACTUALLY DATING
- HERMIONE CHOSE EDWARD, MY HEART CAN'T TAKE THIS
Then came the lovey-dovey pap shots on repeat: coffee runs, park walks, movie dates. Total feed-slaughter.
Teenagers across North America lost their minds. Bella and Edward were REAL.
"I'm seeing Twilight again just for them!!"
"Already bought tickets for re-watch #3, gotta spot all the moments they were secretly together on set!!"
Two months after release, the box office shot back up like it had chugged ten Red Bulls.
It crushed the global charts all over again.
Joey Grant, what kind of sorceress are you?
She'd taken two ridiculously good-looking kids straight out of the books and, with ruthless precision, built an empire.
Her perfect taste in material and casting had created a monster franchise.
Everyone was obsessed with one question: How the hell did this miracle girl do it?
She wasn't just a genius anymore; she was the Miracle Girl.
And right as the vampire fever hit fever pitch, The Hollywood Reporter dropped the bomb:
"Miracle Girl Joey Grant and Twilight stars Henry & Emma are heading to The Ellen Show! Buckle up!"
Ellen; the chaotic, viral, dance-party energy; was about to host the hottest trio on the planet.
Ratings were about to go supernova.
Fans started counting the days.
[Everything you EVER wanted to know about Twilight; only on Ellen!]