Typecast (38 page)

“Wait, we are not close to done.” His low, robust voice reverberated around her. He led her to the front of the theater and turned them toward Wilson. “I’m going to tell you a secret.”

“What would that be?” Though she knew they were filming, the only jitters she felt were for the man in front of her.

He pointed back at the building. “Even though every moment of the movie leads up to arriving at this spot, I have never been filmed outside this set piece.”

All right, maybe the moment was life changing. She couldn’t stop the smile. Only the two of them would have this moment. If the sequel were ever filmed, maybe he would have had his chance in the limelight in front of the facade on a much bigger screen. At the thought, her heart ached.

“In fact, Miss Ivy, you may or may not know this, but you’ve been instrumental in many firsts in my life.” He turned to her and took both her hands. “The first time I trusted someone, the first time I honestly couldn’t wait to see someone so bad it hurt, the first person I fell in love with.”

The energy around them seemed to change, sizzle with pent-up anticipation. Unsure of what would happen next, she held her breath.

“You are the only person I will ever love—maybe that’s a first and a last.” Out of nowhere, he got down on one knee and reached into his jacket pocket.

She froze and watched Logan as if she were watching a movie. No way could this be happening to her.

“All I know is we are finally at the point where I am losing count of the days and I never want it to end. Will you marry me?” Like magic, he produced a diamond ring and held it up to her.

Marry Logan?

Marry Logan.

Tears blurred her vision.

Mrs. Logan Alexander.

Ivy Alexander.

She swore if she looked in some old prepubescent diary she could find where she practiced writing her name that way. They would always be together. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”

“I love you.” He slipped the most amazing ring on her finger, a huge pear-shaped diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller stones. “I chose something timeless, yet unique, like you.”

At seeing his ring on her finger, she succumbed to the tears. “I love you.”

He stood, took her into his arms, and leaned her back.

“I’m going to be your wife.” Her eyes searched his.

“That you are.” As only Logan Alexander could, he treated her to a kiss fit for any movie screen, yet one that would live in her heart for all time. “Once Wilson stops filming, I have one more surprise for you, future Mrs. Alexander.”

“There’s more?” All she could do was hold on. No doubt being married to Logan would be a ride of a lifetime. Yes, tonight changed everything.

“Yes, we need to plan our future.” He motioned to Wilson.

“We’ll see you in a while. Now we’ll peruse the studio.” His brother saluted them, rushed over, and handed Logan a duffel bag. “Excellent grand finale.”

“Congratulations!” Giselle blew them a kiss and the two walked away.

“I want to show you something.” He kept a tight hold on her and they went around to the back.

The facade had nothing on the flip side, only some scaffolding and supports, nothing too spectacular.

“First things first.” With a little flourish, he took a blanket out of the bag and spread it out on the ground. “I take it you like your engagement ring.”

Her cheeks heated at being caught staring at her ring as the last rays of sunlight sparkled off each facet. “What?”

He motioned for her to come over. “Before I reveal your surprise, I want to show you something.”

She joined him on the blanket, crouching down next to him.

“I hope it’s still here.” He nestled her beside him and opened up a little panel. “Bingo.”

They leaned forward and her breath caught.

Written on the back of the wood door to be protected from the years and weather were their four names, their signatures, and a date. By each of their names, they put a dash and a word. “What is this?”

“This was the wrap date.” His voice was almost reverent as he pointed to the date. “And of course our names and autographs.”

“What are the words for?” She stared at what few others had ever seen.

“We all chose the occupation we would have in the real world when this ended.”

They were both silent as she read the list, smiling at their different handwritings.

Ryder’s writing was more of a scrawl. “Rock star. That’s not surprising.”

Logan let out a laugh. “He can’t sing.”

A shudder ran through her at recalling what the man could do, especially with his costar. Erin came next, her writing that of a schoolgirl, big, neat, and bubbly. “Actress.”

He nodded. “She always got what she wanted.”

Well, she almost got everything she wanted. The third person on the list, Drew, eluded the woman.

Next down the line, their missing member, Drew, his writing precise and neat almost like what one would expect from an architect. “Astronomer.”

“He put the star in
Hollywood Stardust
.”

“Look who’s next.” Avoiding any talk of their missing member, she hugged him.

“Yours truly.” Logan tapped his own name.

“Director.” She took in his writing, jagged and slanted, cool even if it wasn’t meant to be cool. “I didn’t know you wanted to be a director.” As the words left her mouth, she wrinkled her nose. Maybe in the back of her mind she had an inkling he wanted to direct, especially in the bedroom. Actually, the man was born to direct, be in charge, and tell others what to do. “I take that back. I mean, we just never voiced that you wanted to be a director.” Again, she wondered if his dream would have come true if he hadn’t taken the fall for his friends.

“As you know, I’ve helped produce some projects, even Ryder’s little film, but that only involves me forking over a check.” Once more, he reached inside the duffel bag. “I never had a project that excited me, or a soon-to-be wife to share it with, but I think you’ll understand when I say this is perfect for us.” He pulled out a thick spiral-bound book and placed it on her lap.

“
Hollywood Starburst
?” She put her hands over her mouth and read the simple typewritten cover page once more.
Hollywood Starburst
—Sequel to
Hollywood Stardust
.

“I’m going to give you the story you have wanted all along.”

Her heart took off at such a rapid rate that she found it almost hard to breathe. Was he finally going to tell her? If he revealed the truth, she could tell him what had happened with little fallout.

“Have you ever heard stories about producers or directors who destroy sets so they won’t end up in other movies?” He put his arm around her.

She turned to him.

