Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“Obviously, Mr. Jamison is a big deal,” the interviewer says, frowning dramatically. “A lot of people won’t know his name, because he tends to stay out of the limelight. But they’ve probably heard of his late wife, Lilith Sparrow.”
Nolan nods. “I have a lot of sympathy for his situation, Claire. But it’s been years since his wife passed, and just randomly attacking people like he did—”
“You say randomly attacking. Do you have any idea why he went after you like that?”
“None at all.” He shakes his head and lets out a sigh. “I think maybe drugs were involved. It’s an unfortunate fact of this business.”
“Indeed.”
I grunt. “I’ve heard enough. Turn it the fuck off before I smash it.”
I reach across to press the stop button on Davis’s laptop, but before I can he grabs my wrist, shaking his head. On the screen, the interviewer takes a sip of water before continuing.
“Can you give us any insight into the situation before that video begins? What were you doing in that room? In the first place, can you tell us that?”
“That’s the ironic thing, Claire. I was there because I was thinking of signing with his agency. I’m glad I never put my signature to any sort of contract, because if this is the way the head of the company acts can you imagine what chaos I’d be in?” Nolan sighs. “I should have had some idea when the agent meeting me tried to put her hand on… Well, on a private part of my anatomy…”
“Really?”
“It happens. I’m a celebrity. People think they’re entitled—”
The video cuts off as I slam the laptop shut. “Enough. Meeting over.”
“I know you have to fire me. I get it—”
“Nobody is firing you.” I glare at Lennie until she looks down at her feet. Jesus. Fire her? For what? For Nolan being an asshole?
“Look, this isn’t good.” Davis paces on the other side of my office. The three of us retreated in here after the meeting to discuss next steps, but with no charges filed it’s a tough situation. If I try to defend myself publicly, it might cause more harm than good. “I think the best thing we can do right now is lay low. You know how these things are. Hollywood loves a good story, but by next week if there’s nothing new it will be stale. They’ll move on to something else.”
“So what? I just lock myself here in my office and—”
He shakes his head. “You need to get away, man.” With a glance over at Lennie, he adds, “Both of you.”
“Get away? By the time I get back—”
“Everything will be fine because I’ll be running things in your absence.” He pulls out a seat and drops into it next to Lennie. “Look, I can tell things have changed between you two. I’m not going to ask any questions but if I can see it others will as well, and that’s all this story needs to run for weeks. Maybe months. Get out of here. Go see your mom. Let everything blow over.”
I hear what he’s saying, but it’s madness. Things aren’t about to change between me and Lennie. This story is going to come out sometime.
I shake my head. “Better to—”
“Lennie, can you give us the room a moment, sweetheart?”
She looks from me to him, but when I nod she retreats with a look of relief on her face. At least I know my secretary will keep an eye on her and not ask questions. Be grateful for small mercies.
Davis sighs as soon as she’s out of the room. “Look, man, I get it. But Lennie doesn’t. She’ll be chum in the water as soon as this story comes out. You need to get her out of here for her fucking sake. Make a plan, the way you always do, and come back the conquering hero. You hear what I’m saying?”
Slowly, I nod.
I get it. He’s right. It’s time me and Lennie took a trip.
CHAPTER 6
Lennie
“You look good holding that baby.” An older lady across the aisle smiles at me with her perfect red lipstick and curled silver hair.
“Thanks.” I reply as Cade stands in the aisle way of the first class section, letting the young mother sitting across from us get by so she can use the restroom. The chubby little girl gives me a gumless smile, her lips wet and I see two little teeth just poking through.
I tuck my feet under the seat as Cade moves in front of me to take his seat and I see the thrill in his eyes as I bounce the little girl on my lap. We’re on the first flight he could find to get us to Michigan. There was a fire at the airport where his private jet is kept and that shut down any flights coming or going for the next ten hours and Cade did not want to wait that long to get us out of LA.