Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (6 page)

“Do you want some water?” he asked. Where on earth did that question come from? Shouldn’t she be getting him water or an award statue or something?

“There’s some bottles in the refrigerator.” Her voice strained when she stretched. “Will you turn off the lights?”

“Sure.” Still in the buff, and planning on staying that way, he strolled through her place, this time truly getting a chance to see her items. Among the modern furniture and electronic everything, were framed old time pictures and other memorabilia from famous movie musicals, the kind where people burst into song at a moment’s notice and nothing made any sense. Interesting. He didn’t think she was the type.

After retrieving the water and cutting down her electric bill, he returned to her. He opened the water and held it out. “Here, hydration is very important.”

“Thank you.” She took a drink and handed the bottle back to him.

He gulped down some of refreshing liquid, put the bottle on the nightstand coaster and slipped in bed next to her. Hell, he even did the thing where he gathered her up into his arms.

“I take it you’re spending the night?” She turned her back to him, but pressed her body against his.

“Isn’t that what would happen in one of your musicals? They would never orgasm and run.” At his own joke, he laughed.

“What would you know about that?” She flipped her hair back.

Once corralling her hair and getting it out of his face, he spooned her. “I see you like musicals.”

“Well, in the musicals they would have had the decency to take the hard stuff behind closed doors. The romance would have been in their eyes and their actions.” She yawned.

At her words, he frowned. “I’m no stranger to romance, and though I don’t normally sing or dance, I’m sure I can think of something else to tickle your fancy.”

“I have to get up early tomorrow. Make yourself at home if I don’t see you.” With a sigh, she hugged her pillow.

He stared into the darkness. Maybe she would have had better luck with romance if she turned over and actually looked him in the eyes.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA –OUTSIDE IN A RESTAURANT OVERLOOKING THE LOS ANGELES CITY LIGHTS. - NIGHT

The party is going on STEVEN and his date, CHARLES and his wife are there, everyone is talking.

ROXY is drinking a glass of wine and staying on the sidelines.

STEVEN is in his late thirties blond, wearing expensive designer clothing.  Has a model-type blonde in a tight dress hanging off him.  He looks over at Roxy, pushes the blonde aside, and approaches.

STEVEN

Long time.

STEVEN tilts his glass in her direction.

ROXY

(Sipping her wine)

Some would say too long, some would say not long enough.

STEVEN

I felt that.

ROXY shrugs.

STEVEN

I have to say this is quite a turn of events, I always thought it would be you up on stage.

ROXY

(staring into his eyes)

Sometimes you have to know when to let go.

STEVEN

Subtlety is not your strong suit.

ROXY

Maybe that’s why I’m not the performer.

STEVEN nods.

WILLIAM joins them and puts his arm around ROXY. He raises his chin in STEVEN’S direction.

WILLIAM

Good to see you.

STEVEN

Likewise.

WILLIAM faces ROXY.

WILLIAM

Come on baby, the reporter from the paper is here covering the story.  I need my girl by my side.

ROXY

I’ll be right there.

WILLIAM looks at STEVEN and kisses ROXY’S cheek before walking away.

STEVEN

I never pictured you to be the type on the sidelines.

ROXY

Who says I’m on the side lines, I’m just behind the curtain.

FADE OUT.

Chapter Three

THE THREE ILLUMINATED SCREENS on Cora’s office desk allowed her to pinpoint the moment her life went wrong, awry, spiraled out of control. If her life were a musical, this would be the point where the main character sang a solo about how low they had sunk.

She started her analysis left to right.

Everything was fine on the screen from a major national news site. The report outlined the
Hollywood Stardust
franchise, spoke of the successful debut of the sequel, had quotes from Logan Alexander, and ended on a positive note speaking of the third installment of the trilogy and the return of the original actors.

All good.

All fine.

Exactly what she wanted.

Cora took a sip of her espresso and diverted her attention to the second screen.

Stock prices were fine. In fact, some might say excellent. She would say everything could always do better. Still, the number was steady.

She exhaled and said a silent prayer the number would remain in its happy place, especially now that she needed to face the third screen.

Chargge.com. Her own website, her baby, her creation betrayed her. The first story at the top of the feed didn’t outline the movie, other celebrities or even the premiere party per se. Instead, it gave quite an accurate catalog of her night with Mr. Ryder Scott.

From outside the hotel with his hands on her waist, to some fictional argument they had which left Ryder looking dejected, to their kiss on the dance floor and lastly to him sneaking into her limo with her. There was no doubt that everyone on the planet knew where they were headed.

Orgasm aside, she single-handedly might have destroyed her CEO chances and all because she couldn’t keep out of Ryder’s pants. Her only saving grace was there wasn’t a fourth screen outlining the rest of her illicit night with one Mr. Scott.

What was he doing now?

She could only hope he had the decency to leave early and throw the sheets in the hamper.

Before picking up her phone to call the house cleaning crew, she glanced over at the stock numbers once more. Wall Street must take a while to respond to entertainment news.

She lifted her phone then put it down again. What would she say to the housekeepers anyway? In need of any distraction from the unwanted publicity, she quickly clicked over to her favorite on-line auction site and placed a couple of bids on some collectibles from some old-time musicals. All right, she admitted, she put in a crazy amount, so she wouldn’t lose. Everyone had his or her vice, and today she needed the comfort of her little addiction. With that thought, she took another sip of espresso.