“For about five years, I listened off and on to rumblings about the sequel being made with a different cast. At first I didn’t care, but as time went on, the thought of either not being in it or having it ruined in some other way grated on me. So I purchased the story and the rights. What you have in your lap is the original sequel. I own it, and now we own it, and you know everything there is to know.” He leaned in until they were nose to nose. “Should we make a movie?”

Was that all he was going to tell her? Were they going to start their official lives together without ever addressing the rest? Did he still not trust her? “Logan.” She inhaled. “I know you wanted to do the sequel. I know you weren’t the reason it was canceled, and I would be more than honored to help make this happen with you.”

“What are you talking about? You know the sequel was canceled because of me and my indiscretions. Back then I wanted to move on to other projects.” His eyes widened.

“Please, don’t lie to me. I know the truth. I know everything. Let’s just lay it on the line and move on.” Her body broke out in trembles, but maybe it was better this way.

“Ivy.” He moved back and stared her down. “I demand to know what is going on right now. What have you done?”

She swallowed. At the moment, she was certain someone coated her throat with sandpaper. “You have to understand.”

“Tell me!” He pounded his fist into the ground. “Tell me now. Tell me everything.”

“I was upset when you left for the meeting with Ryder and Erin without me. I guess I was jealous.” His expression didn’t change, and she looked down at the blanket, tracing her nail over the plaid pattern, and forced herself to continue. “I was sitting there stewing and took out the card Erin gave me with her Chargge.com e-mail. Then I started fooling around, and by accident, I hacked into her account.”

“By accident you broke into Erin Holland’s account?” he hissed the question at her. “There are some who say there are no accidents.”

“Her password is
Hollywood Stardust
.” In an attempt to hold the tears back, she shut her eyes. “I know you took the blame for the drugs that night. I know they wanted out of the sequel, and you made it easy for them. I know you lost a part you wanted, and I know that for all these years those two fools paid you off.”

When he didn’t speak, she opened her eyes and peeked up at him.

He glared at her, narrowed eyes, set jaw, pale complexion included.

In all the times they had bickered, even in their fight when she’d said she was relieved about the drugs, he had never glared at her.

“I knew you were never the true villain. I could feel it in my heart.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “I knew it, and the world can know as well.”

“Are you that blind? Don’t you think there was a reason I never told you?” He scratched his hands through his hair. “No matter how bad you want me to be, I’m not a hero. I am the one who orchestrated that night. I am the one who extorted money from them.”

“What?” She shook her head.

“Yes!” He stood up, towering over her. “I walked in that night to beg them to do the sequel and caught them in the act of not only screwing each other, but also doing drugs. We got in a fight, and the police were called. I was seventeen and knew I could manipulate them.”

“Logan.” Somehow she managed to get on her feet and reached out for him.

He swiped her hand away. “I took the blame, I got the sequel canceled, and I made sure they would never do another project without thinking about how I helped them. The script I wanted to share with you, the ring I bought thinking we were going to spend the rest of our lives together, even the land I was going to have our house built on, was all bought and paid for with money I made from them.”

Wanted? Thinking? Was going? Why was everything suddenly past tense? “What are you saying?”

“I asked you one thing. I asked you not to pry. I begged you to leave it alone. I have contracts that now by telling you, I have broken. I could lose everything because you were bound and determined to not fall in love with the bad guy.” He held his hands up. “What were you going to do? Prove your point and broadcast it to the world?”

“Not if you didn’t want me to.” Her tears fell freely. “I just thought—”

“Thought you were helping me.” He finished her sentence. “Honey, I have news for you, I’m as bad as they come. I thought I could change, but instead I changed you. Now you’re a villain too. You better keep your mouth shut. Breaking into someone else’s e-mail is illegal.”

“If you want to write up a contract, I’ll sign it.” She crossed her arms. “Did you really expect to marry me and not tell me the truth?”

“No, I expected to have a wife who trusted her husband.” With his head high, he walked past her.

For a moment, she waited and simply listened to his soft footsteps echoing away from her. Did he really just leave? She spun around to find him way off in the distance. Instinct took over, and with the script still in her hands, she ran after him, catching up to him in the parking lot. “Logan?”

He stopped at the side of his car.

“You’re leaving?” She didn’t know why she asked the obvious question.

“Wilson’s here. You’ll get home.” He opened the door.

“You just asked me to marry you.” Her voice broke.

“Can you tell me you didn’t do what you did?”

She shook her head.

“Keep the ring, keep the script, and keep your mouth shut.” He slipped inside his car.

When the engine started, she shut her eyes. He couldn’t leave. He promised he would talk to her. “Please.”

At the sound of his tires screeching on the asphalt, she opened her eyes and watched him drive away.

Well, he didn’t lie when he told her tonight would be life changing. She would never be the same.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT — NEEDLES, CA – DAY

The last pit stop before arriving at Hollywood Stardust. CHARLES is on a payphone trying to get home. ROXY, WILLIAM, and STEVEN finish up their lunch.

WILLIAM turns to Roxy and takes her hand.

WILLIAM

Maybe after graduation we can come back to California and see if we can make it here.

STEVEN

So says every waiter and waitress in La La Land.

STEVEN stares down at WILLIAM holding ROXY’S hand. ROXY looks between WILLIAM and STEVEN and pulls her hand away.

WILLIAM

Isn’t it about time he knows?

ROXY shakes her head.

STEVEN

If I take your hand, would you pull away?

STEVEN reaches across the table and holds his hand out. ROXY doesn’t move.

WILLIAM

Why would that even be an option?

When no one speaks, WILLIAM hits the table.

WILLIAM

Roxy, I thought we were together. What happened to the other night?

STEVEN

You mean last night when she was in my bed?

ROXY

Everything is a mess.

ROXY stands from the table and runs off.

Chapter Twenty-One