A Hollywood Deal(52)

I don’t have any delusion that I’m going to be the one to change him. It’s a fun fantasy, but I know how people are. They don’t really change, not at the core. That’s why sociopaths don’t feel any remorse, Ryder’s cousin Elizabeth can’t rest until every child is fed and happy, and Bethany is trying to use her art to bring joy to people.

I’d most likely regret taking the money for the rest of my life. Even if it is to protect my heart, I’d regret it anyway because I’ve already tasted how sweet his other offer is.

After we finish our lunch, Bethany and I hug each other good-bye and agree that we have to meet for another lunch or two. She makes me promise to call her if I need help with the planning. “Even if you have an army of people, sometimes you just need your family there for you,” she says.

“I will.”

“Love you.” She gives me another hug, and I watch her walk off. She pulls out her phone before turning the corner.

My phone pings a moment later.

I think you’ll choose what’s in your heart. Money never meant much to you. Regardless, I’m always on your side.

I can’t help but smile. She’s too smart to think that my hypothetical scenario was really hypothetical. I text back, Ditto.

Then I text Craig The Lawyer about our meeting while making my way to the hotel to get my car. I can’t possibly tell him the truth either, so I should ask him to change the amount to ten million after two years of marriage, not one.

On the other hand, he’s a shark. So he’s probably going to balk at the amount of money staying the same while the duration doubles. Maybe fifteen mil would be better. It doesn’t matter what the dollar figure is, so long as the intent is clear.

As I finish my text and put the phone in my purse, somebody grabs my arm. “You bitch. You think you can just avoid me?”

I blink in shock. Shaun. His hold on me isn’t gentle, but it isn’t rough either.

He hasn’t changed much in the last few weeks. He’s got that scruffy dark look that fits the leading man image, and he’s tall and lean from regular weightlifting. But his eyes never held much warmth, and there’s a stiffness about him that says he’s trying too hard to live up to an image of who he thinks he should be. As usual, he wears a designer shirt in a muted green and the matching cargo shorts. His thick wrist sports an Omega watch, which he received as a gift when he got himself injured on a set doing a stunt once.

I jerk my arm away, and he takes in a couple of deep breaths—his attempt at calming down. A dark flush marks his cheeks.

“I called and texted. Why didn’t you answer?” His tone is more modulated now, though he can’t hide the resentment and anger simmering underneath.

“I’ve been busy. And I thought we weren’t going to talk to each other after that scene. You made it very clear I was beneath you because I’m ‘too fucking fat to fuck.’ Your words, not mine.” I smile thinly.

“Because you made me angry. You said some stuff about me too.”

“Only after you got nasty with me.” I couldn’t resist a dig at the size of his equipment and how poorly he uses it after he attacked me like that.

He waves it away. “That’s not important. What’s important is I had no choice but to put things in perspective for you.”

I cross my arms. Such bullshit. “If you want to talk to me, go through Ryder’s publicist. I’m not talking to you anymore.”

“Don’t be like that. You owe me one.”

I raise my eyebrows. I owe him one?

“I told you I needed to talk to Ryder about my script. You kept saying no, but now that you’re his fiancée, it doesn’t matter, right? It’s not like you’re gonna get fired.”

My skull seems to shrink around my brain, creating a painful pressure. I thought Shaun had given up when I turned him down. The movie script he showed me was awful, even though I couldn’t bring myself to tell him so. But he’s convinced that it’s the Great American Movie that can make all previous blockbusters look like phony bullshit. And all he needs to do is convince Ryder to make it with him. Of course since Ryder’s the bigger star, Shaun will “settle” for the part of kickass best friend of the hero, but the movie is supposed to make both of them superstars.

Apparently, Shaun hadn’t gotten the memo that Ryder’s already a superstar.

“Shaun, I told you to talk to his team, not me,” I say.

“You will do this. Show it to Ryder himself, or I’m going to make you sorry. I have stuff on you that can make you look bad. It’s my destiny to become a star, and I don’t care how it happens. Doing it with your help is the easy way. And believe me, both of us would rather that I not have to do it the hard way. Because if I do, it’s going to hurt you more than it hurts me.”