Joey spent a little time chatting with the Real Madrid players and execs, mostly geeking out about soccer. The guys all had their own takes on the game and were happy to shoot the breeze with her.
She didn't stay long, though. A lot of the Spanish superstars weren't super fluent in English, and Joey's Spanish started and ended with "hola" and "tacos." So, awkward.
The rest of her Madrid days fell into a rhythm: grind all day on the promo shoot and edits, then hole up in her hotel room at night obsessing over storyboards and concepts. Weekends were her reward—she'd wander the city, soak up the old palaces and cathedrals, and stuff her face with jamón and churros.
Then Renee showed up to visit… with her brand-new boyfriend in tow.
Colin Farrell.
Joey's brain instantly flashed to that infamous 2006 13-minute tape—the one where he was high as a kite and going at it with his ex. The thing leaked, got bid up to $150k online, and basically tanked whatever "next big thing" heat he had going.
The dude had started so strong—people were calling him the most naturally gifted actor of his generation after Tigerland. Everyone thought he was headed straight to A-list royalty. Instead he partied himself into tabloid hell, made terrible script choices, and now he was basically Hollywood's hot mess cautionary tale.
And (future knowledge alert) Joey knew that years from now, when he and that same ex finally split, she'd be pregnant with his kid and the breakup would be ugly.
Right now, though, the only thing anyone in Hollywood wanted to talk about when his name came up was the rumored… measurements from that tape.
So when Renee walked in holding hands with this guy? Joey nearly choked on her café con leche.
As soon as she got Renee alone, she dragged her into a side room.
"Renee. Babe. Are you serious right now? Colin Farrell? Hollywood's walking red flag?"
Renee got that half-shy, half-defensive look. "You don't know him, Joey. We met doing Broadway. He's actually really sweet. We click."
Joey was not having it. "Sweet? The guy who filmed himself high doing… everything? The guy who torpedoed his own career? I'm just saying—tread carefully."
Renee's face hardened. "I know about the tape. I don't care. Everyone has a past. Stop it, Joey. I'm a grown woman and I'll get mad if you keep this up."
Joey backed off, hands up. They walked out of the room… straight into a gaggle of Spanish girls in the lobby losing their minds.
"Oh my God, that's Colin Farrell!"
"Quick, take a picture!"
"Wait—the blonde is his girlfriend?"
"Dramaaaa."
"He was so hot in In Bruges! Shame that movie flopped…"
"Hot? Girl, you trying to star in Tape Part Two?"
Joey just grimaced.
––––––––
A few nights later the three of them were grabbing late-night pizza at some cozy little spot.
Renee swallowed a huge bite and sighed happily. "I thought Madrid was supposed to be all sunshine. It's been raining nonstop."
Joey laughed, mouth full. "Still romantic as hell."
Renee gave her a wistful look. "Must be nice—killing it career-wise while living in actual Europe. I'm still slogging it out in the Broadway trenches."
Joey smirked and glanced at Colin. "Well, now you've got a boyfriend with connections. Colin, hook your girl up."
Renee giggled and batted her lashes at him. "Yeah, baby? Think I've got what it takes?"
Colin leaned back, lazy arm around her shoulders, all cocky charm. "Course you do, love. I'll make some calls."
Renee squealed, tossed her big blonde curls, and planted a dramatic kiss on him.
Joey tried not to roll her eyes. The dude was smooth; Renee was eating it up with a spoon.
Renee excused herself to the restroom.
Suddenly it was just Joey and Colin. She swirled her red wine, bored, staring at the little legs running down the glass.
Colin cleared his throat softly.
Joey glanced up with a polite smile. "Renee's a total open-book American sweetheart. Just… be patient with her, yeah?"
He gave that low, been-through-some-shit chuckle. "So America's sweetheart comedy route for her? Sandra Bullock vibes?"
Joey actually laughed. "You're not wrong."
He sipped his drink. "You seem to know what I like."
Joey shrugged. "Your exes all kinda had that energy."
His voice dropped, all gravel and velvet. "You pay a lot of attention to my exes, do you?"
The air shifted. Joey looked up—straight into dark eyes that were suddenly locked on her like a heat-seeking missile.
Her stomach flipped, but not in the good way. More like the "oh crap, predator" way.
She blinked hard. Maybe she imagined it?
Nope.
Next thing she knew, he was out of his chair, looming behind her. One hand braced on the table right next to hers, the other ghosting the back of her chair. His breath was warm against her ear.
"I've been watching your promo stuff," he murmured, voice pure sex. "Really impressive. But I've got… notes. From an audience perspective."
Joey froze. "Okay… what notes, Colin?"
He leaned in closer—way too close. "Renee and I have separate rooms. Why don't you come by mine tonight and I'll tell you all about it?"
She almost dropped her glass.
This motherf—
Her voice went arctic. "You planning to give Renee the same invitation?"
He didn't even flinch. "I've got mad respect for you as a director. Renee knows I'm a fan."
Then he shifted even closer.
Joey shot out of her chair like it was on fire, putting the entire table between them.
Heart hammering, she stared him down. This guy wasn't just a mess—he was calculating.
She wanted to scream at him, but he hadn't technically crossed a line he couldn't deny. So she just iced him with a glare. "Why don't we ask Renee what she thinks about your little suggestion?"
He just smirked. "Sure. Ask away."
The second Renee got back, Joey yanked her aside again.
"How exactly did you two meet?"
Renee looked confused. "At the theater. He guest-starred in our show. I thought he was hot, but he barely noticed me at first. Then one day I mentioned I was friends with the miracle director Joey Grant and suddenly he was super interested. Started asking all about you. Next thing I know we're dating."
Joey's blood ran cold. "So… he only warmed up to you after you name-dropped me?"
Renee bristled. "Why are you interrogating me? You're being weird."
Joey told her everything—word for word.
Renee went pale, then shook her head. "No way. There's gotta be a misunderstanding. I'll talk to him."
Joey sighed. "There's no misunderstanding, Renee. The guy's bad news."
Renee just walked back to the table, chin high.
Dinner ended in awkward silence.
Joey went back to her room alone.
Renee and Colin went to theirs.
And Joey stared at the ceiling all night wondering just how big of a bullet her friend had almost dodged—or walked right into.