Tom Hardy, born into a prominent British artistic family, was practically destined for a career in entertainment. His path in the industry was smoothed by his father's connections in Britain's elite circles, with scripts and opportunities flowing his way. But some people, no matter what they do, just can't seem to catch a break in the movies. Tom Hardy was one of those people. If not for his father's unwavering support, he might've been discarded by the industry long ago.
His debut wasn't exactly low-profile—Spielberg himself cast him in Band of Brothers in 2001. Though his subsequent commercial films flopped, Tom found success in the indie scene, racking up awards for his work in art films. It was a case of shining in one area while struggling in another, and Tom was content enough with that. But as his parents aged, their influence in high society waned.
Connections are everything—they're a family's lifeline to wealth and opportunity. An actor who doesn't push forward risks ending up broke.
Desperate for a breakthrough, Tom had been trying his hand at big-budget commercial films in recent years. Everyone knows blockbusters bring fame and fortune. It was during one of these auditions that Tom first heard the name Claire Lee.
"A new British composer popped up out of nowhere. Not only does he sing well, but he writes killer songs too!"
"Transformers' UK premiere got a boost because of him. Such a shame, though—a songwriter like that wasting his time playing soccer!"
"Don't talk nonsense! He might not show up much in the music scene, but just one demo of his had two North American pop divas fighting tooth and nail over it!"
At first, Tom brushed it off as industry gossip. But when he went to meet his mentor, Spielberg, the director brought it up as he was leaving. "Your film's already wrapped, so I won't give you any notes. But next time, reach out to Claire. He's a Warner Records artist and, I hear, a British footballer. Build a relationship with him."
"Even Michael Bay tasted the magic a good soundtrack can bring to a film and ran off to the UK!"
Tom, intrigued that even Spielberg was name-dropping Claire, leaned in with a gossipy grin. "I landed a role in Inception. The first investors' meeting is at my place. Why don't you come? I'll invite Claire too—I've heard his name more than once now."
Spielberg glanced at his packed schedule and shook his head. "Ever since we partnered with Paramount, DreamWorks hasn't had a moment's peace. I need to recoup Transformers' box office cash to fund the sequel."
Seeing his mentor wasn't up for a UK jaunt, Tom headed back home, a bit disappointed. He still had to attend London Fashion Week, after all. As the face of a royal foundation, his every move was meant to reflect the Queen's prestige. Fresh off the plane, Tom received an invitation from the One Day Foundation.
At first, he didn't think much of it. But when he learned the foundation was tied to Claire Lee, his curiosity was piqued. Less an invitation and more a grand commercial marketing scheme, the event centered on a kid named Simon, but Tom saw through it—the real winner here was Claire Tickets!
---
Claire and Megan Fox's reunion after all these years wasn't exactly a private affair. Surrounded by layers of their respective management teams, Claire felt awkward, barely able to get a word out. Megan seemed to sense his discomfort.
With a snap of her fingers in the booked-out Starbucks, Megan called over a server. A polite Italian barista in a uniform approached. "Uh, hi, would you all like to order?"
Megan glanced at the distracted agents around them and said with a huff, "Just get them each an iced latte."
"Are you sure? It's pretty cold out," the barista noted.
"Yep, I'm sure. I just want the dry ice to cool off their scattered thoughts!" Megan quipped, her playful jab instantly easing Claire's tension. Initially, Costa Mayor had wanted to tag along, but since he and Claire were more like friends, Claire managed to convince him to sit this one out after some back-and-forth.
Claire had hoped for a low-key meeting, but he hadn't expected Megan's team to show up in such force.
"I remember you don't like sugary drinks, so just a black coffee for you," Megan said, scanning the menu without looking up as she ordered for Claire. He opened his mouth to mention that he couldn't have coffee with a match coming up in a few days, but that familiar "connection" between them stopped him cold.
Megan looked up, her expression serious. "You've really changed, you know. If it weren't for that tattoo on your arm, I wouldn't have recognized you!"
She grabbed his arm, her fingers tracing the tattoo. Claire, no longer a kid, felt his face flush from his cheeks to his neck. Megan, seemingly oblivious, kept talking softly. "Man, you've had it rough. Leaving home so young, all on your own. I went back to our old neighborhood recently—your house is occupied by some retired boxer now."
"Yeah, my uncle helped me get an apartment nearby," Claire replied.
"An apartment? I'm thinking of buying one in L.A. The mortgage rates there are pretty good right now."
Claire's ears perked up. "If you trust me, hold off on buying for a year or two. The economy's slowing down. You might snag a bigger place for less if you wait."
Megan tilted her head, not following his advice but switching gears with a mischievous grin. "I don't remember you writing songs when we were kids. How'd you end up not just writing but singing too?"
Claire froze, tempted to bolt from his seat. He didn't want their relationship tainted by business dealings, but that "connection" kept him rooted in place. "Uh, talent, I guess? Inspiration just hit me out of nowhere."
"Is this about Unstoppable?" he continued, cutting to the chase. "If you're asking about that song, I'm sorry, but I've already handed it over to Warner Records to sell. I'm kinda strapped for cash right now." The "connection" couldn't control what he said, only whether he stayed or left.
Megan's face went pale. Chris Silberman, her agent sitting nearby, lost his relaxed smirk, his expression darkening.
"I'll be honest—I like you," Claire said. "But you don't need to use stuff like this to get close to me. You've got a fiancé, and I don't want to mess with your family. I don't know how important that song is to you, but I'm still happy to help. After my next match, I'll write you a new one."
With that, Claire felt a weight lift off his chest. The mix of tension and joy from seeing Megan again vanished, replaced by a sense of freedom and relief.
Megan stared at him, her prepared words dissolving in the wake of his blunt confession. Claire shifted his feet and realized the "connection" no longer held him. He stood, ready to leave, but paused at the door and turned back. "Oh, and one more thing. You might know the old me, but the me now? You don't know at all. Maybe check out the athlete's code of conduct—coffee's off-limits for me a week before a match."