Boss AF

Chapter 1

Caleb

  “You gotta be kidding me!” I yell as some guy in a white Mercedes cuts me off. For a second, I’m tempted to roll down the window and let him know what I think of him, but that’s the last thing I should do.

I can see the tabloid headlines now: Caleb Calloway in Road Rage Incident!

These days it feels like I can’t even move with all the cameras in my face, paparazzi at the gates of my home, or fans throwing themselves at me, asking for selfies or autographs. These days, when it comes to freedom, I have to take what I can get. If that means a drive to the airport, then so be it.

         The sun beats down as it always does here in Vegas, and I crank up the AC and put my foot down. It’s not often I get to drive myself, but today I’m enjoying the freedom that it brings as I cruise down the highway to the airport.

         It’s the best feeling. A kind of freedom that I never appreciated before I became the person I am today – one of the little things that you take for granted when you’re just a regular guy.

         Not so anymore.

         It goes without saying, there are a million and one perks when it comes to being one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. Privacy – or something as human as cursing people out on the highway – isn’t one of them. Especially in this day and age – it would travel the world via social media before ending up on the front pages in no time.

“Does anyone in Las Vegas know how to drive?” I snarl through gritted teeth as I fight to keep my composure. I don’t need to draw attention to myself. 

         Plenty of people have succumbed to that kind of thing, and it’s never ended well for any of them. I’ve always been careful to avoid such incidents. It took a lot of work to get where I am, and I wouldn’t jeopardize it for the sake of some uncontrolled impulses.

         So, instead, I do what my lifestyle coach tells me to do in situations like this and just focus on the mantra he’s given me. Then I can avoid an urgent call to my PR team, which I’m sure they’ll be more than happy about.

“There are more important things in life than anger.” I suck in a deep breath and think about the roles I want to do in the future. “There are more important things in life than anger.”

         Rockstars might be able to get away with bad behavior, but I have a carefully managed persona to protect. People know me as one of the good guys, a comedic presence. For that to translate to the screen, people also need to feel a connection to the off-screen version of me. Getting that wrong can trash careers.

         But that doesn’t mean I’m all nice-guy and smart one-liners. Making it in this business is tough, and to do that you have to be tough. Even if your smile is nothing but white teeth and positive energy.

         Because what drives me is the desire to be the biggest and the best, and those things don’t just happen by accident. They’re created, built, and managed carefully. Now I’m at the top, and I want to stay there. Failure never has been and never will be an option.

         The low-flying aircraft above me is a sign I’m nearly there. Flicking my eyes over the dash, the clock tells me that I’m going to be about an hour early for my guest. A few minutes later, and I pull up somewhere that’s not too crowded where I can lie low for the next hour or so.

         As usual, there are a hundred things racing through my mind, but luckily my assistant Jonah is always there to take care of them for me. Making sure my phone doesn’t connect to the car speaker so I’m not overheard, I dial him and start to fire off the questions and demands.

         “Jonah, did you make sure everything to do with the contract requests went over to the office?”

         “Of course, first thing this morning. We should hear from them by the end of the day.”

         Great, at least we can get that ball rolling, I don’t want to miss out on that role.

         “And the reservations for tomorrow?”

         “All done. Which reminds me, we need to make sure that you’re available to meet with the personal trainer and nutritionist in the next few weeks – the studio is insistent you start as soon as possible,” he informs me.

         I blow out a breath. “Sure, make sure you keep things clear for them. I’d rather trek through horseshit than piss them off. Not now.”

Most people think that being a highly-paid, successful actor is all glitz and glamor. What they don’t see is just how far I have to go sometimes to get the roles and to make sure they keep coming.

         “That’s what I thought. I’ll get on it,” Jonah says.

         I give him a second as I know he’s probably jotting things down before the next request, but he gets in before me.

         “So, I know you’re going to the airport to pick up an old friend… Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, are you sure you don’t want me to do it?”

         I laugh a little, already knowing this would be coming. “Too late, I’m already here.”

         He sounds shocked and just a little put-out. “Oh, really?”

         “Relax, I’ll be fine. I haven’t seen Alana in so long – it’s only right I should be the one to collect her.”

         “Even if you are one of the most famous movie stars on the planet?” he chides.

         “Even then,” I say, smiling. It doesn’t bother me that he acts more like my keeper than my employee sometimes. He’s just very serious about his job, and I like that. I need people like him.

         “I’ve sent you the other details of some of the reservations I want you to make. I’m ready for some downtime, so it’s perfect that she’s coming to stay now.”

         “I’ll make sure everything’s ready for you both,” he says.

         “Thanks, Jonah. You know I couldn’t manage without you, right?”

         “Oh, I know,” he says seriously, but I suspect there’s a smile on his lips.

         “Catch you later,” I say, hanging up and resting my head back on the seat. I meant what I said about having some downtime.

         It’s only now that it sinks in how strange it is to be at the airport. I mean, I spend most of my life in them, but not like this, as a regular guy. Usually, I would have someone pick up a friend for me, but it’s true that it just didn’t feel right this time.

         In fact, it’s almost exciting to be doing something so normal and mundane for once. Those days of being able to do such things for myself are well and truly over. Though it’s nice to have so much help, it’s a strange but true fact that it would be good to just be able to go to the store by myself on occasion.

         That’s not exactly something you can complain about, though, when you’re in the situation I’m in. There are first-world problems and then there are A-lister problems.

         For a few days at least, I get to hang out with someone who isn’t a part of Hollywood royalty. Alana is an old school friend from back home in Illinois. While I’ve never really spent much time back there since leaving, she’s stayed in the same town.

         Now, after trying to visit for a while, I’m finally in one place before I start the next job. After filming for the last three months, it’s a relief to be off set and to kick back. This is my time to feel normal again, in the company of a high school friend who knew me before I became the bigshot movie star.

         I spend the next half hour relaxing in my own company. It’s not often I get time to myself, so even this is welcome. I check the online arrivals board and see that she’s landed, and then I give it a few more minutes to disembark and collect her luggage.

         Then, reaching around to the back seat, I scrabble around for something to disguise myself with. I’m dressed casually so I opt for a baseball cap and larger-than-normal sunglasses – a simple and inconspicuous option. Taking a deep breath, I step out of the car and head to arrivals, hoping that I was right to do this myself and that no one recognizes me. Well, except for her.

Here goes nothing.