Once the script was done, Joey sat down with Maggie Q to lock in the final details.
There honestly weren't a ton of Asian actresses in Hollywood who could carry a movie like this (racism still being a thing and all). When you thought "bankable Asian leading lady," it pretty much came down to Lucy Liu or Maggie Q. And Lucy was a little too old for the role Joey had in mind.
Right now, Maggie was in her absolute prime: sexy, classy, elegant, the total package. After reading the script, Maggie grinned and said, "Girl, real talk? Even if this script sucked, I still would've done it just because you asked me. But it doesn't suck. It's fire."
Joey laughed, relieved. "I'm so glad you love it. I cannot wait to watch you light up the screen."
Maggie leaned in. "So… who's the guy? Spill."
Joey sighed, already stressed about it. "Still deciding. I'm doing proper auditions."
Maggie's eyes went wide. "Oh, it's gonna be a feeding frenzy. Every A-lister in town is gonna want in on this."
She wasn't wrong.
The second Joey put the word out that she was casting the male lead, her phone blew up. Brad Pitt personally called her: "Joey, I read the script. This part was written for me."
She kept it polite but firm. "Mr. Pitt, you're welcome to audition. We'll see how it feels on the day."
Then George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, even Bruce Willis hit her up. All of them swearing the script was "one of the best things I've read in years" and begging for a shot.
Joey had no clue how the script was leaking like a sieve. Catherine, what the hell are you doing over there??
The problem was age. Pair any of these guys with Maggie Q and it was straight-up dad-vibes. Joey loved a rugged, mature dude as much as the next girl (hello, Bruce Willis), but she didn't want the romance to look like a father-daughter picnic.
In the end she narrowed it down to a short list, including her old buddy Henry Cavill.
A couple of the big dogs (looking at you, George Clooney) basically demanded an audition anyway. Joey figured George was probably into the political angle. The guy loved his causes, and every one of Joey's movies lately sparked some kind of cultural or political firestorm. The Blind Side did, and now this one (with its Asian-American empowerment message) was basically a walking headline. Plus Joey herself had spoken at the White House and the UN about racial equity. In Hollywood terms, she was basically the most "politically active" filmmaker out there right now.
Still, she wasn't exactly Clooney's biggest fan (he'd publicly supported stuff back in China that Joey didn't agree with at all).
Anyway, audition day rolled around, and Maggie came along to help judge. The second Henry Cavill walked in, Maggie practically fanned herself. "Lord have mercy. Look at those arms. I need a minute."
Joey had to admit, Henry killed it. The dude was basically becoming her go-to leading man. He had this brooding, mysterious energy that was perfect for the character (a quiet guy who'd battled depression). This role could finally get people to stop calling him Hollywood's hottest piece of beefcake and start calling him a serious actor.
Even though they were friends, Henry kept it professional: nailed the scene, thanked everyone, left. No hanging around.
Next up was Jake Gyllenhaal. Total smoke show, crazy talented (everyone knows he's an acting beast later on), but his whole vibe was a little too "good boy" for the part. Joey still leaned toward Henry.
A few other solid B- and C-listers came through, and then Joey turned to Maggie. "Thoughts?"
Maggie tapped her chin dramatically. "This is tough. But the character's introverted, kinda dark, has a past with depression… Joey, why are you making all these gorgeous men audition? You basically wrote this for Henry. It's creepy how perfect he is for it."
Joey cracked up. "I swear I didn't plan it that way. It just… happened."
Maggie struck a sassy pose, hands on hips. "So you're picking Henry again. The internet's gonna lose its mind. They already say you two have something going on, that he's your secret boy-toy. Choosing him over Clooney, Pitt, and Depp? The rumors are about to go nuclear."
Joey just shrugged, grinning. "Let 'em talk. I don't care."
Auditions wrapped, Joey headed home, and finally saw Hughes again.
He looked rough: bloodshot eyes, cracked lips, like he hadn't slept in days.
She started pouring him coffee, but he waved it off. "You think I'm this wiped because of work?" His sharp mouth twisted into a bitter half-smile.
Guilt hit her hard. "I know you've been dealing with my mess. Seriously, if it's too much, drop it. I'm already prepared for the worst. I don't want you and Catherine burning out over me."
He gave a dark little chuckle. "Your stuff never makes me tired. I'm just here to tell you: you're good. Go make your movie."
Joey blinked. "Wait, what?"
Hughes's tired face broke into a smug, victorious grin. "Colin Calloway's handled. He's not a problem anymore."
She fired off questions like bullets. "In a week?? How??"
He pulled out a cigarette, stuck it between his lips, and lit it. Voice muffled around the filter: "Fought fire with fire."
"Meaning?"
"I got some old sex tapes from one of his exes. Trust me, you do not wanna know how wild that guy gets."
Joey grimaced. "He's into… being dominated?"
Hughes just gave a lazy nod, blowing smoke.
"So you paid her a fortune for the videos?"
Silence. That was a yes.
"I'll pay you back, however much it was."
He flicked ash like it was nothing. "Don't insult me."
Joey knew better than to push. "What'd you tell Colin?"
"Told him we have the tapes now. He stays quiet, we stay quiet. Mutually assured destruction."
"And he just… agreed?"
"He was shocked, but he knows he's screwed if those ever leak. He'll disappear."
Joey glanced upstairs. "You look dead on your feet. Go crash for a bit."
He was already shrugging his suit jacket back on. "Can't. Gotta go." He was halfway to the door when he stopped, turned, and looked at her. "There's stuff I need to say to you. Not tonight, I'm beat. I'll come back in a few days."
Then he was gone.
Joey sat down to work on the production plan, and her phone rang, number blocked.
She picked up. Heavy breathing on the other end.
"Colin?" she said instantly.
A cold, snakelike voice hissed through the line. "You're good, Joey Grant. Or I should say, Hughes Leighton's good."
"What do you want?"
"He sweet-talked one of my exes who still carries a torch for me, threw money at her, and bought some old videos."
"I already know all this."
"Then we're even."
Joey's voice dripped disgust. "Stay the hell away from me, Colin."
He let out a creepy little laugh. "Here's hoping we work together again someday."
Click. She hung up.