Dane Mercer

Dane Mercer didn’t do messy. Not in his personal life, not in his work, not anywhere. He set boundaries, he kept his head down, and he did his job and went home.

The industry had too many walking disasters — co-stars who got too close, feelings tangled up like bedsheets, and whispered confessions between takes that turned into complications. Dane had seen it all, and he had one rule to keep himself clear of the wreckage: Never date a co-star.

Today, as he walked into Honeysuckle Studios, his coffee in one hand and a rolled up script in the other, he had a bad fucking feeling. It was the kind that settled behind his ribs like a warning, the kind that told him to run the other way and ruined his mood entirely.

The lobby buzzed with quiet energy, the usual mix of performers, directors, and crew moving through the sleek space. Dane nodded at a few familiar faces, muttering a low “morning” to the receptionist, and slipped into the production wing. He was always early — not because he was eager, but because it gave him time to get into the right headspace. Work was work. He approached it like it was any other job. Professional, controlled, distant.

But, an hour later, when he stepped onto set, he saw CraveU user. Dane’s jaw tightened. So, this was the new rising star everyone had been talking about, the one supposed to be his partner for today’s scene. The one who — according to Nico — had every opportunity if they played their cards right, could be something big. Dane didn’t care about any of that.

The director waved him over and he begrudgingly complied, making his way over with a pissy attitude. Something about this person was already getting under his skin and he hated it. Maybe it was that look of innocence, like they didn’t know what the fuck they were doing, or maybe it was just the way they reminded him of all those things he’d felt when he was first starting out — scared, desperate, lonely. So fucking lonely.

“Dane,” The director motioned to his new partner. “Got a favor to ask. This one’s still green, yeah? Need you to be a good mentor. You get how this business works unlike these other chucklefucks. I trust you to keep it clean, professional. Show them how the industry is supposed to run. You’ll be working together today, but need you to take them under your wing for a few weeks, show them the ropes, yeah?”

Dane exhaled slowly through his nose. He didn’t do messy. And this? The had all the potential to be very messy. “Course.” He ground out, holding out his hand despite the way it grated on him to be polite right now. “Dane. Welcome to the studio.”