Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (33 page)

“That makes him brilliant. Everyone should take a lesson from the dog.” She had to admit he was obedient and when he wasn’t listening to her, he was laying at her feet. Now that she thought about it, the dog would make the perfect man if he was human. Damn it.

As they made their way through the lobby, she admitted she was happy to have Viktor and Spike with her after she had those strange feelings that morning, as if someone were watching her. The only person better would have been Ryder.

She wrinkled her nose and kept to the task at hand, namely not wrecking her chance at her position, all for the man she hired to get this position.

“Do you ever feel like people are watching you?” Curious, she asked Viktor the same question she asked Ryder earlier.

“No. They’re watching you, but now they are watching you and Ryder.” He opened his car door for her.

Her mind going off in a million different directions, she got inside the car put Spike on her lap, and they both stared out the window.

In times like this, she had to stay focused and unemotional. Any quiver in her voice would show weakness. By the time they got to the studio, she had a plan in place. In truth it was the same plan she had when they left, but at least it was a plan.

As she and Spike got out of the car, Logan pulled in the next spot.

“Where’s Ryder?” he asked.

Not wanting to say she was about to ask him that exact question, she took her bag from Viktor and shot Logan a look.

“Got it.” Logan smoothed his hair back and all of them, even Spike, walked into the corporate offices on the studio lot. In Los Angeles dogs were a perfectly acceptable accessory.

After Viktor announcing them to a haggard assistant, they were ushered into Dane Ellis’ office. The portly, older man in a well-fitting suit and sporting some grey through his brown hair perfectly represented the type of person normally chosen for the job she wanted. No doubt, he thought her too young, too emotional, too female. To prove him wrong, she gave him a firm handshake before sitting in the chair on the opposite side of his desk.

Logan took the chair next to her, Viktor went to her other side and Spike lay by her foot.

“Cora, thank you for getting here so quickly.” As if looking for someone one else, Dane glanced over to the door.

She crossed her legs and forced herself to sit back. Most likely, he was searching for Ryder. Shame on her for positioning her phone face up in her bag to see any possible messages from her missing partner. She needed to be on point with this meeting. Still, she peeked twice.

“I think we can dispense with the niceties and get to the matter at hand.” Dane lifted a stack of papers. “No sooner had you terminated the man’s contract than I was sent a slew of messages threating us with a lawsuit.”

“His contract clearly states he can be terminated at any time,” she said.

“Right,” Dane said. “What concerns me more than that is the fact that he basically accused you of firing him to protect the man you’re in a relationship with.” He put the papers aside.

“Dane, the cast of this movie is very special in that the stars are friends and two of the original cast members are married. It’s a balancing act and to give a proper send off to the series and pay homage to a beloved story, we cannot have someone come in and disrupt the chemistry.” She wouldn’t lie, she was impressed by her own defense.

“What did happen with Ryder Scott?” Dane tented his fingers and inhaled.

“The relationship between Edward and Ryder was combative at the beginning.” Logan piped in. “It started at the read-through. I know that we all have to work with individuals we don’t necessarily get along with, but I have to agree with Miss Caine in this case. Bringing that contention into a group who has tight bonds would’ve made for too much tension on set and affected the final outcome of the movie.”

She resisted her urge to high-five Logan.

“We brought on Mr. Andrews to take some of the pressure off Mr. Alexander and Mr. Scott, so they could focus on acting,” Dane countered.

“In hindsight, I realize that this group must lead themselves.” Cora took the stage again and lifted her chin. “This movie is a unique case, and they know what they need to do.” Another peek at her phone revealed nothing.

Dane strummed his fingers on the desk. “I feel as if we are letting the school children out on the yard with no teachers.”

“I’ll be there.” The words exited her mouth at such speed they would be impossible to get back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Viktor turn to her.

“You’re going to be on set and do your normal job as well?” Dane’s tone was one of sarcasm and disbelief. Maybe even one of a father scolding his daughter.

And this is how it would be played.

With new conviction, she sat up and leaned over into his space. “With all due respect, Dane, this is all part of my normal job.” She used both hands to make air quotes. “I committed to these movies just as I have committed to Chargge and the rest of my duties. Therefore, if my presence is required on set for the studio and Ultracom to be put as ease, then that is my normal job.”

The corners of the man’s mouth twitched, but rather than smile he nodded. “All right, Miss Caine. I’ve seen firsthand what you can do, and I’ll trust you to do what is best.”

She didn’t bother with a thank you.

“Did you hear about Franklin Kryson resigning today?” Dane went right into standard business small talk and idle chatter.

Viktor shifted in his seat.

She ground her teeth together. Her distraction led to her missing an extremely important development in the CEO race. With Franklin out of the running, it would be down to her and Albert. Normally, at this point in the conversation she would bid the man adieu and get to her nearest Internet connection. Then she remembered she had to be human. “Is he all right? That seems rather sudden.”

Dane shrugged. “He hasn’t offered a reason.”

“Oh. I see. I wish him well.” Hopefully, that was enough small talk. She stood. “I trust this meeting is concluded?”

“Absolutely. The numbers on
Hollywood Starburst
have panned out even better than predicted.” Once more, the man held his hand out. “I’m surprised Ryder wasn’t here.”

Of course the numbers were better, since she purposely quoted them low. She shook Dane’s hand. “I don’t find it surprising at all.” Though she did take another glance at her phone, and it wasn’t to find out about Franklin Kryson.

“Point taken, Miss Caine.” After shaking Logan’s and Viktor’s hands and waving to Spike, Dane ushered them to the door.

Even with the disaster averted, she knew she’d be in the crosshairs until Stardom ended, well, wrapped. With each step toward the exit, the knot in her stomach tightened, but not because of what she just committed to, not because one of the front-runners for her position backed out, but at the lack of communication from Ryder.

