A Hollywood Bride(57)
“Is that why you’ve been acting so odd the last two days?”
Two beats, then he says, “Partly, yes.”
“I see. I…wish you’d told me.”
“I wasn’t sure.”
I drop my head. “I hate this, Ryder. I really do.”
“Paige…”
“I let her borrow my car because hers was having trouble. No big deal, right? For most people, it’s not a big deal.”
“You’re right. It’s not a big deal.”
“But it became one.” Tears prickle my eyes. “I can’t even do something nice for my stepsister without getting her hurt, and all because I’m…” I stop to take a shuddering breath. “I don’t even know what I am to the public. People want to hate me, fine.” I slash the air with my hand. “If they want to make memes or write terrible things about me, you know, whatever. But they can’t…” I press my lips until they’re numb. “They can’t hurt my friends and family. It’s not fair.”
“Paige, they won’t. I won’t let them.”
He wraps his arms around me, and I absorb the warm comfort he’s offering. “Maybe we should go overseas,” I say, my words muffled. “I hate it that we’re running because of…them. But if people know we aren’t even in the country, they might leave my family alone.”
“Okay. So let’s go.”
I tilt my head so I can look at his gorgeous face. “Where were you thinking about?”
“Not Europe. Too much press there.” He frowns. “How about southeast Asia?”
“It sounds so far away.”
“Well, that’s the point, right? And it’s not that bad.”
My phone buzzes again in my hand. I look down, expecting Oliver again. But it’s Gary.
The trust is actually owned by Mira Brasson’s agency. I’m surprised you didn’t know…isn’t she Ryder’s agent? Maybe she’s managing it for Ryder.
I shake my head in disbelief. There is no way. Mira doesn’t manage Ryder’s money. He has a business manager, an investment advisor and an accountant and a bunch of other people for that, and they’ve done a spectacular job of multiplying his fortune. The only thing Mira manages is his showbiz career.
Then I remember how she told me she would hurt Renni if I didn’t behave. Nobody can be allowed to make Ryder look bad, and that includes his “fiancée.” Not only that, she made it clear she’s done it before to keep women in line.
I look at Ryder. It seems unbelievable that he would ever allow Mira to go that far to protect his image. But to somebody like him, image is everything, isn’t it? As grating as Mira can be at times, it’s hard to imagine her doing all this without his knowledge.
And if he knows, but does nothing, that makes him complicit…doesn’t it?
“What is it?” Ryder asks, his tone overly modulated. There is a tight tension about him, like he’s expecting something to break any second.
I pull away from him. “Did you know Mira is managing a trust for you?”
He frowns. “No. I never heard anything like that.”
“Well, she is. It’s called The Reed Trust. And it invested in Bethany’s comic business.”
Still frowning. “That’s good, right?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.”
He starts to take a step forward, but something on my face stops him. “Paige, I don’t know anything about this trust. I thought Bethany had plans for the site but if she doesn’t…”
“She threatened to hurt Renni, you know.”
“Who?”
“Mira. She told me if I didn’t behave and make you look good, she would release some damaging information about Renni and her boyfriend.”
Ryder’s face starts to change. “Okay, hold on. When did this happen?”
“The day I came back to my job,” I say.
“She told you that herself?” Confirming the fact.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I can’t run to you every time I have a problem with someone who’s essentially a coworker.”
“But blackmail? That’s more than just ‘a problem’.”
“I thought maybe you knew. I didn’t think she would say stuff like that without your blessing.”
He jerks back like I’ve just slapped him. “You honestly thought I was capable of something like that?”
“Ryder…you have to understand. At the time I didn’t know how far you’d go to continue with the ceremony. You told me how much your grandfather’s painting means to you, and you were willing to claim a baby that isn’t your own to get it.”