Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (58 page)

ROXY

I haven’t seen STEVEN since college.  I just watch his movies.  What does he have to do with anything?

WILLIAM

(Pushes up from the table)

I’m just asking.

(He leans down and kisses the top of her head.)

When you know you know.

ROXY

(Watches William leave and she gazes down at her ring finger)

I don’t know.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“SO TONIGHT, THE FUTURE Ms. Scott and I will be attending a function to support the indigenous wildlife in the rainforest.” Ryder held out his hand to Cora and helped his fiancée out of the car. Dressed in a skin tight ruby red evening gown with a plunging neckline, his soon to be wife looked positively ravishing with a side of scrumptious for good measure. He kissed the fourth finger of her left hand. “I think I really need to put a ring on this.”

“I have this though.” A gorgeous blush gracing her cheeks, she lifted the key to the cabin she strung on a long gold chain and put around her neck. She let it fall and the key disappeared into her cleavage.

“While the key has never been happier, I think something more traditional may be in order.” He gave her hand another kiss. “However, tonight we need to tend to our cause. Apparently, the power couple that will be Mr. and Mrs. Scott like animals.”

She curled her arm around his and let him guide her inside the hotel.

As they wound their way toward the ballroom, he glanced over at her. Thus far she hadn’t touched a door handle, she waited for him, and she kept her head held high with a huge smile. Only last night when they went to dinner, she kept her head down and in his shoulder, a perfectly appropriate move for some private time, and she recognized tonight was different. His wonder woman learned her lessons about being in the public eye, and it couldn’t happen at a better time. With their engagement announced and their wedding on the horizon, media attention would only get worse.

He handed the man at the entrance their invitation and they made their way inside, and over to the table.
Hollywood Stardom
would wrap within the next two weeks and he would have to start right in on his movie. With Cora involved, things should run much smoother, and once he was sure everything was headed down the right path, he would have them set a date.

“Here you go, baby.” He pulled a chair out for Cora.

In an advanced move, she nodded at the other people around the table as she sat.

“How about I go get us a couple of glasses of wine?” He leaned down and kissed her ear. Around the room he spied some people lifting their cameras and taking pictures and dare he say, his Cora was actually tilting her head toward the light? Apparently, engagement agreed with her.

“That would be great.” She gave his hand a squeeze.

Right before he went to get the fortification, a familiar yet unwanted person approached in the form of the asshole who was up against Cora for her big position. “Cora.” Ryder tapped her shoulder.

The second Cora saw the intruder coming toward them, she undid all his hard work and stood up from the table. “Albert.”

“I hear congratulations are officially in order.” The jerk first shook Cora’s hand, then his.

Ryder put his arm around Cora and reminded himself he still needed to ask if Rodger carried cleaning wipes. Albert seemed oily through and through.

“My wife asked if I may get your fiancé’s autograph.” Albert pointed over at a table across the room and held up his invitation.

“You’ll have to ask my fiancé.” Cora’s voice came out laced with a bit of mischief, and she looked up backward at him.

Though he assumed with the whole love thing and getting married thing their arrangement was officially over, as the future husband it was his duty to ensure Cora always looked stellar. They were truly a part of each other now. “Of course.” He took the man’s invitation and signed it with one of the pens he always kept on him.

“My wife was hoping she could see your ring later.” Albert’s focus traveled down to Cora’s hand.

“She can see my key.” Like earlier, Cora pulled the key out of one of Ryder’s favorite place on earth or in the universe. “Ryder gave me his family cabin as an engagement present. It’s a tradition.”

Albert raised his eyebrows. “It won’t be long now until the new CEO is announced. I suppose I will wish you luck.”

“I don’t think luck is part of this.” Cora nodded.

“Then I’ll say may the best man or woman win.” Albert put the paper back in his tuxedo jacket, gave them a slight bow and left.

Cora gave Ryder the side glance.

“I’m going to go get that wine.” Yes, he could take cues with the best of the best.

“You’re going to make an excellent husband.” Once more, she took her seat.

Head held high, he walked across the ballroom to the bar. “Two red wines, please.” Before he the drinks arrived, someone tapped his shoulder and he turned.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Scott.” An older woman in a gold beaded gown smiled at him.

He went to get his pen ready.

“I heard you would be personally accepting donations for your wonderful charity here. My husband and I wanted to make sure you had this.” She pulled a check out of her matching handbag and handed it to him. “Our address is on the check, please send us the receipt.”

Wait. She heard about him accepting donations? A quick peek over at Cora found her showing her key to some people at the table. He took the check and quickly tucked it in his pocket. It was all he needed in front of Cora. “Thank you. It will go to good use.”

After another autograph on another invitation, she patted his shoulder, took her drinks and walked away.

