Breaking Hollywood(44)

"So, don't. Record a video. Say everything you want to and then put it  out there on your social media. That way, you're directing it to the  people who matter-your fans."

He stares at me for a long moment. "You ever thought of being a publicist? Because you'd be fucking awesome at it."

"I'm awesome at most things." I give a shrug and a teasing smile.

"You're awesome at everything, Speedy. Except for driving. That, you suck at."

"Hey! It was my shitty driving that brought us together."

Gabe laughs, and the sound is beautiful. "Yeah, and I'm thankful every fucking day for that."





Gabe


I've decided to do a live video on Facebook. No fucking around. Just go live on social media and get it over with.

Julian, Vaughn, and Charly left to give us some privacy while I do this  video. Martin left straight after checking Ava's car and mine.  Thankfully, they were clear. He said he'd be in touch as soon as he had  something on the bugging devices.

I also spoke to Gil. Told him to scrap the press release. I told him  that I was going to do this myself, my way. He's not too happy with me  doing a live video. But it's not like I'm doing a Q&A session. I'm  just going on there, telling my side of the story, and then I'm done.

I also told Gil about the bugs in my apartment. He's on with the lawyers  right now. And I gave him Martin's contact details, so the lawyers  could talk to him directly if needed.

I'm just having a cigarette out on the terrace.

I glance over at the drinks on the table. They're still there.

I've not had anything to drink. I want to do this video with a clear  head. But I know I will drink something before the day is out. I can't  not. I just need to watch how much I drink.

And, first thing tomorrow, I'm getting in touch with whomever I need to, to help me kick this habit I have.

I want to be a better man for Ava. I want to be a better man for me. And  cleaning my act up is the first step at that. But the cigarettes are  definitely not going. For the time being anyway.

Ava suggested that maybe I could talk to someone about my past. About my  parents and the way I used to earn money. She thinks it all contributes  to my excessive drinking. A way to dull the memories.

I think she's probably right.

"You ready, baby?" Ava steps out onto the terrace.

"Yeah." I stub my cigarette out and get to my feet.

When I reach Ava, she takes hold of my hand and leads me inside.

"I've got your phone ready to go on Facebook live."

"Okay." I sit down on the sofa.

She sits on the coffee table, across from me. "I put Gucci in the  kitchen. I didn't want her jumping in the video or making noise while  you did this."

"She won't be happy," I tell Ava.

"I gave her some sliced apples and pears, so that should keep her happy for five minutes."

God, I can't believe I'm about to do this.

I swallow down and rub my hands on my thighs.

I'm shitting bricks. I'm man enough to admit that.

I'm about to go on camera and tell the world things I've been keeping  secret for a very long time. But I don't have that choice anymore,  thanks to that bastard, Digby, and Sandy, his bitch of a sidekick.

"You okay?" Ava reaches over and squeezes my leg.

"Yeah, I'm good. Let's do this."

"Okay." She smiles gently.

She lifts my phone up to video me. "Just tell me when."

I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath. "Okay … I'm ready."

"It's just counting down. Three … two … one … " She gives me a thumbs-up to tell me I'm live.

Here goes nothing.

"People of Facebook. Hey. I'm sure you know who I am because you're on  my social media page. But, for those of you who don't, I'm Gabriel  Evans. If you're one of the lucky ones who doesn't know who I am, well,  I'm sure you will soon enough. A news story about me went out last  night, and that's why I am here. Because I want to address the things  that have been said about me.

"I could have done the press release stuff. But I didn't want to hide  behind a piece of paper pulled together for me by my publicist. I wanted  to talk to you all directly.

"I know what you've all read about me in the media over the last day.  And I'm not here to deny any of that. It's true. My parents are in  prison. They're serving time for racketeering, drug trafficking, and  murder. But I think the piece of news that has probably shocked and  intrigued everyone is that I used to sleep with women for money. That is  also true.         

     



 

"But the truth you've been given by the so-called journalist who  released this story is a vague representation of what actually happened.  There are reasons behind people's actions, and there were reasons  behind my actions. It's easy to judge based on the initial outlined  facts, but when you dig a bit deeper, color in the actual picture with  details, those actions begin to make more sense. The story that you  first thought you were getting suddenly seems a hell of a lot clearer. A  lot more understandable.

"I hope, by telling you the details of my story, you'll see that,  sometimes, when you read something in the media, even though the facts  stated are the ‘truth'"-I air-quote the word-"they're not the whole  truth. So, here it is." I clasp my hands together in front of me and  blow out a breath.

"But, before I get started on the details, I firstly want to apologize  to my girlfriend, Ava, who is currently standing behind the camera,  filming me for you guys." I look directly at her, our eyes meeting.

"I was led to believe that Ava had betrayed me. That she had recorded a  private conversation between us and sold the rights to the story to a  vulture of a man who I won't even give the dignity of naming, but I  think you all know who I'm talking about. I blamed her. Yelled at her.  And told her to leave our apartment-yeah, I did that. But, in my  defense, the evidence against her was strong. The people behind this  went to great lengths to make it look like it was Ava who had done this.  But it wasn't Ava.

"She is a victim in this, as much as I am. Our privacy was invaded, and a  private conversation between us in our home, detailing events from my  past, was recorded without our knowledge, and then Ava was tricked into  signing a release form disguised as something else. This might sound  far-fetched, but sometimes, the truth is just that-far-fetched. Because  we good people would never do something like that, we find it hard to  believe that someone would go so far. Believe me when I say, they would.  The lengths these people went to, to get this story is fucking scary.  And something needs to be done about that, but that's for my legal team  to deal with.

"My past is mine. But, as it's been made public knowledge, I want to  clear some things up. Yes, my parents are in prison. The crimes they  committed are in no way a reflection on my brother and me. You can't  choose the family you're born into. And my brother and I definitely  didn't choose our parents. But having him as my brother is the best  thing to come out of it." I take a breath.

"When our parents were arrested, I was seventeen, months from my  eighteenth birthday. My brother was twelve. He was, without a doubt,  going to be taken away from me and placed with a family. We were all  each other had left. So, we ran. Using what little money I had in my  savings, I got us a place, and I landed a job. But the money wasn't  enough. Before I knew it, I was working three jobs and still barely  scraping by. I was just paying the bills and feeding us both.

"Then, the chance to get into escorting was presented to me. It was more  money, not tons, but it meant I could work one job during the day and  escort on nights. Then, after a while, things changed. I was offered  money to have sex with a client. A lot of money. I was young. Getting  paid to have sex with a hot older woman, more money than I would have  made in a month, was a dream come true. So, I did it. And I carried on  doing it. The money gave us a better life, and even though it was-is  illegal, I don't regret what I did because it meant that I could give my  brother a better life.

"Then, I was lucky, and things changed for me. I got the opportunity to  get into acting, and my life got better from that point on.

"I won't sit here and say I'm proud of what I did. But, if I were put  into that situation again, would I do things the same? If it meant  keeping a roof over my brother's head and being able to feed him, then  yes. We all do things that we're not proud of, but when you go to judge  me for my decisions in life, think about yourself-what you would do for  those you love. And then think about me again and see if your judgment  would still be the same.

"So, that's it. Thank you for listening to me. And I'll see you guys soon."

I look at Ava, and she ends the video, holding the phone in her lap.

"How did I do?"

"Amazing. Gabe … that was … perfect. If people don't understand and love you  even more after that, then they must be stupid. The views were into the  hundreds of thousands, and the comments were coming through thick and  fast. I could barely keep up with them, but they all seemed to be  comments of support. There was an awful lot of love hearts flying across  the screen."