Max Monroe's trailer was packed as usual, an unspoken tradition for the chaos-loving star. He was rarely alone; instead, he preferred the company of his inner circle, a mismatched crew of confidants who kept his life interesting and, occasionally, reckless.
Perched on the edge of a plush couch was Leo, Max's go-to stylist and partner in crime, with bright purple hair and a devilish grin to match. Next to him sat Dylan, the assistant who somehow managed to keep Max's schedule together despite the whirlwind. Then there was Zara, Max's fiercely loyal friend who also served as his on-set photographer, snapping behind-the-scenes photos that often became viral. Last but not least was Rita, Max's all-around fixer, the person who knew all his secrets and, in many cases, knew how to keep them buried.
"Alright, team," Max started dramatically, holding up his coffee cup like he was proposing a toast, "it appears HQ is gracing me with a brand-new babysitter. A top-of-the-line '24/7 personal bodyguard'... who thinks he can handle me." He scoffed, setting the cup down with a smirk.
Leo snorted. "A babysitter? You? Please. How many times have they tried this already?"
"Too many," Dylan muttered, tapping away on his tablet as he spoke. "Last one didn't even make it through the full weekend at the festival."
Max chuckled, slouching back into the couch with a cocky grin. "They always get overwhelmed, think they're signing up for some straightforward job. But they don't know what they're in for."
"Or who," Zara added with a mischievous smile. "So, who's the unlucky soul this time?"
"Name's Alex. They're pulling out all the stops—'military background, strict professional,'" Max replied, tossing air quotes around his words. "Apparently, he's supposed to 'keep me in line.'"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "That sounds… boring. You're not actually going to let him just follow you around, are you?"
Max raised an eyebrow in return, catching Leo's insinuation. "You think I'm just gonna let him show up, ruin my vibe, and not do anything about it?"
"Of course not!" Rita grinned, leaning forward. "But I think we need a little strategy here. You know, if this guy messes up bad enough, HQ might reconsider the whole 'bodyguard' idea. And if he's gone, we're back to normal."
Dylan's eyes lit up. "Ooh, that could work. Like, set him up to fail?" He glanced at Max, who smirked, enjoying the idea.
"Yes!" Leo chimed in, warming up to the scheme. "We'll give him one epic welcome to Team Max, something to make HQ rethink the whole '24/7' thing."
Zara shot Max a look, trying not to laugh. "And we're sure HQ won't just send another one if this guy 'fails'?"
"Only one way to find out," Max said, his voice dripping with mischief. "So, what's the plan?"
Everyone started brainstorming, throwing out ridiculous ideas left and right—switching filming locations at the last minute, "forgetting" to tell him about a rooftop stunt, and even setting up mysterious strangers to approach Max unexpectedly, giving Alex a non-stop challenge.
Just as the ideas started to take shape, the trailer door swung open, and Jenny Ray stepped inside, eyeing the group suspiciously.
She looked around at the hushed faces and arched an eyebrow. "Alright, what are you lot plotting?"
"Who says we're plotting?" Max said, feigning innocence as he stretched out on the couch.
Jenny rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You all have the same guilty look. Now spill."
After a moment of exchanged glances, Zara broke the silence with a grin. "Fine. We're just… considering ways to make Mr. Bodyguard's life a little less comfortable."
Jenny's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing, silently contemplating the chaos Max and his crew were clearly on the verge of unleashing.
"Jenny," Max added, trying to sound sincere, "this whole 24/7 thing isn't going to work. I don't need someone breathing down my neck and cramping my style every second."
Jenny tilted her head thoughtfully. She liked her job, and she was fiercely loyal to Max, but she also knew he had a way of pulling stunts when things didn't go his way. The thought of Max stuck with a strict, all-business bodyguard didn't sit well with her, either.
After a moment, she sighed, letting her arms fall to her sides. "Alright," she said with a sly smile, "if this bodyguard thing is going to make you that miserable, maybe I can help... smooth things along."
Max raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Jenny Ray, are you actually saying you're on board with us… sabotaging HQ's grand plan?"
"Let's just say," she replied, a smirk tugging at her lips, "that I'm on Team Max. HQ may be worried about your safety, but they've never had to handle you day-to-day. If we're going to make this work, we'll make it work on our terms."
Dylan grinned. "That's what we like to hear."
"Then it's settled," Jenny said, giving Max a knowing look. "I'll help you set the guy up. But you all better remember this favor the next time you think about pulling one of your little stunts without warning."
"Of course," Max said, feigning innocence, then immediately throwing a smirk to his friends. "So, Jenny, any ideas on how we can make Mr. Perfectly Professional Bodyguard rethink his career choices?"
Jenny tapped her chin, clearly enjoying the planning as she shot out ideas right along with them, laughing at each ridiculous suggestion. The group, now strengthened by Jenny's unexpected alliance, kept throwing out ideas, each more outrageous than the last.
"Welcome to the team," Max said, giving Jenny a grin as they worked out their final plans.
Tomorrow, Alex would arrive, and they'd be waiting, ready to test just how far he could go to stay "professional" in the world of Max Monroe.