At last, he retrieved his drinks and began walking back to his lady, only to be stopped by another couple. A huge older man held up a folded piece of paper. “My wife is a huge fan of your work and of your charity.” Without even asking for permission, the man put the check in his pocket.

“Thank you.” Drinks still in hand, Ryder hoped these people didn’t ask for an autograph.

“May I get a picture?” The wife clapped.

Since these people paid, he nodded.

The woman handed her husband her phone and came up next to Ryder. He put on his signature smile while the man took a few shots.

“Oh, everyone at the club will be absolutely envious.” She gave him a slight hug and the couple walked away.

Unsure what Cora had seen, he tensed as he made his way back to her. He set down the wine glasses and took his seat.

“That was quite an expedition.” She turned her attention to her wine glass.

“But it all leads back to you.” In hopes of deflecting any questions, he lifted his glass and tapped it against hers.

“Just remember that twenty years from now.” She sipped her wine.

“Hundred years.” Bullet dodged, with a deep breath and a grin he sat back and put his arm around Cora.

“Mr. Scott.” A lady across the table waved at him.

He scooted up in his seat and got ready to have another invitation thrust at him for an autograph.

“Here is a check for your charity.” The woman stood and went to his side. “I’m one of the chairwomen here, and I’d love to set something up to promote your cause. If you want to have my people call your people we could set something up for Ryder’s Rescue.”

As if in slow motion, his hand took the check. The amount alone would cover a couple of different rings for Cora, which would have been perfect had Cora not been sitting by his side.

“Ryder’s Rescue?” Cora put her glass of wine down.

He folded the check and put it in his breast pocket with the other one and tried to figure out how exactly to answer the question without making either of them appear foolish.

“I just love helping new charities.” Checkbook in hand, a round younger woman hopped up out of her seat. She wrote a check and thrust it at him.

In a scene fit for a movie, he was suddenly surrounded by no less than six people handing him checks and discussing Ryder’s Rescue. It would have been so much better if he could breathe and talk to Cora.

“I heard about you rescuing a dog. You’re such a good person Ryder.” Another lady with copious breasts thrust more than a check into his face.

At Cora clearing her throat, he had a feeling he needed to clear the air. In fact, he could use some air, it was getting rather hot in here, and he tugged at his bow tie.

“We can all take a picture with him. His coordinator said he would be signing autographs and personally accepting checks.” The chairlady leaned down, put her arm around him and leaned over to Cora. “You don’t mind sharing him for a few minutes, do you?”

“Actually, if you ladies let me have him for one second to discuss a little detail, then I promise he’s all yours.” Cora stood.

On automatic he stood. Being the gracious check collector, he bowed to his audience and followed his future wife.

They went to one of the far corner of the ballroom, and with a smile on her face, she stared at him.

He grinned. “You know, you really got rid of that resting bitch face thing you had when we first started going out.”

Smile still intact, she narrowed her eyes.

“Did you have something to say?” Her intense gaze caused him to shove his hands in his pockets and shift his weight from one foot to the other.

“I’m waiting for you.” The smile never wavering, she tilted her head.

He had to let it out. “The day I rescued Spike, the words about a charity just fell out of my mouth, and suddenly I had all this money being thrust at me, and then I had this booming little side business. But don’t worry, one of my buddies is helping manage it, and we give receipts. We even have tote bags.” There he let it out, now they could go get a ring for every finger.

She blinked and took such a deep breath that her glorious chest heaved up and down. “You do know that a charity is not a booming little business, right?”

He sort of shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Honestly, he was amazed she could keep that smile. Maybe there was a little actress in her after all. Since truth was on the table, he decided to go with it. “Yes, I know that, and that is why I chose to withhold that information from you at that time.”

“Is there anything else you are withholding from me at this time?” The smile waivered.

Here was his chance, he could guide her out of the room and tell her about his issues with the mob. Hand balled in a fist, he willed himself to let it out.

No, he couldn’t. Couldn’t take the chance it would hurt Cora’s running for the position. In this case, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. He only had to figure out how to deal with the producer situation, but they would be married by then and have to work it out. “Only that I love you more than anything.”

“You’re exasperating.” She laughed and put her hand to her chest. “You know this whole time I thought there was some deep dark secret you held, and now I know it was the fact you opened up an illegal charity.”

Lord help him, she could never know about Glen. He had even avoided Glen since his engagement. “Will you fix it?”

“You’re not in charge of any more money.” She put his hand to his cheek. “Give everything to Viktor tomorrow and we’ll clean up your mess.”

“I love you.” He kissed her palm. Another disaster diverted. They said three times was the charm so maybe this whole thing boded well for him in the future.

No sooner did he go in for the kiss, than she tensed and the color drained out of her face.