No matter how tempting, she wouldn’t ask Logan.

Then they stepped outside, and she realized she wouldn’t have to ask.

The knot twisted upon itself at the sight of Ryder’s car parked next to Viktor’s.

She stopped.

Ryder got out of his car and crossed his arms.

“I need to get home to Ivy and Curtis.” Logan patted her shoulder and without a word to Ryder got in his car and drove off.

“What are you doing here?” Ryder broke the silence.

“I was about to ask you that.” Not wanting to create theatrics at a movie studio, she went toward Viktor’s car.

“I went home. You weren’t there.” Before she reached the car he walked forward.

“Well, if someone read texts or took phone calls, you would have received the answers to your deepest mysteries.” Why he acted as if she did anything wrong was beyond her, but she didn’t need it.

He blocked her way to the car. “Come with me.”

“I’ll see you at home.” In no world would she give in to him.

“I really need you to come with me.” His voice softened. “I just need you.”

Apparently, she was out in outer space because she walked to the passenger side of his car.

“I’m going to go do some research,” Viktor announced before getting in his car.

Ryder rushed over and opened the door.

She pointed to Spike, and he hopped in the car, then she took her seat.

Ryder got behind the wheel and drove away.

Neither spoke. She wasn’t even sure how they ended up at odds, but something was definitely wrong, and she didn’t need this complication along with everything else. No matter what their status was, she had a right to know what happened to him.

Only when they went the opposite direction from their home, did she finally decide to break the silence. “Where are we going?”

Rather than answering, he continued his drive, and got on the freeway. At this time of night there was no traffic, and he let the car loose as he headed toward Santa Monica.

They winded their way down Pacific Coast Highway. On one side of them lay the earth, on the other the huge black space of the ocean. At the moment, her thoughts could fill that space. What had she done? Why did Franklin walk away? Did she hurt a man’s career today? Did she hurt her own? Was this all worth it? At this point in her career, she didn’t need to be called in to be checked up on. No one should ever doubt her decisions.

As much good as Ryder did for her with the public, could this little tryst be having the opposite effect where the rubber hit the road? At the end of the day, the public wouldn’t choose the CEO of Ultracom.

Worse yet, was she even willing to give him up if it did affect her chances?

She fired someone for him today. Pure and simple, clear as crystal, her claws came out, and she attacked the only way she could.

All this for a man who hadn’t bothered to call her back. She pressed her fingers into her temple, willing the thoughts to stop.

Right when she was ready to ask again, where they were headed, what they were doing, or if he had any answers whatsoever, Ryder parked the car in a turnout designed for tourists to take in the view.

“Cora.” He crooned her name in that dreamy tone of his, put his arm around the back of her seat and leaned in close.

“Spike needs some air.” Before he had a chance to kiss her and make her forget her name, she opened the door, stepped out and snapped her fingers.

Spike bounded out of the car and sniffed around.

She turned her back to Ryder, crossed her arms and stared out at the little bit of light from the moon reflecting off the water. With the salty sea scent, the rumble of the waves and a bona fide movie star getting out of the car, this was the perfect setting for a romance movie, or better yet a musical where the lead would sing some smarmy, yet swoony, love song. Of course, the movie star was really destroying the mood.

“Cora.” Ryder walked around in front of her. “Talk to me.”

Even in the dark and even when she was pissed at him, the man was a sight to behold. Where the hell was he after the wrap? Maybe it shouldn’t bother her, but she couldn’t stop herself from thinking the worst. At the end of the day, no matter Ryder’s blush producing words about living the role, she had to remember this was an arrangement. Business. A deal just like anything else.

“What were you doing when you didn’t answer my text or my call?” Her voice came out strong, like a CEO, a tough professional.

He stepped closer, a smile lifted one side of his mouth.

In her career she’d dealt with worse. She straightened up. “Ryder, answer my question. I needed you before.”

“You had Logan.” He leaned back on his heels. “What happened? Did you get in trouble for firing that asshole on account of me?”

“I don’t get in trouble.” Damn him for knowing what happened. Perhaps all those years in movies gave him a sixth sense. “And I didn’t fire that man for you.”

“Liar.” He closed the distance between them, and put his hands on the car on either side of her, caging her in.

She ground her teeth together and stared him down.

“To answer your question, the first day on set is hard enough without getting handed the director’s job. I took a break and took a drive, but then I realized all I wanted was you.” His fingertips played with her hair.

Ignore him. Be strong. She pressed her lips together.

“If you tell me you only wanted me there to be a lackey in your meeting, then I’m going to tell you that you had Logan, and you didn’t need me.” He inched in. “But if you tell me you were truly upset I didn’t call, and you wondered where I was, and there was a pit in your stomach as the possibilities whirled through that gorgeous head of yours, then I’ll promise you that it won’t ever happen again and apologize for tonight.”

“You’re insufferable.” Maybe if she didn’t look directly at him, she wouldn’t be blinded by everything Ryder Scott.

“And you crave it.” He looked into her eyes, and his lips swept over hers.

A gasp escaped her throat.

“Just like I crave you.” He grabbed her, wrapped his arms around her and gave her a deep kiss.

Their bodies pressed against each other, his taste filled her mouth, the stress of the last few hours washed away with the tide.

“So, I guess we are now on a full phone relationship. That’s a far cry from the day I moved in.” He pushed her back on the car and slid his mouth down to her ear. “You do care.” Once more, he found her lips.

At his words, she shut her eyes. She fired a director for him, she hated not knowing where he was and hell, she even craved him. Her only fear was if she admitted she cared what else would she do for him?

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

EXT. ARIZONA – GRANDPARENT’S HOME – EARLY MORNING

ROXY and STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER are in the rock garden.

ROXY