Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (19 page)

“
You never told me you wanted to be an actress,
”
I say, as the waiter refills my champagne and removes our dinner plates.
 

“
Isn
’
t that what every girl who comes here dreams of? Then reality sets in after you
’
ve gone to what feels like a million casting calls.
”

“
You know, I could get you a part in a movie.
”

“
You told me you don
’
t cast girls who you sleep with.
”

“
I never have before.
”
She smiles a pretty, white-toothed smile.
“
Did you get your teeth whitened too?
”
 

She laughs and covers her mouth with her hand.
“
Tyler made me.
”

“
Tyler did good,
”
I say again, reveling in her beauty.
“
I bet if you looked like this, you would have been cast long before I ever met you.
”

“
I didn
’
t really know how to look
—
or act
—
like a lady. I
’
ve been watching the women here. They behave differently. Their body language. The way they hold themselves, like they are all royalty even if they
’
re not. You know, some of those Housewives were filming here today. It was exciting. I love watching that show. All their drama. It
’
s such an escape from reality because their drama is nothing like real life. None of them know what it
’
s like to not have money to cover their rent. They complain about being so tired, but all they did was work out, go to lunch, and talk behind each other
’
s backs. I mean, I highly doubt any of them have ever worked a double shift before. Now, that
’
s tired.
”

“
I like that you
’
re so down to earth.
”

“
I
’
m ready to get down to earth with you, Riley. Could we skip dessert and go back to the room?
”

“
Yes, we can,
”
I say, summoning the waiter for the check and looking forward to what
’
s to come.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th

Captive Films - Santa Monica

DAWSON

I call Vanessa
’
s cell phone only to get sent straight to voicemail. She was supposed to have attended a marketing meeting this morning but didn
’
t show. And that
’
s unlike her.
 

I
’
m torn between wanting to know and not wanting to know what happened with Bam last night. But my concern gets the best of me, so I call her house phone.

Her butler, Bernard, answers.
 

“
I
’
m sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to check on Vanessa. She isn
’
t answering her cell and missed a business meeting at Captive this morning.
”

“
She must have forgotten. She is out on the terrace having brunch with Mr. Martinez. Would you like to speak with her or shall I relay a message?
”

“
Uh, neither. Thanks. I
’
ll call her later.
”

I put my head down on my desk, feeling defeated.

He spent the night with her.
 

That tells me everything I need to know.

A few hours later, she walks into my office. Her eyes are a little red, and she looks like she didn
’
t sleep.
 

I can
’
t bear to think about what she was doing with him that kept her up all night.
 

“
You missed the meeting this morning,
”
I state.

“
I had some personal issues to deal with,
”
she says back.

“
Yeah, I figured.
”
I slide a stack of papers toward her.
“
Here are the notes. We
’
re meeting again next week. I
’
ll have Tyler message you the time.
”
I put my head down, pretending to study my computer in hopes that she will leave.
 

“
Dawson,
”
she says.

I look up.
“
Did you need something else?
”

“
Yes, I need you to talk to me.
”

“
About what?
”

“
Seriously?
”
 

“
Vanessa, what am I supposed to say when your ex-husband shows up with roses and jewels, you introduce me as a co-worker, and miss our morning meeting because you were having
brunch on the terrace
with him?
”

She sits down with a loud sigh.
 

“
You know in the movie, how when Whitney sent you that message and told you what you longed to hear?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
That
’
s how I felt last night. Bam told me all the things I wish he would have said after I miscarried.
”

“
So you
’
re getting back together?
”

“
That
’
s what he wants. His father is dying.
”

“
I
’
m sorry. That must be difficult for him.
”

“
It is. He will soon be at the helm of their family empire. He
’
s scared, honestly. And he
’
s grown up a lot in the last few months.
”

“
Well, good for him,
”
I say, forcing my lips together. Why is she making excuses for a guy who treated her like shit? But then again, maybe it wasn
’
t always like that, and who am I to judge.

“
Dawson, I love you
—”

“
You don
’
t have to say it. I get it. He
’
s back. It
’
s what you wanted. You can go back to living in billionaire fairytale land.
”

“
I don
’
t want to do this here, Dawson. Can you come over tonight so we can talk?
”

“
No. Sorry. I understand. I wish you the best.
”
I look down, trying to fight back my emotions.

“
Have it your way,
”
she says, walking out of my office. I hear the door shut as I place my fingertips on the bridge of my nose and close my eyes.
 

What am I going to tell the girls? That love doesn
’
t always work out the way you planned? That sometimes money trumps love? Maybe I was wrong to come out here. Keatyn said that I would be getting some money from the sale of the stock. I
’
ll take it and use the money to buy a home rather than uprooting my girls
’
lives.
 

Then I can go back to being what I was when I got here.
 

Broke.

And broken.

Trinity
movie set
- Studio City

KEATYN

When I get back to my trailer after filming for most of the day, I
’
m surprised to find Vanessa waiting for me outside.

“
I wasn
’
t expecting you,
”
I say to her.
“
What
’
s up? Please tell me the doctor didn
’
t confirm my pregnancy or anything.
”

“
We
’
d totally sue if he did. I
’
m here to talk to you about when you want to announce your wedding. Once it actually takes place, we won
’
t be able to keep a lid on it. I think we should have a press release prepared. Your agent, Cade Crawford, called me asking about this fundraiser. Did you not tell him?
”

“
I haven
’
t told anyone, really. That was the point of it being a secret.
”

“
I know, I
’
m just surprised you didn
’
t tell
him
.
”

“
Is he coming?
”

“
Of course.
”

“
Then I don
’
t need to. Now, why are you really here?
”

She sits down with a sigh.
 

“
I need someone to talk to.
”

“
What about?
”

“
Dawson. Bam.
”

“
Bam? What about him?
”

“
He showed up at my house last night. Dawson was there. I had just asked him to move in with me.
”

“
Peyton told me about your redecorating project. I think it
’
s a great idea. A good compromise. Um, I called Dawson the other day to see how things went with the girls
’
school visit. He told me about the playroom.
”

She frowns then nods.
“
I hadn
’
t shown anyone until I showed him.
”

“
He also told me something else,
”
I say gently.
“
Vanessa, why didn
’
t you tell me that you can
’
t have more children?
”

Tears fill her eyes.
“
Because I thought if I didn
’
t say it, it wouldn
’
t be true.
”

I squeeze her hand.
“
I
’
m really sorry.
”

“
It
’
s okay. I made a decision. Regardless of what happens with Dawson, I
’
m going to pursue having a baby. I never discussed it with the doctor. I don
’
t know if I just can
’
t get pregnant or if I can
’
t carry a baby, but I
’
m going to find out. And if that won
’
t work, I
’
ll hire a surrogate or adopt.
”

“
Really, that
’
s so amazing, Vanessa. I
’
ll help in any way I can. Even if it
’
s just for emotional support, okay? You can always talk to me.
”